15-Minute Focus

In 15-Minute Focus: Depression: Signs and Strategies for Counselors, Educators, and Parents, Dr. Melisa Marsh provides a comprehensive look at depression and its effects on children and teenagers. While depression is a common problem in our world today, it often goes unreported and untreated. And sadly, many youths believe they are alone in their pain. Children and teens may not know how to identify their troubling thoughts and emotions, so they need the adults in their lives to recognize their cries for help. This book will equip counselors, educators, and family members with a detailed understanding of depression and offer tools for intervention, so no student or peer goes unnoticed in their struggle. In this book, you'll discover: • Symptoms of depression • Different types of depressive disorders • How to identify depression versus sadness • The connection between depression and other mental illnesses • How school staff can support students with depression • Successful management of depression Each chapter includes a case study that illustrates an aspect of dealing with depression, along with questions to apply the book's principles in your own context. In addition, Dr. Marsh provides a comprehensive list of tools adults can use to support and improve the overall mental health of students, themselves, and peers.

In 15-Minute Focus: Self-Harm and Self-Injury: When Emotional Pain Becomes Physical, author Dr. Leigh Bagwell offers an in-depth look at the who, what, and why of self-harm, more accurately called non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Students today face stressors on an unprecedented scale. From unstable world events to unsteady family situations, the external and internal pressures they experience can become overwhelming, and some turn to self-harm (NSSI) as a means to cope. On the outside, such behavior confuses and disturbs many people, even the teachers and parents who are closest to students. This book provides the research and perspective adults need to help kids who turn to NSSI as a means of dealing with their distress. In this book, you'll discover: • Types of NSSI behavior, including cutting, biting, hair pulling, and bruising • The relationship between self-harm (NSSI) and suicidal ideation • Signs and symptoms of NSSI beyond wounds and scars • Myths and truths about NSSI • Protocols for schools to follow when NSSI is suspected • How parents and schools can partner to help students in need This book features stories from students as they explain NSSI from their experiences, giving adults an inside look into the lives of those who struggle with this behavior. Also included are online resources that counselors and teachers can utilize, including infographics, NSSI assessments, and calming behaviors for use in place of self-harm.

In 15-Minute Focus: Behavior Interventions, Amie Dean gives educators, counselors, and parents knowledge, strategies, and resources to teach children and teens how to communicate and make decisions to get their needs met in positive ways through behavior instruction and coaching. If a child or teen is struggling to manage emotions or make good choices, it is rarely because they want to be "bad" or disrespectful. Most adults look for the "right" way or a magic formula that will transform challenging students, with no luck on finding one. Impacting behavioral change in another person is hard work, and every individual has unique needs and circumstances that should be considered. This book will help you view children's words and actions as a lack of coping skills in the moment, or a skill deficit that can be taught and improved. You'll discover: • The function of behavior • Ways to rethink responses to behavior • De-escalation techniques • Steps to create a trauma-sensitive classroom • Principles for a positive classroom • Actionable strategies, curated resources, and more! This guide will ask you to consider that there is likely a barrier keeping children from being successful, and it is our opportunity as the adults who care for them to help them through it.

In 15-Minute Focus: Anxiety, Worry, Stress, and Fear, Dr. Leigh Bagwell gives counselors and educators a step-by-step primer on how to support students who struggle with anxiety. Anxiety can cause students to feel isolated and overwhelmed, preventing them from learning and engaging in the classroom. Rather than tell our students not to worry, our job as educators should be to recognize, when our students are struggling with anxiety and get them the support they need. In this book, Bagwell explains the physiological progression from a trigger to a full-blown anxiety attack and provides a variety of prevention and intervention strategies for school counselors, educators, and administrators. What you'll get: • Understanding of anxiety and clarification of anxiety vs. misbehavior • Breakdown of various anxiety disorders and how they present • Helpful tips for parents who have anxious children • Curated list of resources, including organizations, curriculum, books, and more! When students experience anxiety, they need help navigating through it. This guide will teach school counselors, educators, and administrators how to become powerful advocates for their students so they can thrive in the classroom and in life.

