Finding the Words - Empowering Struggling Students Through Guided Conversations

Boost your confidence in supporting the mental health of all students
 
Educators can't always fix or change students' challenging situations, but with Dr. Hayley Watson's Finding the Words, they can create compassionate, safe spaces to truly make a difference to student wellbeing. As educators, we are in a position where we can help students break out of cycles of anxiety, low mood, and peer struggles, without needing to be a mental health expert. This book shows you how to support students with issues like parental loss, low body image, bullying, addiction, and more--with practical language that you can use anytime you are on-the-spot with a struggling student. This language helps you set boundaries to protect your own wellbeing, by guiding your students towards self-reliance and resilience.
 
In Finding the Words, author and clinical psychologist Hayley Watson offers practical advice with a personal, self-reflective, and relatable tone. In each chapter, you'll explore the topics students struggle with most, including hot-button issues like consent and prejudice. You'll learn how to talk to kids about these issues in a way that helps them make positive changes in their lives. With this book, you will feel like you have a psychologist on hand to support you in those moments when you know your response could mean the world to a struggling student.
* Understand the common issues your students face--anxiety, low body image, acting out, and beyond
* Read first-person accounts from youth ages 5-19, showing how appropriate responses can nurture and support students through any challenge they face
* Gain specific, practical techniques and takeaways to use right away in your interactions with students
* Learn the most effective language to use when you are on-the-spot with a struggling student
 
This is a critical resource for school leaders, teacher leaders, classroom teachers and school staff. Any adults who work with youth can benefit from this insightful, expert advice on how to help in the moments when your students need you most.

List of contents

Acknowledgments xv
 
Introduction xvii
 
Chapter 1 understanding student mental health 1
 
Shadow qualities and the true self 1
 
Section 1 rejecting/acceptance (remembering love) 11
 
Chapter 2 finding the words with students who are in rejecting behavior patterns 13
 
What can I do to help students who are rejecting? 15
 
Chapter 3 encouraging students who are disengaged from school 17
 
Why do students disengage from school? 17
 
What can I do to help a student who is disengaged from school? 18
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who is disengaged from school? 18
 
Chapter 4 supporting students who face abuse and domestic violence 25
 
Why does abuse and domestic violence impact students? 25
 
What can I do to help a student who has faced abuse or domestic violence? 26
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who has faced abuse or domestic violence? 26
 
chapter 5 coaching students who bully or are aggressive/violent 33
 
Why do students act with aggression or bully others? 33
 
What can I do to help a student who is being aggressive or bullying others? 34
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who has been aggressive or bullied others? 34
 
Chapter 6 helping gender diverse students feel included 41
 
Why do many students with gender diversity struggle so much? 41
 
What can I do to help a student who is gender diverse and struggling to feel accepted? 42
 
How will i have a constructive conversation with a student who is struggling with their experience of gender? 42
 
Section 2 controlling/spontaneity (remembering safety) 49
 
Chapter 7 finding the words with students who are in controlling behavior patterns 51
 
What can I do to help students who are controlling? 52
 
Chapter 8 supporting students who are worried, anxious, or stressed 55
 
Why do students experience worries, anxiety, and stress? 55
 
What can I do to help a student who is experiencing worries, anxiety, or stress? 56
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who is experiencing worries, anxiety, or stress? 56
 
Chapter 9 guiding students away from peer rivalry 61
 
Why do students get into rivalries with peers and siblings? 61
 
What can I do to help a student who is in a rivalry with a peer or sibling? 62
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who is in a rivalry with a peer or sibling? 62
 
Chapter 10 talking to students about unhealthy eating habits 69
 
Why do students have disordered eating? 69
 
What can I do to help a student who has disordered eating? 70
 
How will I have constructive conversation with a student who has disordered eating? 70
 
Section 3 avoiding/openness (remembering courage) 79
 
Chapter 11 finding the words with students who are in avoiding behavior patterns 81
 
What can I do to help students who are avoiding? 82
 
Chapter 12 supporting students who self-harm 85
 
Why do students self-harm? 85
 
What can I do to help a student who is self-harming? 86
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who is self-harming? 86
 
Chapter 13 helping students who people-please 95
 
Why do students develop people-pleasing behaviors? 95
 
What can I do to help a student who is people-pleasing? 96
 
How will I have a constructive conversation with a student who is people-pleasing? 96
 
Chapter 14 encouraging students who are depressed or apathetic 103
 
Why do students get depresse

About the author

Dr. Hayley Watson is a clinical psychologist specializing in children and adolescents and the founder of Open Parachute, a video-based school mental health program using documentary stories of real students sharing their experiences of overcoming struggle. The platform reaches more than half a million students and educators worldwide.

