Ability Resource Center - Building On Strengths

Programs and Services

Consultations
Consultations are one-time meetings with a member of our clinical team. You may schedule a consultation in order to receive advice on a particular concern or to determine if on-going work is appropriate for you or your family. Initial consultations are also a required part of being considered for one of our group programs.

ADHD Evaluations
While there is no definitive test to diagnose ADHD, evaluation standards have been been established by medical and psychological associations. (To see these standards click on the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosing ADHD or the National Institute of Mental Health guidelines for diagnosing ADHD). The Ability Resource Center evaluation and diagnostic process includes the use of a medical prescreen, an extensive clinical interview, ADHD rating scales, collaboration with other professionals, and a careful differential diagnosis. The diagnostic procedures we follow have been developed by three nationally known ADHD specialists. A typical evaluation requires three to five hours of clinical assessment.

Individual, Family, and Child Counseling
Counseling is the process of receiving support and guidance to help address a developmental, emotional, or family difficulty. For children with neuro-developmental differences and their families, counseling with a therapist who specializes in this area can offer helpful information, provide practical strategies, improve self-esteem, and enhance important life skills such as communication, social, decision making, and problem solving. Counseling can also help you develop specialized parenting approaches, resolve family conflicts, and improve academic performance. For adults with NAD, counseling improves self-understanding and provides a safe place to grieve losses. A therapist who understands the difficulties of living with neuro-developmental differences can help individuals develop practical strategies to compensate for areas of weakness, learn new skills, and make positive changes in order to achieve goals.

Mental Health Group Programs

Co-Ed Video & Discussion Group for Middle School and High School Students By viewing segments of Hollywood and specialty videos, and using interactive exercises we will build a supportive context to explore topics like individual strengths and challenges, how to negotiate effectively with parents, better manage school and homework, build and maintain friendships, successfully connect with the opposite sex, handle pressure to use alcohol and drugs. (Group members will have input on topic areas).

There are two versions of this program. Both groups will meet on Fridays starting February 13th in our Walnut Creek offices for 6 weeks (no meeting on February 27th). The middle school version will meet at 3:45pm and the high school version will meet at 4:45pm. Each group program last for one hour.

Call for more information.



Click here to download the registration form.

Fall Community Presentations


Parenting Teens with AD/HD: A Tightrope Walk- While adolescence is a time of increased independence and identity formation, typically the teen with AD/HD struggles with executive functioning, emotional, or social challenges causing parents to micro-manage and over-function. At the same time, teens with AD/HD too frequently fail to meet performance expectations and often lack deep insight into his/her own challenges. Both teen and family need to walk a thin line in pursuit of the teen's successful transition to adulthood. This presentation, intended for parents, will provide concrete and practical approaches to support teenagers' success at home and at school. Presented by Glenn Gelfenbein, LMFT at the Ability Resource Center's Walnut Creek office on Saturday, September 27, 2009, from 10:00 to 11:30 am.

Additional Workshops and Presentations

We offer a range of presentations and lectures to parent groups, teachers, mental health, and other healthcare providers. Here is a sampling of the presentations we can provide:
  • An Overview of the Primary Types of Neuro-Developmental Disorders
  • A Learning and Attention Simulation
  • The Basics of Understanding and Treating ADHD
  • The Basics of Understanding and Treating Learning Disabilities
  • Promoting Academic Success for Children with Neuro-Developmental Differences
  • Research on Successful / Resilient Adults with Neuro-Developmental Differences and the Implications for Parents, Teachers, and Mental Health Providers
  • Effective Mental Health Interventions for Children and Adults with LAD
  • Teaching Strategies That Work for Children with Neuro-Developmental Differences
  • Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: What Are They and How Do We Promote Success for Children with Them?
  • Raising Children with Neuro-Developmental Differences: The Impact on the Family
  • Neuro-Developmental Differences and Delinquency: Is There a Connection?
  • Neuro-Developmental Differences and Substance Abuse: Are Teens and Adults at a Higher Risk?
  • Ending the Homework Wars: Strategies for Parents
  • For Parents:
    • Building Your Child's Skills: The Steps to Effective Skill Building
    • Grieving the Loss of the Perfect Child & Loving Your Child for who s/he is
    • What You Can Do to Promote Your Child's Career Identity
    • Learning to Effectively Advocate for Your Child
To meet the needs of a particular group, specifically designed trainings are available.

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