Laura Polvinen and Christine Vander Werf
About Laura
Laura Polvinen is the Director of Counseling and Community Engagement at Landmark’s Elementary Middle School. A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, she has spent the past 15 years working with children and families with needs ranging from trauma, chronic illness, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Laura has co-created and facilitated social communication programs at Landmark to address the social challenges that can often be seen in children with language-based learning disabilities.
About Christine
Christine is a counselor at Landmark High School whose work centers around supporting student management of their major mental health needs as well as building their self-awareness, independence, and self-advocacy skills. She has particular expertise in working with LGBTQIA+ students and facilitates the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) on campus, as well as serving on the cross-campus Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee. She’s spent over a decade working with vulnerable populations including those with HIV/AIDS, children with trauma, and students with anxiety, depression, ADHD, communication disorders and learning disabilities. She holds a Master of Social Work from Wheelock College and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Providence College.
