My daaughter is 17 and has dropped out of high school.  She has a boy
friend with lots of phobias; will not fly; afraid of crowds. He is
very dependent on her.  Earlier this year she became pregnant and the
baby was adopted by a loving family. They broke up before my daughter
knew she was pregnant but thet went back together after she learned
she was and it is possible they may be sexually active and not be
carefel/  We live in Arlington Virginia and are looking for a DC
education consultant to help us find the right school ot program or
alternative program that might include ab outward bound program as a
way to get her back on track.  She has lots of interests and have been
involved working as a volunteer with annimals in Virgina.  But she
gets held back by this guy. We need some suggested educational
consulatants who have an expertise in issues such as the above.  Thank
you for your help in advance.

Hello, 

I am responding to your question about finding an educational
consultant and alternatives for your teenaged daughter.

----------------

School Finders

  "School Finders, an educational consulting firm in the Washington
metro area, meets the needs of parents and their children as they
search for the best school for their Kindergarten through college age
students.
  It is the mission of School Finders to help you find the right
school and to help your child get through the interviews and
transition to a private school. We also offer references for
educational or psychological testing and even counselors with whom
your child can work if necessary. Judith Greenberg of School Finders
is uniquely qualified to help you make the right decisions for your
child: she is an educator with over 33 years of experience in public
and private schools, is the author and co-author of 37 books for
children and teens, and has a great familiarity with the private
schools in the DC metro area, and throughout the country.
  If you, a friend, or a client is in need of such assistance, please
call School Finders at Tel: (301) 230-9010
  Call School Finders for: Private Schools...Advocacy...Home
Schooling...College...Expert Witness...At-risk and LD students...Older
students needing a high school diploma..."

http://www.schoolfinders.net/

----------------

The School Counseling Group, Inc.
4725 MacArthur Blvd. NW
Washington, DC 20007-1904

  "THE SCHOOL COUNSELING GROUP, INC. helps parents and students find
the right direction on school-related issues. Founded by Ethna Hopper
in 1979, we have helped thousands of families with children ages 2-20.
  THE SCHOOL COUNSELING GROUP, INC. deals with such topics as the
underachieving student, the differences between public and private
schools, how to negotiate the maze of school applications, and where
to turn if you discover that your child has some special needs.
  When we provide our services to corporations, we often work with
families on-line. We have found it to be an effective way for parents
to get information about us and our services. We also welcome
inquiries from teachers, schools staff, therapists and other
educational resource professionals who'd like to learn more about how
we can help students.
  If you would like to learn more about how THE SCHOOL COUNSELING
GROUP, INC. can help you find an appropriate school, or need help in
locating additional resources and information on K-12 schooling,
please send us an e-mail. We may be able to point you in the right
direction, or you might want to come in to meet one of our
counselors."

http://www.schoolcounseling.com/scgintro.html

----------------

WashingtonParent.com - "The Most Trusted Parenting Resource in the
Washington Metropolitan Area
Children's Wellness Guide

(This listing is fourth on this webpage):

"Alan Beitler, MSW
Coaching teens & parents. Break the cycle of negative interactions.
Improve communication. Set and achieve goals for a better
relationship. Improve motivation for educational success.
240-462-8941."

http://www.washingtonparent.com/guides/guide-wellness.htm

----------------

WashingtonParent.com 
Parents' Bulletin Board 
http://www.washingtonparent.com/pbb.htm

"Affordable Therapy Available: The Family Service Center at the
University of Maryland offers low-cost therapy for individuals,
couples and families in the community. For more information call:
301-405-2273 or 301-405-3659."

"Family and Home Network: A national nonprofit organization, which
provides parents with support and encouragement as they nurture their
children. Volunteers are sought in our Fairfax office to assist with a
wide range and variety of duties. Children are always welcome. Call:
703-352-1072."

"The Parent Encouragement Program: Parenting classes for parents of
children from birth through the teen years and specialty classes and
workshops for parents and professionals, couples and families.
Speakers available. Call: 301-929-8824."

