Education Services

We are committed to meeting people where they are, and we are passionate about supporting individuals at every level of development. We are especially focused on supporting parents through their journey, helping families identify the best educational environments for their children, and assisting adolescents and their families through their transition to adulthood. Our specialities are precisely geared toward these outcomes to best serve you.

Dr. Housson and the clinicians at The Housson Center are experienced in helping parents and caregivers improve their skills. In addition to parent support and training specialities, we offer education for families regarding a variety of concerns. We work with parents on child temperament, argumentative or defiant behavior, sibling conflicts, social concerns, and mood-related issues. Through this training, we help parents understand appropriate expectations for their child’s development level and emphasize the importance of sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise for good mental health.

Parent training may also take place in the home. This would involve helping set up your home environment to ensure your child’s behavior improves, developing a home behavior plan, and establishing rules and consequences to prevent problem behavior.

We have specific expertise in helping parents identify school environments that may be best suited to their child’s unique talents and skill sets. We work with parents to evaluate their child’s work ethic, intellectual and academic skills, and social-emotional functioning to determine an appropriate school environment where the student can thrive academically and emotionally.

Through classroom observations and work with teachers and administrators, we develop behavioral intervention plans and strategies to support the student’s unique needs. We also offer workshops and presentations to teachers and schools upon request.

We have extensive knowledge and experience in the special education process. We are trained in special education law and have experience working with teachers and school administrators to enhance educational success for students. When we evaluate a child who requires a 504 plan, an individualized education plan (IEP), or special education, we can provide consultation to parents. We assist teachers in developing behavioral intervention plans for their classrooms and identifying strategies to help children with learning, attention, and social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties.

Additionally, we offer advocacy services to support parents in navigating the 504 or ARD process. This may include a review of special education records, contact with the special education teacher or administrator, and attendance at 504 or ARD meetings to help support your child’s education.

The Executive Function Counseling and Training (EFCT) program is a curriculum designed for children in elementary and middle schools to bolster their executive functioning skillset. Children with ADHD, high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, and anxiety and depression experience weaknesses in their executive functioning. Recent research reveals up to a 30 percent developmental delay in the executive skillset of children diagnosed with ADHD.

Skills for self-awareness, sustained attention, working memory, planning, organizing, task initiation of work, shifting attention, self-control, and emotional control are divided into individualized sessions tailored to each child. The basic treatment program includes five sessions targeted to address the child’s top executive needs, which are determined from a screener that is completed by the accompanying parent or caregiver during the initial session.

These executive function skills are introduced in a fun and engaging way by a trained and licensed therapist, who will also debrief parents on the insights and strategies discussed in session so that there is a comprehensive approach to improving these skills. Collaboration between parents, child, and teachers is essential. Parents will receive informational flyers and children will develop a “Toolbox” to organize the materials they use during EFCT.

For some children, the interview process can feel daunting and overwhelming. Ready, Set, Interview! is designed to help these children gain confidence when it comes to interviewing and reframe the process as a time for them to communicate authentically and confidently. Customized sessions will focus on verbal and nonverbal communication, body language, and feeling comfortable in any interview situation.

An initial mock interview is conducted, and the clinician will customize a 3-session plan for enhancing and/or improving skills. Constructive feedback is provided, while keeping the overall goal of allowing your child to shine in mind. Ready, Set, Interview! is taught by a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15+ years of experience in Independent Schools.