Perhaps, one of the hardest aspects of this work is connecting and empathizing with the parents and caregivers I work with. As with so many of us, connecting with the kids I work with comes second nature to me. Most days it’s easier than breathing. That feeling of connection to children reminds me of my favorite parts of myself. However, really connecting to a caregiver or family member often takes a real conscious effort on my part.

Providing Mental Health services to school students requires patience, consistency, and a therapist who recognizes they are “a passenger on their journey”. An effective therapist must show up to every session flexible and optimistic -- even when the youth is consistently resistant to talking, when all they want is to use your office as a retreat from the classroom -- the greater goal of supporting student success must always be in mind. A Better Way’s school-based therapists are striving to help youth become successful students, while addressing the impediments to their success.

“Bonding is not an event; it’s a process. It’s never too late to bond,” says Lyle Truscott, a mental health clinician for the 0-5 program at A Better Way’s San Francisco office. Lyle works with children under the age of 5, providing non-direct play therapy and child parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Additionally, she is a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM). As a CEIM Lyle is able to offer infant massage training to parents and caregivers to improve attachment and bonding within families. She can also present information about infant massage in her community, participate in research studies, and conduct in-service programs.