I’m often in a position of suggesting to either a parent or a member of the school community that they should seek therapy.  It is possible that we may take for granted that most people are comfortable and have the knowledge needed to find a therapist that works for them or their family.  However, I’m often asked the question “How do you find the right therapist?” With that in mind, I decided to create this podcast not only for counselors, but anyone who is in the process of seeking a therapist for the first time or reconnecting after a long period away.

My guest is Lynne Lieberman. Lynne is a therapist working in private practice in Newton, MA. I think Lynne is great and recommend her often to families in the Boston area.

Lynne can be reached at 617-965-0749

We often are in a position of suggesting to either parents or a member of the school community that they should seek counseling.  We may take for granted that most people are comfortable and have the knowledge needed to find a therapist that works for them or their family.  However, I’m asked the question “How do you find the right therapist?” so often, that I decided to create this podcast not only for counselors, but anyone who is in the process of seeking a counselor for the first time or reconnecting after a long period away.

My guest is Lynne Lieberman. Lynne is a therapist working in private practice in Newton, MA.

I was watching Judge Judy the other day getting my dose of mindless entertainment after a long day in class and working with adminstrators. As I watched Judge Judy badger and lecture litigants, I asked myself if anyone believed for a second that these people will change their behavior because of her rant.  We mistakenly say, “What is wrong with these people?” When a more appropriate question would be “What is wrong with Judge Judy?”

What are the conditions in which people consider or act to change their lives. How and when do people let go of behaviors that are destructive in exchange for new attitudes and behaviors that promote personal well-being. If negative consequences were enough to change behavior, then human history would be very different.

When you think about your wellness strategy, not only think about content and design, but consider conception and approach.  Wellness is an attitude as much as anything; it is a shared recognition of where student well-being is at the center of the teaching agenda.  What makes Judge Judy disingenuous is that we recognize on a soul level that her lectures are not rooted in compassion but rather celebrity.  Are you creating the conditions that counseling research has identified as optimal for people to consider change?  Is the teaching environment non-judgemental? Does the instructor communicate a deep sense of understanding of  the subject matter (pedagogy), can track conversation with students, and has developed attending skills.

Wellness Tip – When Presenting to Parents
“The secret to parenting is not in what the parent does but rather who the parent is to the child. When the child seeks contact and closeness with us, we become empowered as a nurturer, a comforter, a guide, a model, a teacher, or a coach.” Gordon Nuefeld & Gabor Mate Hold On to Your Kids

Dr. Ellen Porter Honnet is a counseling and consulting psychologist with expertise in cross-cultural issues and adolescent sexuality. Recently a Psychology Fellow at Wellesley College Counseling Center and Harvard University Health Services, she was for several years Dean for Co-education at Harvard College. Dr. Porter Honnet is the Institute Director at the Stanley H. King Counseling Institute. The Stanley H. King Counseling Institute offers a model of teaching counseling and listening skills to teachers, advisors, administrators, and other school personnel. The goal of the institute is not to train professional counselors, but to help teachers strengthen and deepen their relationships with students.

What would you do if?

• Megan’s grades have been going downhill, and she seems less and less engaged.
• You overhear talking about how many boys Jill has had oral sex with this year.
• Bill is rumored to be drinking every weekend.
• You see geometrical scratches on Kelley’s arm.
• You find out that Kevin’s father has cancer.
• Stacy asks to change her lab partner to “someone who speaks English.”
• Nita asks you to change her grade because her parents will flip over a C.
• Jeremy confides he’s in love with his roommate.
• Jessica breaks down in tears and asks to leave class.
• Sean wants to leave school and go to one “where there are people like me.”
• Lisa tells you that someone wrote “we all hate you” on her Facebook “honesty box.”

We welcome Dr. Porter Honnet to our show today.

Wellness Tip

What is wellness?

Wellness includes the following things and therefore wellness education is happening whenever and wherever any of these things take place within the community:
-A sense of well-being, happiness, joy
-Resilience
-Self-esteem and self-confidence
-Ability to care for self and others
-The development of effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, personal responsibility
-Physical health, and an understanding of the body and its care
-Values identification and clarification
-Conflict management and resolution
-Safety
-Relaxation and stress management

The above list is an abbreviated reckoning of wellness and it should be expanded upon liberally and when necessary. A definition of wellness should never be fixed, then, for wellness itself is fluid and adaptive; it should reflect the specific needs of the individual and the community.

The APA Monitor published an article in the January 09 issue of the Monitor – Schools Expand Mental Health Care. Many thanks to Ashley Noojin, School Psychologist at the Hammond School who shared the article with me during my visit.  Here are a few highlights:

• Mental health services are the fastest growing component of school-based health care.
  
• 20% of students will need active mental health services by the time they leave high school.
• 11% will have significant functional problems due to mental health issues.
• 5% will have severe functional problems

A second article in the Monitor – The Price of Affluence by Amy Novotney brings together the work of Suniya Luthar, PhD, Madeline Levine, PhD, Dan Kindlon, PhD and others.  Here are a few highlights:

• Adolescents reared in suburban homes with an average family income of $120,000 report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than any other socioeconomic group of young Americans today.
• Affluence stands as a separate and distinct risk factors for many mental health issues.
• In 2007 one out of four college students showed elevated rates of narcissism – in 1985 it was one in seven.

Recommendations by Kindlon and Levine for parents:

• Provide children with clear responsibilities to help out around the house.
  
• Have the family take part in community service.
  
• Turn the TV off at least one night a week and monitor technology use.

Both articles have excellent research references that can help shape your work with parents and wellness planning at your school.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts in the comments section.  Do you have a Facebook profile?  Join us at our fan page – HERE

Related links:

• Why She Cuts-Article in NewsWeek
• Teens, Sex and Technology
• Where Do Teens Turn for Medical Advice?
• Effective Outpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders

Is your school considering random drug testing?  Drug testing is the latest “silver bullet” to reduce teen substance use and establish early intervention measures.  But how effective is it?  Are there unintended consequences?  What is the research saying?  As school counselor,  you may be asked by your school to consider the drug testing option as part of your school’s wellness strategy.  Jennifer Kern is the Youth Policy Manager at Safety 1st.  Ms. Kern is our guest today on Independent School Counselor.

Related Links:

• Drug Testing in Schools – Evidence, Impact, Alternatives
• Student Drug Testing – Safety First Website
• Victory in Washington State Drug Testing Case
• 7 Reasons Parents Should Not Test Their Kids for Drugs
• Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Random Drug Testing Will Create an UpRoar
• Media Awareness Project on Drug Testing
• River Dell Seniors Protest Drug Testing