If your child is already placed in a program and you are seeking help with whole family change and/or transition support, this is the process that we will follow.

Taking up to 30 minutes, this free consultation is generally done over the phone. This is an opportunity for family members to ask questions and learn what to expect. It allows us to get a feel for your issues and determine whether or not we will be able to help. We usually speak with program personnel, other professionals, and look at testing results before deciding whether or not to go forward.

During this phase the Northlight team gets to know your family and vice versa. Interviews are conducted with family members, program personnel, other professionals, with relevant information. Once the interviews are complete, each family is assigned a Life Learning coach who works with the family to create a unique plan of services. Services may include a Life Learning Plan™, parent coaching, customized workshops, seminars, therapy, and/or support groups.

During the orientation phase, family members are introduced to the concepts and therapeutic tools that are central to their NFS Family Program. At the culmination of this phase, the family has a customized plan and an outline for work to complete.

During this phase family members work on their Life Learning Plan™, engage in their own personal growth work, and prepare for family reunification and transition. The family's coach guides each family member through a process that fosters individual change while also participating in the student's residential process. The coach works with the student at the program to prepare them for work with the family. The coach travels to the child's program and to the family's home in order to provide periodic in-person support.

During this phase, parents work with the student in the residential program to create a thorough transition plan. The family is guided in a process that allows for the child's needs to be clearly articulated and thoroughly heard. The hard work that your child has put into his or her program is respected and the family's unique values are honored. Parents are guided to establish clear boundaries, expectations, and limits without trying to control their child's thought, feelings, or actions. Details regarding money, schedule, academics, and house rules are negotiated. Agreements are put into practice so that they are tested and challenged prior to the student's transition.

Families are coached through a process of carefully researching and selecting local professionals. These professionals are brought on to the team prior to the student's transition and the Life Learning Plan™ is used to educate them in the work that the family has completed. The Life Learning coach is also a member of this team.

Once your child has graduated from his or her program, regular meetings are scheduled to assist your family with the implementation of the plan. Problems are solved as issues arise and the plan is adjusted on an as needed basis. Meetings are also orchestrated with other professionals on the team in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page.