In 15-Minute Focus: Grief: Processing and Recovery, Dave Opalewski offers school counselors and educators a primer on how to handle the death of a student or staff member. No matter if the death was sudden or the result of a long illness, it can devastate an entire school family and its surrounding community. Students are impacted every time they walk into a classroom and see a classmate's empty desk or a substitute teacher sitting at a deceased teacher's desk. When tragedies like this occur, schools must respond quickly and offer what grieving students and staff need most comfort. In this book, Opalewski gives schools a guide for addressing the death of a student or staff member, including what to say and what not to say to students along with helpful communication and intervention strategies for school counselors, educators, and administrators. What you'll get: • Learning the concepts and implementation process of comfort before counseling • Grief research and data for children and adolescents • Grief support group setup • Activities to help students process grief, classroom activities, tips for parents, and more! No school can truly prepare for the death of a student or staff member. A loss like this will shake the school family. But this book will give counselors and educators the information they need to respond to tragedy with understanding and comfort so that they can help students and staff work through their grief in a positive and productive way.

Are you looking for expert guidance and engaging tools to help students navigate their complex digital world? Advanced technology in today's digital landscape is here to stay - and that's a good thing...until it's not. Society's online transformation has paved previously unimaginable roadways of knowledge, adventure, and inspiration...as well as dangerous detours, hidden potholes, and hairpin curves. We wouldn't hand the keys of a 4,000-lb. vehicle to a toddler, elementary-school student, or pre-teen, but we often give them access to devices that can expose them to life-threatening perils like identity theft, pornography, predators, and bullying. What can we do to help our children "drive" carefully and follow the rules of the road, growing into smart digital citizens as they navigate the ever-widening information superhighway? This timely resource is here to help. In Digital Citizenship, Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, Ph.D., and Angie C. Smith, Ph.D., explore the benefits and drawbacks of technology, bringing both breadth and depth to a range of vital topics, including: • How to create and maintain the right kind of digital footprint • The permanence of online decisions that can haunt children well into adulthood • Cybercrime and the importance of privacy and protection • Technology's myriad effects on emotional and mental health • Sound tips for managing and monitoring device access and use • The future of technology and education •...and more! Brimming with the latest facts and statistics, interactive learning activities, and real-life applications, this book will equip you to guide your students in understanding what it means to thrive as a digital citizen: one who is kind, responsible, and - most important - leaves a footprint that is worthy of following.

In “15-Minute Focus: Growth Mindset, Resilience, and Grit”, Dr. Raychelle Cassada Lohmann offers counselors and educators data-driven strategies to help students cultivate a growth mindset, nurture resilience, and build grit. Each generation is shaped by the history of time, and at no other time has a young generation been exposed to so much adversity. This generation of young people has been exposed to pandemics, recessions, economic insecurities, racial and systemic injustices, mass shootings - some of those occurring in schools, and acts of terrorism. Is it any wonder mental health issues are soaring? Despite all these obstacles, however, many young people will find healthy ways to cope, persevere, and rise to the top. Which leads to the question, "What makes some youth prevail and others struggle?" While there may be no clear-cut answer to this question, the root may lie in their ability to use the superpowers growth mindset, resilience, and grit. Although these three superpowers are related, they also serve distinct, diverse purposes to help us prevail and thrive. This book will share the transformational power of applying these crucial elements to our lives. You'll discover: • Growth Mindset, Resilience, and Grit as superpowers • Ways to create a supercharged environment • The benefits of cognitive defusion • The power of optimism • Tips for increasing grit in students • Ways to partner with families to empower resilience This book is just as much about you as your students. When we learn to tap into our superpowers, we can teach others to tap into theirs, too. Growth mindset, resilience, and grit are the internal components that help youth maximize their potential, persevere, and bounce back from setbacks.

Are your school communities prepared to face the unexpected? Crises can strike at any moment, leaving schools scrambling to respond effectively. In the midst of chaos, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of the next steps. This guide offers hope - providing clear, actionable steps to navigate the complex landscape of school crisis response. Key Features: • Comprehensive Coverage: From preparation and prevention to recovery and long-term support, this guide covers every aspect of school crisis response. • Practical Tools: Detailed checklists, practical tips, and real-world case studies empower school leaders to make informed decisions. • Evidence-Based Strategies: This guide is grounded in research and best practices to ensure effective crisis management. • Clear and Concise: Easy-to-understand language and a user-friendly format make this guide accessible to all school personnel. You'll Discover How to: • Build a strong foundation for crisis prevention and preparedness. • Respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies. • Support students, staff, and families during times of crisis. • Foster resilience and promote long-term recovery. Don't wait until a crisis strikes. Equip your school community with the tools they need to navigate challenges and emerge stronger!

