Ms. Shana Rackmill, LCSW

Adolescent Specialist | Adolescent Medicine

45 South Main St. 106 West Hartford CT, 06107 Show map

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About

Shana Rackmill is a top Psychiatric Clinician in West Hartford, CT. She had a calling to the profession since childhood and received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Family Studies, with a concentration in adolescent counseling. Ms. Rackmill completed her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Boston University in 2006 before further education in the areas of Special Education and Social Emotional Learning in schools. With experience in Emergency Departments, Psychiatric Hospitals, adolescent residential settings, and schools, she has had the opportunity to work with diverse disadvantaged populations experiencing complex trauma. Throughout her life, she has dedicated countless hours to charitable causes and volunteer efforts such as suicide prevention and LGBTQ+ rights. She has also been a mentor, a foster parent, and trained many young professionals. As a long time contributor to international girl empowerment and international medical aid organizations, she has supported conflict-driven communities in crisis and fought against human trafficking.

As an expert in trauma recovery and adolescent mental health, Ms. Rackmill currently enhances patient quality of life through overall wellness and emotional safety. Following her personal mission to raise the vibration of humanity, she has trained in multiple holistic and integrative healing modalities. She supports 'The Happiness Pyramid,' which provides free therapy resources and free tools for schools and therapists. After years of being a national trainer in Crisis Prevention for mental health agencies, Ms. Rackmill joined forces with a nationally recognized school district in Connecticut to help address the growing Adolescent Mental Health Crisis during the pandemic. This opportunity helped her to establish professional development for educators around creating trauma-informed schools for universities and school districts.

Ms. Rackmill embodies the values of recovery, healing, and commitment to rejuvenate the mind, body, spirit, and soul. With a passion for the field and an unwavering dedication to her mission, Ms. Rackmill is an emerging leader in changing the lives of everyone she touches. Shana Rackmill is a true asset to the fields of psychiatry, social work, and mental health while being a prime example of a true leader in health care. She has been honored with the distinction of Top Women in Medicine in 2023.

