Using Teletherapy to Bolster Student Mental Health

Prior to school closures due to the pandemic, researchers were already pointing to the viability of teletherapy services within schools. Then schools across the nation were faced with providing support services remotely without training and with emerging technology. What did we learn? And more importantly, where are we going as we continue to face staff shortages and increased awareness of the need for student wellbeing? Despite the challenges, we have found success in providing services to bolster student mental health in a consistently changing educational environment.

Among the topics covered will be “FAQs” in the following areas: disciplinary removals; removals to an IAES; and disciplining potentially eligible students. We will also discuss the fundamentals of behavior interventions as well as examining recent federal guidance focused upon helping public schools fulfill their responsibilities to meet needs of students with disabilities and avoid discriminatory use of student discipline.

Pola Morrison has been a school psychologist for 25 years in K-12 districts across the nation and as an Accessibility Services Director in Higher Education. She has a longitudinal view of how special education supports individuals in education because she has serviced students early to adulthood. Her passion is to help innovate and collaborate with special education support services.