Frequently Asked Questions
General
Who do you work with?
Cognitive SLP provides cognitive rehabilitation and executive function coaching for children and young adults — including kids who are struggling in school after a concussion or head injury, or who have difficulty with focus, memory, organization, and planning.
We commonly work with students recovering from a concussion (mTBI) or traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as those experiencing post-concussive syndrome (PCS), Long-COVID (PASC), ADHD, or other executive function challenges affecting school, work, or daily life.
What areas do you serve?
Cognitive Rehabilitation is available to clients in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Executive Function Coaching and Parent Coaching, however, are not limited by location — it's offered online to clients throughout the United States.
Do you accept insurance?
Cognitive SLP is a private-pay clinic, which means we're out-of-network for commercial insurance. This allows us to fully customize your child's therapy plan around their specific needs — not just what a policy will cover.
We're happy to provide a Superbill (itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We recommend calling your provider before starting services to ask about your out-of-network benefits. Please note that cognitive wellness coaching is not eligible for insurance reimbursement.
For Parents and Students
How long does concussion recovery take for kids?
Every child recovers differently, and cognitive symptoms can linger even after physical symptoms resolve. Some children bounce back within weeks, while others experience lingering effects on attention, memory, or school performance for months. If your child is still struggling with focus, fatigue, or schoolwork weeks after their concussion, cognitive rehabilitation can help speed up and support that recovery.
What are signs my child needs cognitive rehabilitation?
After a concussion or head injury, many kids look "fine" on the outside but struggle in ways that are easy to miss or mistake for normal stress, laziness, or a tough school year.
Common signs include:
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Slipping grades or sudden trouble keeping up in school
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Difficulty focusing, staying organized, or completing homework
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Increased forgetfulness or trouble following multi-step directions
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Headaches, fatigue, or overwhelm during schoolwork
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Emotional changes such as increased frustration, anxiety, or meltdowns especially around academic tasks
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Teachers or school staff raising concerns since a head injury or new diagnosis
If your child's struggles started or got worse after an injury, it can be hard to know whether you're looking at a concussion effect or just a hard patch. An evaluation can help sort that out, so you're working from a clear picture instead of guessing.
Do you work with schools or provide input for IEPs/504 plans?
Yes. We're happy to collaborate with your child's school team and can provide documentation or recommendations to support academic accommodations, including IEPs and 504 plans, as your child recovers or manages ongoing executive function challenges.
My child was diagnosed with ADHD — how is this different from tutoring?
Tutoring focuses on specific subject content. Executive function coaching addresses the underlying skills — attention, working memory, planning, organization, and self-regulation — that affect performance across every subject, not just one. Many families use both together for the best results. You can read more here.
Does my child need a diagnosis to start working with you?
No. While we frequently work with children who have a concussion, TBI, ADHD, or other learning difference, we also work with kids and teens who are simply struggling with focus, organization, or school stress and want support building stronger cognitive and executive function skills.
How do I know if it's a concussion or just "normal" struggling in school?
Post-concussive symptoms can be subtle and easy to mistake for typical stress, laziness, or a "tough year." An evaluation can help clarify whether your child's struggles are tied to their injury, an
underlying attention or executive function difficulty, or something else — so you're not guessing.
What does a typical session look like for students?
Sessions are interactive, fun, and tailored to your child's age and needs — often incorporating real schoolwork, planning tools, and strategies they can apply immediately at home and in the classroom, rather than abstract drills. In short, they are fun and functional!
Getting Started
Why online therapy for my child?
Online sessions let your child receive personalized cognitive therapy from the comfort of home, where the recovery actually happens. Working in your child's real environment (their kitchen table, their school pressures, their daily routine) helps therapy stick, so skills carry over into schoolwork and everyday life, not just the therapy room.
What do we need for online therapy?
All you need is a computer or tablet with a camera and a reliable internet connection. We recommend a quiet, distraction-free space, and having headphones or earbuds on hand can help younger kids stay focused. Sessions are held on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform that's simple for families to use.
How soon can we get started?
Once you reach out, we'll schedule an initial phone consultation within 5-10 business days to answer any questions and make sure we're a good fit.
