Educational Consulting & Advocacy

At Banyan Tree Counseling & Wellness, we believe that your child's education is not one-size-fits-all. 

We understand that navigating appropriate services for your child can feel overwhelming. 

Our team of experts have been helping children and families within the education system for over 20 years. 

 We empower parents with the knowledge and resources necessary for understanding your child’s strengths and challenges in order to find meaningful solutions. Our experienced consultants provide a variety of specialized resources that consider each child's unique needs and establish a plan for success. 

Your concerns are valid and no question is too small. We are with you each step of the way – educating parents on special education procedures, such as IEP's and 504 plans, working collaboratively with schools to produce successful outcomes, and providing continual guidance and advocacy through any size challenge your family may face along the journey.

​Let us be your partner as together we achieve an academic experience specially designed for your child's social and emotional growth!

How do I get started?

We offer free 15 minute phone consultations to determine whether our services are a good fit for you and/or your child's needs. Click here to reach out!

If you'd like to get started and schedule your initial consultation appointment, complete our contact form and provide us with some basic information about the problem you're facing so we can assess your consultative needs.
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Educational Consulting Appointments

During these appointments, you and your family receive personalized, actionable advice to work toward success for your child. We will start by completing a questionnaire and reviewing any records from their school. After our assessment, we'll meet with you to discuss tailored recommendations such as amending IEP's or 504 plans, creating communication strategies between the student and teachers/administrators, or even refer out for additional services when deemed necessary.

We understand that each individual is different and therefore requires an individualized approach to their educational and/or advocacy plan. We are dedicated to providing a customized solution that is tailored to your needs and will provide the best possible outcomes for you or your child.

Put simply: Our consultation services are designed specifically around promoting educational success for every learner!
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Advocacy Services


Parents can take advantage of our comprehensive advocacy services, which build upon all the steps included in our Educational Consulting services. We are here to support your family and make sure you have a strong presence at IEP or 504 meetings. Our preparation includes working closely with any private providers involved, as well as providing classroom observations (with permission) and interviewing your child—all designed to ensure that their voice is heard during these important discussions and the appropriate and adequate determinations are carried out. We also provide on-going follow up and monitoring to ensure that the IEP or 504 plan is being implemented correctly. We will make sure your family doesn’t get lost in the process.

Autism Assessments


We are proud to provide Autism Assessments for individuals of all ages-- adults and children ages 2+. ​The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2) is an industry leading diagnostic assessment developed by Dr. Catherine Lord and her colleagues to observe behaviors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a consistent manner across different patients, clinicians, and locations.

​The ADOS-2 is considered the "gold standard" diagnostic tool for Autism Spectrum Disorder due to its comprehensive activity structure providing thorough assessment of communication skills, social interaction, and imaginative use of materials—all essential criteria when detecting signs of ASD.

To ensure accuracy and objectivity, the ADOS-2 is administered in a standardized format by a trained and certified professional. Please note we do not provide a clinical diagnosis, and this assessment is not intended to be the sole contributor in making a clinical diagnosis. For individuals to receive a comprehensive clinical diagnosis, multiple sources must contribute towards determining their status. We are glad to provide a full report of your ADOS-2 results to your physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other practitioner and collaborate with them to assist in determining a clinical diagnosis and/or further recommendations.

Related blog posts:
​The Importance of Early Diagnosis of Autism in Children

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