Gifted Homeschoolers Forum

Gifted & Homeschool Friendly Professionals

Everyone listed here was referred by GHF staff or members on the basis of good service, an understanding of giftedness, and an open mind regarding alternative forms of education. The information is self-reported, however, and in any case a good experience for one child is not necessarily a predictor of a good experience with another. Personality matters. Rapport matters. We hope this list gives you a starting point for finding an appropriate professional to work with, and we also strongly recommend you do your own homework. You may wish to post to our email list for personal experiences with particular professionals. Your mileage may vary.

GHF has members on six continents. If you would like to make a recommendation in any region, please contact our Professional Outreach Director, Anne Beneventi.

Northern California - Southern California - Outside California (U.S.)

Northern California

* Testing and Assessment

Amend Psychological Services (Dr. Ed Amend)-- Addressing the social, emotional and educational needs of gifted families. Quantitative IQ testing and assessment.
- (859) 269-6465
- Napa Valley, CA and Lexington, KY
- Ask about discounts for GHF members
Teresa Bailey, pediatric neuropsychologist, practice limited to assessments.
- (650) 967-3451
- Los Altos/Mountain View
Anne Beneventi, certified master practitioner of qualitative IQ assessment. Evaluating the emotional and educational needs of gifted children.
- ChildrenEvolving@gmail.com. (510) 672-0418
- San Francisco Bay Area/Peninsula/South Bay/Santa Cruz
- 10% discount for GHF members
Betsy Buchtel, M.S. Licensed Educational Psychologist
- Sunnyvale (408) 732-7033
- 10% discount for GHF members
Claire Goss, M.Ed. Licensed Educational Psychologist
- Portola Valley (650) 854-0750
Dr. Daniel B. Peters, PhD, Licensed Psychologist.
- Walnut Creek (925) 939-7500
- Napa (707) 337-0779
- 10% discount for GHF members
Lou Ellen Sherrill, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Member of Allied Health Professional Staff Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Offers quantitative psychological testing and IQ assessment.
- gifted@giftedgifted.com. (310) 276-7070
- San Francisco Bay Area/Beverly Hills/Los Angeles
- 10% discount for GHF members

* Counseling

Counseling Psychologists, Inc. -- Dr. Jeanne Thomas, marriage and family therapist.
- (408) 725-8043
- Cupertino/San Jose
- sliding scale based on need
Inga Dean, MFCC -- Can be reached at the Mythago Family Counseling Center
- (510) 644-4227 or (925) 838-7042
- Danville/East Bay
- sliding scale based on need
Ilene Diamond, JD, PsyD -- Clinical psychologist with special interest in gifted adolescents and college students. I also work with adults, families and couples.
- (415) 820-1508
- San Francisco/Menlo Park
- 10% discount for GHF members
Mika Gustavson, MFT -- Psychotherapist with special interest in supporting and enhancing parent-child bonds at all ages. Experienced at working with (and parenting) "outside-the-box" children including gifted and 2e.
- (408) 375-9635
- Campbell/San Jose/Redwood City
- 10% discount for GHF members
Julie Lustig -- Therapist who specializes in anxiety and OCD.
- (650) 289- 9100
- Menlo Park
Julia Wallace -- Psychotherapist who specializes in couples and families, and also works with individuals of all ages.
- (415) 820-3216
- San Francisco
- 10% discount for GHF members
Orik Weksler, MFT -- Psychodynamic psychotherapist for children, adults and teens. Specializing in giftedness and autism spectrum disorders. Experience with depression, anxiety, OCD and trauma. Trained in expressive arts therapy and sandtray.
- (510) 356-2783
- Berkeley
Lisa White, consultations and therapy for gifted children and families. Administers WISC IV for quantitative psychological testing and IQ assessment.
- (925) 939-7500
- East Bay/Walnut Creek
- 10% discount for GHF members

* Medical/Therapies

Dr. Sarah Cheyette -- Pediatric Neurologist
- (650) 558-6600 / (650) 321-4121
- San Mateo / Palo Alto
Development is Child's Play (Occupational Therapy) -- Teri Wiss, Director
- (408) 865-1365
- Silicon Valley region
Judith Paton, M.A. -- Audiology, including Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) assessment.
- (650) 340-1280
- San Mateo
- $50 discount for GHF members
Dr. Liane Rice, Developmental Optometrist
- (408) 377-1150
- Campbell/San Jose

