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DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Emily White

Emily White, LCSW, PTG Certified, DSW Candidate

From Adversity to Achievement: Promoting Growth and Mental Health in Secondary Education Student-Athletes

Concentration -

  • Monday, April 28, 2025 -
  • 4:00 pm
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Abstract

This presentation examines the intersection of mental health, post-traumatic growth (PTG), and the psychosocial challenges experienced by student-athletes within secondary education. While student-athletes are often celebrated for their achievements, they encounter unique stressors, including performance pressures, academic demands, and interpersonal challenges, in which they are particularly vulnerable to mental health concerns. Despite significant scholarly attention on collegiate athletes, the mental health needs of secondary education student-athletes remain underexplored and underserved. Through a review of emerging literature and evidence-based frameworks, this presentation highlights the integral role of school social workers and school-based mental health clinicians in addressing the multifaceted needs of this population. Emphasis is placed on the concept of PTG, which refers to the positive psychological changes that can arise from navigating adversity. By leveraging athletic participation as a platform for resilience-building and personal development, this presentation underscores the transformative potential of sports in fostering mental health and socio-emotional growth. The session will articulate the theoretical and practical contributions of sports social work as an emerging subspecialty and present actionable strategies to support student-athlete well-being within secondary educational settings. This work seeks to advance the discourse on integrating mental health services into secondary education and expand the potential of school social work to address the unique challenges of student-athletes.

Biography

Emily White is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Doctoral Candidate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She earned her MSW from Rutgers University and a BA in Psychology from Stockton University. As the Lead Mental Health Counselor for the Caesar Rodney School District (CRSD), Emily provides clinical consultation to clinicians across 13 schools and delivers trauma-informed mental health services to students. She also owns Lotus Emotional Wellness Services, a private practice specializing in evidence-based treatment for adults and couples.
Emily’s research focuses on posttraumatic growth and mental health services for student-athletes, with her capstone project exploring strategies to support the mental health of secondary education student-athletes. She frequently presents on topics such as emotional wellness, burnout, and trauma-informed practices for educators and student-athletes.
Emily has been recognized for her work with the Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Award for CRSD (2023–2024) and received scholarships from organizations, including Hope for the Warriors, Folds of Honor, and Warrior Community Connect.
A committed volunteer, Emily serves as an advisory board member for Warrior Community Connect, where she facilitates therapeutic retreats for veterans and families. She also volunteers as a field hockey goalie coach at Fred Fifer III Middle School, fostering resilience and skill development in young athletes.
Certified in posttraumatic growth and trained in models such as EMDR, Gottman Method therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy, Emily is dedicated to improving mental health, trauma treatment, and student-athlete well-being.