Month: November 2019

We have often heard the phrase ‘talk it out’; this urges people to share their feelings. Communication is very important for human beings, this is how we function. Dr. Bourg Carter is among many psychologists who assert the “importance of effective face-to-face communication for relationships and interpersonal fulfillment.” He wrote, “It’s long been suggested that communication depends on the on “skill sets” or “talk habits” in one’s conversational repertoire.”

Whenever we see someone who seems upset or stressed, this is the first thing we say to them. This phrase has a lot of weight to it and several kinds of research back it up as well. After extensive research psychologists established a therapy called talk therapy. It is said to be the most effective way of combatting depression and stress. Talking to another person about your feelings allows you to express yourself and give the other person insight into your mental state. According to Lori Hilt, Ph.D., “Depression is a change of normal functioning. It’s important that it’s a change in typical behavior.”

Most people, be it teenagers or adults are depressed because they aren’t satisfied with the quality of their life. They expect too much and when people or life doesn’t reach up to their expectations, they get depressed. Eventually, they develop anxiety. According to therapist Nancy B. Irwin, PsyD, “Depression and anxiety are like flip sides of the same coin. Being depressed often makes us anxious, and anxiety often makes us depressed.” It is a part of our lives; some people find happiness in the smallest things of life while others don’t. The good news is that it is completely normal and can be treated. Most people often confuse depression with sadness; however, the two are completely different. You constantly feel blue and empty when you are depressed and this hollow feeling is often paired with extreme feelings.

Usually people think it’s a phase and it passes sooner or later, however, it is a mental illness and needs to be treated accordingly. One of the most authentic and tested ways of overcoming stress and depression is through therapy. Depression is usually common among teenagers who are going through a lot, especially with the school and pressure to be good at everything. As part of school club members, you can organize regular talk sessions. This encourages students to be more open about their feelings. 

If you are a club member or a leader, you can arrange successful talk sessions as part of your club meetings:

• Introductory Meeting

Before you actually begin with your regular club meetings, arrange a small introductory meeting in which you explain the format of this group to all participants. Allow your members to participate in this discussion and give suggestions. Introduce them to the idea of having talk sessions and how it can help in overcoming depression. Select leads for different tasks and asks them to give you a monthly report on the status of your club as well as the members. 

• Anonymous Box

Set up a box that is open for suggestions, confessions, and topics that need to be addressed. Start your session with these tips and build the topic of your discussion accordingly. 

• Bring In Experts And Motivators

Every now and then, introduce guest speakers who are experts in their relevant fields along with those who overcame depression. This develops a connection between the participants and the speakers. The members can relate to the talks and realize they aren’t in this alone. Once the members start trusting each other, they open up and talk about their respective issues as well. 

• Pick A New Speaker From The Group

After your guest speakers have given their speeches, pick a member at random and ask them to share their stories. Talking is important to combat depression. The more you stay quit, the more dangerous it becomes. 

• Incorporate Fun Activities

Talking about the bad stuff in life can be a little depressing, so change the mood of the session every now and then. Ask your members to sing happy songs or talk about their most valuable things in life. It is important to lighten the mood of the sessions. 

• Have Backup Ideas

Never go into a meeting unprepared, always have two to three topics in mind. In case a topic gets a little out of hand or goes into the wrong direction bring it back on track. Another thing you need to be careful of is keeping violence out of these discussions. Because people with depression have different phases and you can never be certain of what they might end up doing. 

• Hand-outs

Distribute handouts to the members and ask them to summarise their progress. This will give everyone an idea of where they stand. 

As a group leader, you must be observant of what is going around you. Keep your eyes and ears open. If you think someone is in a bad place or needs medical help then contact their guardians and school administration immediately. 

 

If you’re planning to create a club of your own while you’re in high school, you’ll have to decide on something distinct and different from the other existing clubs. This will either be a chapter of a club or organization that originated from another school, or it can be something that entirely came from your idea, and that is unique from your high school and the rest of the other schools.

