Instructor Spotlight: Judy Berg, Independent Educational Consultant

Judy Berg, Program Advisor and Counseling Techniques for Independent Educational Consultants Instructor

Can you tell us a bit about your background and experience in the educational consulting field?

I combined my teaching experience with my community leadership activities and a master’s degree in counseling to begin a career as an independent educational consultant in 1986. Before starting, I visited many colleges and met with experienced IECs to see how they organized their practices. I was among the first independent educational consultants in New Jersey.

I joined the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) as soon as I was eligible so I could confer with colleagues and attend national conferences. I also joined the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). I was active with both groups, becoming President of IECA from 1996-98 and serving on the national Ethics Committee for NACAC. As President of IECA, I helped to form the IECA Foundation which still exists to provide guidance to underserved students.

What inspired you to become an instructor in the Independent Educational Consultant certificate program?

After I officially retired from my practice, I wanted to remain connected to the profession I had worked so hard to build. Over the years, I helped to impart counseling skills to other consultants through seminars and workshops.

Working on the advisory committee for the UCI DCE program, I saw the need for a counseling course and was asked to create and then teach it. I was motivated to help consultants understand that there is much more to the learning process during college admissions than which college a student will attend, and that working through the obstacles inherent in the process will give students tools for future success.

What are a few of the key skills that learned will gain from enrolling in the Counseling Techniques for Independent Educational Consultants course?

Students will learn how to listen in order to fully understand what a student is saying and feeling. They will come to understand teens and Gen Z so that they can use specific counseling techniques effective with this age group. They will learn to identify negative thought patterns and to implement counseling techniques to counter and reframe these destructive thoughts and behaviors.

They will explore various counseling theories to determine what might be applicable for use with students during the college admissions process. They will also learn why individual differences matter and how the process can be adapted to meet personal, family, and cultural differences. Most of all, they will learn that teaching our students to be flexible, self-reliant, confident, and resilient will give them skills for success going forward.

What is your favorite lesson or topic to teach in this course, and why?

I love teaching the art of active listening. This technique will help encourage students to be more open and revealing of thoughts and feelings. Along with open-ended questions, it will motivate students to explain further, clarify, and gain new insight. It will enable the consultant to demonstrate empathy and understand the student more fully. I also love helping consultants to counter irrational thinking to problem solve more effectively.

Can you describe a typical class session and what the overall learning experience will be for the learners?

Each week the students hear a lecture from me and will read from their textbook or related articles and/or videos. They participate in a group discussion forum which asks them to react to a particular scenario or article that relates to the lesson we are learning that week. They also react to their classmates sharing how they might use a method or their own related experiences. I participate as well, trying to encourage the use of the techniques we learn and adding other possibilities to consider.

In addition, we have an assignment each week which is often asking the student to consider applications of the technique in real or imagined situations. Students receive personal feedback on the forum participation and assignment. They often tell me that my detailed feedback models what they are learning and gives them positive reinforcement, helpful suggestions, and lots of encouragement.

What do you enjoy most about teaching this course?

I enjoy imparting my love of working with students during this important juncture in their lives. I love helping them see that their impact will influence a student’s choices for years to come.

What advice would you give to prospective learners considering the Independent Educational Consultant program?

I would like prospective learners to know what a fulfilling and impactful career being an IEC is. Not only will they learn to inform students, to market their practices, and to build an ethical practice, but they will also influence how their students make choices and deal with setbacks. The program will give them practical information useful in their practice, and I believe that counseling techniques are an important component in their toolkit.

Learn more about the Independent Educational Consultant Certificate Program.