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 […]
Mental Health in Education Blog
Understanding Childhood Trauma
By Phaedra Dunn, LSW, Sage Certified Clinician™ What is Trauma? Trauma can be defined as a person experiencing or witnessing a deeply distressing or disturbing event or repeated events that may involve death, threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to someone’s physical safety, or others and may involve fear, helplessness, feeling powerless and having […]
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 […]
Tips for Taking Charge of School Refusal
By Zack Schwartz, MSW, LCSW, PsyA | Director of Thrive Services 10 Warning Signs of School Refusal School refusal in children and adolescents is a significantly growing issue that impacts not only the student but the entire family, school personnel, and mental health professionals working with the student. Although school refusal may appear to be […]
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 […]