For Teenagers
Karen works with teenagers in a variety of
settings, ranging from individually focused sessions, to small and
large classes. Sex education is a particularly difficult educational
topic, because of the widely differing views on what constitutes
appropriate sex education. To find out more about the perspective
these sessions and classes will utilize, read through the philosophy section of this website, and visit Karen's blog
for an on-going conversation about emerging issues. Additionally, it
is important for parents to keep in mind that Karen generally states
that what teenagers talk about in individual sessions and classes is
confidential. Please understand that this is to ensure that the
students feel comfortable talking about their educational needs, and
that if issues arise that require medical or psychological attention,
Karen will inform the parents of those needs. Karen teaches girls and
boys, and has a number of male sex educators who can accompany her when
a male view point is particularly called for.
Individual Consultations - in person or by phone/Internet - $50/hour
Karen
will meet individually with a teenager to create a tailor-made
environment to address her or his specific interests and developmental
and educational needs. An introduction meeting between Karen and the
parents/guardians will provide Karen with an understanding of the
student and his or her history of sexuality and relationships. This
will also provide a time for the parents/guardians to express
particular topics for the student's session. The teenager's age,
experience, interest and comfort level will define much of the session
planning. A final meeting with the parents/guardians is available for
those who request it to provide an overview of of the curriculum
utilized and to ask any final questions. These sessions are generally
one to one-and-a-half hours long, and there may be as few or as many
sessions as is called for by the desired topics. For examples of
possible topics, please see the curriculum designed for the small and
large classes.
Small Classes - 2 to 5 students - 4 meetings - $150/student
The
small class setting has many of the same benefits associated with the
individual settings. Groups of 2 to 5 students join together to form a
class which meets at a time and place which is convenient to them. The
gender balance in the small class is particularly important to attend
to; either all students should be the same gender, or there should be
an equal split. Karen has a curriculum designed for the small
classes. However, this curriculum can be altered by the parents or the
students to fit the individual needs of the students. A meeting
between Karen and all of the parents/guardians before the class begins
is required for student participation. Each class is one-and-a-half
hours long.
"Large" Classes - 6 to 10 students - 4 meetings - $100/student
Karen
organizes large classes occasionally, sometimes by request from a large
group such as a private school, a church, or other non-profit
organization. While the individual needs of the students may be
somewhat taken into consideration, Karen has a set curriculum for these
classes. The large class setting allows for the discussion of more
view points and peer communication than the small or individual
setting. For some adolescents, this may be a benefit, while others may
find it intimidating. Safety and trust building within the group is
always the first order of business. The large class must either
include all one gender, or there must be a relatively equal number of representatives
from each gender. A meeting between Karen and all of the potential
parents/guardians before the class begins is required for student
participation. A separate meeting between Karen and all of the
potential students before the class begins is also required for student
participation. Each class is one-and-a-half hours long. Some
financial aid or reduced cost is available, particularly when this
class is taught for non-profit organizations.
For Parents
In addition to working with teenagers, Karen is available for consulting and educating parents on issues surrounding current trends in adolescent sexuality and in parent-adolescent communication skills. While these meetings are probably most beneficial when carried out in conjunction with classes for the teenagers themselves, they may also be done separately. Sex education is a particularly difficult educational topic, because of differing views on what constitutes appropriate sexual activity among adolescents. For this reason, some parents feel more comfortable beginning their work with Karen themselves, in one of the formats listed below. To find out more about Karen's perspectives on these issues, please read through the philosophy section of this website, and visit Karen's blog for an on-going conversation about emerging topics.
Individual Sessions - in person or by phone/Internet - $65/hour
Karen
will meet with one parent or a couple to talk about concerns they have
regarding their children. The specifics of these meetings may be
determined entirely by the parents' needs, or Karen can modify the large group curriculum for the individual setting. Some of
the topics parents are often interested in learning about include
adolescent emotional and cognitive development, current trends in
adolescent sexuality, up-to-date information about STD/STIs,
communication techniques to use with their teenagers, and additional
reading materials on these topics. These meetings generally last one
to one-and-a-half hours, and may be scheduled as a one-time event or an
on-going series of conversations.
Small Groups - 2 to 5 parents - $250, 4 hours
The
small group setting has many of the same benefits as the individual
sessions. Up to five parents join together to organize a small class
at a place and time which is convenient to them. Karen will meet with
them for a one-time, 4 hour meeting to present a curriculum of
information about adolescent sexuality. The curriculum may be a modified version of the large group curriculum, or it can be tailored
to address specific concerns of the small group, to include issues such
as gender identity and sexual orientation, and adolescent pregnancy and
parenthood.
Large Groups - 10 to 15 parents - 4 meetings - $175/parent, $300/couple
Karen organizes large classes occasionally, sometimes by request from a large group such as a private school, a church, or other non-profit organization. While topics of high concern to individual parents may be somewhat taken into consideration, and there will be time set aside for questions and discussion during every session, Karen has a set curriculum for these classes. The large class setting does allow for more discussion between more parents, which can be highly beneficial for some parents. Each class is one-and-a-half hours long. Some financial aid or reduced cost is available, particularly when this class is taught for non-profit organizations.