Hearing Loss Counseling, Workshops, Consulting – Western MA

I help people understand and navigate the social and emotional impact of hearing loss, primarily through the following services.

1. Social Skills/Emotional Skills Evaluation

I evaluate how well a student with hearing loss is doing with social and emotional life at school, through:

• A review of academic records
• Interviews with the student and identified school personnel
• Specific social observations
• Interviews with parents (if possible)

I then make suggestions for:

• How to improve the development of skills needed to take care of oneself during the school day while participating comfortably socially.
• How school personnel can help the student solve challenges about their use of services or technologies such as FM systems.

2. Self-esteem Counseling

I provide counseling for students who have already been identified as socially isolated in their school. Maybe they have trouble making friends or navigating social situations.

I work on a weekly basis with selected school personnel to help identify opportunities for the student to begin enjoying himself/herself, with support. I also work with the student on developing basic social and communication skills.

When self-esteem starts to improve, I create a transition plan to transfer the support role to appropriate school personnel.

3. Self-Advocacy Skill Development Coaching

I work with students to develop an array of life skills that he/she will need to develop over the K-12 educational spectrum. These skills will help the student become an independent responsible member of the community when high school is completed.

This work is best accomplished through coaching — working with the student and an identified adult.

4. Workshops

I provide workshops for students and in-service trainings for school personnel, parents, and others that focus on helping everyone understand the experience of hearing loss or oral deafness and how to ease the effort to communicate.

I am also available to speak at conferences.

5. Consulting

Sometimes schools and parents need help with specific problems such as resistance to using FM systems.

I offer problem solving and consulting for anyone who might need help navigating the experience of hearing loss.

6. Individual counseling

In addition, I offer counseling for anyone going through a transition with the experience of hearing loss.

Who

My specialty is working with children, teens, schools, and families with children in grades K-12. I also work with adults with hearing loss.

I'm typically hired by:

• Schools (K-12)
• Parents and families
• Senior centers
• Rehabilitation agencies
• Adults with hearing loss or other physical disabilities
• Anyone wanting help with navigating the experience of hearing loss

In schools, my services usually include attendance at all team meetings that are attended by parents. As appropriate, I work with:

• Special education directors
• Teachers
• Principals
• School personnel
• Speech/language pathologists
• Parents

I work with students of all ages. Ideally, the social skill development begins early, in elementary school, before life becomes more complicated. The sooner we begin teaching the skills of self-advocacy, the easier it is to navigate the teenage years.

Where

I primarily serve people in Central and Western Massachusetts:

• Northampton
• Amherst
• Belchertown
• Springfield
• Pittsfield
• Pioneer Valley
• Hampshire County
• Hampden County
• Berkshire County
• Franklin County
• Worcester County

More Information

Contact me for more information.