A recent study from Pennsylvania State University found that teens who spent more time alone with their fathers had higher self-esteem and the more time they spent with their dads in a group setting, the better their social skills. The study, published in the Journal of Child Development, found that kids spend less and less […]
Continue ReadingCan You Sign Up Or Go To Sessions On Your Own Without Being 18 Years Old?
Good question. In a nutshell, if you are under the age of 12 you must have parental consent to receive counseling services. If you are between the ages of 12-17 years old you can receive up to 8, 90 minute counseling sessions before parental consent is legally required. The minor’s parents shall not be informed […]
Continue ReadingPolaris Welcomes Two New Counselors!
Polaris Counseling is pleased to announce that Marilyn Andrew and Lisa Banner have joined our team! Marilyn Andrew is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has extensive experience working with children, families, adolescents, and adults with diagnosis of Depression, Anxiety, Attention Deficit, Oppositional Defiant, trauma histories, and Adjustment Disorders. She uses a relaxed, relational, client centered […]
Continue ReadingOur President Is On TV!
Our president, James Smithers, was interviewed on the “Business Connections” talk show hosted by Liz Spencer at the Naperville Channel TV – 17 studios last week! James shared his thoughts on the practice, his counselors, the devoted and inspiring work they do, his trip to Kilimanjaro and more! The interview will be airing on Channel […]
Continue ReadingMandy Was Able To Help Me When Others Weren’t
“Mandy Semenik was able to help me when others weren’t. I found myself in a bad work environment with horrific hours. I wasn’t able to do the things I liked to do, or spend time with anyone because my work schedule was so bad. It really started to affect me. What made things worse was […]
Continue ReadingMandy Is A Wonderful Counselor
“Mandy is a wonderful counselor. She is very comfortable to talk with and is an amazing listener. She helped steer my teenage son and I more towards goals (short and long term) that would help us get to places we want and need to be, instead of letting us focus on all the things that […]
Continue ReadingOur President And His Son Are Climbing Kilimanjaro!
To celebrate his son’s golden birthday (he is turning 12 on the 12th July, 2012!) our president, James Smithers, and his son are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Amani Children’s Home in Tanzania, Africa. They have climbed in New Zealand and South America and are avid backcountry campers. Kilmanjaro stands at 19, […]
Continue ReadingPolaris Counseling Has A New Counselor!
Polaris Counseling is pleased to announce that Mandy Semenik has joined our team! Mandy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Divorce Mediator and Divorce Coach. She has extensive experience in providing individual, couples, group and family counseling to children, adolescents and adults, and has provided consultation and professional trainings for parents, teachers and child care […]
Continue ReadingMandy Made Me Feel Very Comfortable
“Mandy made me feel very comfortable in counseling. As someone who never believed in counseling, it felt good to have Mandy as a counselor. Everyone always said I should go to counseling and I said “yeah right!” Mandy gave me a comfortable environment to open up and talk. I was able to work on my […]
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