Description of Services 2018

Description of Service 2018

All Counselors are Licensed Therapist and Master and Doctoral Level Counselors and Special Educators.

Therapeutic Social Skills Groups (ages 5-adult). We use role-playing, modeling, and direct instruction to target the specific needs and abilities of each child and unique group. After an initial interview group placement is made based on the individuals; age, ability, and needs. Each of our dozen plus groups meet weekly for an hour at the same day and time.  (These are some of our topics- Repelling bullies, Make and Keep Friends, Join Conversations, Turn Taking, Body Language, Impulse Control, etc.). We use our proprietary curriculum of over 90-targeted topics.

Tutoring In-home Day-time, after school and weekend one-on-one tutoring for students with “varying needs with or without an IEP/504”, pre-K to college, most subjects, including homeschooled, in Boca Raton and surrounding cities. Our Certified ESE Teachers will tutor your child in your home or public library. (Homework help, FSA Reading, Writing or Math skills, Study skills, Remedial Reading/Math and Test Taking skills).

Counseling/Coaching for individuals with social/behavioral/educational needs and their families. (Challenges include but not limited to-Technology Addiction, Anger Issues, Impulsivity, Self-Regulation, Avoidance, Boundary Setting, Peer /Sibling Relations, Perception Taking, Communication, etc.)

Executive Functioning In-home or in our office. We merge the three areas of “soft skills”, “executive functioning” and “social skills” to create this one of a kind curricula. Studies suggest that having the ability to do a job is not enough to guarantee success. Our young people must also have the ability to use their learned skills in a variety of settings and to be able to adjust to the way others perceive situations. We use our proprietary workbooks to build a reference library for our young people to use and take with them as they develop. (Grades 3-college)

Behavior Modification Program (ages 4-adult). In-home or in our office We teach behavior modification techniques and use principals of ABA, CBT, ToM and other scientifically-based approaches. Our philosophy is to empower parents and children with the “tools” and techniques needed to develop positive behaviors that can be generalized to other settings.

College/Life and Socialization Preparation Program (18-late 20’s). Our proprietary program uses a multi-faceted approach to prepare individuals for social and independent living success in college and in their chosen careers. (Some of the topics are: effective problem solving, following directions, time management, goal setting, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, stress management, presentation skills, conflict resolution, and more).

DrNachOnline.com Online resources to overcome life’s challenges. Soft Skills including- Problem Solving, Following Directions, Time Management, Goal Setting, Organization, Stress Management, Conflict Resolution and more.

Certified and Registered Therapy Dog “Daisy” is always around to lend a helping paw!

Educational Consulting Take us with you to school, IEP and 504 development, school/program and service placement, advocacy. Public and private school observations/training.

Professional/Staff Development (Nation-wide) Specializing in Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD and more for educators, administrators, school staff, therapists, OT, SLP, parent groups, community agencies.

Workshops for Parents Transitioning into The New School Year: Establishing Routines, Bully Proofing, Technology Addiction, Behavioral Issues, Preparing for College Living and much more. Practical strategies parents can use.

Summer/Winter Camp for children and young teens ages 5-14, who may have “social/behavioral needs”. All-natural snacks included. (Science/Music/Art Therapies, Social Skills Infused Curriculum, etc.).

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Parent Lectures

Parent Lectures

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Frustrated? We Have Solutions!

Frustrated? We Have Solutions!

 

Is getting HW done a nightmare in your home?

Our executive functioning programs can give your children the skills they need to become organized, manage their time and avoid procrastinating.

Does your child spend a lot of time by themselves with their technology?

Our social skills groups can give them the skills they need to make and nurture friendship.

Are bullies destroying your child’s peace of mind?

Our “Bully-Proofing” programs can give your child the skills and abilities to avoid being bullied, fend off “mean” people and become empowered.

Does your child’s behavior cause problems for them and others?

Our behavior modification programs can help your children gain control over their ability to regulate themselves.

Are you a parent of a child with a new diagnosis and don’t know what to do next?

Our parent training workshops and individualized parent counseling can give you the tools to feel confident and empowered.

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Balance School and Life: Tools for Parents

Balance School and Life: Tools for Parents

As parents, we do not often think of our children as having jobs, but they really do. The Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines a “job” as “a specific, duty, role, or function” (2017). In school and in other facets of their young lives we want our children to learn to be successful. As I have spent nearly 25 years of my life teaching and counseling children, teens, young adults and their families I have found that success in life does not often come without a plan and hard work.

