In this full day, in-person session, counselors and social workers will have the opportunity to network with peers, learn and share best practices, and feel empowered to better support their school communities for an impactful Fall semester. Note that participants will be eligible to receive 3 CEUs from the morning session with the SWEET Institute.
In the morning session with Karen Dubin titled “Art and Play Therapy Interventions for School-Based Counseling Sessions,” participants will explore the integration of art and play therapy techniques as effective tools for engaging children and adolescents in the therapeutic process. Participants will learn how these creative approaches can be utilized to address a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and social challenges that students may face, including anxiety, trauma, depression, and social skills deficits. The course will provide practical, hands-on strategies for implementing art and play therapy within individual and group counseling sessions, allowing students to express themselves in a safe and non-verbal manner.
In the afternoon session with Krystal-Folk Nagua, titled “Abolitionist School Social Work: The Seeds for Equity, Justice and Liberation,” participants will explore how abolitionist praxis can guide school social workers in addressing and dismantling the racist policies that disadvantage Black students. By adopting these principles, we can challenge systemic inequities and advocate for more equitable educational environments. By the end of this session, you will be able to understand the effects of anti-Black policies on school systems, examine the racial trauma associated with the school-to-prison pipeline, and discuss the future of school social work through the lens of abolitionist praxis.