About Mariel

I have a background in art education and a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy, with much of my professional experience spent working with children and adolescents. I enjoy teaching social-emotional skills and working with students who have different learning needs, from elementary school through college. My approach is very individualized. I like figuring out how a student thinks and what makes sense to their brain. This might mean drawing something out, using visual aids, making a concept more hands-on, talking it through together, or using metaphors and analogies (concrete kiddos often love them despite popular belief!). Sometimes it means simply breaking an overwhelming assignment into smaller, more manageable pieces. I enjoy finding the slightly unexpected route that finally makes something click.