Mary Eno - The School-Savvy Therapist: Working with Kids, Families and their Schools

Advance Praise

Mary Eno has enormous firsthand experience in transforming what can be contentious and unproductive interactions into meaningful conversations that make a significant difference in the lives of children and families. Her respect and compassion for all parties in the complicated relationship between families, therapists, and schools permeate every page. She brings her rigor, quest for knowledge, and astutely questioning mind to the thorny dilemmas shes posed and doesnt shirk from confronting the possible roadblocks and pitfalls of the very difficult and delicate balancing act that therapists face. The School-Savvy Therapist is a unique and invaluable guide that should be required reading for all clinicians who work with children.

Frances Schwartz, Ph.D., LCSW, Educational Consultant , and Martha Edwards, Ph.D., Director, Center for the Developing Child & Family, Ackerman Institute for the Family

The School-Savvy Therapist is the definitive guide to decoding and bridging the worlds in which kids live: home and school. Keenly aware of the complexities of the two landscapes, Dr. Mary Eno expertly provides a comprehensive, nuanced, and incisive roadmap for synthesizing them in the therapeutic setting. Her book is essential reading for novice and seasoned clinicians alike, and will empower schools and parents in the crucial task of educating our children while stewarding their well-being.

Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Founder Childrens and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety, author of Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, and Freeing Yourself from Anxiety

Any well-intentioned therapist working with children, their families, and schools can easily get lost amidst the dense forest of contemporary educations many challengesunless you have a guide. Reading Mary Enos book The School-Savvy Therapist , is like being accompanied by a wise inhabitant fluent in multiple languages, who knows where to go, how to get there, and what to avoid. Its the ecology of education at its healing best: a practical, collaborative, systemic, and strength-based path forward that sees the forest and the trees.

Jay Lappin, MSW, LCSW, Minuchin Center for the Family; Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Eno expertly captures the power of a productive collaboration between school and family and provides an accessible guide for how to broker that collaboration by building synergistic familyschool relationships. Her strengths-based perspective, peppered with case examples and viewpoints from practicing clinicians and educators, makes this book a tremendous resource for those who are learning to be child or family therapists, and for those who are training the next generation of therapists.

Mary Rourke, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Widener University

The School-Savvy Therapist is an action-oriented, comprehensive, and incredibly thought-provoking resource for professionals. Dr. Eno offers practical tips and expertise for therapists who seek to effectively work with schools to foster a positive collaboration between family, school, and child. As a teacher who has worked with dozens of therapists, I applaud Dr. Enos thorough understanding of school dynamics and her relentless focus on the child and the benefits that can come when families, therapists, and schools work to solve problems together.

Elena Carlson, M.Ed., Second Grade Teacher, Lower Merion School District

Mary Enos insight into the culture and systems of schools and families provides rare and indispensable wisdom and context for therapists working with children. A brilliant colleague to many educators during her lifelong career as a therapist in schools, she has provided a masterful summary of her experience. Dr. Enos professional skill, compassion, curiosity, and empathy ring beautifully through her writing in The School-Savvy Therapist .

Rich Nourie, M.Ed., Head of School at Abington Friends School

Families and schools are often worlds apart. When children have behavior or learning problems, it is vital that the people in these worlds learn how to collaborate. But first they have to get to know each other. Mary Enos comprehensive, readable guide shows therapists when, why, and how to engage with worried parents, frustrated school staff, and troubled students. The engaging text is threaded with case studies and practical tools, such as checklists of questions to guide interviews and familyschool meetings.

Theodora Ooms, Former Director, Family Impact Seminar

The School-Savvy Therapist is an invaluable and critical resource for all clinicians working with school-age children and their families. Rooted in systems theory, this seminal work provides effective and practical guidance to assist clinicians in successfully navigating the complex landscape of schools today. Providing a theoretical framework, as well as illustrative case examples and guiding questions, The School-Savvy Therapist is the authoritative handbook on how to effectively collaborate with school systems and personnel to foster a truly supportive childfamilyschool dynamic.

Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Rose Tree Media School District, Licensed Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist

Mary Enos detailed and intimate perspective on working relationships between parents, children of all ages, and educators in all kinds of schools is remarkable. Rich cases cut through professional jargon to examine subjects ranging from homework and bullying to special education and todays anxious school climate. The book is wonderful, and not only for therapists.

Graham S. Finney, Founding Board Member, Mastery Charter Schools (Philadelphia), Former Management Consultant (Urban Affairs, Education)

A Norton Professional Book

WORKING WITH KIDS,
FAMILIES,
AND THEIR SCHOOLS

Mary M. Eno

As of press time, the URLs displayed in this book link or refer to existing sites. The publisher and author are not responsible for any content that appears on third-party website.

Copyright 2019 by Mary M. Eno

All rights reserved

First Edition

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact W. W. Norton Special Sales at specialsales@wwnorton.com or 800-233-4830

Cover Design: Lauren Graessle

Cover Image: Marilyn Macgregor

Production manager: Katelyn MacKenzie

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Names: Eno, Mary M., author. Title: The school-savvy therapist : working with kids, families, and their schools / Mary Eno.

Description: First edition. | New York : W.W. Norton & Company 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019005757 | ISBN 9780393711905 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: School childrenMental health servicesUnited States. | School psychologyUnited States. | Clinical psychologyUnited States. | Family psychotherapyUnited States. | Home and schoolUnited States.

Classification: LCC LB3430 .E56 2019 | DDC 371.7/13dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019005757

ISBN 9780393711912 (ebook)

W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110