Single session practice for schools: Practical single session therapy skills for school-based conversations that support change

Description: Educators, support staff, and mental health professionals play a vital role in assisting and shoring up students in these ever-increasing stressful times. Common approaches that focus on “identifying the problem” and “trying to get students to change”, while seemingly sensible, can be disheartening as a problem-focus prevails. A revised mindset is needed. 

Single session therapy and the accompanying mindset has a great deal to offer school settings. It has come to encompass an approach to change conversations that focus on competencies, foregrounding what students and their circle of care already know and know how to do that can be put to use to address what they are facing. Rather than trying to teach new behaviours or solve a problem, practice involves building off what works, even a little bit, where students will experience their small successes and grow a sense that they can shape their lives. 

This workshop will provide an introduction to single session therapy practices for educators and mental health professionals who work with children and youth in school contexts. The focus of our time will be learning practical skills to facilitate conversations that support difference and change.

“Change happens much more quickly when every moment is intentional and we learn from students what they already know and know how to do. Every moment matters. Discover how single session therapy helps you make the most of each one.” — Scot Cooper, RP

Learning objectives: 

• The shift in mindset favourable to working under time constraint
• Several practices for drawing out and expanding upon the diverse skills and abilities that students bring to school each day
• A different way to talk about problems that opens new possibilities and fosters cooperation

Come discover the principles and practices of single session therapy and what they make possible in every moment with students. Reserve your spot today.

SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute offers training and education for professionals to advance mental health care – our goal is to improve client outcomes and building capacity, together. Find training to support your professional development at www.sickkidscmhlearning.ca and reserve your spot today! Don't forget to use code OPA20 to save 20% off your registration fees.