What is a calming corner and how do you create one at home? Simple! A calming corner is a space (does not necessarily have to be a literal corner) where children can go feel comfortable and relax their mind and bodies. Alternative to “time-outs,” calming corners can actually help children regulate their emotions and provides…
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By now, your school district may have put out different learning options for students as they plan for students to return to school. Most school districts are providing their families with an online option where students will receive instructions virtually from home. With this option, it is critical for parents/caregivers and teachers to remind their…
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Did you know that in 2017, about 12.5% of Oklahoma high school students used tobacco at least once in the past 30 days? Nationally, the rate was 8.8%. Oklahoma’s rate on youth tobacco use has historically been above the national average. Additionally, around 1,500 Oklahoma kids under the age of 18 will become new daily…
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COVID-19 has and continues to affect us on a daily basis and in various ways, including our mental health. Most of our children may not have experienced the serious physical effects of the disease itself, however, their emotional and behavioral development has been greatly impacted since the beginning of the pandemic. So what are the…
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Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered, communication technique that is commonly used by counselors to help motivate clients change behaviors and to help them explore and resolve conflicts. Motivation interviewing is backed by research, showing its effectiveness to increase motivation in individuals who may have been unwilling to change in the first place. Motivational interviewing is…
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Children will say negative things about themselves and it is our role as caring adults to help direct them away from destructive self-talk. Constructive self-talk is very common and we all do it to ourselves and when we hear our children talk about themselves constructively, it may not raise any concerns. But how would we…
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COVID-19 has posed significant challenges in our nation and we are continuing our efforts to overcome these challenges every single day. But what if we start thinking how COVID-19 has also posed opportunities for creativity and innovation throughout every level of our ecological system? It is happening right now! From various levels between national to…
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There has been a lot of talk around racism but not enough about racial trauma. Research has, in fact, shown that racism can cause anxiety, depression, chronic stress and fatigue, and other symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder, which results in racial trauma. We’ve mentioned before how trauma affects the mind and body, it…
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Panic disorder is actually a very common among various age groups. Anyone who is living with panic disorder may experience unexpected, recurrent periods with symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, and intense fearfulness. These repeated occurrences are called panic attacks and it is important to understand the causes of panic attacks and what…
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Did you know that approximately 75% of people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma? When someone is confronted with mental health stigma, they often feel experience feelings of shame, hopelessness, and may be reluctant to seek help. Here is a short video that you can share with family and friends on…
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