Welcome to our podcast, Conversations About Student Mental Health. I’m Chris Leonard, clinical social worker, working with adolescents for over 25 years. The purpose of this podcast is to talk with school administrators, educators, clinicians, and parents, to open a dialogue that will help the growing number of students struggling with mental illness. In this […]
School-Based Mental Health Interventions for Students: When & How to Act
By Christopher J. Leonard, MSW, LCSW, M.ED. If you have not yet heard that there is a mental health crisis in America, you have not been paying attention. But because you have been paying attention, you know that this crisis is having a significant impact on school-aged children and adolescents. Studies suggest that more than […]
End of School Year Reflection
By Lori Phelan, MSW, LCSW, Thrive Certified Clinician™ As graduation is approaching, we are reminded of the end to the school year and the beginning of summer. Many of our students are excited and happy about moving forward into unchartered waters, while others may be ambivalent during this interlude. It’s not only a break from […]
The Benefits of Embedded Therapeutic Services
Adolescents spend more time in school than in any other structured environment. When mental health challenges arise, having access to embedded therapeutic services in that environment allows students to continue to receive the social, behavioral, and relationship benefits of remaining in-district. The opportunity to participate in school plays a key role in the development of […]
The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Schools
Some students face the effects of traumatic experiences which cause mental health issues that have a significant effect on their ability to succeed in school. Creating a trauma-informed school environment will provide a teacher, counselor, or school-based clinician with the awareness to recognize students at risk and give them tools to provide support for students […]
School Refusal: 8 Effective Intervention Strategies
School refusal impacts between 2 and 5% of students.1 This anxiety-based mental health issue ranges from mild separation anxiety to more severe cases of anxiety or depression that can cause young adolescents to miss weeks or months of school each year. School-based counseling can provide effective interventions that help students improve attendance and enjoy learning […]