School & Camp Consultation Services

Consultation | Coaching | Professional Development Courses

A Word from Art of Friendship Neurodiversity Consultant Mike Fogel

I’ve been inspired by my neurodiverse clients since they first found their way to my therapy office in 2000-2001. They revealed to me their caring hearts, creativity, sense of justice, and wish for acceptance and an easier time navigating the neurotypical world. They and their parents taught me precisely how they think and feel and what they need in terms of social skills education and support. It has been my mission and joy ever since then to teach and advocate for the needs of neurodivergent youth.

Neurodiverse children (with autism, ADHD, and learning differences, etc.) make up an estimated 25%-33% of the population, and they have unique ways of thinking and support needs that caregivers cannot inferentially know until they are educated. When we don’t create environments to meet neurodivergent needs, not only not only do they suffer, but your whole community may struggle to connect, thrive, and foster a sense of belonging. It seems like a moral imperative for us to support all the neurodivergent children in our communities, and it would be my pleasure to join you and your organization in that endeavor.

I offer a range of consultation opportunities, including:

  • Review of individual student’s/camper’s needs (interviews, IEPs, other testing/treatment reports, behavior observations)

  • Collaboration of support plans for individual students or campers

  • Conflict resolution, bully-prevention for high conflict classes

  • Professional development: P.D. or C.E. trainings on a range of topics re: supporting emotional/social/behavioral needs among neurodivergent youth. Explore a menu of training options at the bottom of this webpage.

  • Development of a school/camp/district-wide social development culture. Foster social development in all children by leveraging the comprehensive Art of Friendship social training (S.E.L.) approach for neurodiverse children into every facet of the day for your entire community.

Over the last two-and-a-half decades I discovered a hidden truth about socialization - all human beings are interdependent. We all count on one another to nurture positive interactions and preserve relationships. We depend on each other to get our needs met for fun, productivity, and connection, and social skills make it possible! Can you imagine a world in which everyone’s needs were met? I can. Let’s create a Better World together at your program via social skill development!

Warmly, Mike

Get to know neurodiversity consultant Mike Fogel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC

Mike Fogel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, PAATA HLM, is an author, innovative art therapy entrepreneur, and neurodiversity consultant/advocate. An art therapist and licensed professional counselor, Mike is passionate about childhood, parenting, and playfulness in therapy. Driven to make the world a better place, one child and family at a time, he was inspired to found award-winning child therapy programs and businesses: the Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program® (2000), Child and Family Art Therapy Center (2007), Camp Pegasus (2013), and the BetterWorld Affordable Art Therapy Program (2019). Mike’s work is supercharged by heartfelt faith that every person has the innate capacity to heal, grow, and progress towards their vast personal potential. The Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association twice honored Mike with awards for Innovative Application of Art Therapy in 2006 and Honorary Life Member in 2021. 

Mike treats a wide range of childhood emotional-behavioral challenges at his private group practice, the Child and Family Art Therapy Center. Since 2000, Mike cultivated a specialty in social skills group therapy with neurodiverse children with autism, ADHD, and learning differences. Mike’s love for neurodivergent children propelled him to develop the comprehensive Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program® and curriculum, and found Camp Pegasus, a therapeutic social skills day camp. He wrote and published his first book in 2020 teaching parents and professionals the Art of Friendship social training approach in “The Social-Emotional Guidebook: Motivate Children with Social Challenges to Master Social & Emotional Coping Skills”. Mike passionately preaches that social skills are for everyone and that they represent the key to creating a compassionate, kind, and peaceful world.

Mike is constantly involved in lay and clinical education. He was an adjunct professor and clinical supervisor at Drexel University’s graduate art therapy program for years. You’ll find Mike presenting at conferences and workshops around the country. His community service included volunteer positions on the board of directors of the Asperger & Autism Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and President of the Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association.

Mike lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with his wife, two children, and Penny the Shih-Tsu. He loves comic books, progressive rock music, all things comedic, college basketball, and rooting for his Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles.