Camas Ridge Counseling Corner
November 16-20, 2020
In this edition:
- Dealing with Grief (loss of activity, connect, traditional life offerings)
- Breathing Prompts & Exercises
- Parent Nights and Groups
- Counseling Center offerings
- 4j and Community Resources (food, technology, childcare, energy assistance, rent assistance)
- Office hours & contact information
- Prior newsletters
Grief: Loss of activity, family tradition, and normalcy
Grief is a normal process. It's harder to work through grief when we are less aware that it is occurring. It's easier to recognize grief when connected with death.
It is helpful to be aware that we and our children are all experiencing grief, recognize the signs, and build in coping strategies and self-care to address and build our resilience.
The 5 common stages of grief are fluid and do not occur in predictable order. Children may repeat the same stage over and over and may entirely skip other stages. Children also have difficulty clearly identifying what they are feeling, experience most emotions physically, and may feel more confused without being able to process the separate feelings.
First Stage: Denial-characterized by avoidance, confusion, shock, or fear
Second Stage: Anger-characterized by frustration and anxiety. They may also have feelings of abandonment by teachers and friends and feel loss of security and control in their lives. Sometimes this may come out as clinginess, bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, and tantrums.
Third Stage: Bargaining-trying to make deal to go back to normal (extra hand-washing, pleading)
Fourth Stage: Depression-feelings of helplessness, avoidance of regular activities, withdrawal. For children, may also look like quick changes in mood and physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, and exhaustion.
Final Stage: Acceptance-readjustment and come to terms with new situation; understand temporary and can go back to prior joys in future.
Kid President's Thankful
Focusing on gratitude and what we are thankful for helps us shift to a positive mindset.
Kid President's 25 Reasons to be Thankful
Happiness Hacks
Tips for when feelings of grief get intense
Here are some tips from The Dougy Center for when feelings of grief get intense:
Breathing Exercises/Prompts
click on picture to access breathing prompts shared with your student(s) this week
Breathe With Me
Dandelion Breathing
Shooting Stars Breathing
Parent Groups
The south region counselors would like to invite you to 2 parent groups/events:
1) Behavior Management Parenting Group
- run by UO Child and Family Center
- Wednesday evenings 6:30-7:30pm
- First event Wednesday Nov. 11 6:30-7:30 pm
- Zoom link: Parent Group Night (zoom link) (Meeting ID: 912 0842 5682; Passcode: Parents)
2) Timely Topic Tuesdays
- run by elementary counselors on varying topic specific to times.
- Second Tuesday of month 6:00-7:00pm
- First event Tuesday, Nov. 10 6:00-7:00 at Timely Topic Tuesdays (zoom link) (Meeting ID: 914 4889 6490; Passcode: 496274)
See this flyer for more information on these and additional Parent Nights and support opportunities in the community: Parent Groups and Events Flyer
Counseling Center Services and Offerings
Lunch Bunch
- K/1: Tues/Fri12:15-12:45
- 2/3: Mon/Thurs 12:30-1:00
- 4/5: Tues/Thurs 12:45-1:15
Students can join by accessing my zoom link through my page in Clever
Mindful Meetings
Mindful Meetings: Open to any student who would like to join us while we focus on learning about our brains and strategies to tame and control our brains and emotions. Come every time or whenever you can.
- K/1: Wed. 10:00-10:25
- 2/3: Wed. 11:15-11:45
- 4/5: Wed. 12:35-1:05
Students can join by accessing my zoom link through my page in Clever
Virtual Counseling Space
Explore my virtual classroom: Camas Virtual Counseling Space
And visit our Camas Ridge Counseling Corner website
4j and Community Resources
Energy Assistance Stability Coronavirus Relief Program
The Energy Assistance Stability Coronavirus Relief Program (EASCR) is a federal program that provides financial assistance to low-income households for home heating and energy bills.
To apply, call Catholic Community Services at 541-345-3642 and leave a message. This funding is separate from LIHEAP and does not require waiting until 1st of month.
For more information, see: https://www.lanecounty.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=16810052
Need Help or Connection to Resources?
If your family is in need of any additional resource, whether it is food, clothing, school supplies, parenting supports, mental health supports or something else, please do not hesitate to reach out.
We will always do what we can to help!
Use this Google Form to request support: https://forms.gle/W5VzfcyBtMWKhwdYA
Contact & Scheduling Information
https://www.meetingbird.com/l/JaimeHock/counselorchat
Office hours (by appointment or drop-in):
- Mondays 1:30-2:30
- Monday evenings 5:00-6:00 (by appointment)
- Fridays 1:30-2:30
Email: hock_j@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://sites.google.com/4j.lane.edu/camas-ridge-counseling-program/home
Location: Camas Ridge Community School, 1150 E 29th Ave, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
Phone: (541)760-6199
Prior Newsletters:
- November 9-13, 2020
- November 2-6, 2020
- October 28, 2020
- October 22, 2020
- October 15, 2020
- Fall 2020 (return to school)
- Summer 2020 (summer resources & anti-racism)
- May 2020 (collaborative problem solving)
- April 2020 (brain breaks & calm corners)