Wellness Center

Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listeners differ from passive listeners, in that they are intentionally going out of their way to show the speaker that they are being heard. Mastering the art of active listening can greatly improve all of your relationships, especially your relationship with your student. Instead of listening to your child and intending to respond, try listening to your child intending to understand what, exactly, they are trying to convey. Here are a few tips that might help you improve your active listening skills:

• Face the speaker and make eye contact while they are speaking.
• Pay attention to body language, as well as verbal language.
• Listen without interrupting, judging or jumping to conclusions.
• Ask questions if you need clarification.
• Reflect back what is being said so the speaker knows you are understanding.
• Stay focused and don’t multitask.
• Don’t insert your opinions or solutions unless asked.

Most people, including your child, just want to be heard and supported. Taking the time to practice active listening and employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.Taking the time to practice active listening and employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.

Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listeners differ from passive listeners, in that they are intentionally going out of their way to show the speaker that they are being heard. Mastering the art of active listening can greatly improve all of your relationships, especially your relationship with your student. Instead of listening to your child and intending to respond, try listening to your child intending to understand what, exactly, they are trying to convey. Here are a few tips that might help you improve your active listening skills:

• Face the speaker and make eye contact while they are speaking.
• Pay attention to body language, as well as verbal language.
• Listen without interrupting, judging or jumping to conclusions.
• Ask questions if you need clarification.
• Reflect back what is being said so the speaker knows you are understanding.
• Stay focused and don’t multitask.
• Don’t insert your opinions or solutions unless asked.

Most people, including your child, just want to be heard and supported. Taking the time to practice active listening and employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.

AUHSD Wellness is hosting a monthly Zoom parent education series on numerous topics surrounding mental health and wellness in your student. The goal of these educational opportunities is to help parents feel equipped in supporting their child to the best of their ability. This flyer outlines topics, dates and times, as well as links for registration. We hope to see you there!

Follow us on Instagram @acalaneswellness to keep up with what’s going on with the AHS Wellness Center and all of our parent and student opportunities

AUHSD Wellness will be hosting a monthly Zoom parent education series on numerous topics surrounding mental health and wellness in your student. The goal of these education opportunities is to help parents feel equipped in supporting their child to the best of their ability. This flyer outlines topics, dates and times, as well as links for registration. We hope to see you there!

Follow us on Instagram @acalaneswellness to keep up with what’s going on with the AHS Wellness Center and all of our parent and student opportunities.

With SATs and AP Tests right around the corner, it may be beneficial to discuss test anxiety with your student. Test anxiety is actually a form of performance anxiety which affects 25-40% of students. While it’s perfectly normal for a student to feel nervous before a test, test anxiety can be overwhelming for students and disrupt their concentration and ability. Here are a couple steps you can take to support your student in combating their test anxiety:

• Positive self-talk can go a long way in altering one’s perception of their ability. Encourage your student to talk to themselves about how they would talk to a friend or loved one experiencing the same anxiety. We are often our own worst critic and, in many instances, we talk to ourselves more negatively than we would ever talk to someone else.
• Acceptance of mistakes can also shift your student’s mindset around their ability. First, remind your student that trying their best is realistically the most they can do. Even when trying our absolute best, people still make mistakes. Second, model this behavior for your students. Are you shaming your student when their best effort isn’t “good enough” or beating yourself up when you make a mistake? Offer grace in the face of mistakes. We’re all human after all.
• Teach test taking basics to your student so they might feel more confident when the time comes to take a test. Believe it or not, study skills and test taking strategies are learned. Just because students have to take tests, doesn’t mean they are actually equipped to do so successfully.

