Katz Counseling & Educational Psychology

12/08/2025

12/04/2025

Our backpacks stuffing event with the help of the De LaSalle Academy was a huge success! It was fulfilling to see so many volunteers come together to give back to our local teens in fostercare.

11/07/2025

With the help of De LaSalle Academy of Ft Myers , we have a goal to stuff 135 backpacks for the Children's Network of Southwest Florida 's Operation Santa in 2025. The focus of this collaborative charity drive is for minors age 11+ (preteens and teens) in the local foster care system. Our backpacks are stuffed with items and activities that encourage skills development, social skills, and self-expression (i.e., self-care, self-sooth, self-entertain, fine motor, gross motor, sustained attention tasks, learning games and activities, school supplies, STEM/STEAM activities, etc.) Let's shower these kids with some love this season!

10/11/2025

❤

10/08/2025

🌐💙 Internet Safety for Teens with Autism 💙🌐

The internet opens doors to connection, learning, and fun—but it also comes with risks. For autistic teens, navigating this digital world safely is more important than ever.

✨ Join us for an empowering session where we’ll share practical tips, helpful resources, and interactive discussions designed to build confidence and create safer online experiences.

👩‍👩‍👦 Whether you’re a teen with autism ready to learn or a parent/caregiver seeking guidance, this event is for YOU. Together, let’s protect and empower our community online.

📅 Date: November 10th
🕓 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Online Event

📩 For more info, contact Caitlin O'Brien-Fielding at cobrien2013@fau.edu

🔗 Register here: https://ow.ly/y7rZ50WRya4

💡 Let’s build a safer internet—together.

08/14/2025

08/02/2025

Effective conversation requires recognizing what kind of conversation is occurring and then matching each other. 💬

Ideas via Charles Duhigg
Sketchnote via

07/26/2025

05/29/2025

🧩 Teens and Adults with Autism, This One’s for You! 🧩
Join us this June for a 2-part social skills workshop series created just for YOU!

🎯 Build confidence as we:
✔️ Learn to interpret facial expressions and body language
✔️ Navigate social situations with ease
✔️ Practice through games, role-playing, and even a selfie booth!
✔️ Enjoy sensory-friendly breaks and a supportive environment

📅 Dates: Tuesday, June 3rd & 10th
🕒 Time: 3:30 – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: 7011 Cypress Terrace Suite 103, Fort Myers, FL
👥 In-person event

💬 To register or learn more, contact Ken:
📞 239-260-4575
📧 Kmacdonald@cilgulfcoast.org

Let’s grow together—social skills can be fun when you have the right support! 💬💙

05/05/2025

Start by writing more things down, and quickly, and then do this.

04/26/2025

Credit:

Correction is part of parenting. But when a child doesn’t feel connected to you, correction can feel like rejection. When connection is built before correction is ever needed, it makes those harder moments easier to navigate.

That’s why connection needs to happen long before correction ever does.

Build it in the calm, everyday moments:
✔️ Ask to join them in their play—before they even invite you.
✔️ Sit beside them while they color and say, “Tell me about this one.”
✔️ Make eye contact and smile when they walk in the room.
✔️ Share a laugh, a snack, or a story—even for just 5 minutes.

These small choices tell your child: “You matter to me—even when nothing’s wrong.”

Then, when something does go wrong:
✔️ Sit down at their level and say, “I’m here to help you through this.”
✔️ Ask, “Can you tell me what happened?”
✔️ Remind them, “You’re not in trouble. You’re learning. I’ll walk with you through it.”

Because when your child feels secure in your presence, they can handle your correction without feeling rejected.

Connection isn’t a reward for good behavior. It’s the foundation that makes growth possible.