* Educational Consulting

Wes Beach, Educational Consultant, and Director, Beach High School -- 30+ years of experience in supporting teens who wish to pursue their interests in ways they choose; documenting their pursuits as high school studies; creating portfolios for program and other applications; and reaching their goals, including college admission (often early admission).
- (831) 462-5867
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Discount for GHF members available upon request
Melanie Hayes, Educational Consultant -- Providing families with private consultation designed to help parents/caregivers create an appropriate program to meet their child’s individual educational needs. Includes student academic assessment in reading, math, and learning modalities.
- (510) 669-9630
- San Francisco Bay Area
- 10% discount for GHF members
Claudia L'Amoreaux, Educational Consultant, and Director, Haven Learning Center. Supporting gifted young people and parents in designing highly individualized educational solutions for self-directed learning.
- (510) 665-9141
- San Francisco Bay Area/Peninsula/South Bay/Santa Cruz

Southern California

* Testing and Assessment

Margaret Donohue, PhD -- Psychological and neuropsychological testing. Tests include WAIS, WMS, WIAT, WISC, WPPSI, WJ-C and WJ-A, SATA, Nelson Denny and more. Specializing in twice exceptional children and adults requesting accommodations.
- (818) 389-8384
- Valencia, CA
- 30% discount for GHF members.
Dr. Carolyn Light -- Clinical psychologist who does counseling, testing and assessment of gifted children.
- (619) 981-9366
- San Diego County
- sliding scale based on need
- 10% discount for GHF members.
James Lyons, M.F.T. -- Psychological testing and assessment of gifted children. Special interest in non-English speakers..
- (323) 460-2456
- Los Angeles County
- 10% discount for GHF members.
Lou Ellen Sherrill, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Member of Allied Health Professional Staff Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Offers quantitative psychological testing and IQ assessment.
- gifted@giftedgifted.com. (310) 276-7070
- San Francisco Bay Area/Beverly Hills/Los Angeles
- 10% discount for GHF members
Dr. Sandra Wilder-Padilla -- Counseling, testing and assessment of gifted children.
- (818) 990-4794 or (818) 990-6637
- Encino

* Counseling

Judy Wiener, LCSW, LMFT -- Psychotherapy and counseling with gifted children and adults, as well as consultation. SENG parent groups and workshops.
- (818) 706-0140
- Agoura Hills
- 10% discount for GHF members
Linda Powers Leviton, MFT -- Psychotherapy and counseling for gifted children and adults. Linda also directs the West Coast office of the Gifted Development Center.
- (818) 203-5987
- Granada Hills
- 10% discount for GHF members

* Medical/Therapies

Carol Atkins -- Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) assessment.
- (949) 951-3362
- Laguna Hills
Integrated Therapy Solutions -- Michelle Lazaros, Occupational Therapist
- itssca@earthlink.net (310) 289-1157
- Beverly Hills
- $20 discount for GHF members
John Tracy Clinic -- Provides free comprehensive hearing tests for kids from newborns up to age 6. Have particular expertise in difficult-to-test kids, including gifted and highly gifted.
- Los Angeles
- all services free of charge

* Educational Consulting

Dr. Barbara Klein -- Parenting and educational coach for children and parents, including gifted children. Parenting groups and parent coaching.
- (310) 443-4182
- Los Angeles
- 10% discount for GHF members

Outside California (U.S.)

* Testing and Assessment

Amend Psychological Services (Dr. Ed Amend)-- Addressing the social, emotional and educational needs of gifted families. Quantitative IQ testing and assessment.
- (859) 269-6465
- Lexington, KY and Napa Valley, CA
- Ask about discounts for GHF members
Beljan Psychological Services (Dr. Paul Beljan)-- specializing in pediatric neuropsychology and gifted assessment
- (602)957-7600
- Phoenix, AZ
- 10% discount for GHF members
Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide's Neurolearning.com -- see this site for information on assessing twice-exceptional gifted kids
- (425) 742-2218
- Washington State
Gifted Development Center (Dr. Linda Silverman)-- the center of the universe for quantitative testing and assessment of gifted children of all stripes
- (888) GIFTED-1
- Denver, CO
- Ask about discounts for GHF members
da Vinci Learning Center (Aimee Yermish, PsyD) -- testing, assessment, and consulting
- (978) 461-4815
- Stow, MA