Mental Health, Trauma, COVID-19 and the Value of Healing-Centered Engagement in Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on education and the ways in which school counselors serve their communities. This disruption has impacted every aspect of students’ lives and their social and emotional well-being as well as that of school personnel. It is important that we recognize this social disruption as a psychologically traumatic event that could have cumulative effects with long-term consequences. Students are at a higher risk for various mental health challenges including adjustment, stress, trauma and anxiety disorders. Students who are suffering will not be able to progress academically until they feel good about themselves and connected to school. Because we will all return to school as different people than we left, school counselors can be caring leaders that offer support in turning these tragedies into growth, who recognize the joys amongst the ongoing and profound difficulties, and re-establish school communities to serve everyone, with greater justice and equity.

This session will address strategies for an effective trauma-informed school counseling practice that is equitable and compassionate, providing mental health supports to every member of the school community. Specifically, we will discuss how collective trauma impact students’ brains and behavior, how holistic trauma-informed practices can shift school culture and traditional educational practices, how working with students and staff through relationship is a primary vehicle for addressing student needs and restoring safety, and how reframing the collective experiences of everyone in the community toward healing-centered engagement develops strength and resiliency.