As the school year starts, communication is key for parents

For parents, a new school year can raise a tough question: 

How can I support my child while still giving them space to grow and learn?

As Penn GSE clinical psychologist Marsha Richardson recently told the Tampa Bay Times, parents should start by listening.

"First and foremost, it’s important to know your child," Richardson told the Times. "You have to know what their stressors are at home, at school, and in the neighborhood."

Richardson, a clinical psychologist, is an expert on how trauma, race, and other factors impact adolescent mental health and development. At Penn GSE, she is part of a faculty that is preparing the next generation of counselors, teachers, and administrators to collaborate so they can better serve children.

Parents, Richardson told the Times, should be ready to partner too, either by joining a group like the PTA or starting “courageous conversations” with educators about their children’s needs.

Read the full piece here.