As a behavioral health therapist specializing in adolescents, Lauren Mitchell says many sessions begin by helping her young patients understand what they\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n
Mitchell spends two days a week with Pierce County elementary school students and families as part of a school counseling program through Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, a branch of MultiCare Behavioral Health.<\/p>\n
While students are often willing to participate, they don\u2019t always know how to explain their emotions, and may not have a family who can teach them, she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re still trying to figure it out,\u201d Mitchell explains. \u201cIf your family compartmentalizes or pushes things down, you may not know what words to use or how to express your feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the program uses creative approaches and meets students where they are.<\/p>\n
In-school counseling is part of a decades-long program that provides mental health services to some of the community\u2019s hardest-to-reach populations, explains Sally McDaniel, LHMC, LMFT, SUDP, CMHS, Greater Lakes child and family services clinical manager.<\/p>\n
Intake is done at the main Greater Lakes campus, then nearly all appointments move to the school. Two programs serve more than 50 elementary, middle and high schools across nine Pierce County school districts.<\/p>\n
About half the students are covered by Medicaid, with the remaining either on commercial plans or tribal coverage funded by the school district.<\/p>\n
Services focus on the student, but family and group sessions are available as needed, as well as medication management.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the program is clinicians\u2019 ability to meet with students at school and collaborate with their families, peers, counselors and teachers.<\/p>\n
Jennie Reed Elementary School in Tacoma has a therapist on campus two-and-a-half days a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe \u2018on-site-ness\u2019 of it gives them the ability to see a child in a much more holistic view,\u201d says Abby Sloan, principal of Jennie Reed. \u201cWhen you work on a parent-suggested area of need, that\u2019s the only view you have, whereas our therapists also understand the specific things going on at our school and how that impacts the student in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 early intervention is key. The sooner we can impact them in development, the better the outcome.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Think of a child not receiving a school-based recognition and expressing frustration about it. Without knowledge of what it means to students, a therapist may not understand the depth of the impact. That unique understanding allows in-school counselors to make specific, creative and comprehensive care plans, Sloan says.<\/p>\n
Mitchell uses games in her sessions, such as quick-paced activities with immediate rewards for those struggling to stay on task or listen actively. For older students dealing with anxiety, she uses feeling faces, charades or creative ways to talk about coping skills. And, of course, students can always burn off energy on the playground.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the kids love it \u2026 they get to go \u2018play\u2019 and they look forward to it,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re willing to engage and be there with you, and often don\u2019t even realize they\u2019re learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a comprehensive approach, every person in a student\u2019s life is brought into the work. Families receive regular updates and are asked to continue care plans and positive reinforcement at home. School staff provide feedback on what they see in the classroom.<\/p>\n
But the most substantial improvements are often seen when students participate in both individual and either group or family sessions, Mitchell adds.<\/p>\n
Breaking down barriers<\/h2>\n
The Greater Lakes therapists at Jennie Reed are currently at maximum capacity with a waitlist, principal Sloan says. The school chooses who to refer based on needs, and adopts early interventions where they can \u2014 such as small peer groups focused on friendship or social-emotional needs with school counselors.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur school has more than 50 percent turnover, meaning students who start the year with us are likely not to end it here,\u201d she says. \u201cThe behaviors we see have larger pictures at play like social, economic and cultural aspects. And when it comes to the behaviors \u2026 they\u2019re rated more difficult than any other school in Tacoma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the many barriers their students face, Sloan says the biggest struggle is often getting them to the initial appointment. While telehealth helps, it\u2019s easier to keep students going at the school, she says.<\/p>\n
Consistency with their on-site therapists has made a significant difference for students \u2014 Sloan says they\u2019re seeing more exit the program with tools and knowledge they can use.<\/p>\n
For elementary school students, the struggle to access care is out of their control, Mitchell explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey rely on their parents to transport and coordinate care like this,\u201d Mitchell says. \u201cIf [parents] lack transportation, have a hard time keeping appointments or can\u2019t change their work schedule, kids get the short end of the stick.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the middle and high school front, those students can often engage in services themselves, which Mitchell says can be an empowering decision for teenagers.<\/p>\n
Choosing to participate in school-based counseling can also help break through barriers like a lack of privacy, safety concerns and an overall lack of family support in seeking treatment, adds McDaniel.<\/p>\n
While many schools have their own counselors on staff, McDaniel adds they\u2019re often overwhelmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are overworked, and kids can fall through cracks,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen we get involved, we can help understand the factors guiding their behaviors, advocate for them and help schools by taking on the burden of more challenging cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Building skills young<\/h2>\n
Post-pandemic, McDaniel says all age groups have had an increase in disrespect and disobedience in the classroom, truancy, and challenging social skills. A lot of students are also struggling to understand their gender and sexual identity, suffering from depression and anxiety, and facing a lack of body positivity and potential disordered eating.<\/p>\n
The majority of the students who participate have limited resources at home, especially health care, which can lead to a variety of challenges in the school setting, Mitchell explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those groups, early intervention is key. The sooner we can impact them in development, the better the outcome,\u201d she says. \u201cBy starting in elementary school, we can help through all those next phases. It will make everybody\u2019s lives easier later on, for the whole community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just like anything you learn, consistency and repetition are important. Sloan says the same goes for understanding and managing your mental health, which is why it\u2019s so important to start these interventions as young as elementary school.<\/p>\n
Learn more about child and family services at Greater Lake Mental Healthcare<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As a behavioral health therapist specializing in adolescents, Lauren Mitchell says many sessions begin by helping her young patients understand what they\u2019re feeling. Mitchell spends two days a week with Pierce County elementary school students and families as part of a school counseling program through Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, a branch of MultiCare Behavioral Health. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,15,67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-community","category-kids-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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