School ERI programs: the need and the challenge If your district is struggling to support students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, you’re not alone. The numbers are growing exponentially in every city and town. Student outcomes are suffering and the stress is affecting teachers, too.  That’s driving many districts to set up specialized classrooms for students with severe ERI issues. Implementing emotional regulation strategies can improve self-regulation in the classroom and ultimately help these students succeed academically. The impact of emotional regulation impairment (ERI ..read more

March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Samantha Pace, Account Manager, at Thrive Alliance Group and how she supports clinicians and works behind the scenes. What is your favorite thing about working here? The people. The administrative team here in the office, along with everyone else, are so hands on and willing to help. Although I don’t get to see the clinicians much in person, getting to work with them and hear about the work in district on a daily basis is truly amazing. What keeps you coming to wo ..read more

March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Taylor Ricciardi, Therapist, and how much she enjoys seeing her students grow and flourish.  What is your favorite thing about working here?  I love collaborating with different staff and working with the kids.   What keeps you coming to work each day?   The kids – I love how resilient they are and always eager to learn and grow as individuals.  How do you make an impact on students’ lives?   By meeting the students whe ..read more

March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Frank Harvey, Clinical Supervisor, and how he collaborates with his team to meet student needs. What is your favorite thing about working for Thrive Alliance Group? I have been in the mental health field for over 35 years and employed as a clinician and supervisor for Thrive Alliance Group (TAG) for the past 8 years. My favorite thing about working for TAG is our commitment to providing skilled therapeutic services to students and ongoing support for each school d ..read more

March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Krista Seabrook, Clinical Supervisor, at Thrive Alliance Group and how she strives to provide a safe and supportive environment for her students. What is your favorite thing about working here? I love that no matter how much Thrive Alliance Group expands, it has always felt like a small family business full of people who were able to provide support for one another. The different experiences that all of the clinicians come with have provided amazing resources and ..read more

We’ve all experienced the student who hides inside his hoodie in class and ignores the lesson. It’s easy to assume that this student is disrespecting us and to react with anger. But in reality, this common classroom behavior is not about us at all. The student is overwhelmed with a negative emotion and is trying to control his feelings by blocking out all the classroom stimulation.  Some of the most difficult challenges teachers face are related to classroom behavior. It helps to recognize that behavior is a form of communication. Students often can’t articulate their emotions and instead ..read more

For schools looking to support students’ emotional wellbeing and improve classroom behavior, art therapy can be an effective intervention for students of all ages. Here’s a primer on art therapy for mental health, how it works in schools, the benefits you can expect, and how to get started bringing the practice to your school or district. What is art therapy and how does it support mental health? Art therapy supports mental wellness through active art creation and self-expression along with guidance from a trained mental health clinician.  Nearly every student can enjoy and benefit from t ..read more

We’re all concerned about the amount of time young people spend on their phones. But what can we do? Establish a family media plan that limits access and encourages responsible use of digital media. Unfettered access to social media and other online platforms impacts mental health, social skills, and exposes our kids to inappropriate and even dangerous content. At school, it’s leading to declines in academic achievement as well as classroom behavior and disciplinary problems. Here’s some guidance that schools can share with parents and caregivers to keep students safe and help them become good ..read more

Holiday expectations cause anxiety & behavior issues at home and at school For just about all of us, the holiday season brings a mixed bag of emotions and experiences. It’s supposed to be a time for connection, generosity, and joy. Yet it also tends to bring unrealistic expectations that lead to anxiety and meltdowns.  Here’s a story that we can all relate to, plus some advice that school staff can use to better manage expectations and diffuse the stress at home and in the classroom. Holiday stress can bring out the worst in people  Here’s a true story that happened to a guy I kn ..read more

Is your school district spending a fortune on out-of-district placement? In many parts of the country, the cost of tuition plus transportation is $150,000+ per student. This staggering expense is particularly painful because it’s a large piece of the budget supporting a very small percentage of the student population.  The worst part is, expensive out-of-district programs are not always in the best interest of the students, either.  Administrators may feel like there’s no alternative for students with physical and emotional disabilities. But there is another way: by providing the nec ..read more