The following are some specifics that will lead to success for both you and your children…

  • Keep an updated schedule

It is important to know what you need to get done, so that you can monitor if it is getting done and when. Sometimes, the balance between school and life is lacking because you do not have a clear picture of what you should be doing. Pencil in your tasks in your agenda early on. This is the time to download your calendar app if you haven’t already. Of course, it is important to know which tasks belong in your calendar and which ones aren’t important enough to warrant a mention.

  • Don’t procrastinate

Procrastinating is fun when you are doing it-until you actually have to do the task you kept pushing to the last minute. However, tempting it is to hold off until the last minute, it is best to do your tasks when they need to be done so that you can avoid the stress that comes with the eleventh hour.

  • Get enough sleep

Being well rested is a key ingredient in performing your tasks well. A good night’s sleep can never be overrated. Sometimes you might not sleep well, but always ensuring that getting enough sleep every night is a priority in your life.

  • Prioritize your work

So you have all these tasks that you need to do, but do you really have to do them today? It is important to prioritize your tasks in such a way that you have freedom to leave out certain tasks in your day. Pick three tasks that you need to complete every day. These tasks could be home or school related. After completing this, you are free to spend the rest of your time as you wish.

  • Avoid distractions

When you have a busy schedule that involves balancing school and home-life, you have to be careful not to get too distracted in your day to day life. Distractions interfere with the completion of your tasks, which means time allotted for certain tasks gets taken up by others. The end result is that you will end up with some undone tasks which will creep into the next day and the cycle will continue endlessly.

  • Learn to say no

It is called school-life balance but it is not actually a perfect balance. Like the saying goes, you can have it all but not all at once. At some point, something will have to take the back bench. Just because you get eight hours of sleep doesn’t mean everything else will require an exact eight hours. This means that sometimes you will have to say no to social events when your friends ask. Maybe when you are done with school, you can recover the lost time by going to as many birthday parties and sporting events as you can.

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Certified

Developmental and Behavioral Specialist

For more information about the services available at the Support for Students Growth Center in Boca Raton, FL, visit our website at:

https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com

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Parent Workshop Series

Parent Workshop Series

Professionally Prepared and Presented
by Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Certified
Developmental and Behavioral Specialist

Transitioning Into The New School Year: Establishing Routines

September 5, 2018
Practical strategies parents can use to teach their children the “easy” way to make this new school year, stress-free, fun and productive.

Help! My Child is Addicted to Their Screens: Smartphones and Tablets, the Necessary Evils

October 3, 2018

Do you feel like your child is addicted to their “screens”? Learn why this may be the case and what you can do to help restore balance in your child’s life and in your home.

Is Your Child Targeted by Bullies?
November 7, 2018

Does your child seem to attract bullies? There may be things they are unintentionally doing that attracts bullies.
Gain the “tools” you can use to help them “repel” these bullies.

Methods to Navigate ADHD in the Home
December 5, 2018

Solutions for parents and others to use to help the child with ADHD manage their emotions and behavior at home.

Planning, Organizing and Completing Tasks: Executive Functioning Skills and Students with Various Learning Challenges.
January 9, 2019

Strategies for parents to use with their children who struggle with getting things done.

Promoting Behavioral, Academic and Social Success for Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
February 6, 2019

Meaningful discussion and treatments directed to improve behavior, academic success and social relationships.

Is Your Child with a Social, Learning or Maturity Challenges About to Begin College? Learn What You Can Do to Help
March 6, 2019

Learn about what you can do to empower your child who is academically ready for college, but, perhaps not ready based on their level of maturity.

How to Take the “Rivalry” out of Sibling Rivalry
April 3, 2019

How to ensure all family members feel they are valued and important. Siblings that feel “left out” are at greater risk of antisocial behaviors, learn what you can do so all children feel appreciated.

Planning for a Successful Summer
May 1, 2019

Don’t leave your summer to chance, we will be providing you with strategies you can employ to enhance the summer “down time”. Plan ahead strategically and enjoy the summer months with those you love most.

Location:
The Support for Students Growth Center Medplex Bldg.
5458 Town Center Rd., Suite 8 (2nd floor)
Boca Raton, FL 33486
561-990-7305

Fees:
$69 per person for each workshop
Add $25 for an additional family member

Bonus:
Prepay for 7 workshops, get 2 free (save $138)

Register online at:
https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com/workshops-ceu-courses/
In the “Workshop” section or bring/mail a check to our Boca Raton office

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School-Year Groups at Support for Students Growth Center

Dear Parents and Colleagues,

To better help you schedule all your child’s activities this upcoming school-year, we wanted to give you details on when our “Social Skills”, “Executive Functioning”, “Bully-Proofing “and “Life-Skills and College Preparation” groups will be meeting.

