Parent Coaching and Educational Consultation in Newton

Your child's behavior challenges you at home, and you're unsure how to respond effectively. Perhaps navigating the IEP process feels overwhelming. Newton Neuropsychology Group offers parent coaching and educational consultation with school psychologist Ali Shwartz, Ed.M. We help families throughout Newton and the greater Boston area understand children's behavior and advocate for appropriate educational services.

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When Parenting and School Advocacy Feel Overwhelming

You might feel exhausted by frequent tantrums or power struggles that escalate despite your best efforts. Perhaps you've attended IEP meetings where complex educational jargon left you confused about what services your child needs. These challenges can leave you feeling inadequate as a parent.


The emotional weight can feel significant:


  • You might feel frustrated that strategies suggested by others don't work for your unique child
  • You may experience guilt about not knowing how to manage behaviors or support learning
  • You could feel overwhelmed by the complexity of special education systems and your rights
  • You might worry that your child will fall behind without appropriate support


School psychologist Ali Shwartz provides expert guidance for both behavioral challenges at home and educational advocacy.

Understanding These Support Services

Parent coaching focuses on helping families understand and manage their child's behavior more effectively. When children display challenging behaviors, tantrums, defiance, sibling conflict, difficulty with routines, parent coaching provides personalized guidance based on your child's specific needs and your family's circumstances.


Educational consultation supports families navigating the special education system, particularly the IEP process. Our educational consultant helps you understand your legal rights, prepare for meetings, interpret IEP documents, and advocate for services and accommodations your child needs.


Both services may help when you're facing:


Behavioral challenges: Frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts, difficulty with routines or transitions, sibling conflict, behavioral problems at school, or communication breakdowns.


Educational concerns: Confusion about IEP meetings or documents, uncertainty whether your child qualifies for services, disagreement with school about appropriate accommodations, or difficulty understanding assessments.


Ali Shwartz brings expertise as a school psychologist with deep understanding of both child development and educational systems.

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Expert Guidance From a School Psychologist

Ali Shwartz, Ed.M., is a licensed school psychologist with specialized training in both child behavior management and educational systems. This combination allows her to help families address challenges comprehensively, both at home and at school.


As a school psychologist, Ali understands how children develop, what drives challenging behaviors, and which interventions work for different developmental stages. She creates tailored plans based on thorough understanding of your situation rather than providing generic advice.


For educational consultation, Ali's insider knowledge of school systems proves invaluable. She understands how IEP meetings function, what schools can provide, and which accommodations are most effective.

Many families come after completing neuropsychological evaluations. When Ali provides coaching or consultation following evaluation, she already understands your child's cognitive profile.

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What These Services Provide

Parent coaching sessions are designed to give you actionable strategies and ongoing support. Here's what you can expect:

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Practical Behavioral Strategies

Learn specific techniques to manage challenging behaviors and support emotional regulation, concrete approaches you can implement immediately at home.

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Increased Parenting Confidence

Develop skills and understanding that help you respond effectively rather than feeling helpless when challenges arise.

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Clear Understanding of Rights

Know your legal rights in the special education process and what schools must provide when children have documented needs.

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Effective School Communication

Learn how to articulate your child's needs clearly, respond to school communications effectively, and advocate for appropriate accommodations.

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Coordinated Support Systems

Receive guidance on collaborating with teachers, therapists, and other professionals to create comprehensive support across all environments.

Moving Forward With Support and Clarity

Without appropriate guidance, behavioral challenges often persist or escalate. Parents may continue trying strategies that don't work. Without effective IEP advocacy, children may not receive accommodations they need, leading to academic struggles. Parents may feel increasingly powerless watching their child struggle.


With expert parent coaching and educational consultation, meaningful change becomes possible. You can learn strategies that actually work for your specific child. Family dynamics often improve as you respond to challenging behaviors more consistently. For educational advocacy, understanding your rights and the IEP process allows you to ensure your child receives appropriate support.

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Get Support for Your Family Today

If you're struggling with behavioral challenges at home or need help navigating the IEP process, we can help. School psychologist Ali Shwartz provides parent coaching and educational consultation for families throughout Newton and the greater Boston area.


These services offer personalized guidance tailored to your child's needs and your family's circumstances.

Our Parent Coaching and Educational Consultation Process

01

Initial Consultation

We meet with parents for an initial consultation to understand your family's background, current concerns, and goals. For parent coaching, we discuss your child's challenging behaviors and what you've tried. For educational consultation, we review your child's IEP documents and specific advocacy needs. This session typically involves only parents and lasts approximately one hour.

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Observations, Collaboration, and Strategy Development

Subsequent sessions may include various components depending on your needs. For parent coaching, Ali may observe your child to understand behavioral patterns. She'll provide specific recommendations for managing behaviors and supporting emotional regulation. For educational consultation, Ali may attend IEP meetings with you, help you prepare written responses, communicate directly with school personnel, or review assessments. She may collaborate with teachers, therapists, or other professionals.

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Implementation Support and Next Steps

Depending on your family's needs, next steps may include short-term coaching to support strategy implementation, ongoing consultation as new challenges arise, specific intervention recommendations, or referrals to external specialists. The goal is providing sufficient guidance that you feel equipped to manage situations independently.

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Behavioral Support Tailored to Your Family

Parent coaching helps when you're facing frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts. You'll learn strategies to de-escalate situations and teach your child healthy emotional regulation. When your child struggles with routines or transitions, you'll discover ways to create predictable structures that reduce resistance.


For sibling conflict, coaching provides tools to foster positive relationships and resolve disputes constructively. When behavioral challenges occur at home or school, you'll develop consistent approaches that encourage desired behaviors. When you feel overwhelmed or unsure how to respond, coaching offers personalized guidance.


Ali takes time to understand your specific situation, your child's temperament, your family dynamics, what you've tried, before providing recommendations tailored to what will actually work.

Expert IEP Advocacy and School Navigation

The IEP process can feel overwhelmingly complex. Our educational consultant guides you every step of the way, providing expert knowledge to ensure your child receives appropriate services.


We work collaboratively with you to advocate for specific services and accommodations your child needs. From attending meetings with school staff to articulating your child's strengths and challenges, we're your dedicated partners.


Our consultant meticulously reviews all aspects of the IEP, identifying areas for improvement, ensuring accuracy, and clarifying complex language. We assist you in drafting clear responses to the school. Our consultant can also communicate directly with the school and attend meetings with you.



How educational consultation helps: Clarify your rights in the special education process. Strategize for IEP meetings. Decipher educational jargon. Ensure appropriate services for your child's unique learning style. Promote effective communication between you and school personnel.

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Common Questions About These Services

  • Is parent coaching or educational consultation covered by insurance?

    No, these services are not typically covered by insurance. They are private-pay services. We discuss fees during your initial consultation.

  • How many sessions will I need?

    This varies based on your specific needs. Some families benefit from a few consultations. Others prefer ongoing coaching as new challenges arise. We discuss expected service length during your initial consultation.

  • Can you attend IEP meetings with me?

    Yes. Ali can attend IEP meetings with you to provide support, help articulate your child's needs, and advocate for appropriate services. She can also help you prepare for meetings beforehand.

  • What if I've already tried many parenting strategies without success?

    This is common and doesn't mean you're failing as a parent. Often, strategies don't work because they aren't tailored to your child's specific needs. Ali takes time to understand your unique situation before providing recommendations.

Take the First Step Toward Confident Parenting and Advocacy

Whether you need support managing challenging behaviors at home or guidance navigating the IEP process, school psychologist Ali Shwartz can help. Contact Newton Neuropsychology Group today for expert parent coaching and educational consultation.