Counselor Connection
"The In-Between" ~ May 2020
A Message from Dr. B.
For those of you who are "Stranger Things" fans, I have lovingly referred to this current stage that we are in as "the in-between." It's not quite the "upside-down," but equally as enigmatic. We have a more solid understanding of how to navigate this new world; however, we still have so much uncertainty on what's to come. No matter what, my commitment to YOU remains strong and my hope is to continue to support you in anything that comes our way.
It is with that spirit that I planned the May webinars. Each webinar strives to increase counselor pedagogy in mental health, as we can all anticipate that the consequences of COVID-19 will be felt for many months to come.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you. We are better together!
Cosmic Counselor in Action ~ Claudia Hurst
Here's what Claudia's colleagues had to say:
She has this amazing servant's heart that leaves us in awe. Claudia does the job of three people, easily. She is an effective, caring, and involved counselor for her enormous case load of students at the high school. She is the leader for the counselors at the high school -- a job that I can only imagine is enormous in and of itself -- and she CHOOSES to be the leader of our district counselors, making us as a group far more effective. We can't say enough wonderful things about Claudia."
Claudia's Interview
Position: Lead Counselor
What influenced you to become a school counselor, college advisor, social worker, or counselor leader?
Sometimes I think that life experiences bring us to the place of our best calling. For me, a high school counselor told me that I would have difficulty succeeding in college. Whether it was a way to make me work harder or a belief that I truly would not be successful, those words became a driving force. I feel that our best advocacy is believing in the children who pass through our door. We are to be bearers of hope, encouragement, and gentle agencies of tough but gracious support when necessary.
Name an initiative or change that you were a part of that promoted advocacy for fellow counselors or students. Describe how that change has impacted your role or the lives of students.
In today's world, trauma is a driving force in the lives of students, teachers, parents, administrators, and counselors. No one is immune to complex trauma and its effect on daily interactions. These past years, we have focused on educating stakeholders about trauma and ways to mitigate its strong impact. With knowledge and learned skilled, educators and counselors are changing how they interact with students. In turn, students are learning to manage those difficult days. Life is won in the little steps, and we celebrate those daily successes as counselors and as educators.
What are you proudest of in your current position?
I am proudest of Granbury ISD counselors. They are amazing agents of change and have a heart to make their world better. They serve because they care, and they are highly skilled. They are truly exceptional individuals.
When the work gets hard, how do you find a balance between your work and personal life?
Balance is tough in our profession. We lead with our hearts, and that is hard to turn off. Finding balance means continually asking myself: "What is the next right thing to do?" When I am home, it is spending time with my daughter, reading a book, or simply resting. It really comes down to grace. For today, will I grant myself the grace to rest, reflect, and enjoy time with loved ones? The answer must be "yes" for me to maintain balance.
What advice would you give to future counselors, college advisors, or social workers?
Gain skills, be lifelong and tenacious learners, but always counsel within your natural bent. You are made for a reason, and you can affect powerful change in young lives. Above all, cut yourself some slack. When you take a tumble, dust off and get up. Learn from it and move forward. Life is not about perfection. It is about progress.
Cosmic Counselor Nominations
May Webinars
Foreign Transcript Training & Domestic (Texas) Transcript Training Have Gone Virtual!
Private Virtual Foreign Transcript Training may be scheduled with a minimum purchase of 15 manuals ($60 per manual, shipping included).
Private Virtual Domestic (Texas) Transcript Training may be scheduled with a minimum purchase of 20 manuals ($30 per manual, shipping included).
Manuals and all materials will be shipped individually to participants' homes. I only have a few available dates for these special sessions, so email with any additional questions.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
Educate Texas is a leading education organization that focuses on post-secondary readiness, Early College programming, T-STEM, and P-Tech programs. Originally, they were scheduled to conduct the "Summer Melt" session at ESC Region 11; however, due to COVID-19, they had to make some changes. They will be working with me to reschedule something in the fall or spring. In the meantime, please check out the opportunity below!
TxCAN is collaborating with uAspire to provide some FREE financial aid training sessions via webinar. Reduce “summer melt” and dropping out by supporting students with critical financial aid activities during the summer and onto campus, so they can successfully matriculate, persist, and graduate. You'll be able to: Identify the steps students must take to matriculate and maintain and renew their financial aid, identify risk factors for violating Satisfactory Academic Progress and troubleshoot common financial issues that prevent students from persisting.
May 21 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (CST)
Summer Transition and College Success
Register here
GenTX Decision Day is Coming May 1st! Are You Ready?
Wise County Resources
Metroplex Mental Health Services via Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
Did you know?
Qiana J. Rushing, MBA, M.S., M.A.R.C., LPC-I
Child and Family Mobile Liaison
Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
800 Kirnwood Dr. Desoto, TX. 75115
Cell: 469.601.3080 Fax: 972.982.0987
TEA Tidbits
Texas 60X30 Updates from the Higher Ed Coordinating Board
McKinney-Vento TEA Updates
Keep them coming!
Counselors at Work
Dear Sandy
Dear Sandy~
~Zoomed Out
Dear Zoomed Out,
Video calls can actually be more fatiguing because individuals must work harder to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, tone and pitch of voice, and body language. Therefore, paying more attention to these cues consumes a lot of energy. Strategies to reduce fatigue between video chats include stretching, breathing, having a healthy snack, or just taking a few minutes to yourself.
Dear Sandy ~
~Mission Impossible
Dear Mission Impossible,
I feel your pain! As you know, each college and university has the discretion to make individual decisions regarding the practices of their organization, so it is best practice to advise students to check with their receiving college to check for any changes. I have, however, asked for colleges and universities to share website links or documents with me. Once I receive them, they will be posted on the ESC Region 11 Counseling website: https://www.esc11.net/Page/8208.
Dr. Sandy Benavidez
Email: sbenavidez@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/Page/8208
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-3607
Twitter: @ESCR11Counselor
