Bonners Ferry, ID -- (SBWIRE) --06/10/2011 -- Independent Educational Consultants Bob Kantar from Vermont and Larry Stednitz, PhD, located in California, were featured guests on host Lon Woodbury's Internet Talk Radio show, Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on Monday, June 6th.

Both Stednitz and Kantar started working with teens in the 1970's. Stednitz began working in treatment facilities for teens and Kantar began with boarding schools and special programs.

During the interview, each explained his perspective of the role of an Independent Educational Consultants. Their role is to help parents find the right school or program for their children. This is a very refined procedure, especially for children with behavioral and/or emotional problems, with the consultant having to take into consideration the precise needs and perhaps diagnoses of the child, parenting styles, family finances, reputation, and strength of each school and/or program that might be appropriate. This also includes the current health of the schools and programs being considered. The consultant considers all these factors, plus numerous others, in order to make an appropriate recommendation.

Both Kantar and Stednitz concurred that ultimately, parents make the final decision as to which school or program they will use. The consultant only advises and does not actually make the placement decisions. Next, the consultant coaches the parents on the application process for the school or program the parent chose and helps them through the entire application process. Once a school or program accepts a child, the consultant then advises the parents on how to get the child to the program, the first question being whether the parents should take their child themselves or use a transportation agent.

They emphasized that Independent Educational Consultants are hired by the parent and it is considered unethical for a consultant to accept money from a school for what is called finder's fees or referral fees. All three, Woodbury, Kantar and Stednitz stated that they have not accepted money from a school or program for a placement and would not do so in the future.

Woodbury has worked as an Independent Educational Consultant since 1989. This program interviewing two Independent Educational Consultants was his inaugural session. His show, titled "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens" can be heard every Monday at noon Pacific Time on LATalkRadio.com, Channel One, immediately following Allen Cardoza's "Answers for the Family.” It can also be downloaded after the show at http://www.latalkradio.com/Lon.php.

Bob Kantar has been an Educational Consultant since 1974 and was a founding member of the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA). Bob can be reached at 802-626-4620 and by email at: RKantar@aol.com or his website at: www.bobkantar.com.

Larry Stednitz has a vast experience of working with troubled youth and their families for the past 45 years plus. He has been a teacher, school psychologist, director of nine programs throughout the United States, in addition to his work in program development of several treatment programs and as a Clinical Director of a psychiatric treatment center in southern California. Larry is a member of IECA and a senior affiliate member of Woodbury Reports, Inc. Larry may be contacted by email at: larry@woodbury.com .

Woodbury Reports was founded in November 1989, by Lon Woodbury, MA, IECA, CEP, as an Independent Educational Consulting firm to help parents of teens making poor decisions select a private, parent choice program that would help return the family to normalcy. Through interviews with parents, communication with professionals who know your child well, and then thoroughly researching viable options, we can help parents make the right choices that will help your child get back on the right path. For more information visit http://www.strugglingteens.com.