Local counselors to present at conference

VW independent/submitted information

Two local mental health counselors will be presenting a workshop at an international conference.

On Saturday, May 30, Susan J. Burchfield, MS, LPCC, and Jules Krizan, MA, LPCC, will present “Is it live or is it Memorex?” at the 52nd annual conference of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

AFCC is an interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through resolution of family conflict.

Burchfield and Krizan’s workshop will examine the pros and cons of live, versus online parent education programs for children of parents experiencing a divorce.

Since 1992, Mrs. Burchfield and Krizan have presented Assisting Our Kids (A-OK) in 11 different counties in northwest Ohio. A-OK is a parent education program that focuses on helping parents to continue to parent across different homes.  It provides information on conflict resolution, childhood development, communication technique, legal issues, and the importance of developing a co-parenting business relationship for the children when the parents live separately.

In 2014, A-OK, which has served thousands of families locally and across northwest Ohio, became available online at www.assistingourkids.com.

“We were thrilled to be chosen to present at the conference,” Mrs. Burchfield said. “They are expecting over 1,000 attendees, all of whom are involved with families struggling with challenges of parenting across different homes.”

Mrs. Burchfield and Krizan have a private practice counseling office located at 1054 S. Washington St. in Van Wert, and have worked with families for over 30 years. They are also certified mediators through the Supreme Court of Ohio.