By JoyGenea and ChatGPT’s EQ Breakthrough Navigator by Henk van der Wath
Intro from Coach JoyGenea
While I was working on the original blog on verbal processing this word came up and I wanted to know more. Here is what I learned. It is such a nice way to talk about one of the reasons verbal processing is so effective for some people.
I have a coaching client who is a very talented painter and fiber artist. This is a major part of his thinking style. He has been feeling like this is one of the biggest factors holding him back in his life. It isn’t, as I have said so many times, but in implementing voice journaling his view of it has changed and he has embraced his brilliant different thinking brain. You can too.
Thinking About Thinking: A Look at Metacognitive Verbalization
Some verbal processors don’t just talk to express ideas they talk to make sense of how they’re thinking. This is called metacognitive verbalization, and it’s a powerful tool for developing self-awareness, especially in neurodivergent minds.
What Is Metacognitive Verbalization?
Metacognition means thinking about your thinking.
Metacognitive verbalization is when you speak those thoughts out loud essentially narrating or reflecting on your mental process in real time.
For example:
- “I keep losing focus I think I need to take a break.”
- “I’m not really understanding this. Maybe I need to reread that part.”
This kind of verbal thinking often happens naturally for people with ADHD, autism, or anxiety, as a way to navigate complex inner experiences or executive functioning challenges. But it can also be developed intentionally as a way to build cognitive and emotional clarity.
Why It Matters
Metacognitive verbalization helps:
- Self-regulate emotions or behaviors
- Problem-solve more effectively
- Process learning by identifying gaps in understanding
- Gain insight into emotional reactions or patterns
In essence, it’s like becoming your own thought coach out loud.
Examples in Real Life
Here are a few ways it might show up:
During a stressful moment:
“Okay, I notice I’m getting overwhelmed. I think it’s because I’m trying to do everything at once.”
While learning something new:
“I don’t get this yet, but I think it’s starting to make sense now that I’ve said it out loud.”
When stuck in a thought loop:
“I’m obsessing over this again. I know it doesn’t help, but I can’t let it go just yet.”
How to Cultivate Metacognitive Verbalization
If this doesn’t come naturally to you but you want to build the skill here are some ways to start:
- Journaling Your Thoughts About Thoughts
- Use prompts like: “What am I thinking right now?”, “Why am I stuck?”, or “What else could be true?”
- Voice Memos or Talking to Yourself
- Record your thought process in real time to hear and reflect on your patterns later.
- AI-Assisted Reflection
- Tools like ChatGPT can help simulate a dialogue with your thinking: “I’m trying to figure out why I’m procrastinating can I talk this through?”
- Mid-task Check-ins
- Pause while working and ask: “Is this working? Am I focused? What needs to shift?”
In Summary
Verbal processing isn’t just about expressing ideas it can also be a deeply metacognitive practice. By speaking our thoughts about our thinking, we gain clarity, control, and often, compassion for ourselves.
And the best part? You can practice it anytime, anywhere. Your voice can be your guide even when no one else is listening.
As I wrap up this article I am thinking, “Isn’t is amazing to have the language, knowledge, and understanding of how my brain is working and why.” I can feel my own stress and anxiety decrease each time I learn more and share it with others. If you are reading this, it means that there is one less person in this world thinking they are odd and instead realizing they are just using different parts of their brain for other things.
Take Away Questions
What is your one big take away from this article?
What is one thing you are going to try?
Thank you for learning new language around this type of thinking today,
JoyGenea Schumer
Success Life Coach for the Differently Wired People of the World
Transcription:
Hey, haha. Considering this is take—I don’t know—if I don’t know, here we go.
Thinking about thinking. About metacognitive verbalization, how it attaches to ADHD, dyslexia, and other items.
I was recently writing a blog about verbal processing, and this phrase kept jumping out: metacognitive verbalization. And, well, I’m just like—people need to know about this. We need to talk about it.
This concept has helped a wide variety of my clients, and so let’s talk about it today.
One of my clients is a gifted painter and fiber artist—I cannot drop names, I’m just saying—and he’s also a verbal processor. And he used to feel like that was holding him back in a lot of ways. But through voice journaling, his perspective has shifted quite immensely. He started to embrace this part of his brain as brilliant, not at all broken. And I want you to feel that way too.
So, what is metacognitive verbalization?
Let’s break it down. Metacognition means thinking about your thinking. And metacognitive verbalization means you say your thoughts about your thinking out loud.
So it might sound like, “I keep losing my focus, I think I need a break,” or, “I’m not getting this, maybe I should reread it.” And you’re thinking those things, but for some people it needs to just be stated out loud.
This kind of thinking is natural for some people, and it can be common for people with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Now you know. And it works for thinking and processing.
Why does this matter?
Because when you name your thoughts, you gain control over them. And if the only way you can do that is to speak them out loud, do not get in the way of that.
Metacognitive verbalization helps you self-regulate your emotions. It helps you problem-solve more clearly. It can help to learn things faster by spotting gaps in the process and understanding your emotional patterns. Some consistencies will show up.
In short, you become your own thought coach. I’m not worried—I don’t think you’ll run out of need for me out loud—you’ll be coaching yourself.
You’ve probably done this before without even realizing it. Like when you say, “Okay, I’m overwhelmed. I’m trying to do too much at once,”—which I may have said earlier today, but we’re not gonna go into that at all—or, “This isn’t making sense. Let me talk it through.”
How many times have you heard somebody say, let me talk it through? I have. A lot.
If you want to build this skill intentionally, try this:
Journal your thoughts about your thoughts.
Record voice memos and listen to them back. I’d recommend short and sweet.
Use tools like AI to simulate a dialogue in a conversation.
Pause mid-task and ask, “What am I thinking right now?”
It’s simple. It’s powerful.
And here’s what I love the most—really, verbal processing isn’t just about talking. It’s about understanding yourself. So the more you understand your thinking, the less anxiety and shame you carry around. It just saves a whole bunch of energy.
You’re not too much. You’re not doing it wrong—which many people have heard said—you’re just using your brain differently. And that’s something to be celebrated.
So here’s your big takeaway: what’s one big insight from this video? I would love for you to share it with me. And what’s one thing you’re going to try this week from everything you’ve watched?
Drop it in the comments. Leave me an audio. Send me a video—I’d love it all.
Thank you for spending time with me today. I am JoyGenea, coach for International Neurodiversity People, and I believe your differently wired brilliance is amazing.
Until next time, keep thinking out loud and stay tuned. Bye now.