Expert Psychological and Educational Support for Children, Adolescents, and Families
At The Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services, we are dedicated to supporting individuals and families on their journey toward personal growth, academic success, and emotional well-being. Our team of skilled professionals offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.
Welcome to Our Practice!
The Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services, PLLC, is a collaborative private practice where families can find one-stop shopping for their psychological and educational needs. Founded by Dr. Jaclyn Russo and Shelley Mikszan, M.A. Ed., our center provides comprehensive support to help clients reach their full potential academically, emotionally, and personally. Unique to many other practices, we provide collaborative support that encompasses Dr. Russo’s clinical psychology expertise and Shelley Mikszan’s 25+ years as a special education teacher and administrator in both public and private school settings. We are committed to creating a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment where every individual can thrive. Whether you’re seeking clarity on a learning challenge, looking for emotional support, or need guidance through educational milestones, we are here to help every step of the way. At our practice, you’ll find this is where expertise meets compassionate care.
Our mission is to empower students, parents, and educators through personalized solutions and strategic guidance, fostering growth and success in every area of education. Whether you’re seeking clarity, confidence, or the tools to overcome challenges, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Why Choose Us?
At The Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services, we believe in a holistic approach to well-being. We take the time to listen to your concerns, understand your goals, and work collaboratively to create a personalized plan. Our integrative services are designed to empower you or your child to reach their full potential—academically, emotionally, and socially.
We believe that collaboration is key to supporting a child’s learning and development. By working directly with teachers and school administrators, we ensure that our assessments, interventions, and strategies are aligned with the child’s academic environment. This teamwork allows us to provide a more cohesive support system, helping children thrive both in and out of the classroom. By fostering open communication between all parties involved, we create a holistic approach to education that addresses each child’s unique needs and strengths, leading to more successful outcomes.
We specialize in psychoeducational evaluations, therapy, executive functioning and ADHD coaching, college planning, and professional consultations tailored for school-related needs, including IEP and 504 consultations, school placement guidance, advocacy, and SAT and ACT accommodations expertise.
Learn More
We invite you to explore our services further and reach out to schedule a consultation. Our team is ready to support you in achieving your goals and navigating the complexities of education and personal growth.
Thank you for visiting The Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services, PLLC—we look forward to partnering with you on your journey!
Our Services
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Executive Functioning/ADHD Coaching
Our Executive Functioning and ADHD Coaching helps children and young adults develop essential skills for improved time management, organization, task initiation and completion, goal setting and planning, self-regulation and control, and focus. This teaches clients how to use strategies for their unique learning profile to reach their academic and personal potential. Whether you’re a student struggling to keep track of assignments, study effectively, or looking for strategies to stay on top of daily tasks, our coaching provides personalized, practical techniques to boost productivity and reduce feeling overwhelmed. Using research-based methods, we work together to create a structured plan tailored to you or your child’s unique needs, helping you build the confidence and skills to succeed at school, work, and beyond.
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Pyschoeducational Evaluations
Our psychoeducational testing provides a thorough understanding of your child’s cognitive abilities, learning strengths, and areas still developing. Through a series of assessments, we identify factors that may be impacting academic performance, such as learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, giftedness, or other cognitive differences. The results offer valuable insights that can guide tailored interventions, educational strategies, and accommodations, helping your child reach their full potential. Whether for academic support or a clearer path to personalized learning, our testing helps ensure your child receives the right tools for success at home and in the classroom.
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College Planning
Navigating the college admissions process can be overwhelming, but we’re here to teach students how to manage the organizational side of it. Our college planning services offer personalized guidance to identify the best-fit schools, build a manageable timeline and complete applications, assist with setting up housing, and registering for classes. We also assist with developing academic strategies to ensure students are prepared for the rigors of college life. From choosing the right majors to ensuring appropriate accommodations, our goal is to make the transition to college as smooth and successful as possible for both students and their families.
Stay updated with our Blog!
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Unlocking Potential: Psychoeducational Strategies for Academic Success
Shelley Mikszan
Are you or your child facing challenges in academic performance or struggling with executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, or study habits? The Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services offers a range of specialized strategies and support to help unlock potential and achieve academic success.
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Empowering Families: Effective Therapeutic Approaches for Child Development
Shelley Mikszan
Families play a crucial role in the development and well-being of children. Nurturing and supportive family environments significantly impact a child's growth, shaping their academic and social-emotional success. At the Center for Aligned Psychoeducational Services, we understand the importance of empowering families to support their children effectively through therapeutic approaches tailored to their unique strengths and challenges.
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Navigating ADHD: Coaching Tips for Improved Executive Functioning
Shelley Mikszan
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can present a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing executive functioning skills. These skills are crucial for organizing tasks, prioritizing responsibilities, and staying focused on goals. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning, which can impact various aspects of their daily lives, including academic performance and social interactions.
FAQs
How do I know if my child needs therapy or counseling from a professional?
If your child is experiencing challenges such as anxiety, depression, difficulty managing emotions, social struggles, or academic stress, therapy may be beneficial. A consultation with a therapist can help assess whether therapy would be a good fit for addressing your child's needs.
How long does psychoeducational testing take?
Our testing is completed on one day, which isn’t the case at many practices. This is intentional on our part. It’s convenient for parents and students don’t have to miss school on 2 or 3 different days. We also value the longer period of time with clients because it allows us to see when they experience cognitive fatigue, lose focus or “hit the wall.” What parents and teachers see is more likely replicated in our 4-5 hours with clients. This time includes breaks for movement, refocus, snacks and/or lunch.
Do you work with school personnel, such as teachers or administrators?
Yes, we collaborate directly with teachers, school counselors, and administrators to ensure that our recommendations are implemented effectively and to create a comprehensive support system for your child’s learning and emotional needs. This teamwork helps promote a more cohesive approach to your child's education and well-being. This is only done with parent consent though. We only share what you want us to share!
Is the work we do with you confidential?
Absolutely! Whether you are engaging in psychoeducational testing, therapy, executive functioning, or college planning, all sessions are confidential. Information shared in sessions is protected by privacy laws, and we will not share any details without your explicit consent, except in cases where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or if legally required.
What should I expect during a psychoeducational evaluation?
The evaluation typically includes a series of assessments that measure cognitive abilities, academic skills, and social-emotional functioning. You can expect a thorough review of your child’s history and behavior prior to testing, with a detailed report with results and recommendations for next steps after testing is completed.
Do you take insurance?
We do not currently take insurance. One of the primary reasons is that insurance companies often impose strict limitations on the type and length of treatment they will cover, which can restrict the ability of practitioners to provide the personalized, long-term care that many clients need. By not accepting insurance, we can maintain more flexibility and autonomy over the therapeutic process, ensuring treatment is based on the client’s needs rather than insurance company policies. Additionally, insurance companies may require extensive paperwork, which can take time away from providing direct care. While paying out-of-pocket may initially seem like an added expense, it often allows for a more tailored, confidential, and uninterrupted therapy experience. We can provide a superbill after services though, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimburment. You are required to pay in full for all services at the start of each appointment though.
Contact Us
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