Additional Information
Where are appointments held?
All coaching sessions are held at the Clifton Corner--or through online support via the phone, Skype or Zoom.
Why do all individualized sessions occur at the Clifton Corner?
My private practice is created to be a special space that supports learning in an atmosphere of intellectual fun. Clifton Corner provides a safe, creative environment free of conflicting family demands and/or interruptions so that we can focus on achieving academic excellence together without other distractions and/or disruptions.
How often do we meet, and for how long?
Sessions occur a minimum of one time per week, for 50 minutes. Some students schedule multiple appointments each week to accommodate additional academic demands and/or accelerate growth. Sandra requires a minimum of three months (aka, “a Corner semester") for the initial commitment, in order to establish rapport, evaluate learning needs, and to make progress.
Do you take insurance
Sandra is in private practice and, as such, the Clifton Corner does not file insurance claims or work in the medical model.
What happens during coaching sessions?
Individualized sessions are tailored for each particular student’s academic and individual needs, which are anchored in effective organizational tools, emotional literacy, and proven teaching strategies.
How is educational therapy different from traditional tutoring -or- psychotherapy?
Traditional tutoring stresses the intellectual aspects of performance in the classroom, but Sandra focuses on the process of learning as a certified coach and Board Certified Educational Therapist. Holistic tools and techniques of Social & Emotional Intelligence are also integrated into each session, and combined with confidence coaching, to improve students' class participation, strengthen relationships with teachers/peers, highlight individual learning styles, increase extra-curricular involvement, and to enhance overall enthusiasm for the educational journey. Please read more information about educational therapy here at this link.
While much of educational therapy does translate in wonderful ways into other areas of our clients' lives, educational therapy is not intended to replace traditional psychotherapy for either students or their parents. Sandra does support "Highly Sensitive & Twice Exceptional Students" through the tools of Emotional Intelligence, but a traditional therapeutic situation would involve significant aspects of these issues: school refusal and/or truancy; extended diagnosed depression; hostility and or violent outbursts, either at home or school; and/or a personality disorder, attempted suicide, drug abuse, and/or other symptoms of a serious clinical condition. In these cases, families are referred to an additional team of qualified professionals best suited to address issues outside Sandra's scope of improving academic engagement and strengthening scholastic success.
That said, through academic coaching and educational interventions, Sandra does address these aspects of students' lives: a lack of focus at school; low self-esteem as a result of poor homework investment and/or social relationships; mediocre motivation due to little interest in subjects/classes; difficulty with juggling various demands related to struggles with Executive Functioning; angst around preparation and organization; exam and writing anxiety related to unrealistic expectations, perfectionism and internal pressure to perform.
How do parents keep up-to-date with what happens in coaching sessions?
In addition to regular email correspondence/reflections about your child's learning process, Sandra is in contact with schools and families to facilitate each student’s individual improvement and progress through conversations with neuropsych evaluators, school administrators, learning specialists, deans, and classroom teachers.
How can we measure success at the Corner?
Families at the Corner invest in the journey of learning and understand that external achievement is icing: earning specific grades and achieving certain test scores are often wonderful “by-products” of improved academic investment–we focus on sharpening critical thinking skills, increasing academic confidence, and investing in the adventure of discovery, creativity, and authenticity.
