The surging mental health challenges in kids dominate headlines, but solutions remain elusive. In this episode we’re going to learn about how one pioneering school psychologist has been building systems to bridge that gap.
Our guest today, Dawn Cattucci, is a school psychologist who witnessed the rising tide of high school students struggling every day. In 2008, she and her team discovered a powerful psychotherapy model that was just beginning to be applied in schools – and they decided to make it happen for their students. Here we talk about what that model is, what her team has done, and how it can work for other schools and districts.
Dawn has worked in schools for nearly 30 years, and is currently a school psychologist at a high school in Westchester County, NY. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and she is extensively trained and experienced in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She has a private practice in Westchester, Mental Health Counseling for Emotional Well Being.
In our wide ranging conversation we touch on Dawn’s work of “cheerleading” to anyone and everyone in her district who could help to realize this plan. Dawn helps us understand the essential tasks of training and team building across disciplines, and she describes some of the challenges along the way. Dawn answers our questions about DBT itself and describes the foundations of the work, including the exceptional power of emotional validation when working with kids. We ask Dawn about any changes she and her school teams have observed in kids since the pandemic and she helps us think about ways for schools and families to come together to support teens.
Resource Links:
DBT Steps-A SEL curriculum for Middle and High Schools http://www.mazzaconsulting.com/dbt-steps-a
CBCW Training programs
https://www.cbc-psychology.com/resources/dbt-in-schools-by-cbc
Dawn’s website: https://mycbtanddbt.com
DBT Skills in Schools by James J. Mazza, Elizabeth T. Dexter-Mazza, Alec L. Miller, Jill H. Rathus, and Heather E. Murphy, Guilford Press, 2016.
Access Foundation
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