Compassionate Accountability: Supporting Self-Efficacy in Children’s Mental Healthcare

Description

(March 2026) 

Compassionate Accountability: Supporting Self-Efficacy in Children’s Mental Healthcare is an engaging, interactive session designed to help caregivers and professionals strike the critical balance between empathy and responsibility. Participants will explore how building self-efficacy strengthens motivation, resilience, and long-term outcomes for children and adolescents—without minimizing real mental health challenges. Through practical frameworks, real-world case examples, and hands-on discussion, attendees will learn how to foster accountability with children rather than for them. This session equips attendees with concrete language, strategies, and confidence to support growth, autonomy, and resilience in the youth they serve.

Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work as a counselor educator, he is a licensed behavioral health provider with over a decade of experience in providing treatment and clinical supervision.

His professional accolades include being named a Presidential Teaching Scholar, a Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association. In addition to his awards, he holds a Governor’s appointment to the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy where he currently serves as Board Vice-Chair. Additionally he has the privilege to serve on the board of directors for the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health and the Minnesota Rural Health Association.

As a published author, TEDx speaker, along with being a national and international conference keynote presenter, Professor Shunkwiler is a recognized expert in behavioral healthcare.

watch time: 86 minutes

Eligible Certificate of Completion time: 90 minutes