In the Nest: Case Studies from the School-Based Mental Health Collaboration

This paper illustrates the workings of a novel school-based mental health intervention through two case studies. The School-Based Mental Health Collaboration (SBMHC) is a partnership between Teachers College, Columbia University and underserved public schools. The program places graduate students in classrooms one half-day per week for the school year. Graduate students work clinically with children and teachers toward improving children’s classroom behaviors, addressing the teacher’s style in behavioral management, and developing a cohesive school-wide social and emotional framework. These multiple goals are addressed through the lens of psychodynamic theory, attachment, and mentalization theories. This is a multi-level intervention in which SBMHC clinicians work with all stakeholders as they are integrated into the school community. Key to the success of the program, the SBMHC model makes use of “nested mentalization” in which supervisory staff create a supportive and reflective environment for the graduate students that promotes their growth as clinicians and their abilities for self-reflection. As graduate students grow in these capacities, they learn to engender a similar environment for all key players in the school, leaving them better equipped to work with teachers, students, and families within complex and demanding settings.