Innovative Programs

Throughout my career as a psychologist and psychotherapist, I have helped not only individual children and families, but have also been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative school-based programs through which the psychologist's helping reach may be greatly extended. I view an Affective (Emotional Intelligence) curriculum to be an essential element in the educational experience. Instituting such a program was the first of my contributions to the establishment of this concept. The "Magic Circle" - a classroom discussion activity in which all students may share thoughts and feelings on topics of mutual concern (relating to emotional awareness and school, home and peer adjustment) at the elementary school level in Florida, N.Y. and Pine Bush N.Y. school districts.

Since that time, I have been involved in numerous educational projects, which similarly expand the psychologist's influence. I established the Primary Mental Health Project (PMHP) in Pine Bush Schools in 1982. In this project, I trained and supervised paraprofessionals as play therapy aides for elementary school students identified as being at risk of developing more serious emotional/behavioral problems. This project is still in operation and helping children 20 years later. On the secondary level, I developed a counseling group program in which classroom teachers volunteered to serve as "rap group" leaders for students who wanted a venue to discuss school and home related issues (relationships with teachers, parents, peers, substance abuse awareness, etc.) in a safe, caring environment. These teachers met with me weekly for supervision and to address issues that required more intensive professional intervention. I developed a school-wide discipline program that standardized disciplinary codes and teacher responses for the entire Sullivan County BOCES Special Education program; a model therapeutic classroom program for elementary and secondary level emotionally/ behaviorally disordered students, which was presented at statewide professional conferences; and, stress management programs for teachers and paraprofessionals; and a Parenting Skill seminar for parents of Special and Regular Education students.

As an independent consultant with Biofeedback Consultants, Inc. and Dr. Mary Jo Sabo, I spearheaded the development of the first multi-site EEG Biofeedback educational project in a public school setting (Yonkers, NY) in the nation. This project provided EEG training right in the school, and benefited hundreds of students to successfully improve attentional, learning and behavioral disorders they had been struggling with. It was featured nationally in Psychology Today Magazine, Parade Magazine, Natural Living Magazine, and on National Public Radio and Good Morning America.

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