Darleen Claire Wodzenski, MS ESE, MA CMHC, PhD

Darleen Claire Wodzenski, MS ESE, MA CMHC, PhD

5.0(2 reviews)

About

We love children ... of all ages ... and provide services to support Attachment Development, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other complex conditions related to mental health, behavior, learning, and child development. Find concrete strategies to address your child's behavior, emotional, learning, or developmental challenge. Areas of specialization include RAD or Reactive Attachment Disorder and DSED as well as Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dr. Darleen Claire Wodzenski is a special education, clinical mental health, child development, and psychology interventionist who brings focused and integrated services and support to children and their families. Learn more about Dr. Darleen at OrchardHumanServices.org on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PNEinstitute/ or Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdarleenclaire/

Dr. Darleen Claire just loves working with children, families, parents, and educators. Children are often drawn in ... feeling safe in her loving presence ... allowing them to open up and make changes quickly. When we see Dr. Darleen Claire with the children, it just makes us all smile.


Highlights

17 years in business
Serves Atlanta , GA

Social media


Reviews

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EW

Elaine W.

She seems to have a sixth sense about how to connect with people with developmental obstacles. She thinks outside of the box and is able to accomplish things that are beyond what I have experienced with other professionals. I highly recommend working with her.
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January 08, 2019

SB

Sharon B.

Dr. Darleen has a very loving heart and is willing to help others in a way that meets their needs. She recognizes the problems right off and works toward fixing them. I feel strongly that she helped me get back on track and I have struck with her over the years.
... Show more
January 06, 2019

Frequently asked questions

New consumers meet us at a public event or reach out by phone or through the internet. We typically chat on the phone to see if we are a good fit and set up an initial consultation. From that first visit, we are able to determine the need for assessment, evaluation, services, and referral. For some families, Dr. Darleen Claire will visit the home in order to see the family in their home environment. Locations are available around Metro Atlanta including Marietta and Alpharetta.

Dr. Darleen Claire Wodzenski is an author and national speaker who holds ...

- A Masters Degree in Exceptional Student Education

- A Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

- A PhD in Non-Clinical Psychoneuroeducational Psychology

other credentials include:

- QPPE - Qualified Professional Parent Educator Credentials

- Georgia Bright from the Start Teacher Trainer Credentials

- Georgia POST Instructor Training Certification

- Divinity credentials and 20+ years experience as a non-denominational ministerial counselor

Counseling, Brain-Based Intervention, Advocacy, Neurofeedback, Biofeedback:

Basic fee structure: $120 per hour

Sliding scale fees offered for special situations.

Profesional Training, Development, Speaking:

Refer to website for specific trainings or contact us directly at [email protected]

Raising a wonderful family with happy and well-behaved children, my professional career began in my 30s when strangers approached me in public and in my neighborhood to ask how I had such polite and respectful children. I was approached by so many HeadStart teachers that it spins my head. Over time, neighbors and community members asked my husband and me for help with their child's challenges, and it launched decades of our working with families and children in the commuity ... and taking children and families into our home for intensive supportive care.

Following this passion, I pursued a Masters degree in Special Education in order to better support the children I was serving. Once working as a Special Ed teacher, I realized that the children's problems were more developmental and mental health than educational ... and I pursued a second Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

As my work in the combined areas of Clinical Mental Health and Special/Exceptional Student Education unfolded, I discovered that we had something really special that was helping children with disorders of attachment and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This launched a pursuit that resulted in my PhD in Non-Clinical Psychoneuroeducational Psychology.

Along the way, I have deeply explored the phenomenon of Disproportional Minority Contact and wrote a book about ways to reduce the tragically high number of brown boys who are being processed into the Juvenile Justice and even Criminal Justice Systems.

Working with such fragile populations ... including children of trauma, abuse, neglect and Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD ... naturally led to writing books that would meet specific needs of my clients.

So please look on Amazon for some of our healing titles including:

Marmalade Jam - a therapeutic children's fairytale

Raising Social Children - how to know if your child needs support in social development ... and how to promote social development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dead Children Can't Read - a thin book explaining the dangers of promoting academics in children with emotional, developmental, behavioral, and mental health challenges; explains the foundations of promoting child total health and wellbeing FIRST ... and pushing academics after children are developmentally and mentall healthy and whole.

And many others, some published and some being ready for release.

- I work with young folks from infancy to young adulthood

- I work with parents and families of children in distress

- I specialize in broad approaches to Attachment Disorder [RAD and DSED] and ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder] and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders ... including Brain-Based Strategies supported by Neurofeedback and Biofeedback Training

- I train teachers to use developmentally responsive strategies

- I train education professionals and administrators to promote developmentally responsive practices

- I speak and present on critical topics related to child development, mental health, attachment disorder, juvenile justice, special needs ... in my home state of Georgia and around the country

- Our organizations, Orchard Human Services, Inc. and PNE Institute, LLC are positioned to offer continuing education credits to profesionals from various fields including ... Dental professionals, Juvenile Justice and Peace Officers, Educators, Early Childcare Professionals, Parents, Human Services Workers

- We offer focused consulting services related to special topics that impact children with Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorders, helping families navigate such issues as Epigenetic Polymorphism and Mast Cell Activation Disorder/Syndrome; Ketogenic Adaptation; Autism Socialization Development; Brain-Based Strategies to promote Attachment and Broad Development; and Neurofeedback and Biofeedback Training.

Children with Autism often speak their own "language" and broadcast their message everywhere they go. Sadly, adults - even doctors and teachers who work with this fragile population - often fail to recognize their communication. One day, when working with a child with RAD [Reactive Attachment Disorder] in a park setting for socialization intervention services ... a mother of a child with Autism noticed us working and asked for some support. As her 3-year old child approached us, she explained that he never interacted with anyone other than his occupational therapist and parents. As the little guy walked up to the table where we were seated, I noticed that he was making a particular sound and was moving his hand in a very specific but subtle way. I "spoke back to him" by mirroring the same sound and movement. Within seconds, he had jumped up on the bench and climbed up into my arms, cuddling me. His mother as flabbergasted ... and yet, for us, this is a pretty typical experience.

I have the extreme privilege of receiving hugs, kisses, high fives, and even dances with children whose parents insisted that they did not interact with strangers. Guess these little ones know how much we love them at Orchard Human Services, Inc. and PNE Institute, LLC ... and that makes these precious little ones feel right at home.

We seek to listen and respond to the child ... rather than insist that the child follow our lead and style of communication. It is a much more practical, respectful, and effective system.

Find someone who really seems to understand your problem/challenge/need/situation

Make sure the person has a track record of success in working with this situation/condition

Check your heart and your head ... Make sure you feel safe, confident, and secure when interacting with this person. If you are slow to warm up to folks, have an appointment or two before making a final decision.

Most of all, choose a professional who puts your needs FIRST and creates space for you to feel important, empowered, and able to take on the challenge at hand.

Make a list of what specific changes you would like to see in your life ... if the current challenge/situation was resolved.

Make a list of the ways the current challenge/situation is causing you to feel less than ... AND/OR ...

Make a list of the ways that achieving the changes you desire can improve your life and the lives of others.


Services offered

Therapy
Family Therapy