A few weeks ago, I was presented the opportunity to de-stress in a Himalayan salt room with the School-Based team. Initially, I was unsure what to expect. Although I was familiar with Himalayan salt lamps and had used them in my therapy room, I really didn’t know what they did. Thus, a few members of the team went to SALTEFX in Harrisburg. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the owner, who started by explaining the potential health benefits of the salt room. She elaborated that

How would you define “spirituality”? Despite being an abstract, subjective concept, one general definition might be a recognition of and/or connection to something greater than your individual human experience . While, for some, this includes adhering to a particular religious system or beliefs in a specific god or deity, this is not necessarily the case. For example, some might describe their experience of “God” as being a connection to nature (the G reat O ut D oors, so to

Traumatic events trigger biological changes in the human brain that can impact brain development, especially in children. For individuals who experience trauma on a regular basis, these changes can result in physical and mental health problems. Research has shown the more traumatic experiences a person has in their lifetime, the higher the risk of health issues later in life. The team at Laurel Life uses a trauma-informed approach to providing mental health services, focusing

When discussing personal and professional growth, a frequently-drawn comparison is to that of plants. Some examine establishing a work culture that is like good soil, fostering individuals’ growth. Others emphasize having strong foundational roots, from which the person’s experiences can expand and branch out. However, these similes and metaphors all presuppose that, given the right surroundings, growth is inevitable. Unfortunately, as many a gardener will tell you, sometimes

How Drama, Art, and Dance Can Help Promote a Socially and Emotionally Healthy Classroom As teachers, we routinely interact with students who experience a multitude of issues. Some look at school as the safest, most predictable place they can go. Others hate coming to school, dreading what they will encounter that day. Still others fear for their younger siblings at home while they are gone. And, for some, socialization is an intimidating work-in-progress, both with other chil

Growing up on a family farm without many friends nearby was difficult for me as a child. I always wanted to go across the yard and play with other kids but, unfortunately, we had cows for neighbors. Thus, the feeling of isolation from my friends was tough; but, I had my parents there to keep me company and help me, especially with my school work. Little did I know how invaluable their interest in my education would be! Throughout my 23 years of working with children and paren

The COVID-19 pandemic affected us all greatly. We are still looking at some of the long-term effects that months of isolation took on people. As clinicians who have experience in mental health prior to the pandemic we noticed a drastic increase in mental health concerns after the pandemic. We have noted that the level of need has drastically increased. It seems that the pandemic has exacerbated previously existing mental health concerns and aided in the development of new ill

Do you ever find yourself experiencing one thing in the moment, and getting tripped up by some internal experience lingering around from the past? On the other hand, have you ever tripped over clutter left lying around (by yourself, your spouse, student etc.)? I know I have . The pain and frustration, from stubbed toe or banged shin, both rising. If this is a regular occurrence, it may speak to our overall environmental wellness. What do you think of when you hear the phrase

I started doing Adopt-A-Cow through Discover Dairy last school year because Steelton-Highspire was virtual most of the year. I grew up on a 500-acre dairy farm in Lancaster County so agriculture is always something that has been near and dear to my heart. In a zoom early into the 2020-2021 school year, one of my kids mentioned that milk came from the store; we had this whole conversation that milk actually comes from cows on a farm. Most of my students at Steelton Elementary

How expressive arts use the brain, body, and imagination to facilitate the healing process. What is Expressive arts therapy? Expressive arts therapy is an integrative, multimodal approach that utilizes a variety of methods including writing, music, visual arts, drama, and dance to help people achieve personal growth. 5 Major Domains: Art Therapy Music Therapy Dance/Movement Therapy Poetry/Bibliotherapy Drama Therapy What makes expressive arts therapies so effective? The body

There are many career options available in the field of mental health, including numerous counseling roles. Most counseling positions...

“Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.” This was an intriguing statement from Ban Ki Moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations, during the 2012 international conference on happiness and well-being. The former UN General Secretary commented that the “Gross National Product has long been the yardstick by which economies and politicians have been measured” and suggests that happiness be included in our standard calculations of progress. This is being c

How to Cultivate a “Growth Mindset” “Focus on progress, not perfection.” As a therapist, I find myself saying this phrase over and over again, especially to folks who are hard on themselves in the face of setbacks. Whether it’s a student who sees himself as “dumb” for struggling with math or a hardworking woman calling herself a ‘bad mom” for a minor setback at home, my clinical experience has shown me that people who see setbacks as a reflection of who they are experience mo

Trauma-Informed Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom Creating and supporting a trauma-informed classroom requires intentional trauma-informed social emotional learning strategies that help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.. That learning comes in various styles requiring teachers and staff to be able to think on their toes and the ability to try nontraditional methods of educating a classroom. According to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2

March is National Social Work month, the time to celebrate the work we do to help our clients help themselves. In pondering what this means, one phrase comes to mind: trust the process . I have supervised social workers since 1997, and in that time frame many things have changed. I have seen modalities and systems grow, change, and delete. Interventions I used in the 1990’s with no labels now have studies behind them and names such as Trauma-Informed Care, narrative therapy,

Happiness: a word with many definitions and of the utmost importance. One psychologist, attempting to measure happiness, conceptually defined it as “subjective well-being.” How do you perceive your level of happiness? For me, I assess my happiness through the 7 dimensions of wellness. This approach allows me to have a comprehensive and more honest approach. One dimension of wellness is occupational. Do you receive satisfaction from your job? When one dimension is lacking, the

Hope. Hope is what we have. Hope is what we preach. Hope is what we teach our students. Hope, in the fact that our days get better, our weeks improve, and that the school year ends successfully for our students. Our Laurel Life students often come to us at times in their lives where hope is sometimes non-existent, where it is such an abstract concept that it could be impossible to imagine that things or life could get better. However, we as Laurel Life staff and administrato

Behavioral and emotional issues can prevent students from succeeding in school. The pandemic has amplified these issues, impacting...

Tips to help kids cope with anxiety, depression, and grief

Being a parent is difficult work. There is no owner’s manual explaining how to parent a child. More often than not a person parents based on prior experiences, word of mouth from family and friends, and pure blind luck. What makes an already difficult job exponentially more taxing is when that child might be experiencing difficulties with behaviors, emotions, or academic work. As a professional educator and children’s counselor I often hear that “my child behaves badly (inse