----------------

Outward Bound will have a booth at the Adventures In Travel Expo in
Washington, DC January 28th - 30th:

Outward Bound USA
http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org
About Outward Bound
http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/aboutob.html

  "Outward Bound USA is the nation?s leading, nonprofit
adventure-education organization serving and supporting four
wilderness schools, two urban centers, and a primary and secondary
school-reform program. Outward Bound programs emphasize personal
growth through experience and challenge in the wilderness, boardrooms
and classrooms in the United States and around the world. Students
develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence,
compassion, environmental and community stewardship in all of the
Outward Bound programs and courses."

News and Events

  "Visit an Outward Bound representative at the "Adventures in Travel Expo" 
More...  
  Visit one-on-one with an Outward Bound representative at the World's
Leading Travel and Adventure Show the "Adventures In Travel Expo"
coming to the following cities:
 
-Washington, DC January 28th - 30th, 2005 Washington Convention Center

http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/news/90.html

"Adventures In Travel Expo"
http://www.adventureexpo.com/
Washington, D.C.
http://www.adventureexpo.com/dc/page.asp?id=8
Outward Bound Booth 1023:
http://www.onlinefloorplan.com/dcadventure05/index.htm
Tickets
http://www.xpressreg.net/register/addc015/expo/start.asp

----------------

Google > Directory > Recreation > Outdoors > Schools and Education 
http://directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/Outdoors/Schools_and_Education

----------------

 I hope these are useful. Please let me know if I can be of furthur
assistance.  jdb-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by jdb-ga on 29 Dec 2004 11:40 PST

Hello michaelchristopher40-ga, 

Perhaps we can clarify your question and thereby be of further
assistance. I understand your question to be asking for educational
consultants in the Washington D.C. area who can help you and your
daughter find an appropriate and successful educational direction,
school and program. The educational consultants I found are eminently
qualified to help with this, and you can contact them for an initial
consultation and to see if you and your daughter want to meet with
them in person. This would be the normal process in such cases. I
trust you are not looking for a Google researcher to act in the
capacity of an educational consultant, as Google policy prohibits
business or other contacts and services outside of the Google research
relationship, and in any case, an ethical and professional educational
consultant would not make suggestions without meeting with you and
your daughter. Your question asked for educational consultants, but if
you meant you are asking for suggestions of specific schools, again,
this would best be done by a professional consultant after an
in-person consultation. There are print and other resources that list
such consultants, and you could contact your Board of Education,
Association of School Counselors, or other bodies for referrals if
that is what you are looking for, but for your question as stated, the
internet is a good and acceptable resource to find educational
consultants. As I am a psychologist, university professor and
librarian, I understand your situation, and have worked myself with
such situations, but my capacity as a Google researcher is to help you
find resources, and policy precludes any other type of service that
you might use outside of Google Answers.

I hope this begins to clarify your question, my approach to the
answer, and the resources I have so far provided. Please let me know
if I can be of further assistance within the scope of your original
question. If you can clarify your original question further in such a
way that I can be of further help, please do so and I will help as
much as I can.  I sympathize with your situation and would like to
help you with a successful outcome. jdb-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by michaelchristopher40-ga on 29 Dec 2004 23:53 PST

Subject: Re: Parents Need Education Consulant to Get Teenage Daughter
Back on Travck
From: michaelchristopher40-ga on 29 Dec 2004 23:52 PST     
WHAT I NEEDED WAS NOT INTERNET INFO BUT WHERE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS
IN DC EXIST THAT CAN HELP ME WITH MT SITUATION, A CHILD WHO DROPPED
OUT OF SCHOOL; HAS LEARNING DISABILITIES; AND HAVE HORSES AS A
VOCATION AND I NEED NOT A PROFESSIONAL WHO DEALS WITH THE AVERAGE
ISSUES OUT THEIR BUT A SPECISLIST WHO CAN HELP ME.  YOUR ANSWER DID
NOT PROVIDE WHAT I NEED WHICH IS A CRISIS; MY WIFE AWAY BECAUSE OF HER
MOMS ILLNESS AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN VERY SICK AS WELL; A DAUGHTER WHO IS
A GREAT KID BUT NEEDS A BREAK AND A PROFESSIONAL WHO IS CARING AND CAN
HELP ME.  MY DAUGHTER NEEDS TO BE GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVES AFTER I CAN
LEARN FROM THE PROFESSIONAL. SORRY FOR BEING SO RUDE BUT THIS ANSWER
DID NOT DO WHAT I WAS SEEKING. I CAN GO TO GOOGLE MYSELF AND GET THE
SAME INFO. I DID. THAT IS WHY I SOUGHT GOOGLE ANSWERS.