In 15-Minute Focus: Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management for K-12 Schools, Dr. Melissa A. Louvar Reeves explains the interrelated factors that play a role in a person's decision to plan and carry out an act of violence. Every year, stories about violence in schools make headlines around the world. And every year, questions surface: How could this have been prevented? What were the warning signs? What changes do we need to make in our schools and communities to prevent this from happening, yet again? This book will help answer those questions, as you learn about the factors that affect decision-making, and the role of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) in managing students' troubling behaviors, mitigating risk for the school and community, and directing students onto more positive pathways. In this book, you'll discover: • Why schools should establish BTAM teams and protocols • How to establish a BTAM team • Identifying and reporting concerns • Establishing protocols for evaluating threats • How teachers, administrators, counselors and the community can work together to mitigate troubling behavior and ensure student success • Ways to assist struggling students as they transition to adult life after high school Educators, administrators, and school counselors have been trained on how to respond to a student who is suicidal or despondent. This book helps translate those skills to assist someone who is thinking about harming others.

In “15-Minute Focus: Diversity, Bias, and Privilege”, Dr. Natalie Spencer Gwyn and Robert B. Jamison give educators, counselors, and administrators knowledge, strategies, and resources that can create a safe, culturally diverse learning environment for all students. Whom can students turn to when they encounter racism and bias? How are these experiences impacting their mental health? Can students feel safe in our schools? If you have ever asked yourself these questions or had students come to you with concerns about racism and lack of diversity, this book is for you. As our nation grows in its cultural and ethnic diversity, our school populations have also changed. In an ideal world, schools would serve as a welcoming place for all students regardless of ethnicity. Unfortunately, many schools have become a place of racial discord, racism, bias, and discrimination. Unequal access to services, lack of resources, and biased practices contribute to an education system that fails to educate, serve, and support every student. In this book, you'll discover: • Key terms that provide clarity when discussing race, ethnicity, bias, and privilege • The impact of bias and privilege on school performance • Tips for building supportive schools of diverse learners • Strategies for educators, counselors, and administrators to promote bias-informed education • The critical role empathy plays in correcting course • Assessments, curated resources, and more! Each chapter includes a case study that illustrates an aspect of diversity, along with questions to apply the book's principles in your own context. In addition, Gwyn and Jamison provide a comprehensive list of tools adults can use to become more culturally aware as well as create more culturally diverse and inclusive classrooms and schools.

In “15-Minute Focus: Anger, Rage, and Aggression”, Dr. Raychelle Cassada Lohmann gives counselors and educators a primer on how to support students who struggle with anger, rage, and aggression. It is often said that the aftermath of a storm is worse than the storm itself, and the same is true about anger, rage, and aggression. Unfortunately, the repercussions of anger can be extensive, and the cleanup process is often met with hefty consequences and vast destruction. Anger-related issues are the most common reasons children are referred for mental health services. Prolonged periods of anger and aggression have been linked with depression, suicide, substance use, and more long-term psychological and physical health issues such as anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. In this book, you'll discover: • The distinct characteristics of anger, rage, and aggression and how they differ • The causes and symptoms of anger, rage, and aggression • Ways to integrate culturally inclusive practices • Strategies for self-regulation and de-escalation • Ways to support parents and families dealing with anger, rage, and aggression We have to help our students learn coping skills early. By doing so, we may be helping them live longer and more meaningful lives. This book will help you better understand the scope of anger, rage, and aggression but, most importantly, support you in helping your students learn effective ways to manage anger, rage, and aggression.

What are the keys to bringing emotional stability to your classroom through balanced regulation and co-regulation? We've all seen or experienced them: chaotic moments when emotional equilibrium gives way to outbursts of anger, arguments, tears, and turmoil. The results of such dysregulation are rarely positive, and entire class periods or even whole days can be lost in the fallout. Packed with clear definitions, facts and statistics, heartfelt stories, and applicable discussion points, “Regulation and Co-Regulation” is rooted in the principle that relationships come first, it only takes one safe, committed adult to help a child heal and build resilience through co-regulation. In this book, you'll discover: • the vital link between student stress and academic performance • how to recognize the often-subtle signs of dysregulation • the danger of mistaking calm and quiet for healthy regulation • an emphasis on diversity and inclusion of neurodivergent students • sound ways to adapt regulation principles to each child's unique makeup • the importance of engaging parents, families, and communities •.... and more! Tackling this critical aspect of learning head-on, “Regulation, and Co-Regulation” holds out unapologetic hope for healing. As you absorb and apply the wisdom within these pages, get ready: a domino effect will begin when you embrace a new lens of thinking and responding. Everyone in your life, including you, will benefit from the tools you employ to make co-regulation a consistent reality for your students.

