Behavior Management Skills for Classroom Success: Strategies for Mental Health Issues and Challenging Behaviors in the Schools

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Scott D. Walls, MA, LIPC, CCMHC Related seminars and products

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Scott D. Walls, MA, LIPC, CCMHC, is a mental health counselor in private practice in Lincoln, NE, and has previously spent 15 years with the Lincoln Public Schools as a behavior specialist and psychotherapist. Scott has provided therapy and consultation services for hundreds of children, teens and families in the Lincoln area. In addition, Scott has provided numerous trainings for teachers, administrators and case management staff for various agencies. He is also the author of Oppositional, Defiant & Disruptive Children and Adolescents (PESI, 2016) and Behavior Management Skills Guide with Deb Rauner (PESI, 2015).

Scott co-founded a domestic violence group for female offenders and was a practicing therapist and case manager supervisor for a special project in Lincoln that offered treatment for torture and trauma survivors for refugees and immigrants. In addition to his duties as a therapist and consultant, Scott is the founder and owner of the Lincoln Karate Clinic, Inc. This karate school offers specialized karate lessons for children ages 4-7 and youth ages 8 and up. The karate school is well known for providing unique classes that incorporate Stranger Danger lessons and Scott’s personally developed antibullying program entitled: “The 4 C’s of Bullying.” 

Scott enjoys providing information to students and participants in a relaxed learning environment and makes every attempt to give participants practical and down to earth educational information.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Scott Walls maintains a private practice. Scott Walls receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Scott Walls has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Objectives

1. Explore common behavioral episodes that challenge educators, administrators, & professionals and characterize how these differences inform your choice of intervention.
2. Analyze clinical mental health disorders such as ODD, ADHD, anxiety and depression and address their impact on student behavior in the classroom.
3. Implement school-based intervention strategies to enhance behavioral skills in in the classroom.
4. Develop effective verbal skills that increase compliant behavior in the classroom, including praise, corrective measures and reciprocal reactions to student behavior problems.
5. Assess components of behavioral escalation and recommend intervention strategies to address each stage.
6. Utilize protective techniques for classroom design in order to create a climate of physical and emotional safety and success.
7. Develop effective crisis interventions plans that address significant behavior concerns, including aggression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

Outline

Mental health and behavioral issues in the classroom

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• ADHD
• Anxiety and depression
• Self harm/suicide
• Bullying
• Aggressive behaviors
• Non compliance

Assessments: For cause, motivation and reinforcement

• Functional Behavioral Assessment forms including:
  • Functional assessment/behavioral change plan
  • Individual student safety plan
  • Intervention plan
  • Parent, student and teacher interview forms
  • Intake forms

Setting the stage for success

• The 3 Tiered Approach
• The types of change
• Defining the goal
• Defining success
• Understanding motivation
• Addressing difficult adults

Safety plans and protective techniques

• Safe room set up
• Physical intervention – when and why
• Use of environment – for safety
• Proactive strategies
• Behavioral plans
• Motivational incentives
• Incorporating the functions of the behavior

Reactive strategies for:

• Aggression
• Escape behaviors
• Noncompliance and following directions
• Refusal to do school work

Targeted techniques for:

• Calming students
• Environmental reaction plans

Crisis Intervention for:

• Rage
• Physical aggression
• Self-harm/suicide
• Harm to others
• Specific case studies

Problem solving AFTER a behavioral crisis

• Staff training
• Through conversation
• Using a premade template

Target Audience