Within my own assessment career I conducted or reviewed over 4500 evaluations before I retired that portion of my practice. During those years, my clients and colleagues would have told you that I provided extremely in-depth, customized, individualized evaluations that provided invaluable information to parents, educators, therapeutic professionals, and even psychiatrists.

Today, while I no longer offer assessment services through my practice, I bring my wealth of expertise to Assessment Consultation and Review Services to help you figure out exactly what you need when looking for a new evaluation. If this isn’t your first time around with testing, I can also review your existing records and provide in-depth interpretations and detailed information to address the gaps in your evaluation record. Don’t go it alone! Many of the professionals who are testing today are not properly trained to meet the unique assessment needs of gifted, twice-exceptional, and other divergent populations. So before you book that expensive evaluation, let’s talk. I will guide you with specific information so you’ll know exactly what tests you need and what questions you can expect to have answered within the assessment. I can also be that professional in your corner who looks over your evaluation to make sure you get what you paid for and that your evaluation data are interpreted correctly.

I’ve been around a long time, and in my 30 years of practice, I’ve pretty much seen it all. While I specialize in educationally related services and I’m licensed in mental health, I also have doctoral-level degrees in naturopathy and special education. These areas of additional training often allow me to see the big picture and pull a lot of seemingly disparate pieces together to help you prioritize needs, find the right resources and referrals, and navigate your priorities. I’m also the President and Board Chairman for the US Autism Association. For you, this means that I can pick up the phone and ask for advice from any one of about 75 of the top autism and special needs experts world-wide. So If I don’t know the answer to your questions, chances are I can probably find someone who does. Whether you need someone to help you find a school, understand your rights, sort out and prioritize between various therapies and programs, or just figure out what step to take next, I’m here for advice, case management, or to just offer my expertise. Remember raising a neurodiverse child or living with neurodiversity yourself is a life-long journey, not a short foot race. So let me help you pace yourself and make the path easier.

I’m proud to say that I’ve been a life-long champion for the needs of all those who are neurodivergent, be they gifted, twice-exceptional, autistic, otherwise disabled (mentally or physically), simply different-minded, or align anywhere along the LGBTQ spectrum. I also have a strong background in both Section 504 and Special Education Law, have taught university level classes on diversity and inclusion, and have consulted legally with expert testimony given in numerous court cases. Simply put, I’m a national advocate and voice for inclusionary practices for all who think differently, whatever the reason. As such, I will be happy to support you and/or your children to determine disability status and advocate for getting the supports and accommodations that are necessary at any stage of life. Being different is wonderful. Being discriminated against for those differences is unacceptable!

Within a primarily telehealth-based counseling model, specialize with clients that are either particularly unique in their needs or in those who have not been well-served within other counseling relationships. The clients I see tend to be really bright but might also struggle with a wide variety of social, emotional, educational, behavioral, or even addiction-based challenges. While I consider myself eclectic in my therapeutic approach, I tend to rely heavily on both Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Short-Term Solutions Focused Therapy models as the foundation for the majority of counseling work. Now that I no longer spend time testing, I am much more available to take on new counseling clients. In my counseling practice I serve a wide range of clients ages 12-adult, but specialize in working with highly intelligent, twice-exceptional, and other unusually divergent groups. As such, I embrace an extremely diversity affirming mental health model helping all individuals become the best version of themselves. My advanced degrees in both Special Education and Naturopathy also inform my mental health counseling practice and in these specific areas I tend to teach as much as I counsel. Because I am licensed to offer counseling services only in Colorado, all other services outside of Colorado must be consultation based.

Like most people, I know a little about a lot of different things. I also know a lot about a few things. With an unusually diverse background and professional training in psychology, special education, and naturopathy, through the years, I’ve trained over 300 groups of educators, clinicians, parents, and other professionals on a wide variety of different topics. In fact, I’ve addressed everything from learning disabilities, mental health, behavior, and attention, to sensory processing, traumatic brain injury, neurodiversity, wellness, and autism. In each of my training sessions, whether presented locally, nationally, or to an international audience, I work closely with program coordinators to figure out the needs of the group I’ll be speaking to. It is only then that I create a unique training session tailored to meet those specific needs. Whether presenting in person or online, I’m told that my sessions are not only engaging and in-depth, but also include a wide range of practical, real-world tips and strategies. So whether you need a keynote or one-hour speaker for your next special event, or a full-day of professional development for your entire department, let’s talk and build a training for your group.

What most people don’t know about me is that for 10 years, I owned and ran a private, special needs school. Designed to serve 175 of the most neurodiverse kids I knew, the Brideun School was one-of-a-kind. At Brideun, the entire K-8 curriculum, which I personally created, was taught through thematic units and within live-action role playing sequences. This means that when our kids were learning about the Nazca Lines in ancient Peru, they went on a quest through our cement tube “time machine” and “visited” these amazing ruins and the people who built them, for themselves. Since the school closed, I’ve done some serious gaming, I went back to school for a doctoral minor in educational technology, and I’ve watched as the world has moved ever closer to embracing a radically different way to teach children through a sophisticated miriad of hands-on, project-based learning combined with XR technologies. School doesn’t have to be painful! Learning through play, passion, interest, and within one’s own unique pace and learning style is now entirely possible. So if you have a project that needs my skillset, let’s talk. I’d love to play, part time of course, for your team.