Build students’ resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic1

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Your presenters

Dr. Thomas Aubrey Counseling Department/

Behavioral Health Sciences Instructor of BHS150: Introduction

to Behavioral Health and Social Services & CPD150: Strategies for College Success

Author of The Resilient Learner

Dr. Lynn Mizzi Brysacz Counseling Department Instructor of CPD150: Strategies

for College Success and CPD160: Introduction to Multiculturalism

Agenda

1. Mental Health2. Patterns of Stress Activation3. Psychological and Emotional

Resiliency Self-Regulation Social Regulation

4. Resources for Resiliency Strength Building

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Mental Health

Cornerstone to success

school

work

relationships

Physical health deteriorates with poor mental health

Good mental health Addressing the challenges in life

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Patterns of Stress Activation5

Hyperarousal (fight/flight)

Frustrated

Angry

Anxious

Over-whelmed

Window of Tolerance

Clear Headed

High Level Thinking

Enhanced Learning

Hypo-arousal (freeze/dissociate)

Distracted

Zoned Out

Numb

Frozen

Patterns of Stress Activation

Higher Brain

Abstract thinking

Reflective thinking

Problem solving

Critical thinking skills

Connection and attachment

Lower Brain

Safety and security

Survival

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Results in…

Higher Brain

Emotional Brain

Lower Brain

Less optimized learning

Neglecting responsibilities

Poor decision making

Resilience & Stress

Create a resilience-building opportunity

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Take a distressing situation (like COVID-19)

Patterns of Stress Activation8

Outcome

Response

Stressors COVID-19 pandemic

Respond reactively

Vulnerable

Build resiliency

Healthy body &

mind

Self-Regulation

Social Regulation

Resolution +

SustainedResilience

Preventing Traumatic Stress

Painful experiences Relaxation

Methods of Self-RegulationDiaphragmatic breathing exercises Autogenics Biofeedback

Conscious muscle relaxation Muscle body scan Guided imagery Progressive relaxation Body awareness training

Mindfulness meditation Movement and exercise Reflective practices

Music

Drawing

Writing for self-expression

Self-Regulation

Shifting bodily states to support the sense of safety

Acute Relaxation Nonintrusive

Discreet

Practical Moments of opportunity to grow

Real-time

Reciprocal inhibition (Joseph Wolpe)

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Mind Body

Self-Regulation Exercise

Body Scan/”Wet Noodle”Head-to-toeToe-to-head

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5 secondsRELAX ALL MUSCLES

Social Regulation

Create sanctuary

Find a community of support Support one another & students

Train your support system

Share trauma narratives and listen to others’ narratives (healing)

Connection/support options during COVID-19

Video chat

Phone

Texting

Regulation of mind and body with interpersonal connection and support

Self-Care & RevitalizationRefuel Depleted Resources

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Healthy Eating Healthy Activity

Healthy SleepHealthy Self-Compassion

6-Point Resiliency System16

Self-Regulation

Positive Psychological Strengths

Self-Care/Revitalization

Mental Flexibility

Motivation and Self-Direction

Social Regulation

Example of Resiliency Curriculum

Ch Focus area This is the ability to… Learned skills include:

1 Self-Regulation shift the body into a physical state that supports the sense of safety by calming the activity of the body’s defense system

mindfulness, deep relaxation skills, acute relaxation skills, grounding techniques, and movement

2 Mental Flexibility look at a situation in another way (change perception) to consider options and change the response to it

cognitive and perceptual restructuring, modifying surface & deep beliefs, developing a growth mindset, modifying explanatory styles, building an internal locus of control

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Resiliency Curriculum, cont’d

Ch Focus area This is the ability to… Learned skills include:

3 Motivation and Self-Direction

be self-motivated and intentional in directing one's behavior toward achieving one's goals

cultivating intrinsic & extrinsic motivation, embracing your character strengths, building self-efficacy, creating SMART goals, living a purpose-based life (intentional)

4 Positive Psychological Strengths

become more optimistic, practice self-control, apply acceptance & commitment, display forgiveness & kindness, foster gratitude, calm your mind, learn & grow from adversity, create a sense of meaning & purpose in life

fostering healthy virtues of character and habits of mind by practicing eight positive psychological strengths everyday

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Resiliency Curriculum, cont’d

Ch Focus area This is the ability to… Learned skills include:

5 Interpersonal Connection

use social regulation to support physical, psychological, and emotional regulation; use support systems to deal with school-related and traumatic stress; promote academic, career, and personal success

effective communication skills, healing from painful past relational experiences, building strong attachments to support success, training your support network to prevent relational burnout

6 Self-Care/ Revitalization

refuel depleted resources to energize and achieve healthy pursuits of success

practicing healthy eating, healthy activity, healthy sleep, and healthy self-compassion

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Resources for Building Resiliency

CDC COVID-19 – Stress & Coping, Taking Care of Your Emotional Health

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline – SAMHSA.org or 1-800-985-5990

National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine – NAMI.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call your local or state warm line to talk to someone

Refer students to talk to a school counselor

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.htmlhttps://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/selfcare.asphttps://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helplinehttps://nami.org/homehttps://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/BlogImageArchive/2020/NAMI-National-HelpLine-WarmLine-Directory-3-11-20.pdf

Questions?

Please type your questions into the panel

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Need more information?

Visit publish1st.com/dr-aubrey for information on The Resilient Learner series

Send additional questions to carlal@publish1st.com

https://publish1st.com/dr-aubreymailto:carlal@publish1st.com

Build students’ resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemicYour presentersAgendaMental HealthPatterns of Stress ActivationPatterns of Stress ActivationResilience & StressPatterns of Stress ActivationPreventing Traumatic Stress�Methods of Self-RegulationSelf-RegulationSelf-Regulation ExerciseSocial RegulationSelf-Care & Revitalization6-Point Resiliency SystemExample of Resiliency CurriculumResiliency Curriculum, cont’dResiliency Curriculum, cont’dResources for Building ResiliencyQuestions?Need more information?