Recent Site Visits

At the end of March, Bunny Porter-Shirley made site visits to assess some new therapeutic programs as well as revisiting several established schools and programs. Her assessment included observing innovative and inspirational approaches to treatment that address the issues that impact families and children today. One such program offers a unique approach for boys acting out who might respond better to relationship-based therapy through extreme sports. Another therapeutic program offers services for children on the autism spectrum and who are experiencing behavioral issues at home.

Exciting summer and school year option!

Bunny Porter-Shirley's recent visit to Talisman Programs supports her belief in the need to continually revisit programs and schools. Talisman has morphed from just offering summer and school break options for students with learning and social issues into a very credible year-round school as well. This relatively new campus for them is definitely "campy" in appearance but very adequate as a school. The staff is tenured, having worked with the Talisman Programs over time. Since Porter-Shirley's last visit to Talisman they have changed campuses, added multiple summer opportunities, and evolved into a strong option for parents looking for a school or camp for their child with special needs.

The Nashville Psychotherapy Institute invited Dr. Volney Gay, professor of Psychiatry, Religion and Anthropology at Vanderbilt University, to speak at their January meeting. Bunny Porter-Shirley attended this provocative, cutting-edge program on how the mind works. His topic was "Demystifying Empathy."

High School Juniors Attention!

Bunny Porter-Shirley strongly suggests that you begin to think about identifying colleges that are of interest to you!
Now is the time to map out dates and prepare for upcoming spring SAT/ACT exams.
Begin to think about whether you will be visiting college campuses during Spring Break or early summer!

Introduction

How an Independent Educational Consultant Helps Your Family ¹

Finding the right school or college is one of the most important decisions your family will make. A correct choice will enrich and enhance your student’s life, and can impact his or her future. Finding the right fit, however, can be daunting. That is where Bunny Porter-Shirley, an IECA member plays a vital role. Ms. Porter-Shirley can be trusted to meet your family’s needs because she has met the highest standards in the profession. IECA’s required qualifications include: a master’s degree; at least three years of admissions counseling experience; and experience working with scores of students before IECA will consider their application for membership. IECA also requires extensive campus visits — members, on average, have visited over 150 campuses each, and continue to visit an average of 35 campuses annually.

About IECA Member Consultants ²

IECA has developed a strict set of ethical guidelines that govern the actions of consultants in their relationships with students and families, schools and colleges, and with colleagues. These include a responsibility to understand each student's special strengths, values and needs, while striving to include all family members in the educational planning process. As an IECA member, Ms. Porter-Shirley does not accept any compensation from educational institutions for placement of a child. All IECA members subscribe to these Principles of Good Practice

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1.2 Independent Educational Consultants Association . (2009). index. Retrieved November, 2009, from http://www.educationalconsulting.org/