Rachel C. Gladstone, M. Ed., M.S. Counseling

practice

Rachel C. Gladstone is a licensed school counselor and educator. Rachel provides educational consultation services to families navigating school and therapeutic placement options. She works with students and families to clarify their educational goals and to consider the pros and cons of school options. Her extensive knowledge of the Greater Richmond area public school system, as well as local and national private schools, enables her to help families make informed and confident decisions about their child’s school placement.

Academic Support Services: Rachel helps families identify school and community resources to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of their child. She works with parents to cultivate positive home to school relationships, working to facilitate clear communication, developing trust, and striving to keep focus on the shared goal of always doing what is in the best interest of the child. Rachel is available to help parents access appropriate academic supports, as well as to assist with the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 process.

School Planning and Placement: Rachel works with students and families navigating school planning and placement decisions. She assists with determining “best-fit” schools, taking into account the individual learning needs, social-emotional needs, interests, and potential college and career goals. She helps families and students navigate the application and decision making process. Rachel works 1:1 with high school bound students, coaching them on developing interview skills writing effective entrance essays.

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment: Rachel administers School Readiness Assessments to children ages 4-5. She works with the child to assess their school readiness skills, including their foundational learning and social/emotional skills. Following assessment of the child, Rachel works with parents to determine if their child is ready for Kindergarten or if they may benefit from a Junior Kindergarten year. She provides support to parents as they begin their child’s formal school journey, including navigating the placement process.  

Counseling: Rachel offers counseling services for students, ages 7 through 18, on school related issues such as anxiety, understanding self as a learner, and school avoidance. Rachel’s counseling approach is relational and centered around the belief that academic success is intricately related to emotional health.

Residential School and Program Placement: Rachel works with parents who are seeking residential placement for their child, striving to bring a sense of calm to the process. She is familiar with the admissions process and requirements for many therapeutic boarding schools, therapeutic wilderness programs, residential treatment centers, boarding schools, young adult transition programs and gap-year programs. Rachel works closely with clients, parents, schools, and therapeutic teams to understand the unique needs of the individual student and helps identify well suited schools and programs. She works with the family throughout the child’s treatment and schooling to ensure that therapeutic and academic goals are being met. Rachel is available to help coordinate crisis intervention and transport services when needed.

education & experience

Rachel Gladstone earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Humboldt State University. She earned her Master of Education from Long Island University and was a New York City Teaching Fellow from 2005 to 2007. Upon completion of her fellowship, she pursued her Master of Science in Counseling, with an emphasis in School Counseling, from San Francisco State University, where she received the Virginia Lee Block Award for Excellence in Counseling. Rachel earned her certificate in Holistic Health Counseling from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and The Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation at Teachers College, Columbia University. Rachel is a certified kids and adult yoga teacher and has extensive training in the practices of yoga therapy, mindfulness and meditation.

Rachel has taught and counseled in California, China, New York City, and Virginia. She has worked in private, public and charter schools, as well as in private practice. Rachel helped develop and implement the Advanced College Academy, a program designed for high school students to earn their Associates Degree, while earning their high school diploma. Rachel participated for a number of years in the application and essay review process for Maggie L. Walker’s Governor’s School and Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School. Rachel has supported countless students gain access to necessary academic and therapeutic supports, and has successfully helped to place countless young people in best-fit schools and programs locally and around the country.

Rachel lives in Richmond’s West End with her husband and two children. In her free time, she volunteers teaching kids yoga and enjoys spending time with family, hiking, biking, and traveling.