AMISA Counselor Case Consultation Sessions

SESSION OVERVIEW

This is an opportunity for international school counselors and psychologists to present in a confidential and didactic format, individual student mental health challenges and explore approaches that can empower them to improve their student’s educational potential and social-emotional wellbeing. Past participants of these sessions have found it helpful to discuss the “headwinds” that international school counselors and psychologists face in helping students successfully manage such common problems as identifying and/or supporting students with mental health diagnoses (e.g., anxiety, depression), safeguarding, third-culture stress, culture shock, adaptation to host country, and COVID-19.  These sessions will draw upon the collective expertise that the school counselors and psychologists bring to the conversation. Strict guidelines for respecting confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained in preparation for and during the sessions. School counselors and psychologists wishing to present a confidential case for discussion must pre-register with Dr. Walker no less than three days before the scheduled date of the consultation session. Because of time constraints, a limited number of cases will be accepted for discussion.  International school counselors and psychologists who wish to attend, but not present a case are strongly encouraged to share their expertise and experience with the group. Resources and fact sheets will be available for selected clinical topics that align with the cases being presented.

Learning Objectives:

1. To offer school counselors and psychologists student-specific management advice that draws from the collective mental health and psycho-educational expertise of the entire group.
2. To create an informal network of school counselors and psychologists that can support each other in managing challenging student circumstances.
3. Increase awareness and understanding of common child and adolescent conditions that impair their ability to reach their maximum educational and social-emotional potential (e.g., ADHD, Adjustment Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Autism Spectrum Disorder).