Module 5 - Empowering Secondary School ATs: Building Confidence in Mental Health Conversations
| Mental Health in an Athletic Training Facility |
Abstract:
This course equips secondary school athletic trainers with essential knowledge and skills to address psychosocial and mental health concerns in student-athletes. Key topics include mandatory reporting protocols, leveraging school resources, recognizing trusted adults within the school system, and the importance of staying informed on relevant legislation. Through practical scenarios and evidence-based practices, athletic trainers will gain confidence in identifying at-risk behaviors, understanding their responsibility in crisis situations, and making appropriate referrals to support student well-being.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and explain ethical guidelines and boundaries relevant to interactions with minors.
- Create a supportive environment conducive to open communication and disclosure.
- Employ age-appropriate language and communication strategies when interacting with minors.
- Discuss the appropriate steps to take when encountering signs of distress or abuse in minors.
- Describe the legal and ethical considerations involved in relaying information to parents/guardians, including obligations to report suspected abuse or neglect while maintaining the minor's trust and privacy.
Course Level:
Essential
Course Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 3: Critical Incident Management
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
Keywords:
mental health, psychosocial support, ethical guidelines, crisis intervention, risk management
Course Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date. Users who preregister will have 12 months from the date course access opens.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.
Adrienne Tauses, MSW, LCSW
Adrienne Tauses, PhD, LCSW, CCTP, is a recent graduate of the doctoral program at the University of Montana in Counselor Education & Supervision. She comes with 15+ years of clinical work to include wilderness therapy, equine psychotherapy, oncology, neuro trauma, grief and loss, and dual diagnosis treatment. She currently maintains a private practice in the community with a specialty in trauma and grief. She is a EMDR and Flash Technique certified practitioner as well as a certified clinical trauma professional. Additionally, Adrienne teaches at the master’s level in the counseling program and works with master’s students and those working towards licensure in a supervisorial role. Adrienne is committed to helping clients heal through depth psychotherapy focused on traumatic experiences from their past.
She maintains a research interest in how traumatic experiences can impact physical injury and how psychological distress is viewed in the culture of athletics. Her interest has driven current research agendas at the University of Montana working with collegiate athletes in a mental health setting. Mental health care continues to be stigmatized in sports culture inhibiting the ability of sports practitioners to view their athlete’s entire person which includes psychosocial impacts of traumatic experiences. This presenter is interested in creating awareness around the connection of traumatic experiences, stress response system, and subsequent physical implications in athletes. The hope is that for athletes to continue performing to their ability and creating positive outcomes as well as modeling for the masses that humans are made up of more than just their physical ability and deserve to be seen and treated that way.
Meghan Fox
Meghan Fox is a second-year master's student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Montana, currently interning with student-athletes to provide tailored mental health support. Drawing on years of experience as a coach and a former middle school teacher, Meghan brings a unique perspective to her work.
In addition to her internship, she works directly with the University of Montana’s volleyball team, offering mental health resources and support to help athletes navigate the pressures of both sports and academics. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Meghan is dedicated to fostering resilience and emotional well-being in athletic environments.