Education and Training

University of Connecticut BA 2004

Boston University MSW 2006

Board Certification

American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine

Board of Registration of Social Workers

Massachusetts Board of Social Work

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Ms. Shana Rackmill, LCSW

Ms. Shana Rackmill, LCSW's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How can I help my grandmother with her depression?
People over the age of 60 years are the fasting growing segment in the population all over the world. Depression is an ongoing problem for seniors. Moving in with family is often one of the most effective tools, providing the household is a healthy environment. However, encouraging the person to make new and old connections is most important. In a 80+ year study, by Harvard, researchers discovered that community and Social connections are the key to happiness. Isolation and loneliness are often the keys to unhappiness. Throughout history, most of humanity lived in villages, tribes, or communities. No one lived alone. Becoming connected to the community will help seniors feel a sense of belonging. Encourage loved ones to contact old friends and to participate in hobbies that they like or are willing to try, such as a card game or book club. READ MORE
How can I help my child cope with my divorce?
The first thing that divorcing parents need to do is not speak poorly of the other parent in front of the child no matter what your ex does. Depending on the developmental stage and personality of the child different methods will make the child feel supported, while other methods may be more traumatic. If therapy is not an option, 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. READ MORE
How do I control my life after divorce?
Controlling your life before, during, or after divorce requires effort, commitment, and patience. Every person needs something different depending on their specific situation and past. One basic tool that tends to benefit most people is to get grounded and connected to the present moment through mindfulness, nature, and following your circadian rhythm. TheHappiness Pyramid.org has many free resources and tools to help get connected to others and re-aligned to yourself. READ MORE
Is drug addiction permanent?
Drug addiction is certainly not permanent, however having addictive tendencies is a life-long personality trait. Many people recover from substance abuse with ongoing commitment, even after decades of abuse. However, recovering from addiction takes many tries and 85% of people will have a relapse after treatment. It is not uncommon for people to have about 7 relapses before entering a stable period of sobriety. After safe detox, it is essential to attend a 30-90 day Rehabilitation program. Many people benefit from sober living for a period after Rehab. Expect to have relapses around stress, depression, anxiety, boredham, and substance triggers (people, places, and things that you did substances with in the past). Every time you take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, you are still one step ahead, so keep trying and you will eventually get there! READ MORE
What causes adolescent aggression?
There is no single answer to adolescent aggression or treatment for aggression. The key is to communicate with your child in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental manner to find out what is occurring in their mind. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, or even being abused by someone in the community. When your child becomes aggressive, try to ask what they need instead of scolding them. Once they feel that you do not understand, they are much less likely to open up and tell you the truth. Try to help your child co-regulate and continue to keep open communication. If your child is not willing to talk to you, bring them to a trained professional, such as a therapist or ask the school counselor to check in on them. READ MORE
Are conversations between student and social worker confidential?
Due to laws, ethics, and best practice conversations between a student and licensed clinical social worker are confidential unless the child is at risk to themself or others. This helps students feel safe to open up to someone, since many children have no other resource to confide in. However, the counselor should be encouraging the student to go home and communicate with the parent if possible. Unfortunately, school counselors are often very overworked and underpaid and simply do not have time to communicate with every parent or they would not have time to see every student in need. -Written by a licensed clinical social worker in CT and MA who also holds school social worker licenses in both CT and MA. READ MORE
My son won't speak to me after his father died. What should I do?
If your child stops speaking for any reason, first bring them to a doctor to rule out a medical cause and then bring them to a therapist. Depending on the developmental stage and personality of the child different methods will make the child feel supported, while other methods may be more traumatic. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, a significant loss, or even being abused by someone in the community. If therapy is not an option, 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. READ MORE
How can I help a late talker?
If your toddler is not talking yet, do not panic. There are multiple reasons that a child may start communicating later than other children. After ruling out medical reasons, make sure that your child is exposed to lots of language. Use positive reinforcement by saying “That was great that you used your words to communicate.” Since toddlers are still learning and testing new strategies, do not meet their efforts with negatively or they will stop trying. Praise any effort that they make, even if you do not think it was good enough. This will help them build confidence and want to try speaking more. Encourage them to ask for things with words, but if they are not able to use words yet, allow them to communicate their needs in any manner that they are able. READ MORE
Is late talking genetic?
If you are worried about your child, it is always best to get advice from a professional that can see your child in person. However, if your toddler is not talking yet, do not panic. There are multiple reasons that a child may start communicating later than other children. After ruling out medical reasons, make sure that your child is exposed to lots of language. Use positive reinforcement by saying “That was great that you used your words to communicate.” Since toddlers are still learning and testing new strategies, do not meet their efforts with negatively or they will stop trying. Praise any effort that they make, even if you do not think it was good enough. This will help them build confidence and want to try speaking more. Encourage them to ask for things with words, but if they are not able to use words yet, allow them to communicate their needs in any manner that they are able. READ MORE
Can a child's angry behavior be fixed?
