Coaching Certificate

The Certificate for Coaching Adolescents with Learning and Attention Issues provides teachers, parents, consultants, counselors, and other qualified individuals with a theoretical and practical understanding of how to work effectively with this population of young adults. In taking this certificate program, individuals who have an interest or are currently working with young adults with learning and attention issues can develop a deeper awareness of the causes of conditions, manifestations of deficits, and concrete strategies and tools to combat areas of concern in a multitude of environments (school, home, and community).

Session 1
How Do Learning and Attention Issues Form?
The first session will explore the development of learning and attention issues through a broad understanding of causations (birth, trauma, comorbidity) and early developmental milestone delays (ages 0–4).  
Tiffany Calderara, M.Ed.,
Learning Specialist and Academic Advisor, Beacon College

Session 2
Early Childhood Education
Elementary-aged education (ages 5–10) will be reviewed in terms of early warning signs of learning and attention issues as it relates to concept mastery, skill development, language processing, and reading/writing skills.
Barbara Munoz, Ed.S.
Learning Specialist and Academic Advisor, Beacon College

Session 1
ADHD: Inattentive Type v. Hyperactive Type v. Combined Type
Learn the diagnostic profiles of three types of individuals with ADHD and how the symptomology manifests across environments. Typical profiles will be explored to learn the early warning signs of ADHD.
Dr. Oksana Hagerty,
Dean of the Center for Student Success, Beacon College

Session 2
ADHD: Early Interventions in Adolescent Developmental Years
Holistic intervention techniques will be explored that look at common approaches to combat deficit areas for adolescents with attention issues. Implications for school, home, and community will be looked at to better understand issues related to best practices.
Dr. Oksana Hagerty,
Dean of the Center for Student Success, Beacon College

Session 1
Clinical Implications of AD/HD: Psychiatric & Social Issues
Comorbidity is common with adolescents with AD/HD, impacting their mental health and social development. Classic profiles will be explored that look at co-occurring issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, social pragmatics, and other related behavioral issues.
Matthew Morris-Wood, LCSW, LMFT
Central Florida Behavioral Health Provider

Session 2
Specific Learning Disorders and Classic Interventions for Adolescents
Reading, conceptual thinking, writing, and other academic-based deficits impact the adolescent’s holistic development and success rate. Each specific learning disability will be explored with suggestions for differentiated approaches to interventions.
Dr. Brent Betit
Chief Operating Officer, Beacon College

Session 1
Trauma-Informed Care for Adolescents with Learning and Attention Issues
Participants will receive a foundational understanding of trauma and how embracing a trauma-informed approach for adolescents with learning and attention issues will contribute to higher levels of academic and personal success. Participants will learn the impact of trauma on the learning environment as well as how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in adolescents.
Dana Manzo, M.S.,
Vice President of Student Affairs, Beacon College

Session 2
Designing Robust SMART Goals with a Perspective on Environmental Issues and Adolescent Profiles
Elements of dialectical behavioral therapy will be reviewed to develop an understanding of goal setting, interplays of self-efficacy and emotional regulation, and competing factors (cognitive, environmental, relational) that could impact initiation of change.
Dana Manzo, M.S.,
Vice President of Student Affairs, Beacon College

Session 1
The Pillars of Executive Functioning
Executive functioning is a series of skills necessary to manage daily life-based tasks. The pillars of executive functioning will be explored with discussions of manifestations across various environments.
Dr. Sheldon Horowitz,
Retired Senior Advisor of Strategic Innovation, Research & Insights, NCLD

Session 2
The Interplay of Attention and Learning Issues on Executive Functioning
Individuals with learning and attention issues are prone to have more significant gaps in their executive functioning skills. Executive functioning will be further delved into through an understanding of how to provide compensatory strategies to enhance skill domains and daily functioning.
Dr. Sheldon Horowitz,
Former Senior Advisor of Strategic Innovation, Research & Insights, NCLD

Session 1
Meta-Cognitive Exercises to Enhance Your Coaching     
Understanding the purpose behind an intervention is a key technique in advancing the goal of coaching. Self-exploration, concepts of meta-cognition, and techniques to enhance your own understanding will be looked at to finesse your coaching abilities.
Alexander Morris-Wood, M. S.
Vice President of Program Development and Global Partnerships, Beacon College

Session 2
Future Implications of Coaching: Determining Next Steps
While immediate change may happen across various environmental domains, ensuring continued learning is occurring can elongate a coaching relationship and establish future goals to enhance adolescent development. Identifying post-session goals based on evaluative data of student engagement will be reviewed.
Alexander Morris-Wood, M. S.
Vice President of Program Development and Global Partnerships, Beacon College

The capstone project requires participants to explore a specific student’s learning issues, current manifestations, in their environment (school, community, home), and intervention attempts utilizing key aspects learned in the coaching program. The final project will be broken down and participant will explore their “case” each week leading up to a video or paper presentation.