Therapeutic Services
Social Work
At Safe Haven School each student is assigned a social worker. They act as a crucial link between the home, school, and community, addressing social, emotional, and behavioral issues that impact students' academic success and overall well-being.
Each social worker has 10 or less students on their caseload.
Key responsibilities include:
- Individual Counseling
- Crisis Intervention and Management
- Assessing Student Needs
- Connecting with community resources
- Supporting Special Education
- Frequent and on-going communication with parents/guardians
- Supportive attendance
Social Work Groups
Provide targeted support to students facing social, emotional, or behavioral challenges that interfere with their academic success. These groups leverage the power of shared experiences (universality) to help students develop interpersonal skills, gain new perspectives, build resilience, and realize they are not alone in their struggles. Common topics addressed in these small, structured group sessions include anger management, conflict resolution, social skills training, grief and loss support, and managing anxiety or stress related to academics or family issues.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is offered at Safe Haven School using an open studio model. Unlike structured art classes, the open studio model fosters autonomy and self-expression by allowing students to choose their materials and creative direction, which can be highly empowering for individuals who may feel a lack of control in other areas of their lives. This non-directive approach encourages intrinsic motivation and deeper engagement with the creative process, facilitating a safe space for students to explore difficult emotions, process trauma, and improve self-awareness without the pressure of verbalizing. The role of the art therapist as a facilitator, rather than an instructor, allows for spontaneous, in-the-moment interventions and gentle guidance, supporting students in translating their artistic insights into tangible coping mechanisms and social skills.
We have two credentialed art therapists on staff providing art therapy to each student in individual and group format.
Pet Therapy
In addition to our resident therapy dog Riley, Safe Haven School offers pet therapy twice a month through Paws for Patrick. Pet therapy is a key benefit because the calming effect of interacting with animals can lower stress hormones (cortisol) and help students better manage intense emotions. Simply spending time with the dogs helps students regulate and provides a sense of calm.
