Nothing is more complex, more unpredictable, and more interesting than the development of families – both the individuals within them and the family structures as a whole. To explore the evolution and development of children (with their different personalities, histories, strengths and weaknesses), and the evolution and development of families composed of individuals, relationships, trials and enthusiasms, is both exciting and daunting.
At the Family Development Center, we help families to develop individual and collective strengths, and we also help them to identify and deal with difficulties. We offer programs that help children to develop their skills (such as Presenter Weekends), and improve their self-confidence (such as GOAL Camps). We help them to clarify and identify their strengths and weaknesses (through Comprehensive Learner Profiles), identify specific learning, behavioral, or socio-emotional problems (through Psychoeducational Assessments), or determine their occupational interests and aspirations (through Occupational Interest Consultations). We work individually with children who have speech and language difficulties, and we provide tutoring, coaching or case management for children with attentional problems or specific learning difficulties. We offer groups that help children and adolescents develop a myriad of social, emotional and behavioral skills. Finally, we offer the services of a team of therapists who have specialized training in and experience with child development.
For parents and families, the Family Development Center offers workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, from parenting gifted children to homework completion strategies. Specific relationships may be strengthened or targeted in classes such as our Mother-Daughter Workshop. We work with domestic helpers to assist them to gain essential knowledge in child development. We offer couples counseling to assist parents to improve their own relationship or to address specific problems, and we also offer a divorce workshop to help families cope with that difficult transition. Sometimes, we offer family counseling to assist families to arrive at a common understanding of or approach to issues.