H
imPower
from adults who may not
continues
realize they are listening.
its special
Therefore, since I can’t
series in Part
fully control what my
II on Mental Health
daughter is exposed to
and Mental Well-Be-
outside of my reach, we
ing with an interview
daily cover each other in
focused on the School
prayer during our ride
Psychologist. Dr.
to school. It is during
Brandy Taylor Dédé,
this time she becomes
Ph.D., shares her pas-
more aware of mommy’s
sion for empowering
limitations and God’s
children and their
sovereignty. This is what
families to live health-
brings me peace as mom
Dr. Brandy Taylor Dédé and her family
ier lives wherever they
and what helps brings a
might be. Dr. Dédé is a Licensed Specialist
sense of emotional and spiritual stability to
in School Psychology, and she knows that
my daughter each morning.
healthy children make healthier learners. Let’s
Question: Under what circumstances
learn and reflect on her words of wisdom for would a parent have contact with a profes-
the HimPower Family.
sional like you in the school setting (whether
Question: Dr. Dédé, as our children
public, private, charter, church)?
prepare to go back to school, what are the
Dr. Dédé: As a Licensed Specialist in
most important concerns you have about the School Psychology (LSSP), also known as a
mental health and well-being of school-age
School Psychologist in many states, I typi-
children?
cally encounter families who have children
Dr. Dédé: I firmly believe that our chil-
in need of educational, social, emotional,
dren’s response to going back to school
and/or behavioral support. School Psychol-
depends on our response. If we show anxi-
ogists serve a variety of roles within educa-
eties or fear, then they may reflect the same
tional settings, including, but not limited to,
feelings. This is why I focus my efforts on
evaluator, consultant, community liaison,
how I communicate and respond to diffi-
counselor, researcher, and advocate. Person-
culties, because my daughter is watching
ally, I believe in a proactive approach when
every move I make. My greatest concern is
it comes to supporting children and fami-
the amount of information our children are
lies. I typically engage in psychoeduca-
exposed to on a daily basis. When we send
tional trainings with parents (e.g., tips for
our children off to school, we can’t control
parenting children with ADHD) and chil-
what they will hear from other children or
dren (e.g., preventing bullying by showing
www.himpowermagazine.com 25