By: Rebecca David-Cusani, LMHC candidate
Executive functioning might sound like a clinical buzzword, but it plays a major role in the everyday lives of our clients — especially children and teens. As a mental health intern, I’ve found that blending creativity with therapeutic structure can be a game-changer. One of the most engaging tools I’ve used recently is something I call an Accountability Scavenger Hunt — a playful, practical way to help clients build executive functioning skills without feeling overwhelmed.
What Is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning refers to the set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and follow through with tasks. It’s essentially the brain’s management system — helping us stay on track, think ahead, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. For many clients — especially those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or trauma histories — executive functioning challenges can show up as:
- Avoiding or forgetting responsibilities
- Struggling to get started or stay focused
- Difficulty regulating frustration or navigating unexpected changes
- Losing track of time or materials
That’s why executive functioning support is so important in therapy. And rather than relying solely on worksheets or checklists, I wanted to find a more playful, strengths-based way to help clients grow these skills.
Theoretical Framework
From a therapeutic standpoint, supporting executive functioning development draws from both cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and evidence-based executive functioning frameworks. Research by Dawson and Guare (2010) emphasizes that executive skills are not fixed traits, but can be strengthened through structured support, scaffolding, and positive reinforcement. The Accountability Scavenger Hunt integrates core elements of CBT — including behavioral activation, self-monitoring, and cognitive reframing — by encouraging clients to take small, manageable actions and reflect on their successes. Rather than focusing on deficits, the activity builds on strengths, helping clients internalize executive skills through real-world practice. This playful, individualized strategy also aligns with neurodiversity-affirming practices by prioritizing flexibility, self-efficacy, and the celebration of meaningful growth over rigid standards of productivity.
What Is an Accountability Scavenger Hunt?
The Accountability Scavenger Hunt is a flexible, low-pressure activity I use to help clients work on goal-setting, follow-through, self-reflection, and emotional regulation. Rather than searching for physical objects, clients “hunt” for accountability moments — real-life examples of effort, progress, or self-awareness tied to executive functioning. These are collected over the course of the week or practiced in session, and we process them together.
A Unique Contribution
While various forms of therapeutic scavenger hunts exist — such as mindfulness scavenger hunts, sensory awareness hunts, or emotional exploration activities — the Accountability Scavenger Hunt is a new and unique contribution I developed during my clinical training and supervision. Unlike traditional scavenger hunts that focus on external items or generalized emotional themes, this approach specifically cultivates accountability by encouraging clients to identify and reflect on real-life executive functioning moments. It invites clients to notice their own intentional actions, efforts, and growth, blending cognitive-behavioral principles with executive functioning skill-building in a playful, strengths-based way. My goal in creating this tool was to offer a fresh, engaging intervention for clients who struggle with motivation, follow-through, or emotional regulation — and to make the process of building executive functioning skills feel empowering rather than overwhelming.
How It Works
Each week or session, clients receive a set of creative, developmentally appropriate prompts. These might look like:
- Work on a task you’ve been avoiding for five minutes
- Remember to do something without being reminded
- Organize your backpack, desk, or workspace before our next session
- Write down a daily plan and follow through with at least one part
- Use a coping skill instead of shutting down when something gets frustrating
- Ask someone for help when you feel stuck
- Reflect on a moment this week when you felt proud of yourself
Each of these moments is a skill-builder in disguise — encouraging clients to act with intention, take ownership, and notice their own growth. During our next session, we discuss what went well, what felt challenging, and what support might be helpful moving forward.
Why It’s Effective
It makes abstract skills concrete. Executive functioning is hard to grasp, especially for younger clients. The scavenger hunt transforms these abstract skills into real-world, doable actions they can recognize and talk about.
It builds accountability without shame. Clients aren’t judged for what they didn’t do. Instead, we celebrate what they did try — even if it’s just five minutes of effort. This reframes “success” and encourages consistency over perfection.
It promotes self-reflection. Many clients with executive dysfunction struggle with self-monitoring. This activity teaches them how to pause, check in with themselves, and reflect — which are crucial parts of long-term growth.
It strengthens follow-through. The accountability structure helps clients stay motivated between sessions. Each small win becomes a confidence booster, reinforcing their ability to take action, even when it’s difficult.
Over time, each small success reinforces a client’s belief in their own ability to take action — a critical foundation for building self-efficacy and long-term resilience.
How I Use It in Session
- With younger clients, I might adapt the hunt into a physical activity using visual cards, stickers, or drawings. We turn each prompt into a mission and celebrate completed “quests.”
- With teens, we often write down their chosen challenges in a notebook or digital tracker. Some enjoy customizing their own prompts, which increases buy-in and autonomy.
- With clients who struggle with follow-through, we sometimes complete a “hunt item” together in session — like organizing their folder or practicing a coping skill — and name it as a success to model internal accountability.
Each version of the hunt is customized to the client’s developmental level and therapy goals. Sometimes, I ask, “What’s one small thing you want to challenge yourself to do before our next session?” That becomes their personalized mission for the week.
Case Example:
The Accountability Scavenger Hunt is especially helpful with younger clients who struggle with motivation, resistance, or shut down in session. One 10-year-old client presented as unmotivated to participate in therapy, often withdrawn and reluctant to engage. When asked to participate in activities or reflect on his week, he’d usually respond with a shrug or “I don’t know.”
During one session, we decided to try a scavenger hunt task together in real time. He picked two prompts from a visual menu:
- “Work on something you’ve been avoiding for 5 minutes.”
- “Tidy up part of your room or space.”
Even though he was hesitant, we kept the mood light and playful. I set a timer for 5 minutes, and he chose to start a homework assignment he’d been avoiding. Once the timer went off, he looked a little surprised and said, “That was actually fast.”
Next, we transitioned into the clean-up prompt. With some support, he organized a small area of his space, and again said, “That didn’t take as long as I thought.”
That moment opened a window. I asked, “Why do you think it felt like it would take longer before you started?” He paused, then said, almost to himself, “Probably ’cause I skip the easy stuff and think about the hard ones too much.”
This reflection is a key developmental step: building the metacognitive awareness needed for better emotional regulation and task initiation.
We talked about how his brain might be trying to protect him from things that feel uncomfortable, but that sometimes makes everything feel harder than it actually is. The scavenger hunt gave him a structure to try something small and notice the outcome — and in doing so, helped him connect effort to insight. No big speeches, no pressure — just a moment of clarity that we could build on.
Final Thoughts
Executive dysfunction can feel overwhelming — for both clients and their caregivers — but it doesn’t have to be. With creativity, structure, and patience, we can teach clients how to build these skills step by step.
The Accountability Scavenger Hunt is one of my favorite tools for doing just that. It makes learning practical, strengths-based, and just playful enough to keep clients engaged. Most importantly, it helps them feel empowered — one small, meaningful “find” at a time.
