Ages 6 to 16

All children have individual cognitive strengths and weaknesses, as well as particular interests and affinities. It is often quite helpful to know what these are in order to maximize academic success and to plan curricular and extra-curricular activities. In this comprehensive testing process, children are actively engaged in learning about their own strengths and finding positive ways to enhance or capitalize on them.

Ages 12 to 20.

In this comprehensive Occupational Interest Program, individuals meet first briefly with a therapist to discuss occupations and interests. They then take a number of specifically-designed tests to assess occupational interests, skills, and personality. A follow-up session and a brief written report help young people to further understand their own occupational leanings and abilities.

Campers Ages 8 to 12, Counselors-In-Training ages 13 to 16.

Offered on one weekend of every month, the purpose of the GOAL camp is to build self-esteem, self-confidence, leadership and social skills through outdoor (or indoor) adventure learning. Please see the website at www.goalasia.org.

Ages 11 to 18

Including the trademark “Think on Your Feet®” program developed for executive training by the Lam Institute and adapted by the Blurton Child and Family Center for use with adolescents, this Saturday-Sunday overnight workshop helps teens and pre-teens to learn to be effective speakers. During the program, they will learn to organize and structure their ideas to deliver their communications with Clarity, Brevity, and Impact. They will also develop the skills needed for interviews and one to one interactions.

Ages 11 to 18

A natural follow-up of “Think On Your Feet®” is the Skilled Presenter™ which examines the mechanics of how to deliver a presentation. We focus on how others see you. Special emphasis on organizing your presentation; polishing performing skills such as voice, eye contact, gestures, stance, as well as preparing dynamic visuals. Sharpen your child’s life skill of communication to enable greater comfort and confidence in both small group and large group presentations.

Ages 13 to 18

Young people with attentional problems often face many of the same problems and challenges: nagging (or concerned) parents, angry teachers, and a sense of failure or guilt. They must prepare to apply for college, transition to college, and then manage the endless details of living independently while also attending classes and completing homework. They must learn to manage their time, setting their priorities and then acting on them, and they must struggle to resist compelling and procrastinatory temptations: computer games, parties, television and Facebook. Our ADHD workshop is a place for young people with ADHD to meet each other, gain a positive and proactive understanding of ADHD (learning what it is and, more importantly, what it is not), and learn strategies to help them cope with the challenges of adolescence.

Although we strongly recommend that adolescents attend our group workshop, it is also possible to arrange an individual workshop that is tailored to specific problems, issues, circumstances, goals, strengths, interests and weaknesses. Beginning with providing a young person with a firm understanding of himself both as an individual and as an individual with ADHD, the ADHD coach will assist a young person to develop homework strategies, communication skills, self-advocacy skills, and real-world competence.

The entire process of picking out universities and coordinating and filling out the necessary applications can be completely overwhelming, particularly when applying to universities in the United States. In an ideal world, Senior year should be fun. But fitting the college application process into ongoing class deadlines and social obligations is stressful, anxiety-producing and sometimes less than conducive to peaceful interactions with your parents. Save yourself (and your parents) the stress of coordinating this process – work with a counselor who can help you to make decisions and pull together the pieces in an orderly manner.

It is sometimes difficult to keep track of progress, grades and homework in several different classes and with several different teachers. Our case managers check in with teachers each week, evaluate performance and make suggestions, and meet with or send a detailed email to adolescents and their parents to review the week’s work. If other professionals are involved (e.g., private tutors or doctors), case managers work with them to develop a reporting system that “pulls together the pieces” so that parents and kids are not overwhelmed by many sources of information.

For adolescents in their first year of university, it is sometimes helpful to check in with a mentor or coach to help review the week, discuss issues as they come up, and get support during the difficult first year of living away from home. Through e-therapy, students can “meet” once a week with a counselor to talk about their classes, their social life, their problems and even their diet! Through Skype or ichat, students can access a little bit of extra support when they don’t want to burden Mom and Dad. .

Let’s face it: It costs money. It stinks. And it could get you kicked out of school. This is one monkey you don’t want on your back for the next sixty years. This Friday evening class runs for six weeks and helps you to understand the dangers of smoking, motivates you to quit smoking, and gives you tools to stop smoking. After that, it’s pretty much up to you!