There are multiple factors and causes of childhood anger. The key is to communicate with your child in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental manner to find out what is going on with them. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, or even being abused by someone in the community. When your child becomes angry or aggressive, try to ask what they need instead of scolding them. Once they feel that you do not understand, they are much less likely to open up and tell you the truth. Try to help your child co-regulate and continue to keep open communication. If your child is not willing to talk to you, bring them to a trained professional, such as a therapist or ask the school counselor to check in on them. READ MORE
Can anxiety in a child be fixed?
Childhood anxiety is a growing problem, but it is also very curable. Each child has different reasons for developing anxiety and it is manifested in different ways for each person. Try asking your child if they know what is causing the anxiety and be aware that they may not know why it is occurring. Most often bringing your child to a therapist is the most beneficial. It is also useful to help your child identify triggers and warning signs. Help teach your child self-soothing and calming techniques such as relaxation skills and grounding techniques if they are having panic attacks. READ MORE
What can cause a child to be aggressive?
There is no single answer to adolescent aggression or treatment for aggression. The key is to communicate with your child in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental manner to find out what is occurring in their mind. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, or even being abused by someone in the community. When your child becomes aggressive, try to ask what they need instead of scolding them. Once they feel that you do not understand, they are much less likely to open up and tell you the truth. Try to help your child co-regulate and continue to keep open communication. If your child is not willing to talk to you, bring them to a trained professional, such as a therapist or ask the school counselor to check in on them. READ MORE
Can a social worker help improve my son's behavior?
If a child is getting into fights at school, he should be referred to the social worker either by administration or the parent. Since staff are overworked, they do not always have the opportunity to communicate each situation to the social worker. As a parent, take control of the situation and refer him to both the school social worker and an outside therapist. A child who does not learn after one instance of suspension is at risk for many social, emotional, and legal issues throughout their life. There is no single treatment for aggression. The key is to communicate with your child in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental manner to find out what is occurring in their mind. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, coping with a loss, or even being abused by someone in the community. When your child becomes aggressive, try to ask what they need instead of scolding them. Once they feel that you do not understand, they are much less likely to open up and tell you the truth. READ MORE
Is foster care bad for child's mental health?
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 the option is 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. READ MORE
When is it appropriate to speak to my school's social worker?
Despite school staff being overworked and underpaid, they want to help your child! School administration does not need to communicate cases of bullying if they are investigating the situation. Due to time constraints, they often do not have the opportunity to follow up with the social worker on each case. However, if your child continues to struggle in school, reach out to the social worker and provide a quick summary of how she/he can help. READ MORE
Where can I start getting custody back of my daughter?
It is great that you recognize the challenges and are receiving help. A child living in an environment where substances were being abused can cause life long damage; therefore a parent should be clean for at least one full year before considering the possibly of disrupting the child’s life again. To start to regain custody of your children, speak to the current guardian and ask what they want to see before allowing unsupervised visits. If a child is to return to a parent after a period of removal it should be a slow transition so that the child feels safe and supported by both sides. Transitions that are not thoughtful, slow, and planned out tend to cause additional trauma to the child. If there is a chance of relapse, the child should not return to the parent’s custody until the parent has a longer period of sobriety. Children do best when they know that their parents love them, they do not necessarily need to live with the parent for best outcomes. READ MORE
Should I involve my son's school social worker in his mental health?
Despite school staff being overworked and underpaid, they want to help your child! If your child is struggling with mental health, the school will keep it confidential and they want to offer supports. Your child may be struggling in school, being bullied, coping with depression, coping with a significant loss, or even being abused by someone in the community. School administration does not always communicate cases of bullying to counselors if they are investigating the situation. Due to time constraints, they often do not have the opportunity to follow up with the social worker on each case. However, 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. READ MORE
What is a typical work day for a social worker?
The typical work day for a social worker is atypical. Depending on your employer and speciality, you will likely be in the community about half the day, eat lunch in your car, and never able to follow your expected plans for the day. You will likely deal with at least one emergency each day, but you will also be trained to deal with these situations. When starting your rewarding career, make sure to get plenty of supervision and take care of yourself first or you cannot help anyone else if you fall apart! READ MORE
Will I get my daughter's child if she goes to jail?
Guardianship and physical custody depend on the length of stay and if the state gets involved. If no one takes legal custody and your daughter does not sign custody over to someone, the state will take custody and then determine who is the best legal and physical guardian of the child. Child Protective Services always prefer a child to remain with a family member or someone they know if it is a safe option. READ MORE
After my divorce, my daughter won't speak to me. What should I do?
During and after divorce, it is best for parents to sit down with their child and explain that Mommy and Daddy are going to live separately due to grown up issues. It is important for children to know that both parents still love the child and that the divorce is not the result of the child or the child’s behavior. Despite the child’s age, many children find ways to blame themselves for their parents' separation, resulting in poor self esteem, depression, or anger. The number one rule for divorced parents is to not speak poorly of your ex in front of your child. Supporting the child will vary depending on the developmental stage and personality of the child. However, if your child is acting differently or not communicating, it is best to bring them to a counselor. If therapy is not an option, try talking to the school social worker 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. READ MORE