Parent consultation.  When a child's emotional or behavioral challenges becomes entrenched and standard interventions don't seem to work, parent consultation sessions can highlight new approaches to try. Sometimes even very small changes can help shift dynamics and create positive movement. We'll work together to identify your goals for your family. For example, we may address areas of needed skill building, such as anger or stress management. Or, we may focus on developing a reward system to help with a child's behavioral difficulties. Or, we may discover a need for increased advocacy for a child within the school system. Whatever direction our work takes us, sessions will be collaborative and supportive, and always strength-based, which means we'll focus on your child's and family's strengths and find creative ways to apply these to presenting challenges.

​

School-based consultation.  There are many ways a student's inner challenges may show up in the classroom and impact academic progress. For example, learning difficulties may cause anxiety and, conversely, anxiety may cause or exacerbate learning difficulties. Anxious kids are more likely to engage in acting out or avoidant behaviors or even school refusal. Skilled and well meaning school personnel may misidentify underlying causes of disruptive or unproductive behaviors. Battle weary parents may also be applying unhelpful strategies at home.

​

With school-based consultation, I work with school administration and teachers to unpack causes of challenging student behaviors and create interventions to address the difficulties. This may involve:

• classroom and recess observations;

• presentations to faculty about various mental health conditions;

• creating student-specific behavior plans;

• participating in staff, team, or IEP meetings;

• applying universal design concepts to help develop classroom or school-wide procedures that benefit all students. 

​

In designing interventions, I draw from many years of experience from both my clinical practice and my work in school settings as a school counselor. Every school culture is unique and, as with my individual clients, my school-based work is a highly respectful and creative collaboration.

​

Presentations.  I offer themed presentations to schools or other organizations that support children. Topics are tailored to your organization's specific needs. Past presentation topics include:

• Teaching Conflict Resolution to Children

• Helping Students Find Joy, Creativity, and Success

• Assessment Basics: How to Read and Decode Neuropsychological Assessments

• Supporting Students Through Pandemic Recovery and Return-to-School

• Resilience for Teachers

• Anxiety in the Classroom: What to Expect & Helpful Interventions

• Parents Rising Strong: Supporting Our Different Learners

• Walking the Parenting Tightrope: Offer Extra Support or Encourage Independence?

• Managing Anxiety, Worry, and Stress: Tips for Students

• Middle School Success & Executive Functioning Skill Development

​

Please contact me for more information about how I may support your organization.​