CBT for Schools: Supporting the intersection of Attendance & Mental Health

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For regulated SMHPs who support students experiencing mental health related attendance challenges .

This training equips School Mental Health Professionals (SMHPs) with strategies to support students experiencing attendance challenges related to mental health concerns. The approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and incorporates an identity-affirming (IA) lens that centers student voice, agency, and readiness.

Through case scenarios, practice opportunities, and discussion, participants will explore the use of CBT techniques to address underlying mental health concerns that impact attendance. This includes strengthening emotional regulation, reducing anxiety and distress, and supporting gradual re-engagement with school routines during school re-entry, periods of waiting for community-based care and patterns of inconsistent attendance.

At the end of this session, participants will:

understand how to support students with mental health‑related attendance challenges using CBT‑informed, identity‑affirming practicesapply core CBT strategies to address emotional regulation, anxiety, distress, and gradual re‑engagement with school routinesstrengthen their ability to support students during school re‑entry, waiting periods for community care, and inconsistent attendance patterns through case scenarios and practiceenhance their capacity to centre student voice, agency, and readiness when collaboratively developing attendance‑related goals and plansintegrate key findings from the literature to guide effective, evidence‑based support for students navigating mental‑health‑related attendance challenges

Date

September 29, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Audience

Mental health leaders (Managers of clinical or mental health services, Managers of psychology services, Managers of social work services, Mental health leaders, Other)

School mental health professionals (Mental health clinicians/counsellors, Occupational therapists, Psychological associates, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social workers, Other)

Language

This session will be delivered in English. Materials, breakout rooms, etc. will be available in French and English.