June 2012 Newsletter
June 2012 Newsletter
Happy Summer! We went
for our first swim a few weeks ago, and it was brisk! I really enjoy swimming
and being in water so I hope the weather warms up. Our Cedarburg office is moving July 1st! But
it’s only 1 block away from the current office.
The space is larger, and we can see more clients there. Jennifer Skinner and JoEllyn Schultz are the
primary therapists out of the Cedarburg office (for now!). Jennifer joins us this month and we are happy
to have her on board! She has been a
school counselor for a few years and sees children and adults. She will be in West Bend
Jennifer Skinner, M.S., T.L.P.C., L.P.S.C.
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional School Counselor with experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families who present with a wide range of clinical needs. She creates a safe, healing environment that is focused on enhancing a client’s resources and strengths. From this foundation, clients are able to identify challenges and set goals, so that they can begin to make changes that will positively affect their lives and sense of self.
Prior to joining Kettle Moraine Counseling, Jennifer worked
as a clinical intern at an outpatient clinic with a culturally diverse
population of at-risk youth who experienced severe trauma including physical,
sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect. Many of the children she worked with
display symptoms such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, impulsivity, and
aggression. She also currently works as a school counselor and has experience
with facilitating and designing various groups catered to specific behavioral
and academic needs for students, such as bully prevention, self-esteem,
character development, problem solving, and other social-emotional issues.
After earning her undergraduate degree from University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Jennifer obtained a Master Degree in clinical and school counseling
from Concordia University
Children/adolescent behavioral & emotional issues
School issues
ADHD
Anxiety
Trauma
Self-esteem
Depression
Adjustment/life transitions
June is already
here. Happy Father’s Day to all of you
and to my own Papa!
Christina Lachner MS TLPC
It is already the end of the
school year, with field trips, graduations, and your children are counting down
the last few days that are left.
Everyone is scrambling to plan out what to do this summer. So, who has time to think about school
re-opening in September? You, of
course! The little things that you do
now before/as school ends will make the start of school much easier. These suggestions that I will be listing
below will make your child get off to a great start in September and his/her
teacher prepared for a new child with new needs or symptoms. Let’s get organized for the next school year
and have a great summer!
1. Get specific feedback from your child’s teacher about his/her major
problems, major strengths or resources, and any techniques that were
particularly effective.
2. If you have given the teacher any articles on ADHD/ADD or your child’s
disabilities, ask the teacher if s/he can forward it (or them) to next year’s
teacher or if s/he prefers just return the materials so that you can forward
them.
3. If your child is continueing in the same school next year, ask this
year’s teacher if s/he can talk to next year’s teacher and share his or her
observations about special needs and effective strategies.
4. If your child is changing schools, ask the Director of Special
Education (if your child is classified) if you can arrange for your child to
get an individual tour of the new school before this school year ends so that
your child isn’t anxious all summer about a new building. If it’s possible for your child to actually
meet next year’s teacher now, that would be very helpful, too.
5. Before school ends, send a brief letter/email to next year’s
teacher(s). If you don’t know the
teacher’s name yet, send it to the guidance department for the receiving school
or the building principal with a note asking them to deliver it to your child’s
teacher’s mailbox once assignments are determined.
6. Make sure you send a letter/email to this year’s teacher(s) thanking
them. There are exceptions, but most
teachers are extremely industrious and have probably made a lot of effort in
helping your child. The same applies to
any school support staff or specialists who you feel did their best to help
your child. You may want to pass a copy
of the letter on to the school principal for the teacher(s), staff, or specialist’s
file.
7. If your child is changing schools, ask the school nurse whether any
medication records are being forwarded, and if so, will any notes about side
effects or cautions be forwarded.
Always ask; schools
do not automatically do this.
8. If your child is taking a medication holiday or break for summer
vacation, find out from the prescribing physician when you should contact him
or her to resume or re-initiate medications.
Since some medications take time to build up in the system, you do not
want to start again the first day of school unless the physician advises
waiting.
In July and August I will suggest
easy things to do that will make the start of school a little less
chaotic. Let’s see you and your child
prepared in September. Have a wonderful
June!
Christina@kettlemorainecounseling.com
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