Becoming a Therapeutic Teacher for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

Teachers who work with students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) know that their job is often challenging. High levels of stress and burnout are common among these teachers. Therapeutic teachers, however, are able to meet these challenges, as well as meet the academic and social needs of students with E/BD. This article will describe what a therapeutic teacher is, how such teachers can create a therapeutic environment for these students, and how they can manage the “stressors” of teaching these students. Most important—becoming a therapeutic teacher is a process of continually maintaining positive attitudes toward oneself, one’s work, and one’s students. Students with emotional and behav