At Work ….. Diane Mandel School Counselor
Name: Diane Mandel, School Counselor
Type of business: In-home counseling for parents and their children
Address: Edison
Telephone: (732) 549-1959
E-mail: consutlman@juno.com
Number of employees: 1
Founded: January 2007
Top officer: Diane Mandel
How would you describe your business?
"Our business is an in-home service where parents are counseled in an effort to assist their children to succeed in school," said owner Diane Mandel. "I provide a short-term, 3-5 session program which coaches parents in how to best help children be successful in school using the classical problem solving model to develop a strategic plan for each child. As a Student Assistance Counselor in the South Plainfield School system for 10 years, it became obvious that children could not make positive changes unless their parents made changes as well. After many years of counseling children within the school, I realized that it was the parents that I needed to counsel, if their children were going to be helped. I also offer lectures to groups on ways to better communicate with your child."
What makes your business special?
"It is a personal and short-term therapeutic process leading to greater life-chances for children. Additionally, the relationship between the parent and child improves greatly and is based on the "Five Basic Needs of All Children":
1. The need to feel and believe they are capable and can be successful.
2. The need to know that they are cared about and belong to someone.
3. The need to vent some power and control.
4. The inherent need to help others.
5. The need to have basic fun and stimulation.
"Through intervention and cooperation with the child’s teacher, guidance counselor and principal, I help create a forum in which all the professionals and the child’s parent can work together amicably. If the family is going through divorce or other trauma that is affecting the child’s ability to function in school, I help the parent(s) to better parent their child througt he separation and divorce process. I work with the schools to fine tune or initiate plans such as 504, I.&R.S and I.E.P., that will help children with ADHD or other conditions, including Asperger’s Syndrome, that negatively impact upon school performance.
"If a child is gifted or appears to be, he or she may have their own set of problems, which I also help parents address. I work with parents to consult with a host of psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists and tutors, as well as professionals in the arts, if referral to one or more of these seems indicated.
"I work with teachers and parents to develop behavior modification techniques when appropriate, and rely heavily on art therapy strategies in assessing and working out problems. Most of all, I am a parent coach, giving the parent the confidence and knowledge to nurture and support their children. I look forward to productive relationships with parents to achieve our mutual goals of helping children to experience a happy and successful childhood and grow into competent and well-adjusted adults."
What goals do you have for the business?
"Through guiding and educating parents, children will experience better family and peer relationships and raised self-esteem, that will directly impact their ability to function academically, socially and behaviorally and grow into competent and well-adjusted adults."
How has your business changed?
"I worked as a student assistance counselor (SAC) for 10 years in the public schools of South Plainfield. Now I continue doing similar work-- but I am working for myself."
What was your most important deal?
"Deciding to open my own practice and leaving the school district."
What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your business?
"What works well for one individual or family many have no benefit in other cases. Each family is unique, with it’s own set of problems and strengths. It is gratifying to witness the positive changes that can be made when parents are fully on board to help their children. I take my role as family advocate very seriously when parents entrust me with the welfare of their child."
What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?
"One needs to develop the ability to mediate for the child’s sake, between many different parties (school, parent, child) and encourage cooperative working relationships between these parties. It is a very difficult and fine line to walk."
Is there anything else you would rather be doing?
"Not at this time, however, I am going to be voluntarily taking over the role of facilitator in the South Plainfield School District ’s Listen to Children Program. This is a program in which senior citizens are matched with a child to develop an ongoing, intergenerational bond that continues through elementary school. This is another way in which children can be served and provided with support, nurturing and a feeling that they are special and important."