📖 Episodic Synopsis In this episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education , Dr. Joey Weisler speaks with Dr. Alexander Fields—Assistant Professor of counselor education at Florida Atlantic University, licensed professional counselor, and nationally certified counselor. Together, they explore Dr. Fields' groundbreaking work in suicide prevention among young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), his BEAM curriculum (Bias Exploration and Awareness in Mental health diagnosis), and why systemic change is urgently needed in both education and mental health care. Listeners will hear practical strategies for trauma-informed classrooms, stories that reveal the hidden signs students use when they can’t verbalize distress, and insights on how to challenge professional and personal bias in order to provide truly person-centered care. Whether you are a teacher, counselor-in-training, or community advocate, this conversation offers hope, actionable tools, and the reminder that care begins when we choose not to look away. 📝 Show Notes About Dr. Alex Fields – Assistant professor at FAU whose research focuses on integrated behavioral health, disability justice, counselor preparation, and systems-level reform. Elevated Suicide Risk in IDD Populations – A landmark study co-authored by Dr. Fields uncovers the heightened risks faced by young adults with IDDs, challenging misdiagnosis, systemic silence, and exclusion. The BEAM Curriculum – Bias Exploration and Awareness in Mental health diagnosis helps counselors recognize their blind spots, challenge assumptions, and ground clinical reasoning in cultural humility. Practical Strategies for Educators – From daily “temperature checks” to reframing behavioral concerns as possible cries for help, Dr. Fields offers trauma-informed tools educators can use immediately in classrooms. Community and Connection – Why no educator or counselor should “work on an island,” and how collaboration, consultation, and empathy-building activities can transform school culture. COVID’s Lingering Impact – Understanding how disrupted early schooling continues to affect today’s learners, especially students with disabilities. Language That Heals – How simplifying clinical language, validating students’ lived experiences, and asking direct but compassionate questions can save lives. Key Takeaway – “It’s okay not to know something, but it’s not okay not to care.” Education and compassion are lifelong commitments that bridge the gap between systems and humanity. Resource Links Feature: Advancing Integrated Mental Health Research Florida Atlantic University – First-Year Faculty Story on Dr. Alex Fields https://www.fau.edu/education/newsevents/documents/alex-fields-web-story-5.23.25.pdf Dr. Alexander Fields — LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-fields-5b286bb9/ Article: Suicide Risk Elevated Among Young Adults with Disabilities FAU News Desk – Research on Suicidality in IDD Populations https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/suicide-risk-young-adults-disabilities
