|
Services Staff
Appointments
Success Story Resources
FAQs
Training Courses
What Consumers Say About Testing
& Tutoring
Testing
Diagnostic evaluations are provided on an individual basis to
identify the learning differences and needs of students who may have
learning disabilities, or who are struggling within the academic
environment. Our evaluations also examine executive functioning
deficits, developmental delays, attention deficits, and emotional
factors that may be impacting performance in school. Evaluations of
young children with symptoms of PDD or autism spectrum disorders are
also conducted, as well as private school admissions testing. A team approach
is often employed in these evaluations, which includes a licensed
psychologist and an educational diagnostician.
Therapeutic Groups
Each child's needs are
addressed through an individualized treatment plan that utilizes the
child's interests as themes to enhance attention and participation
during individual, small and whole group activities. Groups
are led by a licensed and certified occupational therapist and
speech-language pathologist with an assistant.
◦
Saturday Sensory Integration Groups
◦
Interaction Groups based on DIR®/Floortime
ModelTM
◦
Visual Spatial Group
Tutoring
Tutoring is for learners of all ages and can provide
intervention, support or enrichment. A student’s strengths and needs
can be identified through diagnostic testing, by means of a
conference between parents and the tutor, or through an informal
evaluation with the tutor. Our tutors have a college degree and
specific training and experience working with students who have
learning differences or who have been diagnosed with a specific
learning disability. We can provide one-on-one tutoring in a
student’s area of difficulty, including reading, spelling, writing,
math, organizational skills or study skills. Our reading tutors have
training in multi-sensory, structured phonetic reading programs
supported by current reading research. You will work with a
consistent tutor, carefully selected for your child’s needs, who
will provide written goals adapted to those needs and monitor
progress.
Organizational Coaching
Coaching facilitates increased self-awareness and an understanding
of obstacles to success. Coaching focuses on strategies to overcome
these obstacles. When individuals become more successful at managing
their day to day responsibilities and meeting their goals, benefits
include increased success at school, work and home; decreased
frustration; increased self-esteem and increased satisfaction in
life. Children, teens and adults with ADHD symptoms or that have
weak skills related to organization, time management, planning and
completion of projects would benefit from coaching.
CLICK HERE to download more information about ORGANIZATIONAL
COACHING
301.424.5200 x6923 (phone)
301.424.8063 (fax)
Email
|
Services |
- Cognitive/intelligence testing
- Developmental evaluation
- Executive functioning evaluation
- Attention capacity evaluation
- Social and emotional functioning evaluation
- Admissions testing
- Academic testing - reading, written language, mathematics,
visual motor skills
- Tutoring in academics and/or study skills
- Tutoring for remediation and/or enrichment
- Workshops for parents and professionals (including a Tutor
Training Course)
- Evaluations of young children with symptoms of PDD or autism
spectrum disorders
- Counseling
|
 |
(back to top)
|
Staff |
The diagnostic team includes a licensed psychologist and an
educational diagnostic specialist. The tutors are trained teachers
who have a background and/or training in working with learning
disabilities.
Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.,
Testing and tutoring Service
Director
Janice Jones, M.Ed., Tutor Supervisor
Kristin Olsen, Ph.D., Psychologist
Sarah
Towne, Psy.D., Psychologist
Dorothy Lange, M.S., Educational Diagnostician
|
 |
 Lisa
A. Lenhart
Senior Psychologist, Director of The Testing and Tutoring Service
Dr. Lenhart, Senior Psychologist at TLC-The Treatment and
Learning Centers, brings more than 25 years of experience
working with children and adolescents. At TLC, Dr. Lenhart
conducts psychological evaluations on individuals of all
ages to determine academic or emotional concerns. She offers
TLC clients individual and family therapy and consultation
and co-facilitates DIR-based interaction groups, and has
attended several DIR training institutes. Before
joining TLC, Dr. Lenhart was a senior clinical psychologist
at the Reginald S. Lourie Center in Rockville, MD. In this
capacity, she was responsible for conducting evaluations on
children under 7 years old who were seeking mental health
services. She also participated on the Child Placement
Consultation Team and oversaw the development of
outcome-oriented research. She was team leader for an
outpatient mental health clinic at Wake County Human Services and
was a project coordinator/clinical associate at Duke University
prior to moving to Maryland.
Dr. Lenhart has administered
more than 150 Rorschach Tests and presented numerous workshops,
including talks focused on learning disabilities, ADHD, and anxiety.
She has led Area Health Education Center (AHEC) workshops on both
the assessment and treatment of aggressive children and building
self-esteem in aggressive youth. In addition, she was a panel
speaker for the League of Women Voters Forum titled Community at
Risk: Violence in our Midst. For six years, Dr. Lenhart was the
reviewer for The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research.
She is currently an active member of the American Psychological
Association.
