Dr. Steve Hoff, licensed therapist and associate professor of school psychology at The College of Saint Rose, presented the first in a series of free professional development webinars for educators on February 7, 2023, called “Surviving the Mental Health Crisis: A Toolkit for Teachers.”
Hoff is a licensed psychologist in New York and Massachusetts, and a licensed school psychologist in New York City, who has presented nationally and internationally on the topic of youth mental health. He is co-founder of Barrington Psychology Inc. in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, which specializes in child and adolescent mental health issues and provides consultation to schools and agencies. Previously, Hoff spent several years as a school psychologist and crisis response trainer in the New York City public schools. He has published articles in the journals Psychology in the Schools and Perspectives and in the National Association of School Psychologists monthly publication.
The webinar recording is available on the Saint Rose YouTube channel. Hoff has also provided a list of helpful resources below.
APPS AND PODCASTS
Calm, a meditation app.
Headspace, a meditation app.
The Happiness Lab, a positive psychology podcast.
WEBSITES
Random Acts of Kindness, ideas for how to institute a culture of kindness in your school.
Calm for Schools, from the makers of the meditation app, includes a self-care guide.
Plum Village, an international practice center in the tradition of the Plum Village, the first monastic community founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Great resources on mindfulness.
SURVEYS
VIA Character Strength Survey – a free positive psychology self-assessment of your strengths, takes 10 minutes to complete.
Self Care Inventory – Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit, PDF that helps you take an inventory of your self-care needs.
BOOKS/ARTICLES/RESOURCES
National Education Association –Trauma Informed Schools, NEA resources on supporting students impacted by childhood trauma.
“The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business” by Charles Duhigg, offers advice on how people can change their habits.
“How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi, a guide to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality.
“Wisdom and compassion in psychotherapy: Deepening mindfulness in clinical practice,” edited by Christopher K. Germer and Ronald D. Siegel. See “Reflections for the Helper.”
“Yoga Pretzels,” 50 yoga poses on fun cards.
“Office of Civil Rights report on Disparities of COVID,” PDF of the report from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
“Helping Children Cope with Changes from COVID” by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
INTERVENTION/MANUALS/WORKBOOKS
MindUP, a nonprofit organization that uses neuroscience, positive psychology, social-emotional learning, and mindful awareness to teach “the skills and knowledge children need to regulate their stress and emotion, form positive relationships, and act with kindness and compassion.”
Learning 2 Breathe, research-based mindfulness program for teens.
“DBT® skills manual for adolescents,” a Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills manual for adolescents by Jill H. Rathus and Alec L. Miller.
“Coping Cat,” an anxiety and mindfulness workbook.
“CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents,” a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy toolbox for children and adolescents with more than 200 exercises for trauma, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression and conduct disorders, by Amanda Crowder, Tracy Elsenraat, Robert Hull, and Lisa Phifer.
“Riding the Wave Workbook,” a “teen friendly” workbook on moving through panic by Donna Pincus, Jill Ehrenreich, and David Spiegel.
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