Treatment Considerations in School Based Mental Health Services for Traumatized Children

Seminars meet via Zoom on February 25 and March 4 from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Children who have lived through significant trauma present a challenge. Often, they are chronically stressed and have difficulty in calming themselves and in managing the dangers of their world. They respond dramatically to attention, limits, and separation. They may be triggered inexplicably by almost anything that happens in the classroom or therapy session. The persistent anxiety in these children, blocks them from focusing in the classroom, and may even hinder their ability to sit still. One of our goals as school-based mental health professionals, is to help these children sufficiently heal, such that their ability to participate successfully in classroom activities will be restored. As caring therapists, we want to protect them from distress, while at the same time, encouraging them to express their pain.

This two-session workshop will present the conundrum that arises in working with severely traumatized children — how to recognize it, how to understand it, and how to work with it. A general introduction to conceptualizations of trauma, and how trauma might present in children while attending school will be introduced. This will be followed by an examination of case examples of children in treatment with the instructor, as well as cases presented by workshop participants.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this two-session workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify three signs of trauma that appear in the play and actions of school children.
2. Create a therapeutic environment that encourages children to bring their distress to treatment.
3. Describe interventions that are supportive of psychological healing.

Jill Bellinson, PhD

Jill Bellinson, PhD is a clinical psychologist in private practice in New York City, working with children, adolescents, and adults. She trained at the William Alanson White Institute, where she was one of the founders of the Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Training Program and continues to serve as faculty and supervisor. She supports new therapists by supervising in clinical psychology doctoral programs and postgraduate training programs in the New York City area, including Adelphi University’s Postgraduate Child Therapy Program. She has served as psychological consultant to many agencies over the past 30 years, including schools and clinical treatment programs serving children from birth to teens. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy and author of Children’s Use of Board Games in Psychotherapy as well as numerous papers about understanding and treating children and adults.

Credentialing Information

Participants will receive 1.5 CE credits for each 90 minute seminar class. Adelphi University is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Adelphi University maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Adelphi University, Derner School of Psychology, Postgraduate Programs in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0185; by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0083; and by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0607.

Cancellation Policy

Full refunds are issued for cancellations made up to 7 working days before the event. Cancellations of less than 7 days for any reason, or no-shows are not refunded. Credit towards a future event/workshop are issued for cancellations less than 7 days and up to 24 hours before the event. No credit is issued for cancellations less than 24 hours before the events or no-shows.

For more information, please contact:

Steve Hyman
e – drstephen68@gmail.com

Matthew Tedeschi
e – drmjtedeschi@yahoo.com