On Call, Words of Wisdom with Cultural Care Program Counselors

Cultural Care has just launched a new and helpful resource for their host families and au pairs.  It’s a series of articles called “On Call, Words of Wisdom With Our Program Counselors.”

Cultural Care has two program counselors who are trained family and child therapists and parents with international experience and exposure.  The counselors, Lisa Bravo and Elisa Elkin-Cleary, share their professional training and expertise with the Cultural Care au pair community through a series of articles. 

Their first article is “Finding Your Voice” which articulates the struggle people deal with when they are experiencing an emotional reaction to a conflict in their lives.  Tips and advice on how to cope and the best way to express these issues are given in the article.

We have reviewed Cultural Care’s new program feature, “On Call, Words of Wisdom with our Program Counselors” and we are confident that the information will be very helpful and enlightening to the au pair community! 

Host parents can find the articles at: buzz.culturalcare.com.

Cultural Care Program Counselors Bios: 

Lisa Bravo, MC, LPC, LISAC, NCC and Cultural Care Au Pair Program Counselor.

I have a Masters of Counseling degree, am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor and Certified Nurtured Heart Therapist.  I have a private practice in the Phoenix, AZ area and specialize in working with children, adolescents, and families.   I am also a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on the topics of parenting and behavior management. I am familiar with the au pair program, specifically Cultural Care, as I worked as an LCC several years ago and am aware of the challenges faced by au pairs and host families. When I am not traveling, I live in Arizona with my husband and two children.   

Elisa Elkin-Cleary, LICSW & Cultural Care Au Pair Program Counselor

Upon graduation from Columbia University in NYC, I began work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Boston, Massachusetts serving a diverse population of clientele.  I have extensive relevant experience in clinical services working with young adults and families.  My clinical work has focused on helping families and individuals develop and maintain healthy relationships.  In particular, this work has included: assisting individuals and families with stabilization during crisis; helping people emerge from difficult experiences stronger and happier; as well as helping individuals identify and work on interpersonal goals, such as improving effective communication skills, managing stress and navigating major life changes.  Additionally, I have trained staff in crisis intervention and social-emotional issues in school based programs and have consulted with teachers who needed assistance with the socio-emotional issues present in the classroom population.  I have had the pleasure to travel internationally, which provides me with a base for understanding and working with the issues that can arise during an au pair placement.  I live in the Boston area with my husband and three children.