Last month at CSHA I gave a presentation about fostering resilience. It’s so important, I thought I would do a bit of a series on this super important aspect to our work. Let’s start with some definitions. . .

I have written here before about Critical Core – a therapeutically-applied role-playing game created by the great minds at gametogrow.org. I started using this program during Shelter-in-Place, and haven’t stopped. . .

I heard from many of you after February’s post focused on the importance of imagining. Elliot’s writings touched many of you, and I so appreciate hearing your impressions. So, I thought this time, I would share more of Elliot’s work with you!

I have found that, it’s very hard to talk about anything social without complex language. People have feelings BECAUSE other people do things. We make decisions SO others will react in ways we desire. . .

Wishing sets us up for making and executing plans that actually turn wishes into reality. As I have worked with MSV over the past six or so years, I am constantly amazed at the importance of MSV like wishing, deciding, planning, and choosing. And imagine – what a handy process that is. . .

Wishing can be either forward- or backward-gazing. Wishing directed to the past can teach us important lessons and observations we can carry into our future. Wishing can direct us to plan, work hard… And wishing partners so well with other MSV such as hoping, imagining, and missing. . .

I have several students in my practice who demonstrate situational mutism (SM) – a term I MUCH prefer over “selective mutism.” For these individuals, anxiety can, at times, make it too uncomfortable to verbally engage with those around them. At those times, an option can sometimes be to communicate via writing. Over the last few months, I have been experimenting with materials for these sessions…

As we discussed last time, we often find ourselves in situations when we feel annoyed - sometimes with other people and other times with the experiences in which we find ourselves. Oh, and let's not forget that sometimes our actions annoy others. Such as when I promise my students that I will have refreshed the gum drawer by next week and then forget to do so. Or when I leave too late to pick up my son at the ferry and he has to wait (in the rain.) Or when I turn down the heat on the rest of the family just because I'm having hot flashes. Oye!

My last few newsletters have been about feelings, so I thought this month I would focus on a pretty common uncomfortable feeling: annoyance 😒. Often tied up with inflexibility, anxiety, and the challenges of living in a world full of relationships, annoyance is worth a few minutes of thought – and discussion!

Some questions filled my inbox after my newsletter a few weeks ago, as some of you were wondering about the genesis of my Feeling Fixers, so here’s the story! It all started with work on empathy. Watching animated videos, I often ask students “If you were ___the character's friend, what could you say to help them feel better/stick with it/be more flexible?” Students loved doing this…

November and December bring us an assortment of holidays. Time to gather with family and friends, enjoy and create family traditions, and perhaps engage in some gift-giving and getting. 🛍️🎁 But no matter what lovely memories come out of these celebrations, November and December (ok, January also) bring with them many feelings. Some comfortable, others, not so much. . .

Perseverance and resilience (R&P) are both essential skills that empower students to navigate life's challenges. As we settle down in this school year, let’s open our minds 🧠 and hearts 🧡 to how we can support our students along their individual journeys. . .

A new school year = lots of changes = a great time to talk about flexibility! Over the years, I’ve spent LOTS of time thinking and writing about that important mindset – and its opposite, inflexibility, or stuck. As I’ve gone deeper and deeper, I realize how complicated these ideas are! And challenging to work on with students, in part because, like most things social, there aren’t that many rules. . .