Social Emotional
The Granville High School Guidance Department understands that students have various needs throughout high school, including personal social needs. We attempt to meet those needs through one-on-one brief counseling, group counseling and classroom guidance. We will refer students to outside counselors or agencies when necessary. We also provide and/or coordinate student and parent education on social emotional issues throughout the year on alternative school days, in the health wellness classes and during parent information nights as needed.
New Student Group
We offer our new students a transitional group to help them to adjust and form relationships with other new students - SNAG, which is an acronym for Students New at Granville. This is an 8-week group during lunch and it is facilitated by the school counselors.
Classroom Guidance
We are primarily in the classroom for scheduling, career or college related activities, but we do conduct a 4-day classroom counseling sessions in the Health Wellness classes. We spend two days reviewing with sophomores about the difference between having a healthy and unhealthy relationship, what is teen dating violence, and how to expect respect in a relationship, friendship and/or romantic.
- Stress Management Tips
- Online Safety
- Mental Health Resources
- Grief and Loss
- Drug & Alcohol Resources
- Strategies to Prevent Suicide
- Teens and Self-Injury
Stress Management Tips
Stress comes from various sources - school, family, friends, and at times, ourselves. In fact, high self-standards and perfectionism have become some of the leading causes of stress for teenagers today. Check out this article on stress and perfectionism. Titled, 'Pushing Back on Perfectionism: How to be Happily Imperfect' is posted on Northwestern University's Counseling Blog. The article contains some great coping strategies. Read it here.
The best way to manage your stress is to learn healthy coping strategies. You can start practicing these tips right away. Try one or two until you find a few that work for you. Practice these techniques until they become habits you turn to when you feel stress.
Stress-relief techniques focus on relaxing your mind and your body.
Ways to relax your mind
Write. It may help to write about things that are bothering you. Write for 10 to 15 minutes a day about stressful events and how they made you feel. Or think about starting a stress journal. This helps you find out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel. After you know, you can find better ways to cope.
Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to. Talking with friends, family, a counselor, or a member of the clergy about your feelings is a healthy way to relieve stress.
Do something you enjoy. This can be:
- A hobby, such as gardening.
- Volunteer work.
- A creative activity, such as writing, crafts, or art.
- Playing with and caring for pets.
You may feel that you're too busy to do these things. But making time to do something you enjoy can help you relax. It might also help you get more done in other areas of your life.
Focus on the present. Meditation and guided imagery are two ways to focus and relax your mind.
When you meditate, you focus your attention on things that are happening right now. Paying attention to your breathing is one way to focus.
Use guided imager. With guided imagery, you imagine yourself in any setting that helps you feel calm and relaxed. You can use audiotapes, books, or a teacher to guide you. To learn more, see:
Ways to relax your body
- Exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a great way to get started. Even everyday activities such as housecleaning or yard work can reduce stress. Stretching can also relieve muscle tension. For more information about becoming more active, see the topic Fitness.
- Try techniques to relax. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and yoga can help relieve stress: 1.Breathing exercises. These include roll breathing, a type of deep breathing. 2.Yoga,tai chi, and qi gong. These techniques combine exercise and meditation. You may need some training at first to learn them. Books and videos are also helpful. You can do all of these techniques at home. 3. Progressive muscle relaxation. This technique reduces muscle tension. You do it by relaxing separate groups of muscles one by one.
You might like to try a combination of these techniques.
In addition to practicing these skills, you might also try other techniques to reduce stress.
Helpful links:
Online Safety
Guarding Kids Online
Dr. Russell Sabella has a wealth of information for parents, educators, etc. on protecting kids online. Check out this website for more information!
Mental Health Resources
Local Mental Health Counselors and Contacts
Here is a list of counselors, resources and contacts in the Granville and Licking County area. Please contact Brandi Cooper, High School Counselor, for more information at 587-8163 or bcooper@granvilleschools.org.
Mental Health Fact Sheets, Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health
Facts sheets detailing information and interventions for students struggling with the following mental health disorders/conditions: Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Pervasive Development Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Tourettes Disorder.
Grief and Loss
The death of someone we love, a close friend or family member, is an event we all have to face at some point in our life. Learning to survive the feelings of sadness and loss is a process that is normal and usually takes time. The process involves both emotional and behavioral reactions. It takes us through the initial response of shock and sadness, through acceptance and understanding, and eventually to the rebuilding of our lives. This information will help you to understand your grief and give you some ideas about how you may be able to help yourself through the grieving process. The grieving process usually consists of the following stages, but not everyone goes through these stages and/or goes back and forth between stages.
Support Services
Comfort Cottage
740-522-0894
Hospice of Central Ohio
740-344-0311
Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief
Additional Resources
- Stages of Grief
- Ways to Cope with Dying and Death
- Do's & Don'ts of Helping
- Guidelines for Parents
- Guidelines for Teachers
- When to Seek Out Help
Stages of Grief
1.Denial/Shock
At first, it may be difficult for you to accept the death of a loved one and/or classmate. As a result, you will deny the reality of the death. However, this denial will gradually diminish as you begin to express and share your feelings.
