Here is the latest edition of our newsletter with tips on kindness, behavior strategies, bully prevention, and more!
A peek inside. Read a few of the articles below, or download the PDF to see the full newsletter!
Fix It
Now, don't get me wrong—I love when students come to me with problems they want to work through. But fixing someone? That's not something I'm equipped to do. What I can do is help them understand what's going on and how they can support themselves in their process of healing.
School counselors are a great resource for students in need, but they can't fix everything.
When you're working with a student who has experienced trauma and is dealing with the effects of that trauma, it's important to remember that trauma isn't just an event that happened and then you move on from it. It's an experience that leaves its mark on your brain, body, and soul for years afterward—sometimes decades later! It's about helping students access all their resources so they can feel empowered enough to take those steps for themselves.
School Counselors can help students access resources and support, but they shouldn't be the only ones for students to rely on to help work through their problems and find solutions.
Behavioral Issues
School Counselors are uniquely positioned to see all sides of a situation—they see what's going on with students and their families. They also have a lot of experience dealing with teachers, administrators, and other school staff. They know what's happening in schools and can often offer advice for dealing with behavioral issues (see full article in pdf).
Bully Prevention
School Counselors work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to help prevent bullying and promote a safe learning environment for everyone in the school community.
But what are some of the best ways to facilitate meaningful conversations about bully prevention?
Invite parents into the conversations early so that there is already an established trust between them if things do come up. This can also help them feel more comfortable reaching out if something happens in their child's classroom.
Invite students into the conversation and give them the tools to help themselves. Empower students to stand up for themselves and others in an active, not passive, way. This means teaching students how to respond to bullying by using assertive communication skills and recognizing when a bully is targeting them (see full article in pdf).
Download the PDF to read more from this VSC Newsletter!