As I reflect on my first year as a school counseling and prepare for 2018-19, I realize that I have to do things differently. For one, I need to create a safe space for students that will help improve their educational outcomes. I need to be mindful of what I place in their environment given that they come to me when they are the most vulnerable.
Students experiencing trauma have overstimulated brains that are designed to be protective for survival. In others words, they are living in a “constant state of emergency” at all times. My goal is to create comfortable space where my warriors (i.e., students) can calmly regroup.
If this project is fully funded, students would be able to learn stress management and relaxation skills through CBT games, mindfulness mantras, and a library filled with books related to expressing emotions and alleviating fears. I have also included items to meet their sensory impairments such as an essential oil diffuser, Play-Doh, and flexible seating options in calming colors (i.e., bean bags, wobble stoles, and comfy floor seat). These seating options will be utilized during therapeutic groups and individual sessions to support them when they feel fidgety, agitated or jumpy.
About my class
As I reflect on my first year as a school counseling and prepare for 2018-19, I realize that I have to do things differently. For one, I need to create a safe space for students that will help improve their educational outcomes. I need to be mindful of what I place in their environment given that they come to me when they are the most vulnerable.
Students experiencing trauma have overstimulated brains that are designed to be protective for survival. In others words, they are living in a “constant state of emergency” at all times. My goal is to create comfortable space where my warriors (i.e., students) can calmly regroup.
If this project is fully funded, students would be able to learn stress management and relaxation skills through CBT games, mindfulness mantras, and a library filled with books related to expressing emotions and alleviating fears. I have also included items to meet their sensory impairments such as an essential oil diffuser, Play-Doh, and flexible seating options in calming colors (i.e., bean bags, wobble stoles, and comfy floor seat). These seating options will be utilized during therapeutic groups and individual sessions to support them when they feel fidgety, agitated or jumpy.
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