Optimal Parenting provides parent coaching services that focus on supporting and empowering parents in their parenting journey in order to develop, strengthen, and sustain strong and thriving family relationships. I have expertise in working with gifted children, and in social and emotional development.
The Clifton Corner is a safe space of learning to support overwhelmed students who struggle with issues of perfection, motivation, organization, learning differences, and self-esteem.
Through the tools of mindfulness, creativity, leadership and positive psychology, Dr. Sandra E. Clifton, Ed. D. promotes self-discovery and personal accountability to help young people transform their identity to reach new goals of intellectual and personal growth, from middle school through college.
Dr. Clifton has a special affinity with both athletes and artists/musicians who shine with strengths outside of school—but may encounter challenges with time management, confidence, and/or academic insecurities in the classroom. She knows that young people are incredibly capable of succeeding both on and off the court and loves helping to create the right tools to support all of her students.
Dr. Clifton also guides parents through curriculum decisions and school transitions to create more joy in the journey of learning and serves as an independent consultant at schools and organizations to help promote a positive learning environment through seminars and professional workshops.
Ellie Morrissey, MS is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She specializes in complicated cases, particularly Autism, Emotional Disturbance, and severe Learning Disabilities. Ellie worked as a Program/Behavior Specialist at the SELPA level for six years before dedicating herself full-time to her private practice. As an evaluator and team member, Ellie prides herself in being comprehensive, thorough, and collaborative.
Bright Not Broken sheds new light on this vibrant population by identifying who twice-exceptional children are. The authors show what can be done to help 2e children, providing a whole child model for parents and educators to strengthen and develop a child’s innate gifts while also intervening to support the deficits.
Catherine Zakoian, MA, NCC, LPC is a national certified, and licensed professional counselor in private practice in Boulder, Colorado. For over twenty years she has specialized in counseling services for gifted, twice-exceptional (2e), and profoundly gifted children, adolescents, teens, adults, families and organizations. Her earlier career in management within creative entrepreneurial organizations further informs her educational consultation practice where she assists public, independent, and alternative PreK-12 programs and schools employing and serving gifted and neurotypical populations to establish and maintain psychologically healthful workplace and learning environments. She is the author of Raising Gifted Children: A Practical Guide for Parents Facing Big Emotions and Big Potential (Rockridge Press, 2020).
Harris Buller is an attorney specializing in education advocacy services that include IEPs and 504 plans, college and post-grad disability accommodations and Parent-Teacher and Administrative Conferences.
2eNews.com and Variations2e magazine provide readers with high-level information and perspectives about twice-exceptional (2e) education and cognitive diversity. They cover a broad range of topics that are essential for all educators, parents, and paraprofessionals. Full access to the website is free with a free membership.
ASPEN provides families and individuals whose lives are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS, High Functioning Autism), and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities with education about issues surrounding the disorders; support in knowing that families are not alone, and in helping individuals with ASD’s and NLD achieve their maximum potential; advocacy in areas of appropriate educational programs, medical research funding, adult issues and increased public awareness and understanding.
The brightest, most creative children and adults are often being misdiagnosed with behavioral and emotional disorders such as ADHD, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Bipolar, OCD, or Asperger?s. Many receive unneeded medication and inappropriate counseling as a result. Physicians, psychologists, and counselors are unaware of characteristics of gifted children and adults that mimic pathological diagnoses. Six nationally prominent health care professionals describe ways parents and professionals can distinguish between gifted behaviors and pathological behaviors. These authors have brought to light a widespread and serious problem: the wasting of lives from the misdiagnosis of gifted children and adults and the inappropriate treatment that often follows.
Guiding Exceptional Parents, provides services including help with Special Needs Care Navigation, Parent Coaching, or with RDI™. RDI™ helps parents learn how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. Parent Coaching includes developing customized strategies to address the challenges parents face as they work to support their child. Special Needs Care Navigation helps parents of kids with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, or other unidentified challenges.