Dr. Lenhart received her Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in clinical
psychology from the University of North Carolina. She has a
B.A. in psychology from Kent State University.
 Janice E. Jones
Tutoring Supervisor, The Testing and Tutoring Service
Ms. Jones has been Supervisor of Tutoring Services at TLC-The
Treatment and Learning Centers for over 18 years where she evaluates and assigns tutors
to best satisfy the needs of TLC students. She also creates
and leads workshops for tutors, school staff and the public,
offering guidance and direction at TLC and in the community.
She also tutors students of all ages in reading, writing, and
study skills. Ms. Jones has written articles on
tutoring, reading, writing and study skills for Washington
Parent magazine.
Ms. Jones has more than 25 years experience in the field of
learning disabilities.
Before joining TLC, Ms. Jones was an adjunct professor in the
English Department at Montgomery College, where she taught
Reading and Composition Courses. She also taught an adult
reading class and a reading skills workshop for gifted and
talented high school students in the Continuing Education
Department. Ms. Jones has advanced training in the Wilson
Reading System, a multi-sensory phonetic reading method, and
Phonographix Reading, a clinical method. She has attended
various workshops, symposiums and conferences sponsored by the
International Dyslexia Association. She received training in
Orton-Gillingham reading methods during 3 years as an Academic
Therapist at the Center School of the National Institute of
Dyslexia.
Ms. Jones received her Master of Education degree from the
University of Maryland and has completed graduate-level
writing, literature and history courses at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut. She has a B.A. in English from Kansas State
University.
(back to top)
|
Appointments |
Testing and tutoring
is arranged by appointment only. Tutoring services are
offered at TLC, home, or school. Please call
301.424.5200, ext. 6923 for more information, or to
schedule an appointment.
|
 |
(back to top)
Success Stories
Tommy’s Story
The day Tom was diagnosed as autistic was a day I will never forget.
We kept trying to face the reality of what autism is, but we
couldn’t. It was too depressing. There was no hope in our lives.
Tommy did not live in the same world as we did. I feel like
someone who has woken up from a nightmare, and yet I am grateful for
the luxury of those nightmares. My wife hasn’t. She has stayed up
with Tom most of the nights when he couldn’t sleep since he was
born. She pioneered the routes we would drive him down in the middle
of the night to try to put him to sleep. Tommy has received
services from TLC for the past three years. Most recently, he began
participating in TLC’s Interaction Group for toddlers with autism
and related developmental disorders. Before he came to TLC, I
worried he would never grow to love either me or my wife. Now, we
think he does love us. And we never really saw him sleep so well or
laugh or enjoy being with us as when he began the Interaction Group.
This is what I thought would always be taken away from us – his
childhood. I feared he would have to be programmed like a computer.
Until there is a cure for autism, children like my son need people
to teach them to speak, to know what they should be looking at with
their eyes, how to socialize, and many more things so basic I took
them for granted before I tried to raise my son Tommy. I hope you
can appreciate my feelings of loss and how the therapists at TLC
have recovered for me some part of my son which I thought would
never be there.
Mariah's story
TLC has been such a blessing to my daughter. For the past three to
four years, my daughter has been receiving services from TLC and it
has been a great, encouraging experience. When Mariah was in
kindergarten, she was diagnosed with ADHD and had major problems in
school. We had tried some medicines for a couple of years to try to
help her, but nothing seemed to work. Finally after some time, the
school that she was attending figured out that she was dyslexic and
it was not ADHD. I was not sure what to do. I felt that she had
fallen so far behind in school. I did not know much about dyslexia
myself so I was not sure who or where to turn to. I started to look
up some places online that I though could help Mariah with dyslexia,
and I found TLC. I called them and spoke to (Tutoring Director)
Janice Jones and she said that she would love to help. I was so
excited but I was not sure how we would be able to afford it. When I
told Mrs. Jones of my dilemma, she told me TLC could possibly help
with a grant. I just needed to fill out some forms to see if we
would qualify, and we did. Soon after that Mariah started with Mrs.
Jones, and it has been amazing to see how much she has improved and
also to see how much self-confidence she now has. I just want to say
THANK YOU so much to all that have donated to this great
organization. You are a true blessing. I am not sure if you all have
realized how much you have helped and changed my daughter’s life and
the lives of other children. You are all amazing. Thank you! Thank
you! Thank you!
David's story
I am writing this letter to thank TLC for everything
you have done for me and my son. For the last year up until April of
this year, my son was able to receive a tutor for reading. I am
single mother and do not receive child support, due to the fact that
his father will not get a job. I just graduated from Cosmetology
School in June and I am waiting to get my license to then find a
job. Without the grants that I have received from TLC I would never
be able to have my son get this help. I cannot thank you enough. He
has improved in reading and could not have done it without the help.
