Featuring - Dr. Alex Hirschberg
November 20, 2026
Delta Dental Two | Concord, NH
Co-Sponsored by NHTLLA and NHASP
Dr. Alex Hirschberg is a clinical psychologist and founder of Hirshberg Behavioral Health Services. He has spent the last several years providing consultation, professional development, and assessment services for dozens of districts across Massachusetts. He received his doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
A Unique Learning Experience
This professional learning series goes beyond a one-day workshop
.
Included With Registration:
✅ Full-day in-person workshop
✅ Five one-hour virtual follow-up coaching sessions
✅ Access to ongoing expert guidance and problem-solving
✅ Practical tools and resources that can be implemented immediately
Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for:
- School Psychologists
- School Counselors
- Social Workers
- Administrators
- Special Educators
- General Education Teachers
- Attendance Teams
- Behavior Specialists
- Student Support Personnel
Series Outcomes
By participating in the workshop and follow-up sessions, attendees will:
- Develop a deeper understanding of school refusal behavior.
- Gain practical intervention and problem-solving strategies.
- Strengthen collaboration with families and community partners.
- Build confidence in supporting students with attendance challenges.
- Create sustainable systems and practices that improve student engagement and attendance
School Refusal Is Increasing - Are We Prepared?
Across the country, schools are experiencing increasing rates of school avoidance, emotional dysregulation, anxiety-related concerns, and difficulty sustaining student engagement. While these challenges often emerge in the form of attendance problems, classroom avoidance, behavioral escalation, or mental health referrals, they may be better understood as different expressions of the same underlying process: avoidance coping.
Session Descriptions
Session 1: In-Person Workshop - November 20th, 2026 (9:00 AM- 3:00 PM)
From Avoidance to Engagement: Building School Systems That Promote Resilience, Regulation, and Attendance
School refusal is a complex challenge that requires thoughtful, collaborative responses from educators, mental health professionals, and families. In this full-day workshop, participants will explore the underlying causes of school refusal behavior, learn to distinguish it from truancy and other attendance concerns, and examine evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies. Participants will leave with practical tools, resources, and a framework for supporting students' successful return to school.
Virtual Follow-Up Session 1 - December 17, 2026: 4 - 5pm
Implementing Tier 1 Self-Regulation Strategies in the Classroom
Many educators are familiar with self-regulation strategies but face challenges implementing them consistently in the classroom. This session explores practical, easy-to-implement approaches that help students build resilience, manage everyday school stressors, and develop independent coping skills. Participants will learn how to create supportive classroom environments that foster emotional flexibility, perseverance, and student engagement while maintaining high expectations for learning.
Virtual Follow-Up Session 2 - January 14th, 2027: 4 - 5pm
Counselors as SEL Coaches: Push-In Strategies to Build Teacher Capacity
This session examines how school counselors can expand their impact by serving as SEL coaches for teachers. Participants will learn strategies for classroom consultation, coaching, and collaborative problem-solving that strengthen Tier 1 supports and help teachers better address students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
Virtual Follow-Up Session 3 - February 11th, 2027: 4 - 5pm
Leveraging Data to Identify Tier 1 Non-Responders
This session explores how schools can use existing data—such as attendance, behavior, nurse visits, counseling referrals, and academic performance—to identify students at risk for avoidance-based coping. Participants will learn to distinguish between typical developmental challenges and early warning signs, enabling timely interventions before problems become more significant.
Virtual Follow-Up Session 4 - March 11th, 2027: 4 - 5pm
The Accommodation Continuum: Using Support to Build Independence Instead of Dependence
Accommodations can be powerful tools for supporting student access, engagement, and growth when used thoughtfully. Participants will explore how to distinguish between supports that build independence and those that may unintentionally reinforce avoidance, while learning strategies for gradually fading accommodations and promoting long-term skill development.
Virtual Follow-Up Session 5 - April 8th, 2027: 4 - 5pm
Developing a Tiered Intervention Playbook to Address Avoidance Coping
Many student challenges—such as attendance concerns, task refusal, emotional dysregulation, and social withdrawal—can be understood through the lens of avoidance coping. Participants will explore a tiered intervention framework that aligns prevention, early intervention, and intensive supports within MTSS while promoting consistent responses across classrooms, support teams, and school leadership.
Registration Fees
Member: NHASP or NHTLLA: $325
Early Bird: $299 - if registered on or before September 30, 2026
Non-Member: $375
Early Bird: $350 - if registered on or before September 30, 2026
NOTE: Seating is limited.