The SC Blog: New Essays every Month
All essays found here were written by Starobin Counseling staff.
Intelligence? Lots, and none of it’s artificial!

Things I Learned as a (Neurotypical) School Counselor for Neurodivergent Students
Melissa Hinton, LCSW-C, worked with neurodivergent students as a school counselor for 14 years. Now transitioning into private practice at Starobin Counseling, she’s drawing on many lessons learned about what does - and doesn’t - work when it comes to supporting kids with autism & ADHD.
Transform the Reluctant Client’s Therapeutic Experience with PLISSIT: From Pointless to Meaningful
When reluctant clients dismiss therapy as pointless, therapists may instinctively push back. Ely Peralta, LCSW-C, suggests gentle engagement using the PLISSIT model instead. Ely describes PLISSIT and how it fosters trust, encourages empowerment and aligns therapy with each client’s values.

How Clinicians can Embrace The Neurodiversity Paradigm in Practice: A Conversation with The Dorm
Caron Starobin, LCSW-C, shares a recent conversation with Sam Jaffe, LMSW, of The Dorm. They talked about the Neurodiversity Paradigm as a foundation for neurodiversity-affirming care, why clinicians need to address their own ableism and why supporting a client’s family also supports the client.