Do you work with kids individually?

In general, no. This is somewhat related to the “teach a man to fish” idea, but I also want to acknowledge that I am not a magic, fix-everything pill for kids! Often parents want me to work with their student because they think they don’t know what to do or how to help, and then assume they need more qualified assistance. But that’s not usually true, most often parents just need a bit of coaching to navigate the situation and then are usually more effective than I could ever be with their student! Most kid issues have a systemic root which is most effective when addressed in a systemic manner, which means focusing on the environment as well as the child. In fact, addressing student concerns in a vacuum without a tremendous amount of at-home support doesn’t usually prove effective in the long term. And, philosophically, I never want to foster a family’s learned-dependence on me. Increasing parent skills means that parents will be more confident and equipped to handle the next concern that comes up. Ultimately, my goal is for my clients to learn and grow to the point that they no longer need me because they know they can handle almost everything their kid is going to go through.

What’s an assessment like? My student is nervous (or I am)!

There’s no need to be nervous! There’s no way to “mess up” on the tests and assessments I administer. What I’m looking at is how your student approaches problems, processes information and generally how they are learning. And I learn as much about that when they get a question wrong as when they get one right! Each session is usually an hour and a half or two hours and we’ll do some puzzle-type activities, like word games, block puzzles, maybe some drawing or memory activities. What we do depends on what the concerns are, but none of it is scary or intimidating. One thing I like to always make sure people know is that the assessments I administer are designed to get so hard that the student reaches a point where they can’t answer the questions anymore. That helps me to know what they can do, and also where they’re still growing or need some support! So even when it gets too hard (and it will!) that’s because it’s supposed to. From all of this information I might find out different things, like maybe your student’s visual memory is better than their auditory memory, so having visual cues is going to help them a lot, or that they have a hard time hearing the difference between the sounds in words which makes reading tough, or that they’re great at solving problems when there’s a physical component. This helps me point you and their team in the right direction. So all I need from your student is just to show up, be themselves, and try their best!

I’ve heard this kind of support is really expensive. Do you have any scholarships or payment plan options?

I never want a family to not get the support they need and deserve because of money. I always keep a couple of sliding scale spots open so I can support families to pay what they can. I’m happy to offer someone a payment plan and/or talk about what is reasonable and possible for a family. I’m not big on the “upsell” thing and I don’t want you to pay for something you don’t actually need. So reach out! I am confident we can figure out something that works for everyone.

What does Kasei mean? Why is it the name of your company? How do I pronounce it?

It’s pronounced kah-zay. I am half Japanese, and my values and worldview have always been deeply rooted in that heritage. Kasei is a Japanese word which means “change or transformation”, “force of flame” and “honor of the family” (among a few other meanings). This is the spirit I bring to my clients. I want to ignite a powerful transformation in your family, which honors and upholds your values.