Part of what I have been working on the past few weeks is getting into the individual groove, which means things like developing individual plans and having a space conducive to individual work.
Although my guys have had individual therapy, historically it has been based on need and by request rather than by appointment. There are a few problems with that method. One is that a handful of guys will use all of my individual time while others are content with whatever they get out of group. The other problem is that I become the face of immediate crisis intervention for others. While I like working in the moment like that, I also think therapy is helpful when one is in a calm and rationally thinking state of mind. So, in an effort to shake things up a little, I started giving each student equal portions of my time, by appointment, regardless what is going on in their lives, in addition to be available when they need me.
This allows some control to become available to the kids. If all is going well, they have choices of what they want to do with their individual time. That being said, Totika is one of their favorite options and my therapy recommendation of the week. It's like Jenga, but whenever a block is pulled, a therapeutic question may be asked. I have the self-esteem deck of cards, but the guys love this so much, I imagine I will slowly order all of the decks.
And in art news, here is the bulletin board I made for my office.
This was made from a regular large brown framed cork board from the local office supply store. I covered it with gesso, oil stick, oil paint and after it dried, oil pastel and fixative. After all was dry (two weeks!!!) I wrapped the frame in torn colored tissue paper and Mod Podge. Then I added images I had around the house and recent experiments like kirigami and paper models. This hangs over my desk.
Although my guys have had individual therapy, historically it has been based on need and by request rather than by appointment. There are a few problems with that method. One is that a handful of guys will use all of my individual time while others are content with whatever they get out of group. The other problem is that I become the face of immediate crisis intervention for others. While I like working in the moment like that, I also think therapy is helpful when one is in a calm and rationally thinking state of mind. So, in an effort to shake things up a little, I started giving each student equal portions of my time, by appointment, regardless what is going on in their lives, in addition to be available when they need me.
This allows some control to become available to the kids. If all is going well, they have choices of what they want to do with their individual time. That being said, Totika is one of their favorite options and my therapy recommendation of the week. It's like Jenga, but whenever a block is pulled, a therapeutic question may be asked. I have the self-esteem deck of cards, but the guys love this so much, I imagine I will slowly order all of the decks.
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