PENNSYLVANIA | UNDER 5,000 STUDENTS | GAGGLE THERAPY
In today’s schools, addressing student mental health may be more challenging than ever, with increasing needs and limited access to timely support.
Warrior Run School District, like many others, faced a significant challenge: how to provide appropriate and timely mental health support to students in need.
Through their partnership with Gaggle Therapy, the district has found a solution that is saving lives and transforming the way students and parents approach mental health.
For years, Warrior Run School District struggled with long wait times for getting their students therapy. “I had children and families who really needed therapy,” recalls Rebecca Perruquet, the district’s Community School Coordinator. “But most couldn’t get an appointment for six weeks to six months. It was so frustrating.” This left many students without the crucial help they needed during times of crisis.
One student was particularly in need. Overwhelmed by stress and challenges in school, she had reached a breaking point, telling her mother and school officials that she “would rather be dead” than continue facing her daily struggles.
This alarming cry for help reflected not just her personal crisis but also the pressing need for immediate intervention. The student’s mother was initially concerned about how therapy would affect her daughter at school. “She didn’t want kids to know she was going to therapy,” the mother explained. “The idea of leaving class for therapy made her anxious. Kids can be mean.”
Gaggle Therapy offered a lifeline to the student and her family. Unlike traditional therapy, which often required lengthy waits and inconvenient in-person visits, Gaggle’s remote therapy could be accessed within days and from the privacy of the student’s home. Perruquet emphasizes the speed and accessibility that set Gaggle apart:
“Within days, students are connected to a therapist. That speed is everything.”
The virtual nature of Gaggle Therapy also eased the family’s concerns about stigma. The student could engage in therapy without having to explain absences or leave class. “The flexibility was huge for us,” the mother shared. “We scheduled sessions after school, so she didn’t have to worry about what others thought. It was just another appointment on our calendar.”
Since starting Gaggle Therapy, the student has experienced a significant reduction of anxiety. “At first, she was so focused on what others thought,” her mother explained. “But through therapy, she learned to focus on herself and use the tools she was given to manage anxiety.” The skills she learned in therapy not only helped her at school but also in her personal life. “It wasn’t just about school anymore—it was about life. She learned how to handle stressful situations no matter where she was.”
For Perruquet and the district, the impact of Gaggle Therapy goes beyond the many individual success stories. It has fundamentally changed how the district approaches mental health. “We can now say that when a student needs help, they get it quickly. And I’m not sure that’s true everywhere,” Perruquet shared. The ability to provide rapid, accessible mental health support has reduced stigma and opened up a broader conversation about the importance of mental health in their schools.
The transformation is evident not only in students but also in the school community as a whole. Perruquet notes that teachers, too, have embraced Gaggle’s services. “I even have staff members using it. There’s been a huge reduction in stigma. People are more comfortable talking about mental health now.”
Gaggle Therapy Is An Essential Partner In Student Well-being
For parents, Gaggle Therapy has been a source of immense relief. The student’s mother shared how the virtual option made all the difference:
“If we had to drive to in-person appointments, I don't think we could have stuck with it. The convenience of doing it from home meant my daughter could stay consistent with her sessions.”
This consistency allowed the student to make meaningful progress. “It took some time before we really saw a change, but once we did, it was lifechanging,” her mother recalled. “She started to focus more on her own needs instead of getting caught up in the behavior of other kids.” The ripple effects of this change were felt throughout the family. “It’s brought relief to all of us,” the mother said. “There’s peace of mind knowing someone else is checking in on her, and she’s learning how to manage her emotions better.”
The impact of Gaggle Therapy at Warrior Run School District reaches across the entire school community, becoming an essential part of the district’s support system. Perruquet emphasizes that the ability to provide timely and effective mental health services is now an integral component of the district’s approach to student well-being.
For schools looking to prioritize mental health, Gaggle Therapy represents a solution that provides immediate, accessible, and meaningful support. The success seen at Warrior Run highlights the life-changing potential of making mental health care a priority in education.
For districts like Warrior Run, Gaggle Therapy has become an indispensable part of their mental health strategy. The ability to provide timely, flexible, and confidential therapy has not only improved individual lives but also reshaped the school’s approach to mental health. Perruquet’s message to other school leaders is simple: “Don’t hesitate. This has made a world of difference for our students.”
In a world where mental health challenges continue to rise, Gaggle Therapy offers schools across the country a proactive and effective way to support their students. It is more than a service—it is a critical partner in saving lives and ensuring that students receive the care they need when they need it most.