---

Clarification of Answer by jdb-ga on 30 Dec 2004 03:13 PST

michaelchristopher40-ga,

Google Answers and Researchers do rely on web/internet resources to
provide information, as you can read in "Google Answers: Frequently
Asked Questions" "Asking a question"
"1. What questions can I ask?"
http://answers.google.com/answers/faq.html#whatquestions

"Our Researchers are not necessarily experts in the field related to
your question, but they are experts in locating hard to find
information *on the web*. If the answer to your question is *online*,
chances are pretty good they'll find it. Keep in mind that Google
Answers is not a substitute for professional advice or services..."

So you see, Google Answers does rely on information that can be found
on the web, the internet. This is in our guidelines for both patrons
and researchers. The internet is a good way to find the types of
professional crisis and family counseling and educational consulting
services you are asking for, both in specific professional listings
and referral services. The purpose of referral services is to give you
names and contact information for professionals who specialize in the
kind of help you need.

In both your initial question and clarification, you asked for
locations of professionals specializing in the type of family crisis
and educational needs you describe.  I understand that you are seeking
professional help for both your immediate family crisis needs and your
daughter's longer term educational readjustment, success and future.
That is why I provided educational consultants in the D.C. area who
you can contact that *specialize* in providing educational,
psychological, and counseling services for families and children who
have "special needs", as their listings explain, and which I quoted. I
also included counselors and therapists who *specialize* in family and
educational issues, as you read in their quoted descriptions. The
family crisis and needs you describe call for professional services
that include psychological, family and educational counseling.

Here are additional resources for both education and crisis counseling:

----------------

Troubled Teen Educational Consultants in Washington D.C.:

Educational Consultants in DC - My Troubled Teen
http://www.mytroubledteen.com/Educational-Consultants-DC.htm

Kay Branaman Eakin M.S.Ed., CEP - Bennett Education
395 N Street, SW Washington DC 20024
202-863-2317
 
Jean H. Baldwin M.A., CEP - Educational Consultant
4921 Tilden Street NW Washington DC 20016
202-363-0513
 
Virginia Reynolds Vogel Ed.S., CEP - Educational Guidance Counseling
3006 Dent Place, NW Washington DC 20007
202-342-1979
 
Alexandra Ruttenberg Ed.M., CEP - School Counseling
4725 MacArthur Blvd. NW Washington DC 20007
202-333-3530
 
Peter A. Sturtevant Jr., M.A. - School Counseling
4725 MacArthur Blvd., NW Washington DC 20007
202-333-3530
 
Jenifer T. Rideout - The School Counseling Group
4725 MacArthur Blvd. NW Washington DC 20007
202-333-3350

Ethna Hopper M.A., CEP - The School Counseling Group
4725 MacArthur Blvd. NW Washington DC 20007
202-333-3350

Steven Roy Goodman M.S., J.D., CEP
Tilden Gardens 502 Washington DC 20008
202-986-9431

----------------

Specific family counseling services in Washington D.C.: 

The Mental Health Association of the District of Columbia
http://www.mhadc.org/
  "We participate in coalitions to develop school-based mental health
services in the public schools and to promote the initiation of mental
health services for children.
  We publish the District of Columbia's first comprehensive children's
mental health service directory, listing over 96 providers.
  We provide information and referral services and publications about
mental health issues."
1628 Sixteenth Street, NW 
(202) 265-6363 tel.

