All views expressed in this episode are personal to Michelle Basson.

Michelle Basson is a dedicated school psychologist actively working in both public education systems and the academic sphere associated with university settings. Her role involves providing comprehensive support and counseling to students across multiple school environments, including both primary and high schools. Michelle's work extends to assessment and securing individual student support, making a significant impact on bridging student needs with available resources.

Key Takeaways

• Rising Mental Health Concerns: There is a notable increase in bullying and depressive symptoms amongst younger students, highlighting the urgent need for early intervention and mental health support in schools.

• Role of School Psychologists: School psychologists are instrumental in assessing students and securing additional support, effectively bridging the gap between student needs and school resources.

• Navigating Consent and Confidentiality: The process of obtaining consent and confidentiality in school counseling can vary significantly depending on the student's age and situation, necessitating sensitive navigation by school psychologists.

• Importance of School Systems: For parents, understanding the support systems available in schools and how to access them can be crucial in ensuring their child receives the necessary help.

• Demystifying Counseling: Open communication and breaking down the perceived complexities surrounding school counseling can foster a supportive environment for students, reducing the stigma around seeking help.

Notable Quotes:

1. "There's a real rise in kind of depressive symptoms in young people and anxiety... a really scary trend in schools."

2. "The more information we have, the more knowledge we have, the more the whole process becomes demystified."

3. "In the high school, definitely a lot of the referrals are counseling referrals... very open about what it might entail, the first session will just be getting to know you."

4. "If the student refuses to be seen by us... we have a person called the Student Support Officer."

5. "My hope is just that we continue to talk about mental health... students just know where they can find support."

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Key Takeaways:

• Encourage open discussions with teenagers about current global challenges without minimising their concerns.
• Promote critical thinking skills to help teens analyse and interpret the information they encounter online.
• Highlight the power of historical resilience and problem-solving to inspire hope in uncertain times.
• Empower teenagers by focusing on their ability to control certain aspects of their environment and decisions.
• Model resilience and optimism as parents to influence teens positively, ensuring they learn coping strategies through observation and guidance.

Notable Quotes:

• "Our role as parents and carers is to help our teens build confidence that they can handle uncertainty when it does come."
• "Hope isn't pretending that a problem doesn't exist. Hope is believing that challenges can be faced."
• "One of the greatest gifts we can give our teens is to teach them that not everything online deserves equal weight or attention."
• "Confidence grows when our young people experience that they actually have some choices and they have some agency."
• "I believe you'll be able to handle it. You're going to be able to handle what the world throws at you."

Resources:

• Follow Collett Smart on Instagram and Facebook.
• Learn more on Collett Smart’s website: www.collettsmart.com

Click here to contact Collett or ask her a question or Click here to contact the Raising Teens team.

Collett is a psychologist, qualified teacher, speaker, and internationally published author, with 25 years' experience working in private and public schools, as well as in private practice.

Visit Raising Teens for more resources, click here for Collett's books, or join the discussion on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

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Head over to the win page of Hope1032 to snag a chance to win one of the two copies of Dr. Jenny Brown: The Parenting Paradox valued at $50 each.

About the Guest:

Dr. Jenny Brown is an Australian family therapist, researcher, author, and educator whose work focuses on family systems theory, parenting, and child and adolescent mental health. She has worked in family therapy and child and family mental health since the 1980s and is the co-founder and Director Emeritus of the Family Systems Institute, as well as the founder of the Family Systems Practice and Parent Hope Project. She has authored and contributed to numerous professional publications and books, including Growing Yourself Up, Facilitating Parent Agency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Helplessness to Hope, and The Parenting Paradox, published by Bloomsbury. Drawing on more than 35 years of clinical, research, and teaching experience, Dr. Brown offers a family-systems perspective on parenting, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Key Takeaways:

• The trend of professionalized parenting has raised expectations, leading some parents to overextend in their roles.
• Emphasizing self-awareness, Dr. Brown advocates for parents to focus on their reactions rather than attempting to constantly fix their child's behavior.
• Implementing 'I' positions rather than 'you' directives helps establish clear boundaries and encourages children to develop problem-solving skills.
• Normal variations in children's moods and behaviors are often misdiagnosed; parents should be cautious about labeling.
• Over-regulating teenagers can inadvertently increase their anxiety; balanced boundaries and clear family values are crucial.

Notable Quotes:

• "When we stop trying to change our children, we start to see them start changing themselves gradually."
• "The first parenting manuals were published in the 1920s. That was the start of therapeutic approaches to parenting."
• "Ultimately, we will get caught in a futile power struggle if we're over-focusing on trying to get compliance."
• "Parents don't need to be led by every mood and behavioral trigger in their kids."
• "My hope is that parents will not love their children less. They'll just discover new ways to direct their love."

Resources

The Family Systems Practice: https://thefsp.com.au/

The Parent Hope Project: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/

The Family Systems Institute: https://www.thefsi.com.au/

Jenny's Book Releases:

https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B00DVVQ5DG

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.