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Hello, my name is Kelly Welch. I am pursuing my master's degree in school counseling. One personal goal I have is to maintain sustainable work-life balance by making sure I take care of my physical and mental health and prioritize time for my family. My professional goal is to become more knowledgeable of different research methods and the APA format. I hope to learn about the different types of trauma that exist, how to identify the signs of trauma, and how to intervene as a school counselor.

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The main responsibility of a school counselor is to provide guidance to students, enabling them to fully develop their academic, career, personal, and social skills in an ethical and confidential manner (American School Counselor Association, 2022).

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Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Introductions and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Kelly Welch's Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Kelly Welch and I am enrolled in the Masters of Education in School Counseling program. I am in my third semester and plan to graduate in May of 2026. I hope to become a middle school counselor upon graduation. I have spent the past 11 years in the classroom at the middle school level and am now a 504 Coordinator for a high school campus. One goal I have in this class is to learn how to recognize signs of crisis and mental health concerns in students and how to best intervene.

What stood out to me the most is the prevalence of mental health concerns in young people and how it has become a pandemic. The statistic that I found most concerning is that half of all chronic mental illnesses start by age 14. That is such a young age and a critical time in the life of a teen. I took the Deconstructing Stigma Mental Health Quiz and got six out of nine questions correct. Working with teenagers over the years has opened my eyes to the impact mental health has on them.

For years, I battled anxiety. With the help of others, I was able to identify those things that sent me into an anxious frenzy such as procrastination, fear of the unknown, and the fear of making mistakes. I learned coping strategies on how to combat these things. These strategies, such as breathing exercises, journaling, and physical activity, helped to decrease my anxiety and get myself back in the right mindset. I have also been able to encourage others to utilize these same strategies when dealing with anxiety. They have proved to be very helpful.

In my future role as a middle school counselor, knowledge of crisis, trauma, and mental health is vital because it allows me to be able to recognize and assist students facing these issues so that I can help foster a healthier and more inclusive school environment. This knowledge will equip me with the tools necessary to deliver suitable interventions and be able to better meet the needs of my students.

Mental Health in Schools

The article linked above discusses the staggering statistics of mental health concerns in schools and how important it is to rid the stigma that comes along with it. Prior knowledge and increasing my knowledge in mental health concerns is crucial. Too many students go undiagnosed and untreated which interferes with a student's ability to learn and develop. Identifying and treating mental health problems early is a game changer in the life of an adolescent. School counselors must bring more awareness to crisis, trauma, and mental health issues among adolescents. The article mentions the importance of reducing barriers to providing mental health services. We must find a way to lessen the stigma that is associated with mental health. A student cannot learn effectively if they are not in the right mindset. As a future counselor, it is a goal of mine to ensure that students feel seen, heard, and safe so that learning can take place.

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders

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This assignment allowed me the ability to gain knowledge about mental health disorders and to better understand the signs that go along with these issues. I also learned ways to provide support to individuals that are dealing with these mental health disorders once I become a school counselor.

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Trauma is an important health concern that impacts people of all ages. There are so many different types of trauma and each person that is impacted reacts differently. It is crucial for school counselors and health professionals to be educated and recognize the signs of trauma and know how to intervene.

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Psychological First Aid Reflection and Online Certificate

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Psychological First Aid Reflection and Online Certificate

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a modular approach based on evidence that assists individuals in the immediate aftermath of disasters and acts of terrorism. PFA aims to alleviate the immediate distress resulting from traumatic experiences and to promote adaptive functioning and coping. There are eight core actions designed to be helpful in addressing both survivors' and responders' needs and concerns (Peterson, 2018).

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online_Certificate

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Crisis prevention and threat assessment is a way to identify, evaluate, and manage individuals who may pose a threat of violence. It requires the collaboration of different teams to collect information, evaluate risks, and develop intervention strategies to help reduce to occurrence of violence (Wang & Gupta, 2023).

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The ABC Crisis Model is a three-stage intervention that offers a structure for counselors to assist individuals experiencing a crisis by (A) Achieving a Relationship, (B) Breaking Down the Problem, and (C) Committing to Action. It's a way to help restore a normal level of functioning to the individual's life (Flarey, 2024).