Key takeaways
- The Midlife Executive Function Profile™ (MEFP) is a screening tool I use to describe how a midlife woman's executive function is working right now.
- Executive function covers the skills behind planning, starting tasks, remembering, switching gears, and staying steady under load.
- The MEFP looks at six areas, and it describes what is happening, not why. It isn't a diagnosis.
- A clinician administers and scores the MEFP. It isn't a self-scored test.
- I pair it with the ADHD–Perimenopause Differential Pathway™ in the Profile Session at Jennifer Becker Coaching, before any coaching plan is built.
What is the Midlife Executive Function Profile?
It's a screening tool I built to put words and structure around "I can't keep track of anything anymore." I look at how your executive function is working across six areas, including how energy and hormonal shifts affect what you can handle in a day.
I'm a licensed clinician (MS, LCMHCS), a certified ADHD specialist, and a certified menopause coach. I use the Profile with women who want a clear, organized picture before they change anything.
What is executive function, in plain words?
Executive function is the set of skills that lets you plan, get started, hold information in mind, shift between tasks, and stay steady when things pile up. When those skills are strained, it can feel like you've lost your footing.
What are the six areas the Profile covers?
| Area | What it looks like day to day |
|---|---|
| Organization and Planning | Keeping track of tasks, papers, and plans, and knowing where to start. |
| Working Memory and Cognitive Load | Holding information in mind, losing your thread, walking into a room and forgetting why. |
| Emotional Regulation | Staying steady when things pile up, and how quickly frustration or overwhelm rises. |
| Time Management and Task Initiation | Sensing how long things take, and getting started once you know what to do. |
| Cognitive Flexibility | Switching between tasks and adjusting when plans change. |
| Energy, Hormones, and Executive Capacity | How your energy and hormonal shifts change how much you can handle. |
Why describe it before changing anything?
A clear picture shows where the strain actually is, so the systems we build fit the brain you have now. It also gives you something concrete to bring to your doctor. Your doctor wasn't dismissing you. The research on midlife and focus is still an incomplete map, and a clear description helps fill in the parts we can.
How does the Profile fit with the Differential Pathway?
The Profile describes what is happening. The ADHD–Perimenopause Differential Pathway™ helps sort why, by weighing lifelong ADHD indicators against the hormonal timeline. Together they point toward the right next step.
Who administers and scores it?
I do. The Profile is administered and scored by a clinician, not scored by you at home. In the Profile Session, we go over what it shows and what it means for you. I don't publish the questions because they're meant to be used in a clinical conversation.
What is the Profile not?
It's not a diagnosis, a lab test, or a replacement for your doctor. I can't prescribe medication. A formal ADHD evaluation and any hormone decisions belong with a qualified medical or evaluating provider.
ADHD doesn't start in perimenopause, and perimenopause doesn't cause it. Traits a woman managed for years can surface or get louder as hormones shift, and the Profile helps show where.
Who is it for, and who is it not for?
It may fit if
- You're in midlife and the workarounds that used to work have stopped working.
- You want to understand where the strain actually is.
- You want a plan built on a clear picture.
- You want something concrete to bring to your doctor.
It's not the right fit if
- You're looking for a diagnosis or medication.
- You want a test you score yourself. A clinician administers and scores the Profile.
- You're in crisis. Please call or text 988 now.
Want a place to begin on your own? The free How Am I Actually Functioning? quiz is a low-pressure start.
What happens next?
Start with a free 15-minute call. We talk about what you're noticing and whether the Profile Session makes sense. That's where I use the Profile and the Differential Pathway together. If you later want support building systems, the four R's of coaching (Relationships, Rest, Resources, Routines) are where we go from there.
Let's discover what's going on so you can feel more like yourself.
Prefer to begin on your own? Take the quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Midlife Executive Function Profile a diagnosis?
No. It's a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It describes how your executive function is working right now so we can decide on next steps together.
Can I take the Profile on my own?
No. A clinician administers and scores it. The free quiz on this site is a good place to start on your own.
What does the Profile cover?
It looks at six areas: organization and planning, working memory and cognitive load, emotional regulation, time management and task initiation, cognitive flexibility, and energy, hormones, and executive capacity.
How is the Profile different from the quiz?
The quiz is a free, short starting point you take on your own. The Profile is a clinical tool that I administer and score with you in the Profile Session.
This page is educational and isn't medical advice, therapy, or a diagnosis. If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).