Presentation Topics

Presentations and training on a variety of issues are available for school professionals, parent groups, church groups, workplaces, and senior care communities. Depending on topic and audience, presentation length can vary from one hour to full-day workshops. In-person and virtual options are available.

CEU certificates of attendance are available for mental health professionals who are licensed in either Missouri or Illinois.

Frequently requested topics include:

Professional Development Topics for Schools and Districts

Anxiety in Students and Helpful School Responses
Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Topics for Parents’ Groups

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions
ADHD: Understanding Behaviors and Building Success

Presentations for Adults and Seniors’ Groups

Coping with Life Transitions
Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Care

Care Team Training

The Basics: An Introduction to Care Teams
Finding Solutions When the Team Feels Stuck

Professional Development Topics for Schools and Districts

West County Psychological Associates provides professional development and training opportunities designed to help educators better understand student learning, behavior, mental health, and special education processes.

Our presentations are practical, research-informed, and focused on strategies that educators can immediately apply in their schools and classrooms.

Training opportunities are available for:

Teachers
School Psychologists, Counselors, and Social Workers
School Nurses
Administrators
Special Education Teams
Support Staff
Early Childhood Programs

You may contact the WCPA office with questions or to schedule presentations, (314) 275-8599 / info@wcpastl.com, or contact a WCPA presenter directly.

Presentations may be led in-person or online. Depending on topic, length of training can last from one hour to full-day workshops.

Have a topic in mind that you don’t see on our list? Feel free to speak with one of our presenters. WCPA presenters can develop customized training based on your school’s specific needs and goals. We welcome opportunities to collaborate with districts, schools, and educational organizations to create meaningful and relevant learning experiences for staff.

Student Anxiety

Supporting students experiencing anxiety, school avoidance, and emotional challenges.

Available topics include:

Anxiety in Students and Helpful School Responses
School Anxiety, Avoidance, and Refusal
The Anxious Generation book discussion group
Stress Management and Anxiety Reduction Strategies for School Professionals
Responding to Anxiety in Preschool-Age Students

Building Strong School-Family Relationships

Developing effective communication and collaboration between schools and families.

Available topics include:

Dealing with Difficult Parents in the School Setting
Having Challenging Conversations with Parents
Using Healthy Professional Boundaries in the School Setting
Building a Culture of Collaboration among School Staff
Increasing Trauma-Informed Practices at School

Neurodevelopmental Differences

Supporting students with ADHD, autism, executive functioning challenges, and other neurodevelopmental needs.

Available topics include:

Autism in Girls: Understanding a Frequently Missed Presentation
ADHD: Understanding ADHD and Helpful Classroom Strategies
ADHD: Responding to Diagnosis and Treatment Resistant Parents
The Principal’s Guide to ADHD, Autism, and Mental Health
Executive Functioning in the Classroom

Assessment, Intervention, and Special Education

Helping educators use data effectively to support student success.

Available topics include:

Data Collection Strategies: Collecting Meaningful Data to Inform Student Decisions
Utilizing Visual Supports Across the School Day
Understanding Cognitive Processes and Their Impact on Learning
Functions of Behavior: Building Interventions That Actually Work
Understanding Evaluation Reports: Turning Data into Action
Effective Accommodations: Matching Supports to Student Needs
Supporting Students with IEPs in the General Education Classroom
Special Education Evaluation Referrals: When Should We Refer?
From Silent Observer to Active Team Member: Participating in Effective IEP Meetings

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Promoting awareness and responsiveness to diverse student experiences

Available topics include:

Recognizing Blind Spots in Cultural Bias
Diversity and Inclusion Topics of the school’s choice

Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response

Building confidence and competence in responding to students in crisis.

Available topics include:

Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Suicide Risk Assessment in the School Setting
Counseling Strategies and Safety Planning for Youth Suicide Prevention
Suicide Postvention in the School Setting

Woman presenting to a classroom of adults

Presentation Topics for Parent Groups

West County Psychological Associates provides parent presentations and learning opportunities designed to help parents better understand student learning, behavior, mental health, and special education processes.

Our presentations are practical, research-informed, and focused on strategies that parents can immediately apply with their own families.

Presentations are available for parents of students of all ages.

You may contact the WCPA office with questions or to schedule presentations, (314) 275-8599 / info@wcpastl.com, or contact a WCPA presenter directly.

Presentations may be led in-person or online. Presentations for parents are generally one hour long, and often held in the early evening.

Have a topic in mind that you don’t see on our list? Feel free to speak with one of our presenters. WCPA presenters can develop customized topics based on your school’s specific needs and interests.

Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

Supporting students experiencing anxiety, school avoidance, and emotional challenges.