 

Whatever it is that you decide, keep in mind that the club you will create is something that you are truly passionate about, and of course, something that will evoke passion in others as well. Ideally, the club you start will be associated with the other activities on your portfolio so that it’ll look even more specific and original rather than just a quick stunt.

 

Starting A Club

 

To begin your journey of starting a club, you first will have to know your way into the process of registering a new club. This means formally introducing your club to the administration and accomplishing the school requirements. Learning the school’s rules and regulations early would be a wise move.

After you’ve completed the first step, you then try to invite people to be your members. An official club must consist of members that are outside of your circle. You can begin by bringing in ten every meeting. This will eventually grow to become 40 or 50. The sessions should be consistent, as that is what your gauge will be initially for those who are committed to the club. Once you’ve established friendship, trust, and camaraderie, you can plan on the activities you can do for the school and the community.

 

Finally, you must ensure that your club is official by choosing a teacher to become your adviser. He or she should be approachable, open-minded, and one who represents the goals and aspirations of the club. Ultimately, he or she should be someone who can make an impact on the club and yourself even after you’ve finished school.

 

Great Community Clubs You Can Try Creating

 

• Soup Kitchen Club. You can do volunteer work for your club and its members by trying the accessible soup kitchen. If you don’t have enough funds, you can ask for donations from the community and other organizations that are advocating for volunteerism as well. You can start small by doing the soup kitchens in shelters or orphanages first.

• Operation Smile. This is a well-known organization that helps underprivileged children get free surgeries of their cleft lips. You can create a subgroup of Operation Smile in your school and with the help of your members, organize fundraisers like mini-concerts or shows and donate the proceeds to Smile. Nowadays, people are so hooked into marathons and triathlons so that you can focus your fundraiser there too.

 

• Key Club Subgroup. Key Club International is the most significant and oldest service organization created for high school students. If there is no chapter for this in your school, this would be a great opportunity for you to be the chapter head of this prominent club. Its universal goal is to inspire the high school youth to lead by practicing different kinds of services for others.

 

Conclusion

These are only a few suggested clubs that you can create if you are set on leading a club that would encourage yourself and others to join the community in helping others while doing something that you love.

 

 

Being a school counselor isn’t easy. This job urges you to tackle students that are difficult and can cause trouble, although it is a common belief that the student counselors aren’t well educated and they are there for scheduling classes and resolving disciplinary issues. However, the fact is, they are certified therapeutics who are trained to tackle tricky situations and troubled individuals.

“The reality is, school counselors and psychologists are saving thousands of troubled kids every day,” said Shane Jimerson, a professor in the Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology Department at UC Santa Barbara who specializes in school crisis and trauma. “But the demand is increasing exponentially and it’s harder and harder to keep up.”

If I were having problems during my high school, I would have looked for a therapist near me instantly to resolved the issue like a grown-up. But that’s just me; kids find it difficult to admit that they need help. They are often scared of being labeled and judged by their peers or family in some cases. Students come from different backgrounds; some are homeless while others are battling depression and anxiety disorders. “I see two major issues,” says Rob Benner, a Bridgeport, Conn., school psychologist with nearly 30 years’ experience. “One is testing anxiety, and the other is anxiety over social media.” It is essential that you understand their situation by establishing a bond.

Being a student counselor it is crucial that you understand the sensitivity of this matter. Troubled students aren’t being difficult because they enjoy it; there are a number of factors adding to their behaviors. You need to be sympathetic towards them and listen to them keenly in order to understand their situation better. “If you’re trying to figure out if a teen is depressed, the thing to look for is a change of behavior or mood,” says Lori Hilt, Ph.D. Don’t speculate on the basis of you have heard or what’s obvious. A student might look fine but you can never be certain of their feelings unless they start talking.  

If you are a student counselor and you find it difficult to manage troubled students or you don’t know where to start then read the following list. The following are a few tips that can help you handle the most difficult students in the most subtle way.

