EXPERT
Ms. Shana Rackmill
Social Worker
Shana Rackmill is a top Psychiatric Clinician in West Hartford, CT. She had a calling to the profession since childhood and received her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Boston University in 2006 after 4 years of social work internships. Her experience working in Emergency Departments, Hospitals, Residentials, and Schools has provided the opportunity to work with diverse high-risk populations. Through-out her life she has dedicated countless hours to charitable causes and volunteer efforts at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, disability causes, suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ causes, homeless prevention, mentoring, fostering, food drives, toy drives, free diapers, Sandyhook Promise groups, and running a food pantry during the pandemic to name a few. She has also been a long time contributor to International Girl Empowerment (education, menstrual products, and sex trafficking prevention) and International Medical Aid to conflict-driven communities in crisis.
As an expert in trauma recovery, Ms. Rackmill is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life through overall wellness. She embodies the values of safety, healing, care, and commitment to rejuvenate the mind, body, spirit, and soul. With a passion for the field and an unwavering dedication to her mission of universal healing, Ms. Rackmill is an emerging leader in changing the lives of everyone she touches. She is also a co-founder of The Happiness Pyramid, which is a passion project 20 years in the making offering free therapy tools.
As an expert in trauma recovery, Ms. Rackmill is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life through overall wellness. She embodies the values of safety, healing, care, and commitment to rejuvenate the mind, body, spirit, and soul. With a passion for the field and an unwavering dedication to her mission of universal healing, Ms. Rackmill is an emerging leader in changing the lives of everyone she touches. She is also a co-founder of The Happiness Pyramid, which is a passion project 20 years in the making offering free therapy tools.
19 years
Experience
Ms. Shana Rackmill
- West Hartford, CT
- Boston University
- Accepting new patients
No results found
How much choice do you have with work assignments?
As a social worker in various settings, you basically have zero choice in work assignments within your specialty. If you work as a substance counselor, you will get anyone who READ MORE
As a social worker in various settings, you basically have zero choice in work assignments within your specialty. If you work as a substance counselor, you will get anyone who comes into the clinic, office, or hospital with substance abuse issues. If you work with children, you will get any case involving abuse or neglect of children. If you work with rape victims, you will work with anyone who has ever been a victim even if they are also a perpetrator.
Are there social workers for veterans?
The United States Veterans Administration has the largest funding mental health resources. They have many social workers who only work with veterans of all ages. Call for local READ MORE
The United States Veterans Administration has the largest funding mental health resources. They have many social workers who only work with veterans of all ages. Call for local VA mental health resources at 877-222-8387 or TTY: 800-877-8339. You can use some services even if you’re not enrolled in VA health care.
How can one spot depression in children?
Childhood symptoms of depression involve isolating, low motivation, and grades dropping. Since child and adolescent suicide is on the rise and if you have any inkling that your READ MORE
Childhood symptoms of depression involve isolating, low motivation, and grades dropping. Since child and adolescent suicide is on the rise and if you have any inkling that your child may be struggling with sadness or depression, make an appointment with a therapist as soon as possible. In the meantime, try talking to the school counselor to check in on your child; these professionals can often offer the best solutions after meeting your individual child and knowing the resources in your community.
Is a victims advocate basically a social worker?
A Victim's advocate might be a social worker. However, there is a significant difference between an advocate and a therapist. Therapy can only be conducted by a board certified READ MORE
A Victim's advocate might be a social worker. However, there is a significant difference between an advocate and a therapist. Therapy can only be conducted by a board certified licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). LCSW attend 6 years of college before 3000 hours of post-graduate clinical social work experience. Some social workers have only 2 years of college and clinical training.
Difference between school social worker and school psychologist?
Although school psychologist are more than capable of providing counseling to students, they are often utilized to conduct psychological and educational assessments to help determine READ MORE
Although school psychologist are more than capable of providing counseling to students, they are often utilized to conduct psychological and educational assessments to help determine individual student strengths and weaknesses. School Social Workers are capable of conducting some assessments, but are often more focused on counseling. If you are concerned about your child, it is best to reach out to the social worker if the psychologist is not already working with your child.
What constitutes as a severe mental illness?
There are different definitions of severe mental illness. However, in general severe mental illness can be defined a emotional distress or psychological symptoms impacting the READ MORE
There are different definitions of severe mental illness. However, in general severe mental illness can be defined a emotional distress or psychological symptoms impacting the person's ability to function, such as care for themselves regularly and maintain employment or relationships.
Is foster care bad for children's mental health?
The foster care system is broken, but it is certainly not damaging the mental health of children. A child placed into the system has already been exposed to so much trauma that READ MORE
The foster care system is broken, but it is certainly not damaging the mental health of children. A child placed into the system has already been exposed to so much trauma that they will have mental health issues if not treated. Being suddenly removed from any environment that you are used to is always traumatic. However, often children are placed in foster care because the situation at home was chronically not healthy either emotionally or physically, which can cause life-long consequences. Child Protective Agencies always try to place a child in a kinship arrangement first (meaning friends or family if available.) Although foster care is a less than perfect system and there are some bad homes, many children in foster care begin to show improvements in school after only a few months of being in a stable home. Children in foster care need additional mental health support to deal with the traumas that they experienced with their biological families. If mental health support is available, a child that remains in the same foster home long-term has similar outcomes to other children not in the foster care system.
Adopted child suffering from depression?
Many adopted children will struggle with depression because of the environments that they came from and significant losses or unhealthy attachments. It is always best to get professional READ MORE
Many adopted children will struggle with depression because of the environments that they came from and significant losses or unhealthy attachments. It is always best to get professional guidance for the specifics of each child. However, a parent should always offer to listen and validate their experience, remind them that they are loved to the point they are sick of hearing it, and help them identify personal coping skills that are effective such as hobbies that spark joy.
