Working with Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

This text is designed to help teachers and service providers work successfully with children who exhibit emotional and behavioral disorders by affording them a repertoire of valuable, evidence-based treatment strategies. Furthermore, because the book represents a synthesis of expertise, written from the dual perspectives of an experienced clinician and an educator, the school professional who reads it will better understand the role of both teacher and service provider, thus optimizing the coordination and effectiveness of the services that are critical to the success of these students.

'Working with Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: A Guide for K-12 Teachers and Service Providers' explores the most prevalent behavioral disorders encountered by school professionals as they work with today's students. These high-incidence behavioral disorders are addressed by type, and each includes a discussion of the relevant characteristics, causes, prevalence, and treatment strategies. Features that are unique to this book include its acknowledgement of the need for a collaborative approach to these problems by all school professionals, as well as the coordination of services provided by the classroom teacher and other service providers working with these students. To date, few books, if any, have provided this holistic perspective.

This book is designed to help K-12 teachers and related service providers (i.e., school psychologists, school social workers, speech-language pathologists, guidance counselors, and occupational therapists) work successfully with children who exhibit emotional and behavioral disorders by affording them a repertoire of valuable, evidence-based treatment strategies.

Daniel T. Sciarra, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, a licensed mental health counselor, a certified school counselor, and a nationally certified counselor who is fluently bilingual in Spanish and has over 30 years of experience working with Latino children, adolescents, and their parents. In addition to over 40 published articles in the areas of multicultural and school counseling, Dr. Sciarra is the author of several books on similar topics. He is the recipient of the 2004 Hofstra University School of Education and Allied Human Services Teacher of the Year award and the 2004 Fordham University School of Education Alumni Achievement Award. His research interests include multicultural counseling, racial identity development, and the role of the school counselor in the promotion of academic achievement and educational attainment among students of color.

Vance Austin, PhD, has worked for over 40 years with children, adolescents, and young adults who have learning disabilities, various emotional and behavioral disorders, and autism, as a child-care counselor, program coordinator, and teacher. He has been a college professor at five universities and colleges and is currently a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Special Education at Manhattanville College, in Purchase, NY. Dr. Austin has authored numerous articles and book chapters on topics related to working effectively with students who have learning and behavioral difficulties. He has presented his research on interventions for children with emotional and behavioral disorders at national and international conferences.

Elizabeth J. Bienia, EdD has served as an elementary school educator and administrator in various rural and urban settings in Massachusetts for more than 30 years, where she has worked to create positive learning environments for all students. As a building administrator, she has fostered partnerships with students, staff, families, various local businesses, and higher education institutions. Further, she has been a graduate adjunct professor at the Van Loan School of Education, Endicott College and the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She has written widely on topics in education from preschool to PhD.