• The Academic Support

Students often misbehave in class and do things that don’t really make sense to you. Their grades start falling immensely and their behavior changes. They are sometimes embarrassed to admit that they need help, especially with academics. They would rather act out and fail than ask someone for help. If you find a troubled case it is important that you check their academic records and find out their strengths and weaknesses. Place them in courses that you think will bring the best out of them. Sit with them to discuss future possibilities, hinting about Ivy League school placements can also motivate them.

• Parent Student Combined Counselling

To find out the root cause of the student’s behavior, it is suggested that you carry out a combined session for both the parents and children. This will give you an idea about the kind of relationship they have with their parents. A small meeting with the parents and students will help you identify if there is something wrong with the family structure.

• The Cause

Identifying the cause of their behavior is essential for counseling. You cannot counsel someone about opening up whereas they are depressed. Some students may seem shy but in reality, they might be depressed. If you feel that the student might hurt themself then you must immediately inform the guardians and school authorities.

• One on One Counselling

It is essential that you schedule individual sessions with the students to understand them better. Ask about their routines, their likes and dislikes to establish a common ground. Get them to register for programs that you think might be helpful. While it is impossible to make friends for your students, you can always suggest them to sit with specific students. Visit them during their classes and ask teachers about their progress. You should be able to understand if the student is going through something internally or is it just a phase. In either case, it is your duty to guide them and encourage them to be better. 

If you are doing your job with complete honesty and enthusiasm, you will see clear results. Your counseling will help improve the behavior of the student.  

It is a known fact that high school can be stressful. And if you’re getting ready for college, the demands are two times more than what you expect. For one, you’ll need to complete challenging courses and examinations. It will seem like you won’t have any time for outside activities, although it is important to commit to something healthy and fun aside from school. An easier way to achieve this is to join a sports club while you’re still in high school. This way, you can continue with it even though you’ve progressed to college.

High school clubs can prove very significant for your college life. If you accept responsibility and accomplish success, your extracurricular activities will help you get into college and even help you pay for it.

Here are some essential tips for choosing the right school clubs for you.

1. Always Choose Quality. Don’t join every sports club registered in school. Choose one or two that you find enjoyable and something that will improve your focus and commitment. If you join many clubs, you won’t get to enjoy what you love, and you will instead feel overwhelmed and eventually lose interest in continuing. Just commit to something that mostly heightens your interest and at the same time, gives you space to do other things as well.

2. Know Your Choices. There is a wide variety of extracurriculars and organizations available in high school. There’s the political organizations, math or science clubs, sports teams, or arts and theater clubs. You will typically be introduced to these organizations at the start of the school year. You can listen to the meetings to see which one you like. Then you can narrow down your list to your top choices.

3. Seek Professional Experience. Getting an internship or part-time job while you’re in high school can be hard sometimes, although there are easy alternatives. But if you plan to get into Medicine, for example, you can apply to be an assistant to a medical doctor during your free time. If you love experimenting, you can join the science club and hone your skills by being an intern in a Robotics course. If you love dancing, on the other hand, try the dance club and see the dance shows sponsored in your school or community. Spend time to cultivate your interests and learn to improve them for your future.

 

4. Learn To Give Back. Some clubs are known for allowing their members to give back or pay it forward. They would often provide options to do community service or perhaps offer to help you connect with families who are in need so you can provide them with whatever you can share. This way, you learn in high school what the realities are for some who are underprivileged, and you are encouraged to give your time, or you are some of your blessings to those who need them.

 

5. Establish Good Relationships With Teachers. Every club or organization has a corresponding adviser, who is usually one of the high school teachers. Having strong, healthy ties with teachers and other staff may also help you get a recommendation to a college that you always love to study in. Stay connected with them through your school club social media, and it may open doors in the future.

 

If for some reason, you aren’t able to find the niche that you want in the existing clubs in school, you might as well start one! Perhaps you have a unique hobby that you don’t see in the clubs registered in school – Crossfit training or cooking, for instance – then create a club of your own and register it in your school. It may take time, but after the registration and when you have found your members, things will go smoothly, and your leadership journey will soon prosper. Do what you love doing and develop awesome skills while you’re at it.

