Both family and school play critical roles in a student's life. Students spend most of the calendar year at school, where teachers and counselors work tirelessly to support a student’s learning and growth across domains. And outside of activities and time with friends, most students spend most of their outside-school hours at home, where parents and other caregivers shoulder both the joys and challenges that parenting brings. And we know it isn’t always easy.

This is why Cartwheel is excited to announce that starting fall 2024, we will be offering both Family Therapy and Staff Therapy as additional service lines for our communities. Students do best when they have the support they need at home and school, and this is more likely to happen when the adults in their world are cared for and supported, too.

Family Therapy

What is Family Therapy?

Family dynamics play a critical role in improving mental health outcomes for students. Challenges with family relationships, communication, other family stressors can further impact how a student fares at home and school and at times hinder progress during a student’s care journey. 

Family Therapy can be used to address these challenges. When families are engaged in Family Therapy at Cartwheel, their Cartwheel clinician will meet with them virtually–generally weekly or every other week–and use a strengths-based approach to help address issues that are impacting student and/or family well-being. Topics of focus typically include family communication, relationships, parent-child conflict, difficult behaviors, challenges at home and/or school, or other dynamics impacting student success.  

Cartwheel is offering Family Therapy in addition to our Parent Guidance service. In contrast to Family Therapy, Parent Guidance sessions provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet individually with a licensed clinician (not including the student) for support with parenting challenges and how they can best support their child’s mental health. 

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How can families get started with Family Therapy through Cartwheel?

Starting fall of 2024, students and families in care with Cartwheel will have access to Family Therapy as an additional service offering, at no additional cost to the district. Cartwheel clinicians can recommend Family Therapy as part of a student’s treatment, in addition to 1:1 therapy and/or other services. Since the referral is driven by the Cartwheel clinician, this is one less referral school staff need to worry about.

Staff Therapy

Why offer therapy to school staff? 

The need to address the mental health of educators and school staff has never been more pressing. Between the changing educational landscape, academic recovery efforts, and the youth mental health crisis, those working in schools are feeling exhausted and in some districts, turnover rates are higher than ever. 

To help support educators, school counselors, and other school staff through these challenging times and to support them in their daily work of supporting students and families, Cartwheel is expanding our offerings to include Staff Therapy. 

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How does staff therapy with Cartwheel work?

Staff Therapy is an add-on service districts can use to extend the benefits of Cartwheel to their staff. Staff members in participating districts sign up directly with Cartwheel. Our care coordinators reach out to the staff member directly to verify their insurance and cost of care, help match them with a clinician in our practice, and schedule their first meeting. Staff therapy is private and no identifying information is shared with district leadership or personnel. 

Similar to our traditional student care model, school staff will have access to the same extended hours (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM weekdays local time and Saturdays) and have access to our therapy services throughout the school year, including over the summer months. They also have access to diverse clinicians who speak 10+ languages, and no waitlists. Care will continue for as long as deemed necessary (typically between 2- 6 months) or until an alternative treatment plan is recommended. 

Interested in learning more about Family Therapy or Staff Therapy for your community?

If you're a current partner, reach out to your Program Manager. To explore a potential partnership, contact our School Partnerships team at partnerships@cartwheelcare.org or fill out this form to get started.