WWC Coaching Program

4th Grade Rock Garden, Lyons CSD, 2022

Our Mental Health Coaching Program is designed to support and strengthen school-based mental health professionals at every stage of their careers. Through personalized coaching, skill-building, and professional development we help providers navigate challenges, enhance their effectiveness, and grow in confidence. This program focuses on reducing burnout, increasing self-efficacy, and ensuring that mental health professionals have the tools and support they need to make a lasting impact in the field.

everyone deserves a coach!

Through our WWC Coaching Program, school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, and school-based LMHCs are paired with a veteran clinician who has had experience in their field. During monthly coaching sessions, clinicians are guided through supportive conversations, helping them achieve their own created goals for the school year. Coaching is different from mentoring and supervision in that the coachee truly leads the discussion. Additionally, our coaches attend monthly professional development through a community of practice.

Our coaching model provides a trusted relationship for school-based mental health professionals to build capacity and achieve professional growth through:

Skill Development – Continuous learning enhances clinical skills, intervention strategies, and school-based practices.

Burnout Prevention – Personalized guidance helps manage stress, workload, and emotional demands of the role.

Increased Confidence – Regular coaching boosts self-efficacy, decision-making, and professional resilience.

Stronger Impact – With the right support, professionals can provide more effective care for students and school communities.

Career Growth – Coaching opens doors for leadership opportunities, specialization, and long-term success in the field.

Meet the wWC Coaches

Aaron Backhaus, School Counselor. MHC-LP

Geneva CSD

Hennessey Lustica, PhD, LMHC

Seneca Falls CSD

Esin Lewey, LMHC

Family Counseling of the Finger Lakes

Margi Taber, CASAC

Peaceful Schools

Meg McGee, M.A., BCBA, LBA

University of Rochester

Sandra Ordan, Senior MTSS Coordinator

Peaceful Schools

Stephanie Betts, LMSW

Seneca Falls CSD

Steve Humbert, School Psychologist

Retired from Sodus CSD

Tane Robinson, School Counselor & Dean of Students

Palmyra Macedon CSD

Kim Stewart, School Psychologist

Palmyra Macedon CSD

Julie Bianchi, LMSW

WFL BOCES

Amber Denman, LMSW

Sourth Seneca CSD

Coachee Feedback

  • Megan helped me renew my passion for this profession. My focus was to improve FBAs and BIPs- my own and to share with colleagues. Megan is extremely knowledgeable, a wealth of resources, and very easy for me to talk with.

    Coachee 2024

  • Working with Stephanie was amazing. It gave me more confidence introduced me to new ideas and concepts and overall allowed me to be self reflective with positive, honest feedback and insight.

    Coachee 2024

  • Esin was a great support in terms of listening and processing some things as I was new to the district and new to a public-school setting. She is very empathetic and positive. Esin modeled strong therapeutic skills and went out of her way to provide resources that might be helpful.

    Coachee 2024

  • Julie was a wonderful supportive person who I enjoyed speaking with and spending time with. It was nice to get to know her and to talk about the challenges we face.

    Coachee 2024

  • Sandra was an amazing coach for me. She helped me reflect on previous accomplishments and challenges to help me recognize and appreciate how I handled or achieved them, she encouraged me to push for the changes I knew were best with various aspects of my work in my district, she validated my emotions with more frustrating situations and helped me push through them to problem-solve them, and she provided me with endless support with bigger projects I pushed for. Sandra was a great active listener and helped me to dig deep with some of the more complex situations I encountered and encouraged me to trust my gut instincts and not doubt myself.

    Coachee 2024

  • Margi was very supportive this year as I navigated being a first time Intern supervisor as well as my transition into making a difficult decision. I was struggling with the demands of having to do two positions within the district and I needed to make a decision, which in turn not only impacted my role, but my team and my intern. Margi was very supportive during this process and transition.

    Coachee 2024