We had the pleasure of a conversation with Tora Ween and Therese Haugerud Bjerketveit from Norway - both doing wonderful work as they implement a large scale research study while incorporating the solution focused approach in schools, with support groups and more.
Tora is a Senior Adviser and National Lead for Dream School and Support Groups at Adults for Children (Voksne for Barn), a Norwegian non-profit organisation working to promote children's mental health, wellbeing and inclusion. With extensive experience as a teacher, special educator and school counsellor, she leads national implementation projects and oversees development, training, supervision and quality assurance. Adults for Children collaborates with more than 300 schools and 30 municipalities across Norway, helping to make student participation, belonging, supportive relationships and wellbeing an integral part of everyday school life. The organisation’s work is grounded in health-promoting, strengths-based and solution-focused approaches.
Therese Haugerud Bjerketveit, is a trained public health nurse who also has an education in music, with a focus on music and health. She worked as a nurse for several years before studying to become a public health nurse. Therese is also a teacher and researcher who is currently doing her PhD at OsloMet University, in a cluster randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of the ‘Support group’ intervention in primary schools in Norway. In this capacity, she has been collaborating closely with the Norwegian School System and Adults for Children.
Join us in this wonderful episode as Tora and Therese reveal how support groups are facilitated, their impact, and how implementing support groups has motivated schools to explore solution focused practice in everything they do.
tora@vfb.no
Resources: https://vfb.no/hva-vi-gjor/psykisk-helse-og-livsmestring-i-skolen/supportgrupper-i-skolen/, https://vfb.no/content/uploads/2023/01/Support-group-for-a-bullied-schoolchild-1.pdf, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278331955_From_Victim_to_Taking_Control_Support_Group_for_Bullied_Schoolchildren, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0323794
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Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.
Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com
The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com
Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/
