Meet Karen Veinbergs | Licensed Educational Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Veinbergs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
From a young age, I wanted to work with children with learning differences. As a child, I was diagnosed with dyslexia ( a reading disability) which made learning and reading very challenging and really damaged my self-esteem. When I was 10 years old my family immigrated to San Diego from Mexico City. At that time I had to learn English which was very challenging for me because of my learning disability. I knew at that time that I wanted to empower children with learning disabilities and help them understand that their strengths outweigh the difficulties they face in school. Strenghts such as being curious, thinking logically, being intuitive, empathetic, and having great people skills. Four years ago I founded Psycho-Educational Consultant Groups in San Diego with the desire to help families and students overcome learning challanges and to help achieve their greatest potential.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have worked in the public school setting for over 20 years as a bilingual counselor and school psychologist with a wide range of ages, needs, disabilities, cultures, linguistic backgrounds, and developmental levels. Four years ago I founded Psycho-Educational Consultant Groups in San Diego with the desire to provide. psycho-educational consultation, psycho-educational assessment, and school neuro-psychoeducational assessment to help identify students’ strengths and areas of need, and provide recommendations and resources to help……. In addition, to collaborate with teachers, schools, providers, and parents to develop an educational plan that best supports each student’s needs. For me, this is not just my work, it is my “calling”. Starting my own business that helps children with disabilities is a dream come true. Having dyslexia, being an immigrant to this country, and needing to learn English has made learning and school very challenging. I have had to overcome many obstacles in my life to be where I am today. But through hard work and perseverance, supportive people in my life, and my community, have been able to overcome many obstacles. Comparable to many licensed educational psychologists who are experts in their field and passionate about helping students, one of the things that differentiate me and my practice is my broad perspective as a student with a disability, as the mother of three, a mother of a child with a disability, and immigrant to this country, and as a bilingual school psychologist. As such, I am able to understand and relate to the concerns from many different perspectives I would like the world and society to understand that all students want to learn when provided with the right learning environment when they are matched with the teaching strategies that meet their needs, when teachers believe in them and connect with them, and when they taught “learn how to learn”. I also believe that people with disabilities can change the world because their brain works differently. They are innovative, resourceful, and creative. Therefore having a disability is also a strength.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting San Diego I would take to Torrey Pines state park on a hike and then to the beach in Del Mar for a swim. I would drive them around the area where I live and show them where I work and where my kids go to school. Then I would host them in my wise with appetizers and wine. For dinner, I would take them to a good Mexican Food restaurant like El Puesto, or to a place with a nice view. The following day I would schedule a yoga class and then go for breakfast in Encinitas. I would go to La Jolla, Prospect Street, to see the cove and La Jolla Shores, and then go to Patti for lunch. The next day I would rent e-bikes in Coronado and drive around. After I would go to take a drink at the Del Coronado.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shout-out to Mrs. Elaine Lepow, my middle school principal and English teacher who believed in me. Mrs. Lepow quickly identify my strengths and needs and made it a commitment to build up my self -esteem which allowed me to dream big and recognize that was capable to accomplish what I set my mind to. I thank her for always greeting me with a smile and making me feel safe, for her warmth, kindness, generosity, and for going above and beyond what a teacher is called to do. Thank you for showing me the difference and impact that one person can make in a child’s life. I am forever grateful!!

Website: pecgroupsd.com

Image Credits
PEC Group San Diego Sarah Vakharia – Buisness partner.