Available topics include:

Understanding and Responding to Anxiety in Kids
Anxiety in the Pre-School Age Child
The Anxious Generation program for parents – presentation and small group discussion
School Anxiety: What to Do When Your Child Avoids or Refuses School
Parenting Through Anxiety and School Stress
Helping Children Build Resilience
Supporting Emotional Regulation at Home

Building Strong School-Family Relationships

Developing effective communication and collaboration between schools and families.

Available topics include:

Navigating Difficult School Conversations
Helping Children Manage Big Emotions
Screen Time, Social Media, and Child Development
Supporting Reading and Learning at Home
Bullying: A Parent’s Primer
Behavior Challenges in Early Childhood: Practical Supports for Home
Stress Management and Anxiety Reduction Strategies for Parents
Raising Independent Kids in an Entitled Society
Supporting Children through Life Transitions

Neurodevelopmental Differences

Supporting students with ADHD, autism, executive functioning challenges, and other neurodevelopmental needs.

Available topics include:

ADHD at Home: Understanding Behaviors and Building Success
Executive Functioning: Building Organization and Independence
Autism and ADHD in Girls: Signs Parents Often Miss
Autism: Understanding and Supporting Your Child
Understanding Autism: Medical vs. Educational Perspectives
Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Learners

Behavior & Parenting

Supporting parents as they address their child’s behavior.

Available topics include:

Positive Behavior Supports at Home
Understanding Why Challenging Behaviors Occur
Behavior Challenges in Early Childhood
Behavioral Parent Training Strategies That Work
Reducing Power Struggles and Increasing Cooperation

Suicide Prevention

Building confidence and competence in responding when our students are in crisis.

Available topics include:

Youth Suicide Prevention: What Every Parent Should Know

School and Special Education

Helping parents gain support for their child’s special needs.

Available topics include:

Understanding IEPs and 504 Plans
My Child Was Referred for Special Education: What Should I Expect?
Understanding School Evaluation Reports
Being an Active Participant in Your Child’s IEP Meetings
Navigating Challenging Conversations with Your Child’s School

Grade-Level Presentations for Parents

Special topics for parents of students at specific grade levels.

Available topics include:

Kindergarten: First Steps to Independence (for parents of entering kindergarten students)
The Intermediate Grade Years: Building on Success (for parents of 3^rd and/or 4^th grade students)
Middle School Conversations (for parents of 6^th and/or 7^th grade students)
Navigating the Transition into High School (for parents of entering 9^th grade students)

Presentation Topics for Adults and Senior Care Communities

Presentations and training on a variety of issues are available for adults in community and church groups, senior living staff, and residents/clients. You may contact the WCPA office with questions or to schedule presentations, (314) 275-8599 / info@wcpastl.com, or contact a WCPA presenter directly.

Presentations may be led in-person or online. Presentation length can vary from one hour to half-day workshops.

Have a topic in mind that you don’t see on our list? Feel free to speak with one of our presenters and ask!

Frequently Requested Topics:

Coping with Life Transitions
Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Care
Working with Difficult Residents and Families
Using Healthy Professional Boundaries in Health Care Settings
Grief and Loss
Anxiety
Stress Management and Anxiety Reduction Strategies
Dementia
Caregiving
Self-Compassion and Mindfulness for Chronic Illness
Life Review and Legacy Making Activities
Loneliness and Isolation
Attachment through the Lifespan
Healthy Aging

Training on Suicide Prevention:

Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Older Adults
Counseling Strategies and Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention
Suicide Risk Assessment in the Health Care setting
Best Practices for Safety Planning with Dementia

Pitch Partners Funding Program

WCPA is a proud recipient of the Pitch Partners Funding Program grant for the project “Improving Elder Access to Counseling and Mental Health Therapies: Phase 1 – Educating a Workforce”.

Through this award, WCPA has the opportunity to collaborate with Washington University to create a two-part training program to provide senior communities and agencies in St. Louis with essential education about mental health for their staff. Topics in this training include:

Mental health and aging overview
Communication skills with residents and families
Resident confidentiality
Staff reporting processes when a resident’s mental health changes
Best practices for documentation
Spectrum of mental health disorders
Intersection of mental health and dementia
Simple calming strategies to use with residents
Self-care strategies for staff

If your community or agency would benefit from this on-site training, please reach out to WCPA to schedule a consultation. We are currently scheduling training sessions for the Fall and Winter of 2026.

This project is supported by the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Through the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS), the Center for Community Health Partnership & Research (CCHPR) and the Pitch Partners Funding Program (PITCH) bring local university researchers and the community together to tackle challenging issues.

To schedule a presentation, please call

314-275-8599