Energized for Creativity
By Eileen Melody | August 2019
As school counselors, we are responsible for managing annual events such as hosting Transition Nights and planning college fairs. We oversee the facilitation 504 meetings and we review attendance data. These are important tasks; however, these predictable and recurring responsibilities can drain us of our natural curiosities and desires to take a fresh look at student issues. With this on my mind, I headed to the ASCA Conference in Boston, hoping to be energized by the exposure to creative school counseling practices.
I began my creative quest prior to ASCA with a “tag sale,” posting on my school’s internal email group that virtually every piece of furniture in my office needed a new home. With this new open space before me, I reflected upon what I hoped to accomplish this school year. What would be my priorities and how could I tackle them creatively and to greater fulfillment? For inspiration, I recalled the wise words of students in my lunch groups: My office was where they felt comfortable, not judged, a place where they talked, listened, centered themselves and gained control of their emotions and behaviors. In response, I have transformed my office into a den of sensory exploration and support, with low swivel chairs and meditation cushions. I purchased colored vertical lighting to simulate the serenity of an aquarium. I bought a sand art frame, essential oils and a small waterfall.
With the environment designed and the supporting props purchased, I designated “Mindful Monday Mornings” as one time (with the hopes of expanding this support) to break from parent conferencing and put the priority on my students’ need to start the week feeling more welcomed at school and more emotionally regulated. I asked for the support of administrators, who acknowledged that my focus should be on working with students who are anxious, worried, and fearful.
I arrived at ASCA and revolutionary Boston in search of mindfulness activities from veteran presenters. One idea I gleaned has students recreate negative situations using a sand tray and miniatures. Students talk through their reasons for placement of miniatures with the school counselor to help them gain control of their emotions. They see the struggle objectively, discovering possible solutions through new placement of the miniatures.
Another practice is the use of jars of colored gems or beads. When students join in my Mindful Monday Morning group, I will encourage them to scoop up a color and number of gems to match their emotion and the intensity of the emotion. I will follow up by asking what would need to happen for these emotions to change. What behaviors or thoughts would they need to employ to bring about positive change?
Responding to students’ needs with creative practices energizes us as school counselors; it also helps us connect to our diverse student populations. September is here and my Zen Den is open. Welcome, students!
Eileen Melody is chair of the CSCA Board of Directors. Contact her at cscachairman@gmail.com.
I began my creative quest prior to ASCA with a “tag sale,” posting on my school’s internal email group that virtually every piece of furniture in my office needed a new home. With this new open space before me, I reflected upon what I hoped to accomplish this school year. What would be my priorities and how could I tackle them creatively and to greater fulfillment? For inspiration, I recalled the wise words of students in my lunch groups: My office was where they felt comfortable, not judged, a place where they talked, listened, centered themselves and gained control of their emotions and behaviors. In response, I have transformed my office into a den of sensory exploration and support, with low swivel chairs and meditation cushions. I purchased colored vertical lighting to simulate the serenity of an aquarium. I bought a sand art frame, essential oils and a small waterfall.With the environment designed and the supporting props purchased, I designated “Mindful Monday Mornings” as one time (with the hopes of expanding this support) to break from parent conferencing and put the priority on my students’ need to start the week feeling more welcomed at school and more emotionally regulated. I asked for the support of administrators, who acknowledged that my focus should be on working with students who are anxious, worried, and fearful.
I arrived at ASCA and revolutionary Boston in search of mindfulness activities from veteran presenters. One idea I gleaned has students recreate negative situations using a sand tray and miniatures. Students talk through their reasons for placement of miniatures with the school counselor to help them gain control of their emotions. They see the struggle objectively, discovering possible solutions through new placement of the miniatures.
Another practice is the use of jars of colored gems or beads. When students join in my Mindful Monday Morning group, I will encourage them to scoop up a color and number of gems to match their emotion and the intensity of the emotion. I will follow up by asking what would need to happen for these emotions to change. What behaviors or thoughts would they need to employ to bring about positive change?
Responding to students’ needs with creative practices energizes us as school counselors; it also helps us connect to our diverse student populations. September is here and my Zen Den is open. Welcome, students!
Eileen Melody is chair of the CSCA Board of Directors. Contact her at cscachairman@gmail.com.