Mood Disorders include such diagnoses as Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety
Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Dysthymic Disorder, or Minor
Depression. Mood Disorders can lead to impairments in academic and
social functioning, often causing students to struggle at both school
and home.
The Harris School helps children who are struggling with mood
disorders in a number of ways. The rooms are set up to feel welcoming
and home-like, with comfortable seating choices, soothing colors, and
areas to take breaks when needed. The low teacher/pupil ratio allows
for individualized attention to students who are dealing with emotional
problems. This can be everything from acting as an outside ego support
to help a child feel comfortable and competent enough to complete their
academic work and interact socially, to reality testing the negative
ideas and anxious thoughts students may have. The weekly group therapy
for the older students allows the children to process their feelings
about their problems, to feel that they are not struggling alone, and
to examine the ways their actions are affected by their emotions.
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