Source: kidshealth.org
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

With SATs and AP Tests right around the corner, it may be beneficial to discuss test anxiety with your student. Test anxiety is actually a form of performance anxiety which affects 25-40% of students. While it’s perfectly normal for a student to feel nervous before a test, test anxiety can be overwhelming for students and disrupt their concentration and ability. Here are a couple steps you can take to support your student in combating their test anxiety:

• Positive self-talk can go a long way in altering one’s perception of their ability. Encourage your student to talk to themselves about how they would talk to a friend or loved one experiencing the same anxiety. We are often our own worst critic and, in many instances, we talk to ourselves more negatively than we would ever talk to someone else.
• Acceptance of mistakes can also shift your student’s mindset around their ability. First, remind your student that trying their best is realistically the most they can do. Even when trying our absolute best, people still make mistakes. Second, model this behavior for your students. Are you shaming your student when their best effort isn’t “good enough” or beating yourself up when you make a mistake? Offer grace in the face of mistakes. We’re all human after all.
• Teach test taking basics to your student so they might feel more confident when the time comes to take a test. Believe it or not, study skills and test taking strategies are learned. Just because students have to take tests, doesn’t mean they are actually equipped to do so successfully.

Source: kidshealth.org
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

When it comes to mental health and overall wellness, locus of control is a key factor in how your student relates to the world. In psychology, locus of control is related to the extent to which an individual believes that they are in control of facets that impact their lives. To have an external locus of control, an individual believes that life happens to them. In other words, there are external influences driving the events that occur in one’s life. Opposite to this is an internal locus of control, when an individual believes that they have control over what happens in their life. An example of this would be a student understanding the fact that they do have the choice of whether or not they will attend a class.
 
While we are well aware that there are plenty of things that happen in life that are entirely out of our control (a pandemic for example), locus of control becomes relevant when considering what to do in the face of said thing. Research has proven time and again that people with a higher internal locus of control are happier and more mentally healthy. When interacting with your student, consider the role you play in fostering an internal locus of control. As a caregiver it is easy to want to rescue your student in a time of need, however, what might be more beneficial is teaching them the value in advocating for themselves. With that being said, it is equally important to be a soft place for them to land if things don’t work out how they would have hoped.
 
Kiara Thomas-Wellness Intake Specialist

When it comes to mental health and overall wellness, locus of control is a key factor in how your student relates to the world. In psychology, locus of control is related to the extent to which an individual believes that they are in control of facets that impact their lives. To have an external locus of control, an individual believes that life happens to them. In other words, there are external influences driving the events that occur in one’s life. Opposite to this is an internal locus of control, when an individual believes that they have control over what happens in their life. An example of this would be a student understanding the fact that they do have the choice of whether or not they will attend a class.
 
While we are well aware that there are plenty of things that happen in life that are entirely out of our control (a pandemic for example), locus of control becomes relevant when considering what to do in the face of said thing. Research has proven time and again that people with a higher internal locus of control are happier and more mentally healthy. When interacting with your student, consider the role you play in fostering an internal locus of control. As a caregiver it is easy to want to rescue your student in a time of need, however, what might be more beneficial is teaching them the value in advocating for themselves. With that being said, it is equally important to be a soft place for them to land if things don’t work out how they would have hoped.
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

September is suicide awareness and prevention month. Although this is an extremely difficult topic to discuss with your student, it is also extremely necessary to do so.
 
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 and it can touch any community at any time. It is important to know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect that your child or someone else that you care about is suicidal. Parents looking for resources to educate themselves on the statistics, warning signs and preventative measures surrounding teen suicide can find them here.
 
In the hope of making suicide prevention more accessible than ever, 988 is a new national emergency phone number that will immediately connect callers to professional crisis support personnel.
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

September is suicide awareness and prevention month. Although this is an extremely difficult topic to discuss with your student, it is also extremely necessary to do so.
 
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 and it can touch any community at any time. It is important to know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect that your child or someone else that you care about is suicidal. Parents looking for resources to educate themselves on the statistics, warning signs and preventative measures surrounding teen suicide can find them here.
 
In the hope of making suicide prevention more accessible than ever, 988 is a new national emergency phone number that will immediately connect callers to professional crisis support personnel.
 
On Friday, Sept 9, the Wellness Center will be hosting members of the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s Wellness in Schools Program in the front quad. Encourage your student to join us to learn more about suicide prevention and awareness resources as well as participate in fun activities.
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist