Teens

Many capable and talented teens struggle emotionally, academically and socially, not because of lack of care or effort. After repeated attempts to succeed, teens can find themselves disheartened when they enter a cycle where their efforts repeatedly fall short of the expectations and demands placed on them. When they experience success, it can feel brief and fleeting, especially when this success is frequently followed by some negative result, experience or feedback. This means that despite the best efforts of students, parents and educators, engaging in the act of learning or being in school can become a traumatic experience.

Mike works with teens to help them identify an educational path that will help them feel like a successful and valued member of their community. It is essential that each individual feels heard, seen and understood. After meeting with parents or guardians to gain insight into the student's educational journey and review any available assessment information, Mike meets with teens to better understand their experiences. Mike then works in partnership with teens to identify their strengths, create opportunities to open their aperture to understand possibilities, develop a plan and ensure that the necessary supports are in place to begin to act on their plan. This can include helping students and their families understand and access additional non-school based support services like counseling, assessment psychiatry, executive functioning support, etc. As plans are implemented, ongoing review is often important to ensure that the plan is working and that modifications to the plan are made as needed to ensure success.