2.Anger
During this stage, the most common question asked is “why me?” You are angry at what you perceive to be the unfairness of death and you may project and displace your anger unto others. When given some social support and respect, you will eventually become less angry and be able to move into the next stage of grieving.
3.Bargaining
Many students will try to bargain with some sort of deity (God, spiritual being, etc.) They probably try to bargain and offer to give up an enjoyable part of their lives in exchange for the return of the lost person.
4.Guilt
You may find yourself feeling guilty for things you did or did not do prior to the loss. Forgive yourself. Accept that you are human.
5.Depression
You may at first experience a sense of great loss. Mood fluctuations and feelings of isolation and withdrawal may follow. It takes time for you, the grieving student, to gradually return to your old self and become socially involved with what is going on around you.
6.Loneliness
As you go through changes in your social life because of the loss, you may feel lonely and afraid. The more you are able to reach out to others and make new friends, the more this feeling lessens.
7.Acceptance
Acceptance does not mean happiness. Instead, you accept and deal with the reality of the situation.
8.Hope
Eventually you will reach a point where remembering will be less painful and you can begin to look ahead to the future and more good times with friends and family.
Ways to Cope with Dying and Death
- Discuss feelings such as loneliness, anger, anxiety, fear and sadness openly and honestly with other students, teachers, counselors and family members.
- Maintain hope.
- If your religious convictions are important to you, talk to a member of the clergy about your beliefs and feelings.
- Join a support group.
- Take good care of yourself. Eat well-balanced meals. Get plenty of rest.
- Be patient with yourself. Remember that it takes times to heal and some days will be better than others.
- Use writing, art, and music to let out your feelings and thoughts.
Do's & Don'ts of Helping
DO
Do give strength, companionship, love, support and encouragement
Do make yourself available to your friend(s)
Do be sincere when you reach out to them
Do ask their relative how you can help out to relieve stress of daily tasks
Do be willing to touch them—hold hands, hug, etc.
Do allow the griever the opportunity to talk. Let the bereaved set the pace and tone of conversations
Do allow the griever to express emotions—anger, sadness, anxiety, etc.
Do stick by the griever with continuous support
Do help the bereaved reach out for professional help as needed.
DON’T
Don’t put the load of the world on the griever, i.e., “I know you lost your friend, but people lose friends and families everyday.”
Don’t encourage the griever to stay isolated as they work through their grief
Don’t support the bereaved to get overly involved in activities to avoid processing their grief
Don’t minimize the person’s grief
Don’t offer a rose-colored glass view
Don’t tell them they need to just get over it
Don’t judge, criticize or blame the student
Don’t do most of the talking .
Guidelines for Parents
- Be aware of your adolescent’s behavior. Although they may feel similar emotions as adults, they may express it very differently. Sometimes radical behavior may occur. Students may become aggressive, irritable, isolated, depressed, etc. Reach out to them, unconditionally accept them and respect their boundaries within reason.
- Talk about death with them. Discuss their feelings about losing their loved one and/or death in general. Share your feelings with them about death. Help them to understand that these emotions are normal and expected. Share fond memories of the deceased, the fun times, and how much the deceased will be missed.
- Going to the funeral. If this will be the first funeral for your adolescent, prepare them for what to expect. You don’t want them to be surprised when they arrive. Offer support for them before, during and after the funeral as needed. Realize it will probably bring up more emotions for them. It can provide a sense of closure for them as they mourn the loss with friends and loved ones.
Guidelines for Teachers
Project an atmosphere that is safe and supportive
- Listen, listen, listen…and then validate the feelings of loss and pain
- Share the knowledge that it is okay to laugh, play and have a good time; it does not mean you did not love or care about the person.
- Trust your instincts, hunches, and/or gut feelings about a student and/or situation—get help from counselors/administration as needed
- Don’t judge, criticize, blame or give advice to the student.
- Keep a sense of structure and routine to help provide security and balance.
When to Seek Out Help
Drug & Alcohol Resources
Alcohol Rehab Guide: Underage Drinking
Substance Abuse Resources
This website provides several additional links regarding drug and alcohol statistics, commonly abused drugs and additional prevention programs such as Above the Influence, Prevention First, and Foundation for a Drug Free America.
The Harms of Excessive Drinking
TeenCentral connects you to other teens from around the country and throughout the world, and to a wealth of problem-solving resources just for you. TeenCentral.Net is safe, confidential.
Strategies to Prevent Suicide
Suicide is by far the most serious act into which anyone can enter. It is a final act. Once it is completed, it can't be undone. Before coming to this final step, all alternatives must be considered. Below are some alternatives that you might want to think about.
Check out this link for Suicide and Depression Awareness for Students for more resources and prevention tips.
Talk to someone
The first step is talking to someone about your feelings. You are not alone in your feelings of despair and pain. You are not the only person to consider suicide as a solution. You may feel that you are powerless to change the situation or your feelings. You do have that power if you will share the burden of pain with someone who you can trust to take you seriously. This may be a family physician, a friend, a neighbor, a member of the clergy, a co-worker, or other in whom you have confidence. If there is no one who fits this category, a crisis line support group listed in this website can help you begin. If you are a teenager or youth, seek an adult such as a parent, teacher, counselor, clergy person, etc. whom you can trust to take you seriously and to help. All Ohio counties maintain Crisis Hotlines for the purpose of helping callers deal with what seem a to be crises without solutions. These telephone numbers are listed in the page of this website.
