THRIVE COLLEGE COUNSELING EF COACHES AND CONSULTANTS
Dr. Marci Schwartz
Dr. Schwartz founded Thrive College Counseling with the goal of supporting teens with a neurodiversity make the sometimes difficult but important transition into adulthood. Thrive College Counseling works with students to discover their best college fit in order to ensure a successful transition to the college or program of their choice after high school. Dr. Schwartz received her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA Extension in 2016. She currently co-teaches an on-line class at UC Irvine to individuals who are working on their college counseling certificate. The class is entitled "Working with Students with Learning Differences". Dr. Schwartz is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Schwartz began her career as a therapist and has provided counseling services to parents of children with developmental and learning challenges since 1989. In this capacity, she has worked with children and teens to better understand their strengths and challenges and develop the independent living skills and self-advocacy skills necessary for independence. She received her Ph.D. from New York University.
Dr. Schwartz is also the founder of Camp Altitude in 2010. This two-week summer sleep away camp was created to provide youth with a learning difference/neurodiversity an opportunity to build independent living skills and social skills in a fun and safe environment. Camp Altitude was purchased by Via Services in 2015, which is now a part of Abilitypath.
Bringing these years of experience to Thrive College Counseling, Dr. Schwartz provides college counseling services to families of high school students. Dr. Schwartz draws upon her experiences throughout her career to educate students and parents regarding the skills needed to be prepared for the transition from high school to college, and to create a thoughtful list of colleges to consider.
Dr. Schwartz began her career as a therapist and has provided counseling services to parents of children with developmental and learning challenges since 1989. In this capacity, she has worked with children and teens to better understand their strengths and challenges and develop the independent living skills and self-advocacy skills necessary for independence. She received her Ph.D. from New York University.
Dr. Schwartz is also the founder of Camp Altitude in 2010. This two-week summer sleep away camp was created to provide youth with a learning difference/neurodiversity an opportunity to build independent living skills and social skills in a fun and safe environment. Camp Altitude was purchased by Via Services in 2015, which is now a part of Abilitypath.
Bringing these years of experience to Thrive College Counseling, Dr. Schwartz provides college counseling services to families of high school students. Dr. Schwartz draws upon her experiences throughout her career to educate students and parents regarding the skills needed to be prepared for the transition from high school to college, and to create a thoughtful list of colleges to consider.
Rheanna Bates
Twenty years of experience as a writing coach and tutor have honed Rheanna’s expertise in supporting a wide range of students with improving their self-awareness, confidence, and communication skills. Rheanna also guides her students to craft impactful high school and college admissions essays, master test preparation, and cultivate effective study habits.
As a certified specialist in the University of Kansas SIM strategies for writing, Rheanna is uniquely qualified to offer personalized support in writing to students with diverse learning needs. Also, Rheanna is currently enrolled in Landmark College's Professional Certificate program in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity to better serve students with developing their executive functioning, self-advocacy, and study skills. Her empathetic and adaptable approach enables her to tailor teaching methods to each individual student, connect with students on a personal level, and encourage them to reach their full potential.
Rheanna graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2002 with a concentration in English and American Literature. She currently serves as the Membership Director of the Bay Area Tutoring Summit, California’s premier professional organization for educational service providers, and received an Independent Educational Consultant Certificate through UC Irvine. Rheanna is also an associate member of the member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. At Thrive, Rheanna provides both EF coaching and college counseling services.
As a certified specialist in the University of Kansas SIM strategies for writing, Rheanna is uniquely qualified to offer personalized support in writing to students with diverse learning needs. Also, Rheanna is currently enrolled in Landmark College's Professional Certificate program in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity to better serve students with developing their executive functioning, self-advocacy, and study skills. Her empathetic and adaptable approach enables her to tailor teaching methods to each individual student, connect with students on a personal level, and encourage them to reach their full potential.
Rheanna graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2002 with a concentration in English and American Literature. She currently serves as the Membership Director of the Bay Area Tutoring Summit, California’s premier professional organization for educational service providers, and received an Independent Educational Consultant Certificate through UC Irvine. Rheanna is also an associate member of the member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. At Thrive, Rheanna provides both EF coaching and college counseling services.
Cheri Gaylord
As an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) and principal of Gaylord Consulting, Cheri offers services to individuals and their families using a strength-based approach to coach students in their current and future academic endeavors and independent life skills. While her specialty is assisting families and students in the area of LD/ADHD/Autism Spectrum Post Secondary Transitions, she works with all adolescents and young adults to explore college majors, career choices, executive function skills, self-advocacy skills, and gap year options.
Although Cheri started her career as a Residential Mortgage Consultant, she pursued her passion for education by obtaining a Certificate in Independent Education Consulting at the University of California, Irvine. It was after several family members diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention issues that Cheri Gaylord became an outspoken advocate for children with learning disabilities. Cheri currently resides in Laguna Niguel, California. She has one son and two grown stepsons. The youngest is on his way to launching as a young adult and pursuing his dream of graduating from college in Oregon. At Thrive, Cheri provides both EF coaching and college counseling.
Although Cheri started her career as a Residential Mortgage Consultant, she pursued her passion for education by obtaining a Certificate in Independent Education Consulting at the University of California, Irvine. It was after several family members diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention issues that Cheri Gaylord became an outspoken advocate for children with learning disabilities. Cheri currently resides in Laguna Niguel, California. She has one son and two grown stepsons. The youngest is on his way to launching as a young adult and pursuing his dream of graduating from college in Oregon. At Thrive, Cheri provides both EF coaching and college counseling.
Michael Nugent
Over 15 years spent in educational and coaching fields, Michael Nugent has developed a body of experience that allows him to best support each individual student's journey towards growth, purpose, and self-confidence. He has worked with over four hundred students as a college counselor, tutor and executive functioning coach. He guides his students at Thrive towards good fit colleges while building life-long study skills and self-awareness in the process.
Michael graduated from Bowdoin College, where he worked in the admissions department, with a degree in Sociology, and he completed UC Irvine's Independent Educational Consultant Certificate program. Michael is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Associate, the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling, and the Bay Area Tutoring Summit.
Michael is also a certified Somatic Educator through Tamalpa Institute. Michael previously owned a Skills Training business for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and was a grant writer with multiple awards over $100,000. At Thrive, Michael provides both college counseling services and EF coaching.
Michael graduated from Bowdoin College, where he worked in the admissions department, with a degree in Sociology, and he completed UC Irvine's Independent Educational Consultant Certificate program. Michael is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Associate, the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling, and the Bay Area Tutoring Summit.
Michael is also a certified Somatic Educator through Tamalpa Institute. Michael previously owned a Skills Training business for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and was a grant writer with multiple awards over $100,000. At Thrive, Michael provides both college counseling services and EF coaching.