 

 

 

When you have had a leadership role in high school, it can make a whole lot of difference when you apply for college. Student leaders are described as promoters of school events, great problem solvers, and resourceful individuals who demonstrate positive attributes. They are, therefore, role models for their fellow and future generations.

Dr. Roxane Gervais, Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology, says, “One of the key components of leadership is awareness of the self and others; one way to illustrate this awareness is in the way one holds meetings. Meetings should be productive and for a specific purpose. Be aware of which members wish to speak and allow them to do so.”

Hard work, achievements, and acknowledgment are important elements that make a confident and optimistic self-image. When students accept positions of great responsibility in the school and community, they will feel proud of themselves. This goes to show that doing good for others is an effective means of encouraging students to become leaders.

Leadership roles not only help students in high school and college but also in their professional lives. A study done at California University, Santa Barbara, revealed that those with leadership responsibilities in high school had a higher likelihood of holding managerial and executive positions when they become professionals and will be earning more than average incomes.

Some areas of leadership that students will benefit from include:

• Athletics
• Academics (debate club, etc.)
• Peer tutoring groups
• Theater and Arts
• Political student parties
• Literature and publications

 

Becoming A Leader

Below is a collection of the most common tips that have helped many students accomplish leadership roles in high school.

1. Gain Skills And Experience. You must already know that before you become head of the school paper, you have to be a reporter or a writer first. Maybe start in your sophomore year, so you’ll have a lot of space to grow and excel. Consistently doing great work in your position will get you to the leadership role in your senior or even your junior year.  

2. Learn To Work Harmoniously With Others. Executives have robust interpersonal skills, and listening to others and asking questions is among the attitudes that make exceptional interpersonal abilities. If you’re the type who does all the talking and does not know how to listen, you better get rid of that attitude. It doesn’t reflect compassion and teamwork, which are very important to work with fellow students, teachers, and others. “It’s kind of like an informal contract,” says Kimberley Duff, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, who has won multiple awards for her mentoring. “Are you going to meet with them on a regular basis? Are you going to review papers for them? Are they going to invite you to presentations that they’re giving? This should all be discussed.” 

3. Be Aware Of Your Strengths. You must know what you’re good at so you can capitalize on that. Explore your passions and polish on your innate skills. If you think you want to write but haven’t tried it, then enroll in a writing class, see if you can excel there. If you have a gift of persuading people to do something good for the school, then you’re going to do great in the student government.

4. Act-On Your Plans. Do not write and set your goals without acting on them. Always follow through with action – it’s the only way to achieve those goals, and you know that. As they say, each one of us has an excellent idea, but not everyone can realize that idea and make it happen.

 

5. Be Positive. Focus on the goal and maintain a positive attitude, especially during challenging times. You should be your members’ strength, so you must show them that optimism. If you lost a game, for example, don’t cry it out or burst into anger. Tell your team that the next game is going to be yours, and you have to correct what needs to be corrected. Psychologist Martin Seligman wrote, “Our thoughts are not merely reactions to events; they change what ensues.”

 

Important Reminders

If, for instance, you are not the number one player of your team, you can be the top scorer. Or you may not be your school paper’s editor-in-chief, but your articles have won praises and awards nationwide. Remember that your passion and commitment are more significant than a title before or after your name. Do what you love doing and always keep these tips inside your pocket. You’ll be a great leader in no time!

 

 

 

 

As a child, we grew up with our parents always reminding us to be nice to other people and to always say “Thank You”. We have done this practice because we think that we need to grow up as well-mannered and kind individuals. That it is socially right and it is expected from us by the community we grew up to. Also, Sheela Raja, Ph.D. says, “Research suggests that individuals who are grateful in their daily lives actually report fewer stress-related health symptoms, including headaches, gastrointestinal (stomach) issues, chest pain, muscle aches, and appetite problems.”

But why should we really be grateful? What are the good reasons to make gratitude a daily practice and part of our routine? 

