MrsR
asks:
Q:
I need more counseling skills for my high school learners with drug abuse and very emotional neglected
Learners battle to open up - do not trust me - they become very aggressive when confronted - i need more skills to gain their trust and to help them on their road to self acceptance -
In Topics:
Teen alcohol and substance abuse
> 60 days ago
What the Expert Says:
Additional Answers (1)
Mrs. R,
It must be difficult to get emotionally neglected teenagers to open up to you. It is great that you are trying to reach out to them. Gaining trust is a gradual process that takes time. Some of your students may eventually open up to you, and others may never do so. Either way, it is important that you stay patient. As an educator it is your duty to provide them a high quality learning experience and a safe classroom environment.
Depending on the subject you teach, you can incorporate topics that may springboard class discussions about issues they care about. Having your students participate and share their opinion openly in class is a great start to building a sharing, safe classroom environment. While you cannot fix their home situations, you can help them think more deeply and critically in the classroom. The knowledge, skills, and values you teach in the classroom will hopefully empower them.
As a fellow teacher, I respect how you want to help your students by learning about them and having them share with you. If you want your students to open up to you, you need to first open up to them. Share stories from your life about times you have overcome hardship. By opening up to them, they may feel more comfortable coming to you.
Many times, in these situations, it is best to refer students to social workers and other support personnel at the school. Working together with other school staff will provide your students more support; by communicating with these staff you will also gain another perspective for helping them.
This article “About Youth Development” provides useful information about the pressures teenagers face today and how you can help teens.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_About_Youth/
Here are articles concerning teenagers and substance abuse:
http://www.education.com/topic/teen-alcohol-abuse/
Have faith in your ability, and your students will have faith in theirs.
Best wishes,
Hayley
It must be difficult to get emotionally neglected teenagers to open up to you. It is great that you are trying to reach out to them. Gaining trust is a gradual process that takes time. Some of your students may eventually open up to you, and others may never do so. Either way, it is important that you stay patient. As an educator it is your duty to provide them a high quality learning experience and a safe classroom environment.
Depending on the subject you teach, you can incorporate topics that may springboard class discussions about issues they care about. Having your students participate and share their opinion openly in class is a great start to building a sharing, safe classroom environment. While you cannot fix their home situations, you can help them think more deeply and critically in the classroom. The knowledge, skills, and values you teach in the classroom will hopefully empower them.
As a fellow teacher, I respect how you want to help your students by learning about them and having them share with you. If you want your students to open up to you, you need to first open up to them. Share stories from your life about times you have overcome hardship. By opening up to them, they may feel more comfortable coming to you.
Many times, in these situations, it is best to refer students to social workers and other support personnel at the school. Working together with other school staff will provide your students more support; by communicating with these staff you will also gain another perspective for helping them.
This article “About Youth Development” provides useful information about the pressures teenagers face today and how you can help teens.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_About_Youth/
Here are articles concerning teenagers and substance abuse:
http://www.education.com/topic/teen-alcohol-abuse/
Have faith in your ability, and your students will have faith in theirs.
Best wishes,
Hayley
> 60 days ago
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