You may have questions about what makes Jackson Associates unique and how our services may be a fit for your family. These are the questions we most often encounter:
Q. When do we have to pay the fee?
A. Fees are never charged up-front; you are always welcome to come in on an hourly basis. If you decide to work with us toward a residential placement, fees are charged incrementally as the work is accomplished.
Q. What does your contract state and when do we have to sign it?
A. We do not utilize a contract for our services. We begin our work by outlining expectations in a letter to you- what you may expect from our professional services, and what we will expect from you. We believe it is essential to have mutual trust in the counseling process and this has been validated over many years. We are committed to helping you and believe you will be committed to helping your child.
Q. When I call will I be able to speak directly with a counselor?
A. Yes. At Jackson Associates all parent inquiries are answered by one of the counselors: Brooke Jackson or Alice Jackson. Once you have become a client, you will have direct access to your counselor through a personal call line. Calls are returned promptly, and access is not limited to weekdays.
Q. What is the educational experience and background of the counselor I will be working with?
A. We both have clinical counseling backgrounds. Brooke is pursuing her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in work with families, children and adolescents; Alice is a Master’s level Counseling Psychologist. The two of us combined have over forty years experience in the field of educational counseling, more than any other individual or firm of this size in California.
Q. How will I know which counselor I should be working with, who will specialize in my area of need?
A. At Jackson Associates both Brooke Jackson and Alice Jackson share the expertise. We are both fully knowledgeable about day school, boarding school and therapeutic program choices for pre-adolescents, adolescents and young adults. Sometimes families come into our offices anticipating one kind of placement, when the student might benefit more from a different kind of setting. Our comprehensive experience with a range of settings means you are never ‘pigeon-holed’. And if your child has been in one kind of school and is ready to transition into another, you don’t have to sacrifice the relationship of trust you have developed with your counselor; you can continue to work with her. Our collaboration on all of our cases assures that you have access to our combined knowledge, insight and experience.
Q. Will our educational counselor be available to meet with us on weekends?
A. Absolutely. We have weekend hours and can also arrange to meet with you on short notice if an emergency arises.
Q. Do you accept fees from schools or programs for referrals?
A. Our reputation is based on our thoughtful and committed representation of the interests of our families, not the schools we refer to. We never accept fees or payments of any kind from the schools or programs we refer to. To do so would be unethical, and a violation of the Principles of Good Practice as defined by The Independent Educational Consultants Association, (IECA). Alice Jackson was one of the founding members of that organization in the early 1970’s.
Q. What about follow-up after my child has been placed in a residential setting?
A. Not only is it critical for you and your chosen school to have our continued involvement and follow-up, we believe it is one of the most important parts of the counseling process and a hallmark of our work with families. It is how we can continue to be helpful to you over the time your child is in school, and how we are able to maintain the most effective relationship with the people working with your child.