February 20th, 2020

February is Psychology Month and we want to take the time to highlight and celebrate the contributions of psychological services consultants at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).

To help illustrate the work they do every day, we asked a few of our psychological services consultants to put together some of their most memorable experiences working with our students and staff. Check out a few more of their stories below.

Teaching, Learning and Helping Students

The WRDSB Psychological Services team is part of the Waterloo ​Region Psychology Consortium that involves the University of Waterloo (CMHRT and Campus Wellness), Lutherwood (Mental Health Services), a local Private ​Psychology Practice​, and Homewood Health Centre. This consortium provides an internship or ‘residency’ for Ph.D. candidates, similar to the one physicians complete as part of their training), and has had nine resident students since the inception of the program in 2013. The WRDSB is one of only a select few accredited school boards, representing an acknowledgement of the mental health work done in our board. It is an honour to be a part of the development of future Psychologists who will assist children and adolescents cope with learning difficulties, executive functioning, anxiety, depression, Autism and other significant disabilities and disorders. Residents bring a variety of new perspectives, up-to-date ideas and evidence-based practice to our work. We have had the pleasure of hiring two residents after they completed their placements here in the WRDSB.

– Lisa M, Melissa WC, and Hiba

Working With New Canadian Students

I had the pleasure of assessing a refugee youth who had been in Canada for less than a year. The staff in the student’s classroom wanted to help this youth reach their full potential, but did not know what the specific strengths and areas of need were, as there was limited documentation available from the home country. Thanks to our assessment, we will be able to provide the school staff information about this student’s cognitive functioning and give them guidance for programming. Parents will now be able to access additional government-funded services to help with this student’s care and planning for their future.

– Ruby

Building Student Mental Wellness

Last year, I was involved in presentations to Grade 6, 7, and 8 classes. Students discussed the difference between typical stress and more significant mental health issues. They learned about positive mental wellness strategies and the negative impact some coping strategies can have. Students heard ways to keep themselves well, and how to support their friends and peers. Specific contact information was provided for in-school and community resources if students had further questions or concerns. These presentations were well-received by staff and students, and led to continued in-school discussions and wellness initiatives. More importantly, some students reached out to the presenters after the class to access help for friends that they were concerned about.

– Tiffany

Please join us in thanking and celebrating the psychology staff at the WRDSB for all they do every day to improve the lives of our students – each and every one. Make sure to include #PsychologyMonth and #PsychologyAtWork if posting your thanks on social media and visit cpa.ca/psychologymonth for more info.

Tags: