Social and Emotional

 

It is important to understand that when life happens to us and challenging situations interrupt our daily activities, most often we react to the event the best that we can. Unfortunately the event can cause many different symptoms that include anger, sadness, stress, confusion, fear, etc. These feelings can interrupt our learning, especially if the event was traumatic or created extreme changes in our lives. The Park West Counseling team believes that it is important to understand that our reactions are not permanent. We have the ability to chose what we want to change, but we first have to heal from our pain. Therefore, our staff is committed to assisting you with resources and support at school via support groups, mentoring or individual check in's. During this time you can identify what you want to work on and then gain control on areas you want to improve in or areas you would like to explore.

 

Some counseling techniques that support growth and healing are: mindfulness, breathing relaxations techniques, stress management, grounding, yoga, visualizations, music etc. Please visit our PUSD Virtual Calming Room and speak to your counselor if you are interested in support groups, mentoring or individual counseling.

Anxiety Coping Skills

When you are at School:

• Read a book, your brain can’t think other thoughts  when you are reading
• Look around the room and name in your head all of the blue things in the classroom
• Look around the room and name in your head all of the circle shapes in the room
• Get a piece of paper and list one word per letter in the alphabet
• Talk with your teacher
• Go to the Counseling office and speak with your counselor

When you are at home:

• Take a warm shower or bath
• Listen to music
• Call a friend
• Read a book
• Count backwards from 10 and breath through your nose and out through your mouth after each number
• Repeat 3x’s “I am okay, everything is okay, I am not in danger.”
• On a piece of paper draw yourself surrounded in a safe place that comforts you (at the beach, swimming in a pool or in the ocean, in a garden, at a ranch, at a sports game,  etc…)
• Talk to a family member that will listen to you
• Splash cold water on your face and do any of the above options

Grounding Technique

• Write or name 5 things you can see
• Write or name 4 things you can hear
• Write or name 3 things you can feel
• Write or name 2 things you can smell
• Write or name 1 thing you can taste