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"Helping families, children and adolescents
grow well."
Parent Consultations
I am a Certified Parent Educator, affiliated since 1995 with the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) in Kensington, Md. Through PEP, I have helped hundreds of parents learn to understand and appreciate why their children behave the way they do, and helped parents learn new ways to help their children behave better through:
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encouragement and appreciation of their child's strengths;
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the use of effective limit setting;
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the use of consequences instead of rewards or punishment;
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finding the balance of responsibility and privileges most appropriate for their children.
Parent consultation is different from family therapy. In a parent consultation, we focus on specific parenting problems and solutions. In family therapy, we search for the underlying causes of behavior. These causes may be deeply rooted in family member's personal experiences and/or life philosophy. Family play therapy uses play as a therapeutic and communication tool to address the emotional needs of children and adolescents.
I provide individual parenting consultations to parents who have special concerns about their parenting
skills and/or their child's problem behaviors. I find it most useful to meet alone with parent(s)
for a 90-minute first session. It is then useful to meet together with parent(s) and child in a subsequent session.
In these joint sessions, I evaluate the parent(s) and child's behaviors to assess where improvements can be made.
Then, in consultation with the parent, we make a plan for what changes are needed.
I support the parent through parent skill training, practicing and modeling new skills, and follow-up.
Where appropriate, I also consult and work with teachers and other caregivers to provide wrap-around support
for the child's growth and development.
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