Summary

Boost your confidence in supporting the mental health of all students

Educators can't always fix or change students' challenging situations, but with Dr. Hayley Watson's Finding the Words, they can create compassionate, safe spaces to truly make a difference to student wellbeing. As educators, we are in a position where we can help students break out of cycles of anxiety, low mood, and peer struggles, without needing to be a mental health expert. This book shows you how to support students with issues like parental loss, low body image, bullying, addiction, and more--with practical language that you can use anytime you are on-the-spot with a struggling student. This language helps you set boundaries to protect your own wellbeing, by guiding your students towards self-reliance and resilience.

In Finding the Words, author and clinical psychologist Hayley Watson offers practical advice with a personal, self-reflective, and relatable tone. In each chapter, you'll explore the topics students struggle with most, including hot-button issues like consent and prejudice. You'll learn how to talk to kids about these issues in a way that helps them make positive changes in their lives. With this book, you will feel like you have a psychologist on hand to support you in those moments when you know your response could mean the world to a struggling student.
* Understand the common issues your students face--anxiety, low body image, acting out, and beyond
* Read first-person accounts from youth ages 5-19, showing how appropriate responses can nurture and support students through any challenge they face
* Gain specific, practical techniques and takeaways to use right away in your interactions with students
* Learn the most effective language to use when you are on-the-spot with a struggling student

This is a critical resource for school leaders, teacher leaders, classroom teachers and school staff. Any adults who work with youth can benefit from this insightful, expert advice on how to help in the moments when your students need you most.

Report

"Avoiding theory and jargon, Dr. Hayley Watson's Finding the Words is a hands-on resource for teachers and other caring adults who hope to address young people's mental health issues proactively, responsively, and responsibly. From her deep experience as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Watson presents a practical framework for understanding common problems young people are facing--and then illustrates it with sample conversations that offer constructive strategies to support young people in overcoming these obstacles. Using highly accessible language, she encourages us to act on everyday opportunities to have a positive impact on young people who are experiencing mental health challenges."
--Sheldon Berman, Ed.D., Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning, AASA, The School Superintendents Association
 
"Finding the Words serves as a trusted colleague for educators, offering guidance and examples crucial for supporting students in their moments of struggle. This reliable companion empowers educators to authentically connect with students, equipping them with the words needed to navigate challenging situations and foster meaningful understanding."
--Liz Hill, M.Ed., Assistant Superintendent, West Vancouver Schools, Canada
 
"Dr. Watson's kind and open heart in the pages of this educator's guide make it possible to reach and connect with students and heal ourselves. Having strength, courage, and knowledge in all our approaches even when challenged by a student's behavior is our own healing. Always leading with the heart, Dr. Watson makes us stronger and wiser through practical and accessible guidance. In this guide, educators can find comfort in knowing that there are answers to hard questions as they navigate challenges with students as we learn and grow together.""
--Maura Papile, L.I.C.S.W., Senior Director of Student Support Services, Quincy Public Schools
 
"The book beautifully encapsulates the idea that as educators, our role goes far beyond imparting knowledge; we are also responsible for nurturing the emotional well-being of our students. Dr. Watson highlights the crucial steps in self-reflection that can help students confront their inner needs and find their true selves. By making space for this self-discovery, educators can profoundly impact a student's personal growth. Every educator or supporter of education can benefit from this book."
--Scott Frauenheim, President and Chief Executive Officer, Distinctive Schools
 
"Finding the Words is more than just a book - it's a call to action, empowering educators to engage in transformative conversations with young people facing significant challenges in their lives. Dr. Watson skillfully uses real life scenarios to demonstrate the application of a six-part process designed to boost mental health resilience among youth. At the heart of this approach is the value placed on deep, meaningful conversations between young people and supportive adults, providing the context for nurturing the insights and skills youths need to help them navigate adversity."
--Jenny Williams, Educational Consultant and Developer of http://wellbeingbc.ca
 
"Dr. Hayley has a deep, authentic passion to help students' mental health journey and for educators to be equipped with the tools to help do and say the right thing in the moment. I believe this book will be the toolkit educators need to help students navigate some of their hardest years of mental health. Dr Hayley's wisdom, intellect and genuine care for humans comes through in the words of this book. She breaks down the seemly overwhelming subject of mental health and gives educators the confidence and the language to meet students where they are at. It gives constructive and practical examples of real-life interviews with students for teachers to draw on to prepare for the tough conversations."
--Jules Sebastian, Founder of The Sebastian Foundation

Product details

• Authors: Dr. Hayley Watson, Hayley Watson
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.05.2024
• EAN: 9781394187140
• ISBN: 978-1-394-18714-0
• No. of pages: 272
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Humanities, art, music > Education > Education system; Education, Bildungswesen, K-12, Counselling and care of students, K-12 / Leitung u. Verwaltung, Leadership & Administration (K-12)