Helen Rudinsky, LPC, LCMFT 
Washington, DC 20015 
(202) 248-6280    
http://www.helenrudinsky.com  
Counseling for individuals, couples and children on relationship
issues, life transitions
Crisis, Child, Adult, Marriage, Family, and Parenting Counseling
Specialties:
Marriage & Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Counseling 
Certifications & Affiliations:
Licensed Professional Counselor 
 
Circles Of Hope 
3000 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 
(202) 265-2343 
http://www.circlesofhope.com   
Specialties:
Addiction, Substance Abuse, Crisis Intervention, Stress Management,
Marital & Family Therapy

Swankin Harriet R Psychotherapist 
1226 31st Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007 
(202) 338-6267 
Marriage & Family Counseling 

Family counseling referral services in Washington D.C.:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-3007
Telephone: 202-966-7300

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
1133 15th Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005-2710
Telephone: 202-452-0109 or 1-800-374-2638

American Psychiatric Association
1400 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202-682-6000

American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: 1-800-964-2000 or 202-336-5700

----------------

I encourage you to contact both one of these family counseling
services and one of the education consultants, who will help you, your
family and your daughter with the immediate family crisis and with
longer term needs.  I hope these resources are useful.  Let me know if
I can be of further assistance. jdb-ga

This comes off the internet and does not answerr my question.  I do
not find any of this information usaful. It does not deal with my
particular situation.I have used this service before and have always
paid for it.  I request a refund given the researcherrs inabbility to
be at all creative with the information I provided.This answer did not
answer my question about what
I
am going through and the need for a speical professional to help.  If
you
check my accounts you will find I have been a
regular
customer.  I fo not feel I should pay for this answer.  It comes right
off google and is not original or crerative ot helpful

This comes off the internet and does not answerr my question.  I do
not find any of this information usaful. It does not deal with my
particular situation.I have used this service before and have always
paid for it.  I request a refund given the researcherrs inabbility to
be at all creative with the information I provided.

Without being funny it sounds as if she needs some consultancy on contraception.

As for sexual activity - you can bet on that.

If, as you suspect, she is basically Ok and that it is the 'dork' that
is holding her back, then the chances are that the scales will fall
from her eyes, and she'll get rid of him herself.

It is possible that she is not keen on returning to formal education.

One other thing you can be sure about, is that she is very confused about her child

I believe she'll be legally allowed to take the GED as soon as she
turns 18.  It isn't that hard to pass if she has done reasonably well
in school (and there are usually GED prep classes available).  Then
she could take some courses at the community college.  (Or maybe she
could enroll at the community college now; I don't know the admissions
policies at NVCC.)  If she's already deviated from the normal schedule
for high school, it might be simpler to skip the rest of it and move
on to other things.  Transferring from the community college to a
four-year college would of course be possible later if she wants to do
that.

I wqated to add a few more issues.  My wife is not home for the last
few months because her Dad is very ill and she is in Colorado taking
care of him. He is 91 years old and she is the only sibling who can
help.  My daughter until last week was up there with her boyfiend. Now
she is home and the situation is very difficult because she feels a
lot of desertion from her mom.  My daughter is adopted and this adds
lots of other issues.  I need someone who can give me professional
advise on what alternatives are out there.

WHAT I NEEDED WAS NOT INTERNET INFO BUT WHERE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS
IN DC EXIST THAT CAN HELP ME WITH MT SITUATION, A CHILD WHO DROPPED
OUT OF SCHOOL; HAS LEARNING DISABILITIES; AND HAVE HORSES AS A
VOCATION AND I NEED NOT A PROFESSIONAL WHO DEALS WITH THE AVERAGE
ISSUES OUT THEIR BUT A SPECISLIST WHO CAN HELP ME.  YOUR ANSWER DID
NOT PROVIDE WHAT I NEED WHICH IS A CRISIS; MY WIFE AWAY BECAUSE OF HER
MOMS ILLNESS AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN VERY SICK AS WELL; A DAUGHTER WHO IS
A GREAT KID BUT NEEDS A BREAK AND A PROFESSIONAL WHO IS CARING AND CAN
HELP ME.  MY DAUGHTER NEEDS TO BE GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVES AFTER I CAN
LEARN FROM THE PROFESSIONAL. SORRY FOR BEING SO RUDE BUT THIS ANSWER
DID NOT DO WHAT I WAS SEEKING. I CAN GO TO GOOGLE MYSELF AND GET THE
SAME INFO. I DID. THAT IS WHY I SOUGHT GOOGLE ANSWERS.