(All groups meet for 1 hour, applications and interviews are required for all new clients)

Therapeutic Social Skills Groups

*Elementary school aged groups meet: Tuesday’s, or Thursday’s at 4:00 or for a mixed, elementary and middle school group on Friday at 5:15
*Elementary/Middle school aged mixed-groups meet: Friday at 5:15
*Middle School aged mixed groups meet: Tuesday’s at 6:45
*Teen Girls, ages 12 and over group: Wednesday 6:15
*Teen Boys, ages 12 and over group: Thursday 5:30
*Adult group, ages 15 and over: Thursday’s at 7:30

Executive Functioning Groups

(How to plan, organize and follow-through)

*Elementary (grade 3+) and Middle School aged meet: Tuesday’s at 5:30
*Middle and High School aged meet: Wednesday’s at 5:15

Bully-Proofing Program

*Elementary and Middle School aged meet: Monday’s at 5:30
*Middle and High School aged meet: Monday’s at 6:45

Life-Skills and College Preparation

*Ages 15- adult meet: Thursday’s at 6:30

Call us or watch our website as additional group sections will open based on need.
Download the 2018 parent schedule

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.
Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates
5458 Town Center Rd, #8, Boca Raton, FL 33486
561-990-7305(Boca office) 561-465-3564(Fax)
Info@SuportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com
www.SuportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

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Organizational Skills

How Organizational Skills Can Increase Joy and Productivity

Good organizational skills can prove beneficial in many areas of life, including personal, school, and business areas. Organization can increase a person’s general productivity, assignment completion, project management, and can even affect his memory and retention skills. These skills are not acquired overnight – it will take a lot of hard work and practice. But with a little guidance and the right tools, anyone can learn how to stop hunting for missing things and become better organized.

To effectively learn better organization skills, a person must first learn efficient training tools and tips to help him reach his goals. With this help, everyone can take a better look at their current habits and form a new plan to become better organized in life.

  • Examine current habits and routines that are not organized
  • Learn to prioritize your time schedule and daily tasks
  • Determine ways of storing information and supplies
  • Learn to organize personal, school, and work space
  • Learn to resist procrastination
  • Make plans to stay organized in the future

Out of clutter, find simplicity.
Albert Einstein

Minimize the Distractions

One of the hardest parts about getting organized is going through and minimizing the things that cause distractions. When you find yourself among the many things we want and need to do, it can seem overwhelming. But by taking it one step at a time, and remembering to breathe, and monitoring your thoughts, you can begin to de-clutter your life and start on the path to successful organization.

Just Do it

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed about taking on the task of removing our clutter and tend to make excuses as to why it doesn’t get done. We can claim that we don’t have the time, or that there is too much to do at once. But as Nike says, we have to “Just Do It” and we have to throw away our excuses and dive in. Make a plan on how you can get started, such as making a ‘Things To-Do calendar’. Stick with your plan until the job is complete, and don’t let excuses hinder your success.

Helpful tips

  • Make a calendar with time to do priorities
  • Divide the areas that need to be conquered into manageable pieces
  • Make a list of all tasks (those things we want to do and need to do)
  • Decide what activities need to take priority

Three Boxes: Keep, Donate, and Trash

The most common approach to clearing out clutter is the Three Boxes method. This method forces a decision to be made about each item you touch as you go through your clutter. You don’t get to put it aside or come back to it later. Pick up an item, one at a time, and think about which box it should go in. Try not to release the item until a decision is made. (Ask a trusted friend, or relative, or counselor, for help if needed.

Box 1 – Items to Keep: This box is for items you would like to keep in your area or maybe even put away for safe keeping (such as heirlooms or special gifts). This is not to be confused with the ‘things I might need later’ type of thinking. Only keep items that have value and meaning to you.

Box 2 – Items to Donate: This box is for items that you realize you no longer need or want. Items in this box can be donated or sold at a rummage sale, just as long as it leaves the clutter!

Box 3 – Trash: This box is for the things that you do not need or want and cannot be donated or given away. This often includes old papers or documents, mail, or broken items. Once this box is full or complete, remove it from the area right away and don’t give it a second look.

Learn more about Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Certified, owner of the Support for Students Growth Center and Associates in Boca Raton, Florida, services, groups, classes and workshops at https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com

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Independence Day and Our Love Ones with Autism, ADHD or PTSD

Independence Day and Our Love Ones with Autism, ADHD or PTSD

For most people celebrating Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is a time for the “4 F’s”, fun, food, family and friends. As a child growing up in Brooklyn my friends and family enjoyed many years of spectacular firework displays. I can recall wonderful times watching and participating in 4th of July picnics and firework displays.

