stress
How To Do Mental Health Check-ins with Students
Concern for the mental health of elementary age students has been growing due to changes in our culture and the overall stress level in our society. Post-COVID, there has been a significant uptick in reported mental health concerns. The disruptions caused by the pandemic, including remote learning, social isolation, and uncertainty, have impacted the emotional…
Read MoreCreating Calm: Relaxation Strategies
It really wasn’t that many years ago when people would ask me, “What problems could elementary age children possibly have that necessitates a full time counselor in an elementary school?” Fast forward to the environment of today, and we are all too familiar with the many mental health issues that children face. As elementary school…
Read MoreSchool Counselors and “Extra Duties”
Recess Duty Lunch Duty Specials Rotation Classes Testing Coordinator It goes on and on. Everyone in a school must pull together to make it work, so teamwork counts, but what do you do when you feel that all the extra duties are creating a serious problem in meeting the goals of the actual job description…
Read MoreIs It Possible to Create a Zen Like Calm at Work?
The Secret: Taking Charge of Your Feelings Research shows that two out of every three people are unhappy at work… Are you one of them? Did you know that there are a higher number of heart attacks on Sunday evening than any other day of the week? Bet you can guess why… Whether your job…
Read MoreConnection with Kids
Connection with Kids In her book, The Good News about Bad Behavior, the author, Kathryn Lewis, identifies three steps that are taught in the Parent Encouragement Program. It will come as no surprise to counselors of all types that the first step is connection. Establishing rapport with a student is always the first necessary step…
Read More3 Ways to Cope if You Are the Only Counselor at Your School
It’s tough being the only counselor in a school. There can be lots of issues. It’s hard to take a day off (even when you are sick!), when there is no one else who understands your job. You worry about the kiddos when you aren’t there. There is no one to talk to about counselor…
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