In this episode, we interview an amazing group of individuals who have been facilitating and researching a whole-school approach to improving communication, behaviour, & school culture. The study is called SOLIS – Solutions in Schools. Professor Rose McCabe (City St. George's, University of London, UK) is a psychologist specialising in professional-patient communication in mental health care. She has expertise in developing and implementing solution focused interventions to improve wellbeing for young people. [email protected] . Dr Fiona Robinson (City St. George's, University of London, UK) is a mental health Research Fellow specialising in research with children, young people and parents. Her current work focuses on brief solution focused interventions to promote wellbeing in school students and staff. [email protected].  Mr. Ben Starkey is Assistant Principal at a mixed comprehensive all through school lin London, UK, where he oversees behaviour.  We’re so thankful to this great team for joining us to share their story. 

Learn more about the SOLIS Study at: www.solutiontalkinschools.co.uk.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com 

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed  with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com 

 Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships.  Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

Tara and Vicky have a wonderful conversation with Sharon Casey from Quebec, Canada - a solution-focused trainer with a background in education, crisis intervention, drug rehabilitation, and suicide prevention. What do small changes really mean when the stakes are high for students? Sharing many engaging experiences, Sharon takes us through why solution-focused coaching always works in education, and especially when students are experiencing particular challenges in their lives. She speaks to how to advocate for student wellbeing by being trauma-informed rather than trauma-obsessed. In her experience, strength-based conversations build agency and learning accelerates when a young person is supported in seeing themselves as a learner. You can find Sharon at https://www.lavoiesolutions.com/english/.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com 

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed  with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com 

 Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships.  Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this episode, Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interiewing Erin Cusanno. Erin has worked as a middle school counselor for 26 years.  About eight years ago, she became fascinated with the Solution Focused approach and started to incorporate it into her work at school.  Two years ago she shifted into a program to help students who struggle with chronic absenteeism.  She utilizes Solution Focused Principles in every aspect of the program, working with students, caregivers and school staff.  Outside of school, Erin has a private practice where she primarily works with high school and college age students while using the Solution Focused approach. https://www.erincusanno.com/. Erin also co-facilitates a Solution Focused Peer Consultation group for school based practitioners and leaders.  Go to  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP0LA0i7yes1SIjaMjibuAP-RO00gxE47e0czLnas9i1OAEg/viewform. 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com 

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed  with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com 

 Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships.  Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this Episode of School Solutions Talk, Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interviewing Gesa Doringer, an experienced Solution Focused practitioner, occupational therapist and trainer from the Netherlands. For the past 18 years she has been working as a Job Coach at the department for Adolescents with Early Onset Psychosis at the Amsterdam University Medical Center. Gesa respectfully witnesses the resilience and solutions of these young people. She admires how they dust themselves off after experiencing mental health problems and dare to focus on their goals and next steps ahead. Experiential learning and game elements are her secret ingredients to hold space for her clients and encourage them to gain new insights and hope. For the past 10 years she has worked as an author and Solution Focused Trainer in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. In 2023 Gesa published her Solution Focused game, the Mindsetter, which is now played in 29 countries worldwide and implemented in schools in several countries. Today’s conversation with Gesa, highlights how the solution focused Mindsetter Game is making a difference in schools. To learn more about the Mindsetter, go to https://listo-amsterdam.com/the-mindsetter-3/, or email Gesa at [email protected]. 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com 

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed  with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com 

 Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships.  Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

Tara Gretton and Vicky Essebag, solution focused practitioners, coaches and leaders, welcome you to their first episode of the School Solutions Talk Podcast, dedicated to the power of solution focused practice in education. They share their thoughts, ideas and hopes for the podcast. They inspire listeners with some insights on shifting and building communication in schools to inspire self-awareness and agency, while fostering positive relationships with and among students, staff, and families. They speak to how the podcast will unfold as they will be interviewing special guests, from students and classroom educators to administrators and solution focused leaders, who share their experience and expertise in school settings, as well as their best hopes in reshaping school culture and the meaning of success. Enjoy!

Tara and Vicky work together to provide solution focused training for your schools and school systems, both in person and online. For a  free consultation, contact them at [email protected]. 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS (highlighted in each episode):

Work Collaborative

The Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity rather than dependency, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group

The Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based professional learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support educators and improve outcomes for students. www.instructionalcoaching.com 

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, that provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors and disciplines, both in Canada and around the globe. Since its inception as an organizational research body and think tank comprising graduate students, usbject-matter experts, and community partners, CCBC evolved with programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental educational framework and instructional method. Go to www.pracademia.com 

 Family Based Solutions 

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships.  Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing as each family member plays a leading role in what they want and need, as well as outcomes for each session. Go to  https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/.