Episode Details

Social struggles are often the most painful part of executive function challenges, and the least understood.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Lana Gollyhorn, a psychotherapist with nearly two decades of experience working directly with children, adolescents, and families. Lana brings a rare lens into what kids are actually experiencing beneath the surface when social situations fall apart.

She explains how executive function challenges affect things like listening, remembering plans, regulating emotions, and reading social cues, and how those gaps can quickly turn into hurt feelings, perceived rejection, or intense after-school meltdowns. Parents will gain clarity on why their child may seem disengaged, overly reactive, controlling, or defensive with friends, even when connection is what they want most.

This conversation offers practical guidance for how parents can respond in the moment, support reflection without blame, and help their child rebuild friendships without overstepping. If your child often feels misunderstood socially or comes home emotionally flooded, this episode will help you see those moments through a more compassionate and accurate lens.

Learn more about Lana's work: https://lanagollyhorn.com/