Mental Health and Well-being in International Schools:
A Primer for School Counselors

ONLINE 18 January - 15 March 2025 Synchronous Sessions: 7 - 9am ET - Jan 18, Feb 1, 8, 22, Mar 8, 15 Facilitator: Natasha Winnard

Listen to Natasha Winnard answer the question: “Why should you take this course?”

With record rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, International school counselors have found themselves on the front, but forgotten, line in what is being hailed a mental health crisis in schools around the world. We will explore how to move from a crisis intervention into a true prevention model. We will discuss the role school counselors should play in promoting positive mental health in their community.  We will outline the best practices in intervening in mental health issues and understand some of the leading resources to support our work.

Learning Goals

  • Review the school community’s mental health and wellbeing resources

  • Understand the prevalence of mental health issues in young people today

  • Explore methods for assessing wellbeing and ways to measure and track it

  • Explore proactive strategies to support life-long wellbeing

  • Identify key interventions for most common mental health issues

  • Develop skills to help faculty better understand trauma 

  • Design a tiered intervention process for a mental health issue

  • Utilize self-care skills to combat compassion fatigue

Who is this experience for?

Current and aspiring counselors in international schools will benefit from the CTC courses. The mix of theory and practical, job-embedded practices will provide participants with a wealth of strategies to use in their role.

What’s my commitment?

This is an 8-week course with six synchronous sessions and job-embedded tasks and practices for participants to complete between sessions. Synchronous sessions include opportunities for both learning from an experienced international school course-long leader and small group discussions. You should be prepared to spend approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours per week, including individual and job-embedded tasks. This course can be used towards completion of your Certificate of International School Counseling.