Supporting Executive Functioning Through a Counseling Lens
Date: December 2, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm UTC
About this webinar
Executive functioning challenges often show up in counseling spaces as anxiety, avoidance, incomplete work, or difficulty with follow-through, yet they are frequently misunderstood as motivation or behavior concerns. This webinar explores executive functioning through a counseling lens, helping participants better understand the underlying cognitive processes that impact how students plan, organize, initiate tasks, regulate emotions, and sustain effort.
Participants will examine how executive functioning difficulties intersect with student wellbeing and learn to recognize common patterns that may be missed or misinterpreted. The session will provide practical, counseling-aligned strategies that can be used in one-on-one sessions, small groups, and collaborative conversations with educators and families.
Grounded in inclusive and strengths-based practices, this webinar will support counselors in reframing student challenges, deepening their understanding of learner variability, and expanding their toolkit to better support student success.
Speaker
Lori Boll, Executive Director of SENIA International, brings over 25 years of experience in inclusive education, shaped by both professional expertise and personal connection. Her advocacy began in 2003 when her son was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual developmental disability, inspiring her commitment to more inclusive schools. Lori holds master’s degrees in Reading and Special Education and has worked in international and U.S. schools, including in Riyadh, Jakarta, Shanghai, Bangkok, and the U.S., where she has led the development of programs for students with higher support needs.
She is the co-author of Navigating Special Education Relationships, a resource for schools and parents. In Lori’s current role with SENIA, she supports educators worldwide in advancing inclusive practices for all students.
Andrea Lillis is an experienced educator with a passion for fostering inclusive, student-centered learning environments. With a background as an elementary school homeroom teacher, she has consistently championed student-led inquiry, empowering learners to explore and engage deeply with the world around them. She holds a Master’s in Education with a focus on literacy interventions, equipping her with specialized skills to support diverse learners in reaching their full potential.
Throughout her career, Andrea has worked in international school settings across North America, the Middle East, and Asia, experiences that have deepened her commitment to inclusive practice. Her work has increasingly focused on understanding how executive functioning impacts student learning, behavior, and wellbeing, and on supporting educators in recognizing and addressing these underlying challenges in practical, meaningful ways.
Andrea is currently based in Canada and contributes to the field through her work with SENIA International, where she supports professional learning for educators and school leaders. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, reading, and volunteering with local animal rescue organizations.