How ESQ-R Results Can Supercharge Your Counselling Journey: Mastering Your Executive Skills for Personal Growth

Understanding how your brain works as a neurodivergent person is both empowering and transformative. Whether you’ve recently received a formal autism diagnosis, self-identified as neurodivergent, or are exploring the patterns that define how you think, unlocking insights into your executive skills opens new worlds of possibilities. StoneGye.COM walks with clients on this journey, helping you translate self-awareness into meaningful action. One of the tools we use is the Executive Skills Questionnaire-Revised (ESQ-R), a mirror that reflects how your executive functioning shapes your daily life.

What Are Executive Skills, and Why Do They Matter?

Executive skills are the cognitive tools your brain uses to navigate life’s demands—think of them as your internal operations centre. They help you plan and achieve goals, manage time effectively, adapt to changes, solve problems, stay focused, and regulate emotions. Autistic and neurodivergent people can face challenges with executive functioning when measured against neurotypical expectations. By identifying where you excel and where you need support, you can build strategies that reflect your needs, not someone else’s idea of what “works.”

ESQ-R: A Tool for Self-Discovery

The Executive Skills Questionnaire – Revised (ESQ-R) is a self-assessment designed to give clarity about your executive functioning. It evaluates categories such as:

• Response Inhibition: Controlling impulses and distractions.

• Emotional Control: Staying goal-focused amidst emotional upheaval.

• Flexibility: Adapting to unexpected changes.

• Task Initiation: Getting started without procrastination.

• Sustained Attention: Maintaining focus over time.

• Working Memory: Using and holding information to complete tasks.

• Planning and Prioritisation: Setting actionable, clear goals.

• Organisation: Keeping track of resources, both physical and digital.

• Time Management: Allocating time effectively to complete what matters.

By ranking these skills, the ESQ-R paints a detailed picture of where you thrive and where you may need strategies or supports. Reviewing your results with a counsellor at StoneGye.COM unlocks practical ways to navigate life in alignment with your needs and capacities.

How the ESQ-R Benefits Neurodivergent People

1. Discover Your Unique Strengths:
The ESQ-R identifies areas where your executive skills excel. Many neurodivergent individuals are exceptional problem solvers, deep thinkers, or adept at working memory tasks. Recognising and celebrating these strengths builds confidence and allows you to channel them into meaningful pursuits.

2. Reconciling Challenges Without Guilt or Shame:
Time management, emotional regulation, or task organisation may feel overwhelming. The ESQ-R frames these areas as opportunities for growth. With your StoneGye.COM counsellor, you explore neurodivergent-aligned strategies, including:

• Creating sensory-friendly environments.

• Breaking tasks into manageable steps.

• Using visual tools and organisational aids.

3. Build Tailored Strategies for Thriving:
After identifying strengths and challenges, a personalised plan is created. Sessions explore:

• Defining realistic, meaningful goals.

• Developing tools to navigate executive functioning challenges.

• Integrating self-care practices to support emotional and cognitive health.

4. Improve Relationships and Communication:
Executive skills impact how effectively you connect with others—from managing emotions during conflict to planning social activities. Understanding your patterns enhances communication and fosters harmonious relationships.

Using the ESQ-R for Personal Growth

Step 1: Take the ESQ-R – Reflect on your daily habits, thought processes, and behaviours while completing the questionnaire.

Step 2: Book a Review Session – Meet with a StoneGye.COM counsellor to interpret your results and explore how your executive skills shape your life.

Step 3: Put Insights Into Action – Transformation requires practice and consistency. Apply new insights by designing routines, exploring assistive tools, or reframing challenges to align with your strengths.

StoneGye.COM: A Safe Space for Neurodivergent Clients

StoneGye.COM specialises in supporting neurodivergent individuals and building neurodiverse-affirming communities. Unlike traditional counselling, our approach prioritises the multidimensional nature of neurodivergent minds.

Our Offerings Include:

• Empathy and Expertise: Lived and professional experience informs every session.

• Customised Strategies: Personalised solutions aligned with your brain’s unique wiring.

• Practical Tools: Visual aids, sensory-friendly techniques, and actionable resources.

• Support for Expats: Additional guidance for cultural sensitivity and diversity.

Client Stories:
"The ESQ-R helped me see my brain in ways I never could before. Working with StoneGye.COM gave me practical strategies to move forward without shame, and for the first time, I feel seen." – Sarah, 32
"As someone self-diagnosed, I was hesitant to seek help, but the ESQ-R helped me name my strengths and create a roadmap for growth. StoneGye.COM made all the difference." – Mark, 45

Your First Steps Toward Empowerment

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Understanding your executive skills is foundational for self-discovery. With the ESQ-R and personalised sessions at StoneGye.COM, you can:

• Complete the ESQ-R for insight into your strengths and challenges.

• Book a review session to translate insights into actionable strategies.

• Embrace your unique strengths, navigate challenges, and design a life that works for you.

By unlocking your executive skills, you gain the tools to live intentionally and confidently. Start today: take the ESQ-R and step into your next chapter with clarity, purpose, and empowerment.