Understand the reason for depression
Many bleak depressions aren't caused by life situations even though they seem to be. Long term depression characterized by a loss of all joy for life, loss of enthusiasm for anything, loss or gain of significant amounts of weight, listlessness, over-sleeping or insomnia, isolation from others, reliance on alcohol or drugs, and difficulty concentrating or focusing all can be signs of a depression that results from an imbalance in body chemistry. This depression will not be resolved by talk alone. For this type of depression, medication may be required to put the body back in balance. As your depression begins to lift, normal patterns of activity, sleep, enjoyment, appetite, memory and thinking skills will return.
Depression support groups exist in many local communities. These groups are designed to help people suffering from depression meet with others who have suffered from the same pain, and to learn that they are not alone. These groups also provide help and support for individuals who are suffering. They assist members in dealing with their individual issues and refer them to competent, qualified help within the community. Third, support groups offer education for sufferers and their families in order to increase awareness of depression and its causes and treatment. You can find these groups through local County Community Mental Health Boards, NAMI offices, Mental Health Associations, or yellow pages.
Let your family know how you're feeling
The brunt of the emotional loss, shame, guilt, and material burden in the case of a suicide is left with the family. It is only fair therefore that prior to putting suicidal thoughts into practice, at least one family member should hear the truth about your pain, suffering, and need for help. Chances are, they aren't aware of how deep the pain goes. Some family member who you are close to or trust may be able to help in sorting out the issues, and finding ways to solve the problems.
Don't be disappointed in people who may tell you that your problems are just "not that serious" or that they need to, "forget their problems," or offer other advice that minimizes your pain. This is certainly not helpful and only reflects a lack of knowledge on their part, not your unworthiness or inability to cope, Seek another source of help or a professional in crisis resolution as you would with any other problem in your life.
Teens and Self-Injury
"Amanda" (not her real name) was feeling overwhelmed. Her parents were preoccupied with financial worries. Her algebra teacher had assigned tons of homework. And her best friend was not speaking to her because of a fight they had a couple of days ago. Amanda felt alone and afraid. After a particularly tough algebra exam, she felt her world was caving in. she ran into a stall in the girls' bathroom, rolled up her sleeve, and cut her left arm as hard as she could with her nails. She drew blood, but she continued to scratch and cut. In her mind, self-injury was the only way she could deal with all the stress.
A few minutes later, her feelings of hopelessness subsided. While she did not feel happy, she no longer felt trapped. Self-injury gradually became a ritual: every time Amanda was in a stressful or uncomfortable situation, she would "release" the bad feelings by cutting her left arm with her nails or even with a razor blade. She carefully concealed the scars so nobody would ask any questions.
When teens feel sad, distressed, or confused, the emotions might be so extreme that they lead some to harm themselves with self-injury (also called cutting, self-mutilation, or self-harm). Most teens who inflict injury on themselves do so because they are experiencing stress and anxiety, and/or because they were abused as children.
Burning, cutting, scratching, hitting/bruising, biting, picking at skin, and pulling out hair are some of the ways teens use self-injury to cope with intensely bad feelings. Sometimes teens injure themselves regularly, almost as if it were a ceremony. Other times, teens may injure themselves at the spur of the moment, as a way to find an immediate release for built-up tension. Self-injury is an unhealthy and dangerous act and can leave scars, both physically and emotionally.
Stress and Self-Injury
Everybody experiences stress. But stress can feel very different for different people. Sometimes it is characterized by feeling nervous or jumpy. It can also include feelings of intense sadness, frustration, or anger.
These feelings are often (but not always) caused by things that happen during the day (such as a car accident or a fight with a friend). They can also be caused by something that is going to happen in the future (such as a big test or a dance recital). Stress also appears in different levels, or degrees.
Some people naturally feel higher levels of stress than others. For examples, two performers in a school play might feel drastically different about performing. One might be excited; the other might feel dizzy and nauseous.
This difference may be due to a person's biological makeup, or it might be due to a traumatic experience at a very young age. While these feelings may be triggered by a certain event or by many bad things happening in a short period of time, intense feelings of frustration could also be related to a person's upbringing. Children of abusive parents might lack good role models for dealing with stress in a healthy way.
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Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is a co-curricular program Granville has offered to 6th, 8th and GHS girls for ten years that focuses on the education, safety, health and empowerment of girls.
The ROX program is a 20-lesson experience that to date, more than 40,000 girls nationwide have participated in! At Granville, ROX has several trained and certified ROX facilitators who lead the program. Together, the students will explore the topics of team building, healthy communication, cyber safety and social media, friendships and girl bullying, stress and pressure, personal safety and assertiveness, academic/career development and leadership.
For more details about the program or to enroll your student, please contact the School Counselor.
Parents - still have questions? Please click here for more information.