Relationships
Save Lives
Odalys Acosta, MSW
TRUST Counselor
Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High, MDCPS
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Who am I?
 Master’s
in SOCIAL WORK
(In the United States most mental health care is provided by MSWs.)
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2
33 years working with Adolescents
Dependency (Foster Care) System
Delinquency (Juvenile Justice) System
Private Psychiatric Residential Program
School System
Adjunct Professor teaching “Counseling w/Children & Adolescents”
Acosta
June/ 2014
Mother of 5!
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Acosta
June/ 2014
When you think of who works in a school,
you think of …
 Teachers
 Principal
(Administrators)
 Counselors
(Academics mostly, emotional problems possibly)
 Secretarial
/ Support Staff
 Cafeteria Personnel
 Maintenance
 Security Guards
 Police Officer?
 TRUST SPECIALIST??????????? (aka TRUST Counselor)
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Acosta
June/ 2014
What is a TRUST Specialist?
To Reach Ultimate Success Together
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Minimum Qualification Requirements
for TRUST Specialist..
 Master’s
degree in counseling, psychology, social work,
or related field.
 Certification
in guidance and counseling, school social
work, school psychology or another field in which
employment opportunities are consistently available.
 Successful
documented experience in substance abuse
prevention, intervention, and treatment. A minimum of
two (2) years experience is strongly preferred.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
According to the
Miami-Dade County Public School Website
The TRUST Program Specialists identify appropriate resources
for problem assessment and other services for students and
their families. They maintain a close working relationship with
numerous community agencies in an effort to provide
students and their families with resources to deal with their
individual needs. Additionally, they provide faculty and staff inservice training.
The TRUST Specialist works cooperatively with other student
services personnel in the prevention and intervention of
substance abuse and other self-defeating behaviors.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Job Tasks/Responsibilities
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Implements substance education curriculum as required.
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Implements staff in-service programs for school personnel (including feeder pattern schools) and assists
teachers in the implementation of substance education curriculum, programs, and activities.
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Assists administrators and other student services staff in working with drug-involved youth.
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Provides ongoing services for students referred to the program including
individual, group, and family counseling.
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Provides assessment and information for those students who have exhibited a need for additional
counseling and serves as a liaison to referral agencies.
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Implements self-help groups and/or peer helper groups.
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Conducts the Alternative Intervention Program (AIP) in lieu of suspension and/or for students who
exhibit behavioral problems. (The Alternative Intervention Program is provided outside regular school
hours and compensatory time for the specialist should be arranged with the appropriate administrator.)
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Provides workshops on substance abuse and related topics for school and parents.
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Serves as a member of the school crisis core team.
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Serves as a resource to PTA’s, Citizen Advisory Committees, teachers, administrators, and other
interested community groups.
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Reports student progress and program information to appropriate school and district personnel.
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Attends required meetings and training.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
SO,
What does a that look like?
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Ms. Acosta, the TRUST Counselor
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Acosta
June/ 2014
What makes ME (TRUST Counselor) different …
I
am an adult --but not their parent, teacher, preacher, or friend.
 I listen with my eyes.
 I speak two language (adult and adolescent).
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(No such things as bad words, only words people use badly.)
 No
conversation is taboo. (You can tell me anything, that I want to hear.)
 I have no expectations. Also have no power. (No need to lie.)
 I my only goal is BETTER-- cause better is better!
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Outcomes (e.g., resolution, learn coping skills, increase “feelings” vocabulary)
Acosta
June/ 2014
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Relationships SAVE Lives
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June/ 2014
Why do I KNOW the TRUST Program works?
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Why do teens consider suicide
or any other risky behavior?
Because…
Silence is deadly.
But talking is hard.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Whose World is it Anyway?
Services/Program designed from whose point of view?
OURS
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THEIRS
Acosta
June/ 2014
Responsibility = Ownership
We are no different, who changed you?
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Troubled or Typical?
A TEENAGER!
TROJAN Joshua also made HML proud when
he was selected to represent the school in the
Dade-Broward All-Star Football Game.
Joshua, who is multi-talented, also came in 1st
Place from all the High School (including
Broward and Miami-Dade County) 2013
Orange Bowl Creative Art Contest.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
What We Already Know
That we CAN NOT effectively treat
children and adolescents (ESPECIALLY
REGARDING SUICIDAL IDEATIONS)
without thoroughly understanding
developmental stages
OR
how their brain works!
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Acosta
June/ 2014
According to Erickson
Stage Five- Adolescence (Age 12-18)
IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION
Basic Strength: Devotion / Fidelity
Undermine: Lack of Support
 Adolescents
must have successfully achieved and
integrated all of the earlier conflicts to attain a healthy
resolution.
 This
stage is the single most significant conflict a
person must face.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
THE DEVELOPING BRAIN
Or why the answer is always—
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Adolescence is a period
of profound brain
maturation.
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It was believed that brain
development was completed
during childhood.
The maturation process is not
complete until about age 25!
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Characteristics of adolescence
that lead to various problems:
1.
2.
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10.
Awkwardness (physically / socially) – puppy paws
Emotional Instability (impulsivity) -- frienemies
Feelings about Life (purpose) – Why was I born?
Resistance to Parents (leads to ineffective parenting) – When “no” use to work.
Contradictions within Themselves (either /or mentality) – very little grey
Anxiety (inflexible, at-the-moment thinking) – self-medicate
Experimenting (accidents?) – need for speed
Exploring (surprised by outcomes) – but they did it!
Fantasy World (magical thinking) – nothing bad is going to happen
Belonging to a Group (nerd/ jock/gangster/partyer/emo ) – that matters to them
Gunarsa (1989)
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Acosta
June/ 2014
But to REALLY make things
interesting…
 Differences
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Between Treating Adults vs. Teens
No Resources
Self-Actualization SURVIVAL
Answers EMPOWERMENT
The person responsible for this role MUST specialize in
providing mental health services for children and
adolescents and be a STRONG advocate for them.
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Normalize by Being CRAZY
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Not So “Scary”
Crazy person that you can talk to NOT
the person you talk to because you’re crazy!
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Acosta
June/ 2014
Entering Their World/ Their Reality
 Music, Movies, Graphic
Novels (#1in Norway)
 Technology (FB, Instagram, twitter, Snapchat, VINES?)
 Presentation
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of Self (Do as I say, not as I do!)
Acosta
June/ 2014
Trust means
 As
trust
!
good as the last student who left my office.
 Must
feel “safe” to tell and share.
 Emotional
Free Space (All emotions and display of emotions are accepted.)
 Educating Teachers
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About warning signs and troubling behavior – a “funny feeling” in your gut.
Talking about it is NOT processing. Just because I can read doesn’t mean I’m a reading teacher.
 Building
on Solid Therapeutic Foundations
(Adlerian, Person-Centered, CBT, REBT, Reality, Solution Focus, Brief, etc.)
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Acosta
June/ 2014
“I hate it when my parents yell
at me for no good reason.”
 Primary
Empathy- (CONVERSTION)
“It must be hard when your parents yell at
you and you feel you don’t deserve it.”
 Advanced
Empathy- (PROCESSING)
“How frustrating and sad it must be for you ,to be
to told you did something wrong when that was not
your intention.”
Carl Rogers
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Acosta
June/ 2014
It begins with each of us, and
We canNOT give what we do not have!
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Acosta
June/ 2014