Mental Health Issues in the Classroom

Practical Strategies for Helping Children & Adolescents Succeed

Presented by Jay Berk, Ph.D.

Friday, November 1, 2019  |  Lethbridge, ab

Date & Location

Join child/adolescent behavioural expert, Jay Berk, PhD, and learn how to best manage the students at your school diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), mood disorders, anxiety and depression. You will walk away with concrete, yet practical, strategies to successfully intervene with their serious behavioural issues, such as:

• Anger and outbursts
• Meltdowns and tantrums
• Cutting and self-injury
• Obsessive compulsive
• Defiance
• Truancy
• Impulsivity
• Rigidity
• Sensory issues
• Electronic addiction

Through case studies, video clips and dynamic class discussion you will learn:

• 30 second teacher strategies to manage challenging and disruptive behaviours
• New ways to reduce the costs of out-of-district placements
• How to engage students in class, increase productivity and reduce truancy
• Behavioural assessments and strategies for the IEP team
• Side-effects of common psychotropic medications
• How skill deficits from mental health conditions create behavioural difficulties
• Characteristics of at-risk students’ mental health problems
• Strategies to gain collaboration with clinicians

Leave the day with the “magic dust” you have been looking for to expedite rapid and effective changes in these children and adolescents!

Recommended Reading

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors/Psychologists, Learning Assistance/ Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers. All other professionals who support students including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers, and Early Childhood Educators.

Parents, Caregiver, Foster Parents, Grandparents, and Extended Family raising a child.

Agenda

Students with Mental Health Issues

• Characteristics of at-risk students’ mental health problems
• Mental health issues vs. intentionally disruptive behaviours
• How skill deficits from mental health issues create behavioural difficulties

Strategies for ODD and Conduct Disorder Behaviours

• Choices everyone can live with
• What adults should never say, but usually do
• Arguments with defiant kids
• Getting to the core issues of ODD
• Kids who don’t feel bad
• School-wide management program

Strategies for ADHD

• Decrease impulsive behaviours with what YOU do
• Drawing out the behaviours you want
• Decrease disruption to other students
• Know the accompanying behaviours
• Techniques to self-regulate

Strategies for ASD

• It’s all about social skills growth
• Sensory solutions
• Self-regulation techniques for ASD
• Most misinterpreted behaviours
• Manage high interest areas
• Move them past “kid cop” behaviours

Strategies for Anxiety

• What to do about separation anxiety
• Help their panic attack pass quickly
• School phobia…not always a fear of school
• Compromises that work
• Deep breathing and relaxation techniques

Strategies for Depression

• School-wide program to promote compassions and a supportive culture
• Getting them past their sense of helplessness
• When they think they have nothing to live for
• Goal oriented plans for schoolwork and school day

Strategies for Other Challenging Behaviours

• Cutting and self-injury: What you really need to know to effectively intervene
• Electronic addiction: Which kids are most susceptible and why
• Psychotropic medication side-effects vs. behavioural issues
• Electronic bullying: What adults tell kids that fuels the problem

Disciplining the Special Needs Child/Adolescent

• How IDEA relates to discipline
• Rules for disciplining special education students
• Techniques for positive behaviour support
• “Pro-social” punishments

Strategies for the IEP Team

• • Functional behavioural assessment simplified
• Facts and data to make tactical decisions
• Effective collaboration among educators and clinicians
• What most administrators do that burn out their staff
• What to do about non cooperative/reluctant parents

Learning Objectives

• Differentiate behavioural choices and mental health-driven behaviors.
• Explain the effective uses of medications and potential side effects that can appear as misbehaviours.
• Describe how to implement various school-based strategies, used in collaboration with community clinicians, to intervene when behavioural issues arise from mental health conditions.
• Discuss how the multidisciplinary team can successfully discipline the special needs child using positive behaviour support.
• Describe how IDEA relates to mental health issues and discipline.
• List communication techniques that create a climate for success inside and outside the classroom.

Your Presenter

Jay Berk, Ph.D.

Jay Berk, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and an internationally recognized expert in the child/adolescent behavioural field who brings both a clinical and education perspective to his work with children, adolescents and their families. For over 25 years, Dr. Berk has been treating clients with ODD, ADHD, autism, anxiety and stress, depression, learning disabilities, Tourette’s Syndrome and individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. He conducts 15 social skills/mental health groups for children and adolescents and works daily with school and community professionals, families and parents. Dr. Berk continually consults for several school districts. In his private practice, in Beachwood, Ohio, he provides therapy for children, adolescents, families, testing and evaluation, school consultation as well as designed and facilitates alternative educational program.

 

Testimonials

“I was engaged ALL day! That is a rare quality in PD. Humour was fantastic, topics were great, he met our level of understanding, covered so much, gave practical strategies, used real life examples, was relatable.. AMAZING! I wrote 7 pages of notes and was asked by several colleagues for notes because they could not make it.”
– Lethbridge, AB | October 31, 2019

“Jay is very knowledgeable and I loved how he shared all of his effective strategies and personal stories/experiences. Would be amazing to attend more workshops from Jay, also looking forward to his new book coming out.”
– Saskatoon, SK | October 28 – 29, 2019

“Excellent speaker, knowledgeable, kept audiences interest and gave practical usable suggestions. I have never been at a session in which I was so engaged for the entire 2 days”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“Excellent instructor – never found it boring for one moment. Learn a lot and feel more/better informed. Thank you!”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“This was great. Very good speaker, clear and kept all engaged. I would like to take more from Jay Berk”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“Great approach/style by Jay – good mix of humour/serious material. Dynamic speaker.”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Enjoyed. I was engaged. Felt it was relevant, realistic, practical.”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Dr. Berk is an exceptional presenter. This is the first workshop that I have attended and felt like the presenter has lived and worked with the material! Fantastic presenter and workshop!!”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Thanks! You were funny and made learning fun! You did a great job!!”
– Angie Helder | Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Loved the humour he used throughout. Loved the format of audience participation, chatting with the group, slides, videos, and how open Dr. Berk is to questions. Could listen to him all day!!”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Presenter was very knowledgeable on the subject matter. He was entertaining and kept the audience focused and engaged.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“Dr. Berk was very funny and engaging in his presentation. I would recommend going to one of his workshop. Everything we learned will be useful in my practice.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“I thoroughly enjoyed the presenter, he was very interesting to listen to and appreciated his humour throughout the day.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“Presenter was connected to the audience. Paid attention to what was going on with the group – engaging. The clear presentation with the humour made this workshop very successful and enjoyable. Probably the most enjoyable workshop I have attended. The time went fast. Good practical strategies offered.”
– Phil Canning | Regina, SK | November 22, 2017

“Excellent delivery; humour appreciated.”
– Gwen Knoll | Regina, SK | November 22, 2017

Registration & Fees