March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Krista Seabrook, Clinical Supervisor, at Thrive Alliance Group and how she strives to provide a safe and supportive environment for her students.
What is your favorite thing about working here?
I love that no matter how much Thrive Alliance Group expands, it has always felt like a small family business full of people who were able to provide support for one another. The different experiences that all of the clinicians come with have provided amazing resources and knowledge in various areas of mental health.
What keeps you coming to work each day?
The desire to be there and hold space for each student is what keeps me coming to work. Also, the support system/team I have at the school I am based in is irreplaceable.
How do you make an impact on students’ lives?
As said before, most of the students just need a safe place/person that can hold space for them. When they are feeling at their worst, they have the ability to show up as-is without judgement. We will then move forward and work together to tackle all the “hard stuff” going on in their life as teenagers.
Last year, we rolled out our BetterTogether guiding principles. Which one of our values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive).
Being collaborative resonates with me the most. Most of the time, working with my students cannot be done solely one-to-one. Collaboration with their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team, school administrative team, and parents are all required to have them find the most success.
What does a “day in the life” look like for your role?
– Individual sessions/family sessions as-needed.
– Coordination and collaboration with teachers.
– Meetings/coordination of care with Child Study Team and School Counselors.
– Phone calls and emails with parents and outside providers.
-Time sensitive documentation and recordkeeping.
– IEP meetings.
– Crisis/drop-in response when needed.
Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now?
During college, I pursued a major in Psychology with a minor in Substance Abuse Counseling, initially intending to work with substance users. However, my perspective shifted during a small internship at a high school, where I assisted the Student Assistance Coordinator in various roles, including providing services to students using substances, offering regular counseling, and contributing to intervention and referral services as well as anti-bullying initiatives. This experience sparked a desire to work within a school setting in a more clinical capacity than the traditional roles of School Counselors or Child Study Team Members.
Subsequently, I gained firsthand insight into the clinical role within a public school setting while working as an aide for a student enrolled in a Thrive Alliance program at another high school. This opportunity deepened my understanding of the impact such programs could have on students’ lives.
Upon completing my master’s degree, I was fortunate to secure a position within Thrive, thanks to the support of a clinician I had worked with previously. Over the course of 1.5 years in the program, I honed my skills and was eventually offered the opportunity to establish a new program at a different high school, a role I continue to fulfill today.
What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role?
Having the opportunity to start the Thrive program at my current placement and build a strong rapport with administrators and staff.
What is something about you that not many people know?
Three of my favorite things are baking, hiking, and traveling. You can find me adventuring to a new place every year.
