Procrastination & Mental Blocks
The Complete Clinical Toolbox for ADHD, Executive Functioning & Motivation
- Speaker:
- Justin Lyons, MS, OTR/L
- Duration:
- Approx 6 hrs
- Copyright:
-
Aug 18, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS150856
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar - Also available: Live Webinar
Description
I want to … I just can’t get myself to do it.”
Your clients have the insight. The goals. The support. But still – no follow-through.
And “try harder” has never once been the answer.
This isn’t a willpower problem. It’s a brain difference. And until we stop treating procrastination like a character flaw and start treating it like the neurological reality it is, we’ll keep spinning our wheels – and so will our clients.
This workshop moves beyond deficit-based models to give you practical, evidence-based strategies you can use Monday morning. You’ll learn why traditional motivation interventions fail – and what actually works for neurodivergent brains.
What Makes This Training Different
Most ADHD and executive function trainings come from a talk-therapy perspective. This one doesn’t. With an occupational therapy foundation and 18+ years of hands-on work with neurodiverse populations, this workshop gives you something others can’t: body-based, sensory-motor strategies that bypass the cognitive resistance your clients are stuck in.
25+ Movement & Sensory Strategies
- Brain-body interventions that prime the nervous system for action – not just more talking
Ready-to-Use Client Handouts
- Worksheets for self-talk reframing, if/then planning, and more – use them tomorrow
Case Studies Across Ages
- Real clinical scenarios: adolescents, adults, children with sensory differences – with time for discussion
Shame-Free, Strengths-Based
- A neurodiversity-affirming approach that helps clients work WITH their brains, not against them
Live Demonstrations
- Watch each technique in action, then practice it yourself during the workshop
Q&A Throughout
- Dedicated time for your questions – bring your toughest cases
Credit
Speaker
Justin Lyons, MS, OTR/L Related seminars and products
Justin Lyons, MS, OTR/L, is a licensed occupational therapist and professional life and mindset coach specializing in motivation, executive functioning, and social-emotional development across the lifespan. As the founder of Special Connects, he designs innovative social and fitness programs that blend sensory-motor activities, movement, and experiential games to foster connection, strength, and sustained motivation. His signature programs, including Fit-Fun-Connect, serve both adolescents and older adults, showcasing his expertise in tailoring interventions for neurodiverse and developmentally diverse populations.
With extensive experience in private schools, sensory clinics, home-based therapy, vocational support center, and camp settings, Justin bridges evidence-based OT principles with practical strategies to build executive functioning skills and persistence. Certified as an Irlen Diagnostician and Clinical Primitive Reflex Specialist, he brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, program development, and life coaching to his lectures and workshops – delivering neuroscience-based tools with humor, curiosity, and a genuine passion for connection.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Justin Lyons is the owner of Special Connects, LLC. He is an independent contractor with the New York Department of Education. Justin Lyons receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Justin Lyons has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info
Objectives
- Differentiate the functional roles of mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine pathways in regulating motivation, valuation, and task initiation.
- Evaluate how dopamine dysregulation contributes to motivational challenges in ADHD and other neurodiverse populations.
- Choose sensory-motor and movement-based interventions to regulate arousal and dopamine signaling, to promote motivation and persistence.
- Integrate neurolinguistic strategies, including growth mindset and internal dialogue reframing, with movement-based approaches to strengthen motivation and executive functioning outcomes.
- Apply intervention strategies to clinical cases representing diverse populations and presentations.
- Choose techniques for introducing motivation strategies to clients of varying ages and cognitive levels.
Outline
-
MODULE 1: Why “Try Harder” Never Works
- The neuroscience behind the gap between knowing and doing
- How dopamine actually works (hint: it’s not about pleasure)
- The two reward pathways most clinicians don’t know about – and why they matter
- Time blindness: Why your client can’t “just plan ahead”
- ADHD-related avoidance vs. anxiety-driven procrastination: Assessment questions that reveal the root
- Case discussion: Identify what’s actually blocking your client
-
MODULE 2: Rewiring the Inner Critic
- Neurolinguistic strategies that shift self-defeating narratives
- “What you speak is what you get”: Language patterns that build – or destroy – motivation
- Scripts for reframing effort, failure, and ”laziness”
- Growth mindset in practice (beyond the buzzword)
- Role-play demonstration: Coaching conversations that actually land
- Hands-on: “Rewiring Self-Talk” worksheet practice
-
MODULE 3: From Stuck to Started
- Behavioral tools for initiation, persistence, and follow-through
- The ABC framework: Scaling goals to energy (not willpower)
- Implementation intentions: The science of “if/then” planning
- Environmental scaffolding that makes the right choice the easy choice
- Adapting strategies for kids, teens, and adults
- Hands-on: “If/Then Plan” client handout walkthrough
-
MODULE 4: Body First, Brain Follows
- Sensory and movement strategies that bypass cognitive resistance
- Why movement isn’t just a break – it’s a brain primer
- 12+ sensory strategies to regulate arousal before demanding tasks
- 12+ movement-based activation techniques (including the “finger skiing” method)
- Adapting for clinic, school, home, and workplace settings
- Hands-on: Task Tension Sprint + Brain-Body Start-Up Sequence
-
MODULE 5: Putting It All Together
- Case studies and clinical application across populations
- Case 1: Adolescent with ADHD and school refusal
- Case 2: Adult professional with executive dysfunction and perfectionism
- Case 3: Child with sensory processing differences and task avoidance
- Group intervention planning: Select strategies for each case
- Integration exercise: Build a plan for YOUR caseload
Target Audience
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Counselors & Therapists
- Social Workers
- School-Based Clinicians
- ADHD Coaches
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Rehabilitation Professionals
- Especially valuable if you work with:
- Children, teens, or adults with ADHD
- Clients with executive functional challenges
- Neurodiverse populations (autism, learning differences)
- Anyone who struggles with motivation, initiation, or persistence
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