April 23, 2017 To whom it may concer, ‘The following feedback is in support and response to Ms. Alexandra Busbin’s research project. I have worked within the field of psychology for the past 20 years, and most recently, | have been employed as a school psychologist within a suburban school district just outside of Philadelphia, PA., as well as working directly with children and families within their homes as a mobile therapist. | have had the opportunity to experience firsthand the presence of stigmatization within the school and home environment, | often ask myself the following questions when a family decides to terminate in-home therapy or disagree with the need for a psycho-educational testing that may lead to special education services: Is it due to a general dissatisfaction with the overall treatment? Are there underlying cultural factors that make it less likely a family vill agree to have their child possibly labeled or identified as leaming disabled? Are certain families less open in general and are hesitant to having their issues or "secrets" known to outsiders of the family? Are beliefs distorted or misguided to some degree about what counseling is and what itis intended to achieve for a family or individual? Is the onset of social media and celebrities who question whether mental health is truly a disease or not that needs treatment partly to blame as well? In exploring why families either terminate mental health counseling or fai o initiate this level of service, | don't believe easy answers are available, | do feel thatthe stigma that is often associated with therapy and mental health has multiple factors attached to it._ It may be that a parent had a previous experience in counseling that ‘was either not effective or brought about fears and insecurities that he or she was not ready to confront or face. Intur, poor encounters within the mental health system may make it less likely that a parent will agree to counseling for themselves or their child in the present or future as questions of its effectiveness arise. This may further be exacerbated by beliefs about mental health that are emanating from parents or the family that are firmly entrenched and passed down from one generation to the next Overall, | have found that culture does frequently play a part at least inthe stigmatization of mental health. | ‘work in'a suburban, wealthy and rather homogenous schoo! district, where minorities may feel excluded or vulnerable in a climate that may not value diversity to a significant degree. If child who is a minority is referred for a school-based evaluation, | have found resistance at times, which | believe is partly due to cultural norms and beliefs Based upon the above potential challenges and roadblocks that may impede the introduction or continuation of needed mental health and psychological support/services, | have attempted many times to reframe existing beliefs for parents and families what mental health services are as a way to counteract possible stigmas. AS ‘Alexandra had stated in terms of the questions she raised, | do believe itis essential for mental health professionals to reaffirm the belief that mental health is like any other disease or physical condition, and needs to be treated as such. Respect 7 ee eZna, MA: Certified School Psychologist, Mobile Therapist