By Lori Phelan, MSW, LCSW, Sage 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 school demands, but also from […]
14th, January, 2019
In Childhood Trauma
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 no control over your environment. […]
7th, January, 2019
In Student Mental Health
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 peer relationships, social skills, behavioral […]
8th, December, 2018
In Student Mental Health
Distinguishing Between Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses for Home Instruction
Home instruction is a useful tool for certain behavioral and health challenges, but it should be considered a restrictive environment and be utilized when there are no other viable options that will provide the student with access to education. Learning without the social and mental health benefits of an accepting community and school-based counseling services can leave students with mental […]
14th, November, 2018
In Coping, Student Mental Health
The Benefits of a Trauma-Informed School Community
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 who have experienced trauma. Studies […]
24th, October, 2018
In Mental Health Intervention, School Avoidance
Taking Charge of School Refusal: 10 Warning Signs and 8 Interventions
By Zack Schwartz, MSW, LCSW, PsyA | Director of Sage 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 a very simple or […]
15th, October, 2018
In Coping, Student Mental Health
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 again. School professionals and parents/guardians […]
8th, October, 2018
In Coping
From Helicopter to Lawnmower
By Executive Director, John Reilly, MSW, LCSW, PsyA. The newest parenting style label is the lawnmower parent. These parents are described as doing anything to prevent their child’s failure and mowing down any obstacles to their child’s success. People describing the lawnmower parent might do so in a condescending tone – As if they would never ever engage in such behavior. […]
14th, August, 2018
In Student Mental Health
Suicide Risk Assessment for Schools
Suicide Risk Assessment for Schools: A Cost-Effective and Life-Saving Process Improvement The first step to effective suicide prevention in schools is ensuring a safe and accepting environment that fosters trusting relationships with adults. From this starting point, successful suicide prevention educational programs, school-based suicide risk assessment, and effective in-school intervention plans may be implemented. At Sage Thrive, we understand the legal and moral […]
14th, August, 2018
In Student Mental Health
The Benefits of In-District Therapeutic Services
Simply Surviving or Truly Thriving? The Benefits of In-District Therapeutic Services School-based mental health counseling creates a safe environment where students feel secure and empowered to discuss and report safety concerns. Studies show that students who have access to school-based therapeutic services even achieve greater academic success.1 One of the most cost-effective ways to provide in-district therapeutic services is to partner with a multi-faceted team […]