 

It Makes You Happy 

Yes, it simply makes you happier. A good reason to start your day is to feel grateful and happy. Being grateful for all the blessings you have can make wonders for your day. When we feel grateful for someone who showed us an act of kindness, as humans, we are compelled to give back. In reciprocating this feeling, it becomes a cycle that is not only good for you but to society as well.  According to Robert Emmons, UC Davis psychologist and author of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, “Science shows practicing gratitude can considerably increase your ability to be happy.”

There are actually psychological researches done about being grateful. A group of people was asked to spare 20 minutes of their daily morning routine to write anything that they are grateful for. It can be anything for as long as they are thankful for it. Small or big, it does not matter. The result was, that a group of people who continued that routine for a month were, in fact, happier with their lives. 

Try it! Do make it a “first thing in the morning” practice to meditate and just simply write or say to yourself at least five blessings you have in your life. It could just be a simple “thank you for the good weather, for the hearty breakfast, for my cat, etc.”. It could be things you were happy about yesterday. You can even do this on your way to work while driving. Whichever works for you, as long you can practice being grateful! 

It Makes You Healthy 

Being grateful in fact has a positive effect on your wellbeing. It gives you that instant boost in your feelings just by remembering the things you were happy and grateful for. It makes you feel blessed even in a small way. It has the positive vibes that surround you. Positive feeling means a more positive outlook in your life. 

Thanking those blessings attracts more of those blessings to come into your life. Being grateful also means being more resilient to life. Drama and trauma in your life normally happen once in a while right? It is a fundamental part of living, yet if you know very well that you have been blessed, you are grateful, then, these negative things will be easier for you to overcome. That’s because you try to see the light in every situation. That is how you cope up with life.   

Appreciation, feeling of gratitude, and positive emotions were linked to optimism which in turn has a good impact on the well-being and the health of any person. “Gratitude is a quality of thankfulness,” says Joree Rose, LMFT. “It’s something you intentionally choose to focus on and practice, which means you don’t just feel it; you do something about it.” Studies show that it has a beneficial effect on better sleep, a good heart condition, immune system, and mental health as well. People also have a better coping mechanism with loss and trauma because they are mentally strong. 

Positive Outlook in Your Life 

It has been proven that being grateful is linked to being happy and being happy in turn makes you more positive and content in your life.  It gives you confidence because you know that whatever adversity life throws at you, you know that you’ll survive it. It may sound like cliché, but it is true, you always see the bright side of life. 

Move Forward 

Gratitude helps heal the past, it lets you move forward and focus more on the blessings that you have in the present. You do not dwell in the past because you know that what you have right now is better than before in one way or another. It makes you move on with your mistakes. Gratitude makes you realize the lessons you need to learn and be thankful for them. You do not waste time feeling sorry for yourself because you know that every situation has a hidden gift of blessing in them.  

Be  More Patient 

It also makes you more patient, while waiting for the things you are praying for, gratitude makes you appreciate the things that you go through or have while waiting for that answered prayer. It makes you develop that feeling of kindness and compassion to other people because you know that you are far too blessed which also strengthens your spirituality and belief.  

Let Go 

Gratitude helps you let go of the things you do not have control of. You accept the fact that change is imminent in this world. You let the world take its turn and welcome all the changes it has to offer. You embrace all these things because you always feel positive about any circumstance or change it will have on your life. You go on with your life knowing that whatever happens, you know that you can and will cope up. Gratitude makes you a much stronger individual than before both mentally and physically.  

Better Relationship 

Showing appreciation and value to one’s partner has a beneficial effect on any relationship. It makes your partner feel good of themselves and in return makes you also feel good of yourself. Appreciation of one another significantly improves the relationship. A simple thank you for the small things your partner does for you can come a long way. It both makes you feel better about having one another. 

Gratitude is not just beneficial for a relationship that involves couples. It can also make a difference in your relationship with your friends, family, colleagues and the community. People love to be with people who exude positive energy than be with people who always complain about their life. The positive energy that these people have radiates back to the people around them. This is the reason why grateful people are very likable. They are happy and light to be with.  Source: redfairyproject.com