R10 Counselor Conversations

Using Design Thinking in CTE Classes...

Something magical happens when students apply skills they learn to make something that solves real problems. In the year 2022, CTE teacher Mrs. Coleman and Makerspace Specialist Emily Burk invited the Anna ISD district counseling to partner on a play therapy project. During this project, the Counseling and Mental Health students learned so much about the counseling career as well as elementary therapy needs--not to mention that high school students loved being able to empathize and make toys for elementary schools so much--that this year the CTE teachers and counseling staff decided to partner again and repeat the project plus work to perfect it!

In the world of Makerspace Integration, Mrs. Cunningham’s Counseling & Mental Health classes recently worked through the design thinking process to make play therapy toy prototypes where they will get feedback to test in the elementary play therapy rooms. Prior to designing, and for AHS students to empathize with their elementary student users, Director of Counseling, Vince Sharp and his team were able to kickstart the project by speaking and giving insight about their career and various types of behaviors and scenarios that therapy toys are used for. After the project is finished, counselors will return to give feedback to students during their ideation process and prototypes! On April 27th, students will showcase their toy prototypes to the community at the CTE & STEAM Expo and then toys will now be delivered to each of our elementary schools for our elementary students to use while in play therapy.

March 1- Behavioral Intervention Strategies

March 2- TACAC - Texas Association for College Admission Counseling Workshop

March 6- Get Your Students OnCourse to a Brighter Future: An Overview of Texas OnCourse

March 7- Financial Aid Offer Review

March 8- Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMFHA)

March 28- "Just Breathe" Learning on Location

April 4- Creating a Strategic Plan for CCMR!

April 5- Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMFHA)

April 18- Crisis Response and Intervention

April 18- Summer Steps for Financial Aid

April 20- Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMFHA)

April 25- Restorative Practices in the Classroom

April 26- Annual Safety 1st Conference "Keeping Schools Safe"- registration Opens March 14th

Click on the button below to register...

Let's take a closer look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is widely used and an evidence-based approach for working with students. Check out these resources:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT Stories with Elementary Students

CBT Strategies- Examining Thoughts

Worry & anxiety is SUCH a prevalent issue, and it can be hard to know how to help. Here are a few resources to keep on hand:

Anxiety Posters/Visuals

Worry & Family Family Handouts

One of the scary parts of worry and anxiety for kids is that they don’t understand what is happening in their brain or body. They feel like they can’t control their thoughts or the bodily sensations that they are having. This feeling of fear and uncertainty can make their anxiety even worse.

By educating students about what is happening in their brains and bodies when they feel anxious, students can better understand their own feelings. They are then less likely to be anxious about being anxious. Thankfully, there are several YouTube videos explaining the science behind anxiety that are perfect to use in your anxiety small group counseling lessons. Here are two of my favorite videos to use:

During the session on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, several of you asked for resources that you could share. The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery has a page with resources broken into different categories, including who you can share with. Here are some additional resources:

• Self-Injury: A Guide for School Professionals
• Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Helping Handout for School

H.E.A.R.T - Healthy Emotions & Attitudes in Relationships Today

Laura's House - a comprehensive domestic violence agency

A Guide to Addressing Dating Violence in Texas Schools

Dating Matters - Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships is a comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model developed by CDC to stop teen dating violence before it starts.

Dating Violence Prevention - Teen dating violence can be prevented, especially when there is a focus on reducing risk factors and fostering protective factors and when teens are empowered through family, friends, and others.

The Texas Assessment Website: Gather information about state assessments in Texas and find resources for your child. Click here to learn more.

TX Model Training for Administrators PPT linked below (we’re not permitted to send as an editable deck), so feel free to use it with your administrators, as needed. You are welcome to present it as is or incorporate into your district’s mandatory training. As a reminder, TEC §21.054 (as well as TEC §33.005 and §33.006), present an opportunity for SCs and administrators to work together to identify appropriate school counselor duties so students receive optimal support.

Silent Alert Panic Alarm Grant Extension (due 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, January 31, 2023)

TEA Implementing the School Behavioral Threat process

TASB Operationalizing School Behavioral Threat FAQ

Fentanyl Toolkit

TAA-Updated Bullying Standards

Campus-level School Safety Cost Estimate Tool and District-level School Safety Cost Estimate Tool

To view the updated School Safety Newsletter, please CLICK HERE

Elementary and Middle School Counseling Consultant

Email: susan.delarosa@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1216

Secondary Counseling Consultant

Email: nickisha.fowler@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1208

Legislative Updates

School Counselor Ethics

Crisis Support

Comprehensive Guidance Planning

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Social and Emotional Learning

Apply Texas Account

Transcripts

and much more!

**For Apply Texas access or technical support, please contact Elaine Fackler at elaine.fackler@region10.org