Larry Stednitz, PhD, IECA
Morro Bay, California
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I have spent the past 45 years working with troubled youth.  More importantly, I spent the better part of the past 30 years raising children.  I, like most parents, know the stress, frustration and hopes of parents.  The difficulties of raising kids who are simply going through typical teen years are compounded if a child is having emotional, behavioral, or educational problems.  That precious child is no longer the child you remember.  The child you had so much hope that they will be happy and have a successful and rewarding life, no matter what they decide to do.

What drew me to this work began many years ago.  My experience as a teacher, a school counselor, a school psychologist, a program director, and program developer allowed me to understand at a deeper level, what kids do well in what programs and whether or not a program can be effective for a specific child. 

I also began referring parents to programs thirty years ago, and have done so all of this time.  Many of my colleagues became therapists and worked one on one with young people.   I found that I could do much more good if I ran a program that worked not with only a handful of youth and their families, but hundreds every year.   I also learned that if I helped a parent find the right school/program for their child, my influence is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  My influence on young people and families is hugely magnified when an appropriate placement is made. 

In my professional life, I have been a teacher and a school psychologist in a large Southern California school district for ten years.  I have worked as a counselor at Father Flanagan’s Boys Town, was the senior program development officer for the largest company for troubled youth in the country, was a consultant in quality improvement at the 2nd largest company in the country, have been the director of nine programs, and have helped develop eleven programs in California, South Carolina, Nevada, Montana, Utah, and Colorado.  These experiences have all come together to provide me a unique in-depth understanding of programs for adolescents. 

My work is dedicated to helping parents find life changing answers for their child and for their family.  Forming a partnership with families and helping parents and their children is what I do.  Other than my own family, I get the most pleasure in life from the results of my work.

Curriculum Vitae