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Clinical Services - Accotink Alternative Learning Center

The mission of Accotink Alternatives to provide each student an individualized education in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline, motivation & excellence in learning. The Accotink Alternative team joins the parents and community to assist students in developing the necessary scholastic and professional skills for the highest level of success possible.

It is our goal to help each of our students reach both their educational and emotional potential; to recognize that each child has her/his own style of learning; and to strive to discover how we may use the skills and talents possessed by each student. we are dedicated to the task of helping our students become more self-directed and better able to face the outside world with a confidence that allows them to become productive members of society.
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Clinical Services

Accotink Alternative offers a variety of clinical services including individual and group psychotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. We have two full time licensed clinical psychologists, a licensed clinical social worker, two speech and language pathologists, and an occupational therapist.

Our clinical services include individual and group therapy, classroom consultation, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution, as well as ongoing contact and coordination with parents. Upon entering Accotink Alternative, each student is evaluated to determine what services are indicated to help that student reach their academic and social emotional goals.

Clinical Team

• Karyn Ewart, Ph.D. - kewart@accotink.com
• Heather Kirby, MSW, LCSW – hkirby@accotink.com
• Mary Partridge, Ph.D. – mpartridge@accotink.com
• Lisa Shorten, CCC-SLP – lshorten@accotink.com

Our clinical team also includes a Licensed Therapy Dog named KC. KC was adopted from the DC Humane Society in 1999 when she was 6 months old.  She is a mixed breed of unknown origin, in other words, a true “mutt”!

She weighs 80 pounds, is playful, intelligent and has a very sweet disposition.  She is owned and was trained by Heather Kirby and earned her title as a certified therapy dog in 2004.  She is certified by Therapy Dogs International.  Although KC likes all people, she is particularly fond of the energy, playful nature, and unlimited potential she finds in teenagers.