COUNSELLING CONNECTIONS

Mid-term 3 is a time of challenges. While camp and retreat programs have concluded, the academic demands on students tend to land in the latter part of this term: they are facing subject selections or final exams or preparing for their best ATAR outlook. So, this week we offer two interrelated concepts of adolescent development and flourishing for your consideration and interest. These are self-acceptance and resilience. 

Self-acceptance

Self-acceptance for children and young people means they acknowledge they’re a complex, imperfect human capable of making mistakes as well as significant accomplishments. When faced with strong criticism, lack of success or negative perceptions, a child or young person who demonstrates self-acceptance is more likely to choose to think, “I accept myself no matter what”.

Self-acceptance can help children and young people deal with stressful situations, such as poor achievement, negative peer comments, issues with body image, identity and other developmental challenges and difficulties. Self-acceptance is not an excuse for an individual to accept their bad or inappropriate behaviour – rather, with strong self-acceptance, it’s much easier for a child or young person to realistically evaluate what they do and to work on changing behaviour that’s inappropriate or self-defeating. An article on 

self-acceptance from Beyond Blue is available here.

Self-acceptance is the Psychological Armour that Protects Young People. Please take a moment to read this helpful discussion of self-acceptance.

Adolescent resilience

The Raising Children Network has an excellent description and guide to resilience in teenagers and adolescents. Please click here to access this description.

PathFinder Health offers some wise and practical ways to build, encourage and support adolescent resilience. While a slightly long document, this file Building Resilience offers lots of practical steps that parents can include for all adolescents. 

The 7Cs of resilience

There is a great graphic called The 7Cs of Resilience which you can access here and print out. It might go well on the family fridge.

Farewell Mrs Buckley RN

Maureen Buckley RN has finished her five weeks here at Saints, stepping in for Sacha Donaldson RN while she was on leave. Maureen has been a wonderful partner in the Health and Wellbeing Centre and inspired immediate confidence in staff and students for her high levels of skill, approachability and concern. Sacha returns to the College on Monday 12 August. Farewell Maureen and many thanks.

And we say goodbye to Ms Alicia Gatti

Alicia Gatti, a Canberra University counselling student (intern), has been working with Br Roger to complete her placement hours. This week she completed her internship of 200 hours, and we thank Alicia for her skilled and generous support of our boys over most of the first semester and this term to date. We wish Alicia well as she concludes her Master of Counselling program.

PEERS social group training

A brochure has come my way advertising social group skills training. It is online and after school hours. It is not a college program nor is it recommended by me, yet it might be of interest to some families who feel that one or more of their adolescents could profit by such a 14-week program. If interested, please access the PEERS brochure here.

Ms Marijke Keller             mkeller@cns.catholic.edu.au     07 4052 9136

Br Roger                               brroger@cns.catholic.edu.au     07 4052 9135