Substance Abuse & Prevention Counselor
Hi there, I’m Nicole Corcimiglia, the Substance Abuse Prevention Counselor. I’m new to the district and have been in the mental health and substance abuse counseling field for the last 10 years. I’m happy to join with West Irondequoit to assist in prevention strategies within the district, as well as provide support and assistance to students who may be struggling with any type of substance use. I’ve created a new referral form that I’d love to share with anyone who may be interested in connecting with me themselves or referring someone to get some support in working with me.
5 Ways To Support Your Children Through The Holidays
The holidays are often seen as a time of joy, however they can also be a time of stress and emotional turmoil for some. A challenge that often appears is the increase in substance use around the holiday season.
1. Create a plan – It is important to plan ahead if you plan to be around family, friends, or colleagues that may encourage you to drink or misuse drugs. Start each day with a plan to prevent relapse. This could include bringing an accountability person to holiday events, bringing your own safe foods or drinks that you can enjoy, or creating an exit plan should you find yourself in an unhealthy situation.
2. Make sure basic needs are being met. Common triggers can stem from feelings and emotions caused by being Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired (HALT). Making sure a child gets a variety of healthy foods and snacks, as well as plenty of sleep can help prevent relapse.
3. Seek out support. Encourage your child to talk with a trusted source or schedule an extra visit with a mentor, counselor or health care provider to talk and find strategies to get through challenging times and situations.
4. Try something new. Suggest an activity that improves a child’s mindfulness or self care such as yoga, meditation or massage. Or, create a new family tradition such as volunteering at an organization. Helping others can shift the focus to something positive that makes us all feel good.
5. Model good behavior yourself. Adolescents tend to imitate their parents’ behavior so be mindful that your kids are watching and listening.
