The beginning of a new school year highlights the mental health needs of students and their families, but it can also be a challenging time for mental health care providers such as school social workers, counselors, teachers, and clinicians. Dr. Jayne Pelletier, training director at Sweetser, discussed these challenges and available support during an interview on Maine's Total Coverage.
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Those providing mental health support to youth and families often face significant demands. As school resumes, caseloads for school counselors, social workers, and family therapists increase rapidly, with children who were previously fine starting to struggle. To address this, Sweetser's Training Institute offers a comprehensive range of courses throughout the school year, providing timely training for professionals.
To help manage stress and feelings of being overwhelmed, Sweetser has introduced specific workshops. A Mindfulness Masterclass for Self-Care and Burnout Management is scheduled for later this month, along with a session focusing on breathing techniques for stress management. These workshops aim to equip professionals with practical tools to enhance their own well-being, which in turn helps them support the children and families they serve more effectively.
Recognizing that many issues students face originate at home, Sweetser is also offering courses like High Conflict Family Therapy. This program is designed for clinicians working with blended families and high-conflict co-parenting situations, addressing risks to children and ethical considerations involved.
In February, they will host The Cycle Starts Early, which addresses the link between intimate partner violence and teen dating violence, providing tools for early intervention.
For those interested in learning more about these offerings, Sweetser's full professional development training catalog is available at Sweetser.org/Training, which includes a variety of topics such as leadership, ethics, and substance use disorder.