Group Themes
What were the 2 core focuses of the group?
1. Improving social skills and coping strategies when feeling nervous/anxious/stressed out
2. A way to connect with others that may feel the same way that we do
What's your best coping skill?
Anything gets the points!
What was the happy movie about?
...
Why are friendships important?
- friendships play a major role in emotional safety and confidence
- good friendships involve respect, listening and kindness, these skills can be learned and practiced, and healthy relationships help reduce anxiety and loneliness
What's the easiest form of relaxation? (it's also free)
Laughter!
What was the format of groups that we followed on the agenda?
1. warm up
2. review
3. activities
4. reflection/questions
5. mindfulnes homework
What types of coping plans did we make throughout sessions?
- group one for presentation
- one for school/tests
- personalized general anxiety/worry
What did we do in the activity: Adjusting your attention flashlight?
We likened this to the way you can adjust the “beam” of a flashlight—changing the way it widens, narrows, or redirects focus depending on the situation
We talked about how when narrowing focus helps (during tests and sports) and how broadening focus helps ( to calm anxiety) and how to intentionally move attention away from threat
In the thought-feeling-behavior pathway, what do we change in order to change our behavior?
THOUGHT
Why is learning to relax important?
Many psychologists came to the conclusion that anxiety and relaxation cannot exist at the same time. If we can increase relaxation, we reduce anxiety
What were our group guidelines that we came up with on the first session and used throughout group?
TBD
What are the four types of coping skills?
- body-based
- thinking-based
- attention-based
- behavioral
What did we do in the activity called: Helpful and Powerful Reminders?
You all were asked to come up with helpful reminders such as “I’ve had this feeling before and it went away”, “I’ve handled this before” and “This feeling will pass”.
What's the main reason we make coping plans?
When we are prepared to handle anxiety, we are more inclined to successfully do it
What's the difference between a support person and a role model?
Support person: Someone who you know and are close to and can lean on for guidance and help when needed
Role Model: Someone that is known or a public figure that has admirable traits and people want to imitate
What type of homework did you have each week?
Mindfulness!
Why are coping skills important?
Correct answer is up to Nina's discretion
What does CALM stand for in the CALM way to handle conflict?
C – Calm your body and mind
A – Acknowledge feelings (yours and others’)
L – Listen and look for solutions
M – Make a plan or move forward respectfully
What are the steps to the 6-step problem solving plan?
1. Identify the problem
2. Brainstorm solutions
3. Evaluate options
4. Choose a solution
5. Try it out
6. Review and adjust
What TYPE of things did we share with each other on the first session and last session?
Our favorite things!
What are the statistics on anxiety that we went over in our first session together?
- anxiety is the #1 most common mental health condition of adolescents
- 1/3 people will experience anxiety between the ages of 13-18
What's Nina's favorite coping skill?
.....
What was your first mindfulness homework?
To enjoy an activity with someone else over the week between session 1 and session 2
Why do we want to use CALM when handling conflicts in our relationships?
Conflict is a normal part of relationships, calm communication prevents escalation, problems can be solved respectfully, and emotions and behavior can be managed during disagreements
What does uncertainty drive?
ANXIETY