However, I just had him testing for speech and language through
Children's Hospital. And he is years below where he needs to be. I
am now asking for help to get him language services through TLC. His
insurance does cover him to get the services through Children's, but
they have a two year waiting list. My son will fall even more behind
if I do not get this help for him. I have already spoken to the
staff at TLC and again they have come through to help me in any way
they can. Not only are they helping me, they are really changing my
son's life.
Taylor's story
Taylor was in sixth grade
when he entered The Treatment and Learning Centers' tutoring
program. Like many other public school students, he struggled with
large classes, where teachers face more difficulty giving students
the personalized attention they need in order to develop and
succeed. Taylor's struggles with reading comprehension, writing, and
studying were causing his grades and self-esteem to drop. Taylor soon began working regularly with TLC tutors, who used the
Wilson Reading System to boost his language comprehension. Working
hard and progressing well, Taylor witnessed results that reinforced
his belief in himself. Today, Taylor is an eighth grader. He
continues to work with TLC experts on reading comprehension,
paragraph writing, and organizational skills. In two years at TLC,
Taylor's grades have improved. His family is very proud of him as
are his tutors at TLC.
(back to top)
Resources
Please click
here to return to TLC's Web Resource Library.
ADHD
Links:
Articles and Factsheets:
-
Building Blocks to Reading: Tips and Techniques for All Kinds of
Kids, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
Common Testing Accommodations and Modification for Students with
Disabilities, Wendy C. Ward, M.A.T.
-
Education Interventions for AD/HD, National Dissemination Center
for Children with Disabilities
-
Organization Coaching May Help Your Teen Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.,
and Dorothy Lange, M.S.
-
Is It Really ADHD? If So, What Next? Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Service in School for Children with Special Needs: What Parents
Need To Know, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
-
Top Ten Homework Tips for Parents of Children with Learning
Disabilities, Wendy C. Ward, M.A.T.
-
Don't Wait and See: The Importance of Early Intervention,
Kristen Olsen, Ph.D.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Links:
-
American Occupational Therapy Association. Inc. (AOTA),
www.aota.org
-
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,
www.asha.org
-
Autism Montgomery,
www.autismmontgomerycounty.com
-
Autism Society of America,
www.autism-society.org
-
Autism Speaks,
www.autismspeaks.org
-
Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC),
www.csaac.org
-
Early Signs of Autism, TLCThe Treatment and Learning
Centers
-
First Signs,
www.firstsigns.org
-
Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental & Learning Disorders,
www.icdl.com
-
Maryland Asperger Advocacy & Support Group,
www.aspergers.org
Articles and Factsheets:
Child Development
Links:
-
Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental & Learning Disorders,
www.icdl.com
-
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development,
www.nichd.nih.gov
Articles and Factsheets:
-
A Guide to You Child's Early Development: Birth to 2 Years,
TLC-The Treatment and Learning Centers
-
A Guide to You Child's Early Development: 2 to 6 Years, TLC-The
Treatment and Learning Centers
-
Building Blocks to Reading: Tips and Techniques for All Kinds of
Kids, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
Children with Learning Disabilities, American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry
-
Early Signs of Autism, TLCThe Treatment and Learning
Centers
-
Evaluating Learning Difficulties, Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D., and Rose
Ellen Halper, Ph.D.
-
Getting in Gear for Summer Camp, Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Organization Coaching May Help Your Teen Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.,
and Dorothy Lange, M.S.
-
Pages and Stages: Instilling the Love of Books, Janice Jones,
M.Ed.
-
Positive Parenting For Healthy Child Development, Lisa
Lenhart, Ph.D., and L. Alex Mirabelli, Psy.D.
-
Pragmatically Speaking: Learning the Art of Conversation, Ellen
C. Fye, M.A., CCC-SLP, and Patricia Ritter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
-
Raising a Reader, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
The Anxious Child, American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
-
Using a
'Sensory Diet' with Children with Sensory Processing
Disorders (SPD), Amber Swearingen, MOT, OTR/L
-
Don't Wait and See: The Importance of Early Intervention,
Kristen Olsen, Ph.D.
Educational Support
Links:
-
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC),
www.cec.sped.org
-
International Dyslexia Association (IDA),
www.interdys.org
-
LD OnLine,
www.ldonline.org
-
Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County,
www.ldamc.org
-
Learning Disabilities Association of America,
www.ldanatl.org
-
MANSEF Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education
Facilities, www.mansef.org
-
National Association of School Psychologists,
www.nasponline.org
-
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD),
www.ncld.org
-
National Information Center for Children and Youth with
Disabilities (NICHCY), www.nichcy.org
-
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development,
www.nichd.nih.gov
-
Schwab Foundation for Learning,
www.schwablearning.org
-
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities,
www.smartkidswithld.org
Articles and Factsheets:
-
Building Blocks to Reading: Tips and Techniques for All Kinds of
Kids, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
Children with Learning Disabilities, American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry
-
Common Testing Accommodations and Modification for Students with
Disabilities, Wendy C. Ward, M.A.T.
