Children & Adolescents with Emotional & Behavioral Problems: Intervening at School

Location:  Billerica, MA - Courtyard by Marriott, Billerica

Do you keep finding yourself feeling frustrated in your classroom and saying things like; "I will absolutely not tolerate this behavior one more time!", "Why did you just do that right after I asked you not to do that?" or, to your colleagues, "Remind me again, why did I go into teaching?" If so, keep reading, and have hope.

Many children who arrive in classrooms today have been significantly impacted by trauma, family disruption, economic challenges and by serious mental health issues. These children often exhibit a range of significant impairments and behavioral challenges that impact and disrupt their learning and also the learning of their classmates. Until they are able to effectively address these issues, their ability to focus on academic endeavors will be limited.

In this workshop we will focus on building a deeper understanding of mental health concerns, and on practical behavior management and change strategies that will help your most challenging and at-risk students change their classroom behavior. Discipline problems will be reduced and student engagement in learning will increase. Through this workshop participants will be able to:

• Describe significant mental health challenges that impact learning
• Develop interventions to enhance curriculum planning to address students’ mental health and behavioral issues.
• Create a repertoire of strategies for setting effective limits and making positive behavioral interventions that promote order and learning in the classroom
• Adopt self-care techniques that enhance educators’ effectiveness, re-energize, and restore their sense of balance

This workshop will be of interest to school staff (e.g., teachers, paraprofessionals, school psychologists and vocational staff). Special educators, adjustment counselors, guidance team and resource room staff would also benefit. Workshop format will include lively lecture, interactive case examples, and discussion.

Instructor:

Daniel Jacobs, Ed.M., Psy.D., M.B.A. is a licensed psychologist in private practice at Andover Mental Health Associates. He was formerly the Director of the Adolescent Partial Hospital Program at Salem Hospital. Dr. Jacobs trains nationally and internationally with mental health agencies, substance abuse providers, residential programs and schools with a focus on helping improve communication, effectiveness, and ways to imitate lasting behavioral change in difficult circumstances. Dr. Jacobs believes hope is always an option and to achieve success we have to be willing to take risks.