The Intersection of Education and Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Elaine Harper

At the young age of 17, Elaine knew she wanted to work with kids who had experienced trauma. What she didn't understand at the time was her own trauma. She'd just lost her mom to cancer, and in order for her dad to work, she was shouldering the load of parenting her four younger siblings. As she put it, she 'just stepped up', but many years later, she would recognize the reality of her grief and loss. She would also recognize the many ways these experiences shaped her resilience. 

Join us as we talk to Dr. Elaine Harper about her three decades as a teacher, counselor, and  educational services director for Positive Education Program. She's seen a lot of change at the intersection of education and mental health, and she's committed to fostering even more change - to support educators AND to support students. She's passionate about helping people acknowledge their own trauma so they can work on it, learn from it, and step into their own unique resilience.

Currently, Elaine is a consultant who teaches and coaches individuals, teams, schools and organizations who work with children and adolescents presenting emotional and behavioral challenges. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Her book, 'The Trauma-Informed Mindset for Educators', releases in 2025 through Brookes Publishing.

To connect with Elaine and find out more about her work:

Website: https://elaineharper.com/

Email: elaine@elaineharper.com

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