MEET ASHLEY MONTIJO, OT
Your child has the potential.
I help them access it.
Executive function coaching grounded in 8 years of occupational therapy experience, for kids and teens who are capable, but stuck.
If your child forgets assignments the moment they're given, shuts down when tasks feel overwhelming, or can't seem to start even when they want to, there's a real reason. And it's not laziness, defiance, or lack of effort.
I help families understand what's actually going on, and build the skills that make a lasting difference.
WHO I WORK WITH
Sound familiar?
I work with kids and teens from elementary through high school whose parents are noticing things like:
These are executive function challenges. They show up across a wide spectrum in kids with ADHD or learning differences, and just as often in kids who don't have a diagnosis at all.
THE COGNITIVE ROOTS APPROACH
Most programs teach the skills.
I start at the roots.
Tools like planners and reminder apps can be useful, but they work best when there's a strong foundation underneath. The Cognitive Roots approach builds that foundation first.
My approach is rooted in how the brain develops and how skills are built step by step, not just managed in the moment. At Cognitive Roots, helping kids and teens feel regulated and ready to learn comes first. From there, we build the executive function skills that support success at home, at school, and beyond.
The Roots
Emotional regulation and nervous system safety. The hidden foundation. When a child doesn't feel regulated, no skill-building strategy can take hold, no matter how many times it's been taught.
The Trunk
Working memory. The connective structure between regulation and action. Allowing your child to hold information, process it, and make it available when they actually need it.
The Branches
Executive functioning skills and real-life outcomes. Such as, organization, focus, planning, impulse control, time management, and follow-through. The visible growth that everyone is hoping for.
When kids struggle to use a skill they've clearly been taught, it's usually a signal that the foundation underneath isn't stable enough yet. That's where we start, and it's what makes this approach work when other things haven't.
CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE
Expertise that works at home.
My coaching comes from 8 years of direct clinical practice. Real work with kids and teens in schools, homes, clinics, and community settings.
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Licensed Occupational Therapist
Specialized training in executive function and sensory integration.
8+ Years Clinical Experience
Homes, schools, clinics, and community settings across the lifespan.
Bottom-Up, Neurobiological Approach
Grounded in how the brain actually develops skills, not how we wish it did.
Real-World Application
Strategies designed to work at home, at school, and everywhere in between.
WHY I BUILT THIS
I kept seeing the same gap.
So I built something to fill it.
After years working in schools and clinics, I kept seeing the same pattern: kids who genuinely wanted to succeed but couldn't make it happen, and parents who were doing everything right and still feeling lost.
What those families needed wasn't another app or strategy sheet. They needed someone to help them understand their child at a deeper level, and give them the tools to actually make a difference at home.
That's what Cognitive Roots is built around. Practical strategies and real guidance that help you become the support your child needs, not just during sessions, but in the everyday moments that matter most.
I'm glad you found it.
I'm based in Northwest Arkansas. Outside of work, you'll find me skiing, running, hiking, or somewhere outdoors with my husband and our dog.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
Families who started at the roots.
"We have had numerous therapists (OT, Speech, ABA, etc) work with our family over the years, and she was by far, the most knowledgeable! She told us about treatment options that we had never heard of before. The combination of her kind and calm demeanor and her immense knowledge makes her the best out there!"
— Parent of middle school student
"Ashley found creative ways to keep sessions interesting and fun while still helping our daughter grow in confidence and capability."
— Parent of a high school student
"Ashley worked with my son for two years. She treats everyone as an individual and adapts tasks to their abilities and still manages to make it fun. She encourages, pushes, and wants the best possible outcome for the children she works with. I can't recommend her enough for the positive impact she had on my son."
— Parent of a high school student
READY TO START?
Let's figure out the right next step together.
A free discovery call is the best place to start. We'll talk through what your child is struggling with, what you've already tried, and whether Cognitive Roots is the right fit for your child, right now.