-
Education Interventions for AD/HD, National Dissemination Center
for Children with Disabilities
-
Evaluating Learning Difficulties, Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D., and Rose
Ellen Halper, Ph.D.
-
Is
It Really ADHD? If So, What Next? Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Job Seeking Skills for Teens, Nancy Amundson, M.S.
-
Moving Write Along: Mastering the Written Word, Janice Jones,
M.Ed.
-
Organization Coaching May Help Your Teen Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.,
and Dorothy Lange, M.S.
-
Pages and Stages: Instilling the Love of Books, Janice Jones,
M.Ed.
-
Poor Listening Skills Affect Learning, Becky L. Spivey, M. Ed.
-
Service in School for Children with Special Needs: What Parents Need
To Know, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
-
Simple Tips to Encourage Reading, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
Study Skill Strategies for School Success, Janice Jones, M.Ed.
-
The Anxious Child, American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
-
Top Ten Homework Tips for Parents of Children with Learning
Disabilities, Wendy C. Ward, M.A.T.
Mental Health
Links:
Articles and Factsheets:
-
Aspergers Disorder, American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
-
Early Signs of Autism, TLCThe Treatment and Learning
Centers
-
Getting in Gear for Summer Camp, Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Is
It Really ADHD? If So, What Next? Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Not Just Child's Play: Art Therapy's Amazing Impact, Laurie
Mowry-Hesler, MA, ATR-BC, MFT
-
Organization Coaching May Help Your Teen Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.,
and Dorothy Lange, M.S.
-
Positive Parenting For Healthy Child Development, Lisa
Lenhart, Ph.D., and L. Alex Mirabelli, Psy.D.
-
The Anxious Child, American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
-
The Depressed Child, American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
-
When Is a Problem Really a Problem? Lisa Lenhart, Ph.D.
-
Don't Wait and See: The Importance of Early Intervention,
Kristen Olsen, Ph.D.
FAQs
Psychoeducational Testing
Q: What are the ages of the individuals you evaluate?
A: We are able to evaluate individuals between the ages of 2 and
adulthood. Younger children receive a developmental evaluation to
determine functioning in a variety of areas, while adults often need
evaluations for college level accommodations, or to determine how to
cope with learning or information processing difficulties that are
affecting their work situation. All evaluations are geared toward
identifying individual strengths, and creating recommendations to build on strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Q: What types of difficulties are you able to evaluate?
A: We conduct comprehensive evaluations that determine overall
intellectual functioning, academic functioning, if an individual has
a learning disability, and information processing styles.
Additionally, we are able to provide further testing to determine if
an individual has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. More
comprehensive social-emotional evaluations are also available when
needed. Our developmental evaluations can assess for PDD or
autism spectrum disorders.
Q: What is the process of evaluation?
A: Typically, the parent(s) or adult is first interviewed by the
psychologist to gather background information. The child/individual
is evaluated, typically over the course of three mornings.
Approximately three weeks after all data has been gathered the
psychologist and other evaluators will meet with the parent(s) or
adult to provide feedback and a copy of the report.
Q: Are you able to provide counseling if this is a need?
A: We have psychologists on staff that are able to provide
individual and/or family therapy for individuals in need of such
service.
Tutoring
Q: What kind of tutoring does TLC offer?
A: Our tutors work with learners of all ages and abilities. We
specialize in individualized one-on-one tutoring for students with
learning differences or those diagnosed with a specific learning
disability. Tutors work with students in their area of difficulty,
for example, reading, mathematics, study skills, or written
composition.
Q: What kind of background do TLC tutors have?
A: Our tutors are required to have a minimum of a Bachelors
degree; many have a Masters. They all have teaching and tutoring
experience as well as training and experience in working with
children with learning disabilities. All tutors at TLC receive Tutor
Training courses and/or other professional development courses to
prepare them to best serve all client needs.
Q: How long will a student need tutoring?
A: This varies greatly with the student and the area of
difficulty. We have many students who continue for several years
with the same tutor, adjusting their goals as their skills improve.
Other students come for a boost in a specific area and are at TLC
for a shorter period of time. Our tutors give individualized advice
based on their work with the student and they usually design
teaching goals to last a semester (four to five months) at a time,
but it's up to the student and parents to decide how long to
continue.
Organizational Coaching
Q: What is Coaching?
A: The coach and client establish specific goals and objectives.
Sessions are solution and action-oriented, and focused on developing
strategies for success. Coaches provide support, encouragement and
structure with an emphasis on accountability throughout the process.
(back to top) |
