Embedded Consultation
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.”
A Master’s level professional from Connection Counseling & Consultation Inc. (or professionals, depending on the size of your program) pushing in and directly modeling PBS for your staff
Supervision and oversight provided by Aprilynn Artz, MS, LPC to both the professionals from Connection Counseling and your team members
Transfer of skills from the embedded professional and April to your staff via building rapport and modeling strategies in real-time
Regular meetings (depending on the size of the program/need) with April and the embedded professional(s) and your administrative staff to proactively evolve the collaboration and ensure that skills are being transferred
Master’s level interns who are working on degrees in Counseling and Social Work (and being actively supervised by April) providing one-on-one support to children who are still developing their social, emotional, and behavioral skills in order to make sure they are consistently included in whatever program they have signed up to attend
What does embedded support look like?
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh’s Clubhouse Program (2019-2025)
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh’s Day Camps (J & R and South Hills) (2022-2025)
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh’s Early Childhood Development Center (2012-2025)
Hillel Academy (2024-Present)
Yeshiva School of Pittsburgh (2025)
PBS Transfer/Modeling Experience
Feel free to reach out so we can better understand your needs and see what level of support might best enhance the services you already provide!
Interested in embedded support for your school or agency?
In terms of working with children, and especially in terms of best supporting neurodivergent children, working directly with someone who is actively implementing and modeling Positive Behavior Support (PBS) approaches in real-time is an evidenced-based, and effective way to transfer skills.
At Connection Counseling & Consultation Inc. we have done many presentations at schools, community centers, and non-profits on all things connected to neurodivergence & PBS. While standard presentations can transfer some level of knowledge/skill, we’ve found that when people see how effective Positive Behavior Support can be in real-time, that’s when they tend to truly “get it.”
This is also how Aprilynn “April” Artz, LPC learned everything she knows now. She watched and learned from colleagues and professionals in all of her previous work settings. The embedded support we provide today is an accumulation and amalgamation of 20+ years of training and experience that April gained via Pressley Ridge (under Rebecca Klaw’s mentorship), The Watson Institute, WPIC’s CADD (formerly Merck) clinic, and finally, her 10 years of experience running and overseeing Quest Therapeutic Camp in Pittsburgh.
Offered Trainings
Neurodiversity Training
What is it? Why is it important? How can it better help you to reframe your view of folks who are uniquely wired?
Returning to School in the time of COVID
A training that empowers teachers and provides them the opportunity to process their concerns and thoughts about returning to the classroom
Positive Behavior Support & Classroom Management
Understanding how to observe behavior, be interested in the function(s) of it, and provide simple interventions/techniques to help teachers, parents, staff at programs who support children in any capacity, to improve overall group/classroom functioning
Autism
Understanding the autism spectrum, becoming more culturally sensitive to the needs of autistic individuals, learning about sensory and communication needs, approaches that work best for individuals on the spectrum
Inclusion
Understanding neurodiversity, recognizing the value/importance of inclusion, finding ways to implement and/or improve inclusive efforts within your school/agency
Employment
Understanding how best to hire and retain Autistic/Neurodivergent employees, creating an inclusive and equitable environment