My childhood memories of the Fourth of July may be different from some others. For some people the sight and sound of M80’s and firecrackers exploding and bottle rockets and mortars exploding in the sky is a sensory rich “horror show”. Many of the people who may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other life challenges may be hypersensitive to sensory rich activities. They may experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety due to overstimulation to sight, sound, smell, touch and even past memories being triggered. Most of the people experiencing these types of life challenges often do best in consistent and predictable environments.

To help increase further understanding as to why some people may become overly anxious or stressed during times of celebrations and parties we can look to the work of the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow identified that human beings have five basic human needs and the unpredictability and sensory stimulation prevents the basic needs of feeling “safe” and “belonging”. This lack of feeling safe and belonging triggers the Fight or Flight response and therefore lead to the reactive “meltdowns” behaviors or elopement we may see from our loved ones.

Fortunately, there are measures we can take to help those children and others who can become overwhelmed by the festivities and celebration of our Countries Independence.

  1. We can prepare those who may be sensitive to fireworks and crowds by “modeling” what they should expect.
  2. During the times of greatest stimulation encourage our child to use a “stim” toy, such as a spinner, squeeze toy, or glow sticks.
  3. We can look for a quieter and less congested area to watch the show.
  4. We can plan ahead for the direction smoke may blow and look to avoid, nose plugs may work for some.
  5. We can encourage the child to use noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, sunglasses, or listen to music.
  6. We may choose to watch the fireworks show from indoors or inside an air-conditioned car with the child or others.
  7. We must provide our loved ones with unconditional love and not be judgmental or critical of their actions.

Ultimately, by getting to know how our loved ones react to sensory rich situations we can adapt their environment so that they can still participate and not be excluded from the fun.

Thank you to all the parents and children who shared their experiences in creating this overview.

Dr. Eric J. Nach

https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com

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Free Parkland Grief Support Groups

Parkland Participant Flyer

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Smart Phone and Tablet Addiction

Smart Phone and Tablet Addiction

Smart phone and “tablet” addiction can be defined as problematic, dysfunctional use of the mobile phone and/or tablet, with the following characteristics and symptoms:

  • A constant preoccupation to use the smart phone to make phone calls or send text messages or connect with various forms of social media (Facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc. and activities associated with those activities.
  • The individuals need to increase the frequency and duration used to make phone calls, emails and sending text and photo messages.
  • Unsuccessful recurring attempts to cease or reduce the number of phone calls made, emails sent, and text and photo messages sent.
  • Withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety and depression associated with attempts to cease or reduce the number and time of phone calls, emails, social media posts and the number of text messages sent;
  • Making longer phone calls, sending a larger number of text messages and spending more time on social media than originally intended.
  • Academic, financial, career, family and social problems caused by mobile phone and/or tablet use.
  • Lying to family and friends to conceal the costs of and the time devoted to making phone calls and sending text messages.
  • Use of the mobile phone as a way of escaping from real problems or as a mood enhancer (to relieve loneliness, anxiety, depression or guilt).

Addiction or over dependency to the mobile phone and/or tablets is not a homogeneous phenomenon, anyone with access to this form of technology can become addicted.

Rarely a day goes by where I do not have a parent telling me how much their child’s smart phone and tablet dependency is causing conflict at home and interfering with their child’s emotional, academic and social development. I have done a considerable amount of research on the topic and have spoken to many professionals, parents, siblings and students themselves about the topic. I created a workshop specifically for you to become empowered with the “tools” you need to handle this dilemma of the current day.

As our parents did not have to deal with this technology as we were growing up, this over dependency on technology is a new problem. You don’t have to go it alone. The following link will provide you with all the details, if you can not make the workshop on Friday April 20th, I would be glad to meet with you individually. Call Paula at my office to schedule an appointment. I look forward to seeing you on Friday.  https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com/product/help-my-child-is-addicted-to-their-screens/
(SPECIAL: Save $20 by calling the office to register, now!)

Research-based comments:

  • In the view of a recent Columbia University study, “communication, responsibility, and relationships all seem to be negatively influenced by the use of text messaging” in both early and late adolescent groups. (V., 2011)
  • Frequent mobile phone use has been associated with stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among youngsters. (Thomée1S, 2011)
  • Yen et al. cite “withdrawal symptoms without cellular phone use” as a typical psychological reaction in adolescents to the removal of cell phone access. (Yen CF, 2009)
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