Counselors

Mrs. Siminski M. Ed.

Mrs. Alaniz M.A.

Mrs. Wilks M.A.

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Social & Emotional

SCHEDULE REQUEST CHANGES

We are your counselors at iUniversity Prep.  You can reach out to us by email, webmail, or phone. We would love to help with encouragement, help with anxiety, depression, grief or loss, or if you just need someone to talk to.  We can also help with your journey to college and how to prepare for that. 

~The Counselor Team

Social & Emotional Learning

Resources you might find helpful

Resources for Wellness & Encouragement 

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app  Mindfulness free app

https://www.naturalhigh.org/playlists/nh-distance-learning/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=coronavirus&utm_content=distance_learning_playlist  Natural High Playlist- Videos for MS and HS students to find other ways to thrive besides drugs and alcohol.

https://www.chickensoup.com/ah/volume-2 Learn social emotional skills through animal rescue stories for Middle School students.

https://www.chickensoup.com/ah/volume-3 Learn social emotional skills through animal rescue stories for High School students.

https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-in-teens/ Dealing with Anxiety in teens and help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnZCZ-lL4JY     

How a positive mindset can change your future



Practice self-care

Basic self-care will keep your immune system strong and your emotional reserves full. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Eat well. Try mindfulness apps.

Find activities that engage different parts of yourself. Do something physical like dancing. Occupy your mind with puzzles. Engage your senses with hot baths or fragrant candles.

Look for tasks you can postpone or simply eliminate from your to-do list.



Find ways to focus

You might feel unmotivated now. Recognize that the current circumstances are hard for everyone. Don’t judge yourself; just do the best you can.

Establish a routine. Get up, go to bed and do your work at the same time every day. Frequent breaks can help you re-engage in your work.

Try to create a separate work space, although you should reserve your sleeping area for sleeping. If family members are distracting you, use “I statements” to explain the problem--“I’m worried about my exam next week”—and work together to develop solutions.

Help for Anxiety 

Practice deep breaths- This slows down your breathing and your brain to help you relax.

Take a break and go outside as being out in nature can calm an anxious brain. Try to carefully observe your environment-birds chirping, different types of trees, etc.

Exercise- Getting moving can help when you are feeling anxious.

Gratitude Journal-By thinking and writing about positive grateful thoughts, you can derail the anxious thoughts.

Eat healthy and stay well- Eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep help you to handle situations well and not be overwhelmed and anxious.

Signs that you need to talk to someone for help: 

Asking for help is a sign of courage and strength! 

Signs of anxiety 

·       Persistent worry or feeling overwhelmed by emotions.

·       Excessive worry about a number of concerns, such as health problems or grades, and a general sense that something bad is going to happen.

·       Restlessness and irritability.

·       Difficulty concentrating, sleep problems and generally feeling on edge.

Signs of a panic attack 

·       Sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking.

·       A pounding heart or rapid heart rate, and feelings of dread.

·       Such attacks often happen suddenly, without warning.

·       People who experience panic attacks often become fearful about when the next episode will occur, which can cause them to change or restrict their normal activities. 

Signs of depression  

·     A lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities.

·       Significant weight loss or gain.

·       Insomnia or excessive sleeping.

·       Lack of energy or an inability to concentrate.

·       Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.

·       Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. 

Risk factors for suicide  

·       Talking about dying or harming oneself.

·       Recent loss through death, divorce, separation, even loss of interest in friends, hobbies and activities previously enjoyed.

·       Changes in personality like sadness, withdrawal, irritability or anxiety.

·       Changes in behavior, sleep patterns and eating habits.

·       Erratic behavior, harming self or others.

·       Low self-esteem including feelings of worthlessness, guilt or self-hatred.

·       No hope for the future, believing things will never get better or nothing will change.