In 15-Minute Focus: Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention, Dr. Melisa Marsh gives school counselors and educators a step-by-step primer on how to navigate the death of a student or staff member by suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages ten to thirty-four. This statistic underscores the impact suicide can have on our schools. It can shatter a school community and leave students and staff feeling helpless, angry, and confused. In this book, Marsh unpacks the stigma and data associated with suicide, and provides school counselors, educators, and administrators with ways to implement a suicide-safer community. What you'll get: • Specific language to use when talking about suicide • Strategies for implementing suicide prevention, suicide intervention, and suicide postvention programs • Research and data to help communicate risk factors • Ways to support students in a virtual environment • Over 20 pages of invaluable templates, including safety plans, email scripts, assessments, checklists, and more! The death of a student or staff member by suicide is something no school wishes to navigate, but Marsh gives the tools needed to face these hard and challenging situations with understanding and hope.

The counselor is not the strategy. The counselor teaches strategies. As counselors, we spend our days helping kids. Kids come to us with a variety of problems, searching for answers. They want us to listen. And they need us to give them solutions for the issues they are facing. While these solutions may work temporarily, we really never help kids until we give them tools - or techniques - to manage thoughts and feelings on their own. Our job is not to do it for them. Our job is to teach them how to do it themselves! This is the greatest gift we can give. In 15-Minute Counseling Techniques, Allison Edwards provides tools to use in individual or group counseling sessions with children in grades K-12. Children will learn how to calm their mind and body with Square Breathing, let go of negative thoughts by Changing the Channel, identify their unique gifts by creating a "What I'm Good At" Jar, and so much more. The techniques in this book will help children feel empowered to face everyday challenges and equipped to manage their stress and emotions. And, best of all, you will give them the confidence they need to handle challenges throughout their lives.

In 15-Minute Focus: Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences, Dr. Melissa Louvar Reeves gives counselors and educators a primer on how to support students who have experienced trauma. Trauma interferes with the executive functions required to be successful in the classroom, and it impacts our ability to trust our environment and others. In this book, Reeves explains trauma and the overlap with anxiety, and provides understanding for behaviors associated with trauma and why they occur, along with a variety of strategies for school mental health professionals, educators, and administrators. What you'll get: • Identification of the different types of stress and symptoms that accompany trauma exposure • Explanation of commonalities between externalizing disorders and trauma and stressor related disorders • Practical strategies for school mental health professionals, educators, administrators, and parents • Curated list of resources, including organizations, training, curriculum, books, and more! This guide will provide school counselors, educators, and administrators with an increased understanding regarding trauma and effective interventions to provide better supports that facilitate growth and achievement in all areas of life.

Are you working with students who: • Are challenged by organization, transitions, and meeting deadlines? • Find it difficult to focus, start tasks, and remember what they need to do? • Have trouble self-monitoring and keeping their emotions and impulses in check? Many students lack strong executive function, the mental processes that govern planning, self-regulation, and goal-directed behavior. But fear not! 15-Minute Focus: Executive Function was written with the brain in mind and equips you with the knowledge and tools to: • Clarify Executive Function: Gain a clear understanding of twelve crucial skills and their impact on student success. • Identify Struggles: Discover the connection between emotion and learning and how to recognize signs of stress and underdeveloped executive function. • Empower Students: Learn practical strategies and interventions to decrease stress and develop executive function in "all kinds of minds." • Unlock Potential: Help your students boost their productivity, academic success, behavior, social skills, and autonomy. This transformative guide is your resource for: • Evidence-Based Practices: Backed by research, these life-changing strategies appeal to students of all ages. • Actionable Advice: Learn simple tips and quick techniques you can implement immediately in your classroom, home, counseling session, and life. • Downloads and Reproducible Handouts: Make your job easier by helping students stress less, learn more, and get things done! Stop wondering why your students struggle. Start empowering them to thrive!