Social/emotional learning is critical for student success - the ability to cope with challenges, to work well with others, and to utilize other similar skills are valuable for students' overall well-being and for success during and after high school. See below for resources for the most frequent social/emotional topics we discuss with students.
Click here for a self-care digital activity!
Click HERE for a list of community resources for therapy and other services. The community therapists can provide more long-term and intensive services than school counselors.
Resources for Parents/Caregivers:
Resources for Teachers:
Resources for Students:
How to help someone in grief video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2zLCCRT-nE
For parents:
Parenting apart: Effective co-parenting. (2011). Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee State Cooperative Extension Service.
For students:
Mom's House Dad's House for Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two - This tips and strategies workbook helps preteens and young adolescents handle new living arrangements, refrain from parents' arguments, manage mixed emotions, stay connected with parents and friends, and learn to appreciate new family circumstances.
Split in Two: Keeping it Together When Your Parents Live Apart - This practical yet comical guide has strategies to help teens and preteens organize their busy lives to allow them to adjust to regular transitions between homes.
The Divorce Helpbook for Teens - This warm and friendly guide helps teens understand why parents get divorced, how it changes their lives, what they can do to feel less depressed, and whom they can talk to about their concerns.
Healthy Relationships - https://cmca.us/get-help/healthy-relationships/
Safe Driving - https://safeteendriving.org/resources/
Online Safety - https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/internet-safety.html
Human Trafficking - https://humantraffickinghotline.org/faqs/safety-planning-information
Drug Abuse - https://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Headspace app - This app teaches strategies for coping with anxiety, stress, grief, anger, sleep issues, and many more. If students create an educator account using school email, they can access the entire library for free, or you can pay for the annual subscription.
Calm app - Similar to Headspace, this app includes meditations and guided activities to teach you to reduce stress, anxiety, and more. This does require a subscription.
MyStrength App - MyStrength offers support for reducing stress, improving sleep, managing depression, managing anxiety, mindfulness and meditation, balancing emotions, pregnancy and early parenting, and managing chronic pain. Go to www.MyStrength.com, click "Sign Up," and use the access code BurrellCenCommunity.
Benefits of movement - see this article to learn about the benefits of daily movement to reduce stress and what kinds of exercise to do.
Origami - this article explains the benefits of the art of folding paper, and this playlist shows how to fold various origami figures
Benefits of sleep - this article explains how sleep helps our bodies reduces the effects of stress
Mandala coloring pages - read about the benefits of coloring these circular pieces of art
Journaling - learn about the benefits of journaling, as well as some tips to get you started
The Cognitive Triangle - learn to adjust your thoughts and perspective on a situation to improve your reaction and emotions to reduce stress and improve mental well-being
Guided Imagery - this script will allow your mind to focus on a place of peace and comfort instead of the source of your stress
Gratitude - focusing on what is good in each day, even the simplest things, can shift our minds from a place of worry, sadness, and anger to a place of contentment.
Circle of Control - sometimes our stress and anxiety comes when we feel as if our lives are out of control. Focusing on what we can control and letting go of what we cannot can bring us a sense of peace knowing we do have some say in the outcome or how we respond to life's challenges. Try this technique any time you feel overwhelmed, sad, worried, or any other strong emotion.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation - becoming aware of physical signs of tension and stress and mindfully relaxing each muscle group allows you to more quickly and easily recognize and relax those tensed muscles when you are stressed.
4-7-8 Breathing - this technique resets your body's stress response system and quickly relaxes your body and mind
Laughter - they say laughter is the best medicine, and it has been proven to improve physical and mental health. Look up Laughter Yoga and see how even forcefully laughing can provide these benefits.
Crisis Text Line - https://www.crisistextline.org/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - https://988lifeline.org/
Create a Safety Plan - https://www.changetochill.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Safety-Plan.pdf
Warning Signs & Risk Factors of Suicide - https://988lifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/
Missouri Suicide Prevention Resources - https://dmh.mo.gov/behavioral-health/suicide/prevention
Need something you don't see here? Ask the counselors for additional resources!