When a child comes into to see the Counselor it is incredibly important that I have created an environment that is comfortable, relaxed, and non-threatening. An environment that allows the children to feel safe and comfortable physically will allow them and myself to tap into their emotions more easily. When a child enters the Counseling room they will innately use their senses to determine safety. I feel I need to provide a space that visually appears comfortable with cozy furniture, comfortable rugs, intriguing sensory toys, dim lighting, stimulate their sense of smell using the essential oils in the diffuser to soothe, and provide soft calming sounds. These environmental factors will help me in de-escalating a child who is in a state of arousal into a mental space where we can work together. Sometimes, our children need a space to burn off some physical steam. Medicine balls, light weights, or Yoga cards can easily provide a physical outlet for children who need it.
Our student population is predominately classified as disadvantaged, unfortunately, within this classification we tend to see a large portion of our students having experienced or currently experiencing some form of trauma. Our community relies heavily on access to our School Counseling program. It is my responsibility to ensure I provide the tools and strategies that will benefit our students the most. Allowing the students and parents to learn about the various techniques, strategies, and tools that can be used to teach self-control, emotional regulation, and create a space of safety is an important component to ensuring the skills become transferable and do not stop when a child leaves our school.
About my class
When a child comes into to see the Counselor it is incredibly important that I have created an environment that is comfortable, relaxed, and non-threatening. An environment that allows the children to feel safe and comfortable physically will allow them and myself to tap into their emotions more easily. When a child enters the Counseling room they will innately use their senses to determine safety. I feel I need to provide a space that visually appears comfortable with cozy furniture, comfortable rugs, intriguing sensory toys, dim lighting, stimulate their sense of smell using the essential oils in the diffuser to soothe, and provide soft calming sounds. These environmental factors will help me in de-escalating a child who is in a state of arousal into a mental space where we can work together. Sometimes, our children need a space to burn off some physical steam. Medicine balls, light weights, or Yoga cards can easily provide a physical outlet for children who need it.
Our student population is predominately classified as disadvantaged, unfortunately, within this classification we tend to see a large portion of our students having experienced or currently experiencing some form of trauma. Our community relies heavily on access to our School Counseling program. It is my responsibility to ensure I provide the tools and strategies that will benefit our students the most. Allowing the students and parents to learn about the various techniques, strategies, and tools that can be used to teach self-control, emotional regulation, and create a space of safety is an important component to ensuring the skills become transferable and do not stop when a child leaves our school.
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