When school stress starts running your household, you need more than coping tips.

SOAR offers therapy and school guidance in one place for Bergen County families, from a licensed counselor with 25 years of experience inside school systems.

Free one-page guide: Where to start and how to support your child (PDF)

Take the 3-minute Family Stress Self-Check

Does this sound familiar?

  • Mornings end in tears, stomachaches, or refusal to go to school.

  • Your child holds it together at school, then falls apart at home.

  • Teachers describe one child, and you see another.

  • You're not sure whether you're looking at anxiety, ADHD, a learning difference, or a mix.

  • IEP and 504 meetings feel like a language no one taught you.

  • The whole family has started walking on eggshells.

If you've been told it's "just a phase" or to wait and see, and your gut says otherwise, your concern is worth taking seriously.

Who I help

I work with parents of children and teens who are dealing with:

  • Anxiety and school refusal

  • Emotional overwhelm and outbursts connected to ADHD or learning differences

  • IEP and 504 questions, and feeling unheard by the school team

  • Performance pressure in athletes, musicians, performers, and high-achieving students

  • Family stress patterns that keep repeating

I'm based in Ridgewood and see families from across Bergen County, in person and virtually.

Why families come to SOAR

Most families end up piecing the answer together on their own. A general therapist may help with feelings but not know how IEPs, 504s, and school systems work. A school counselor sees your child at school but can't address what's happening at home. An evaluator can describe what's going on but usually doesn't provide ongoing support.

SOAR connects the pieces. I understand what's happening in your child, at school, and at home, and I speak both the language of therapy and the language of schools, so you don't have to choose between emotional care and academic support.

What happens in the first appointment

  1. We talk it through. You tell me what's been happening at home and at school, in your own words and without judgment.

  2. We look at the pattern. Together we work out what may be driving the stress and how school, emotions, and home life are feeding each other.

  3. You leave with a clear next step. That might be therapy, school guidance, both, or a referral for an evaluation if that's what's needed.

It helps to bring (all optional): recent report cards, any IEP or 504 plan, past evaluations, and emails from teachers.

How I can help

  • Therapy for children and teens: CBT and EMDR for anxiety, stress, and trauma-related patterns.

  • Parent support: practical tools for responding with more confidence and less conflict at home.

  • School guidance: understanding IEPs and 504 plans, preparing for school meetings, and knowing what to ask for.

  • Performance support: for athletes and performers dealing with pressure, perfectionism, and shutdowns.

Progress looks different for every family, so the plan is built around your child, not a template.

Questions parents ask

Is this anxiety or behavior?

Often it's both, and the two can look identical from the outside. A child who refuses to go to school or melts down after a hard day is usually overwhelmed, not defiant. Part of my work is helping you tell the difference so you can respond to what's really going on.

My child is struggling at school. Do I need therapy, school support, or both?

Many families need both, and they work best when connected. We'll figure out where to start in the first appointment.

Can you help with IEP and 504 meetings?

I help parents understand the process, prepare, and know what to ask for.

How do I know if this is more than a phase?

If the stress is affecting sleep, school attendance, friendships, or the mood of the whole household, or if it has gone on for several weeks, it's worth talking to someone.

Request an appointment

You don't have to keep guessing.

Tell me a little about what's going on, and I'll get back to you about next steps.

Use the form below, or call 201-458-0850 or email nan@soartherapy.org.

Please don't include detailed clinical information in the form or by email. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988.