Blog Archives

PeaceBox - Tuesday, October 2nd

9/27/2018

Dear WHS Parents,

We are writing to let you know the PeaceBox: Mindfulness on the Move mobile mindfulness unit has been donated to our campus as part of the PeaceBox "Summer of Giving” program*. PeaceBox will be parked on our campus October 2nd from 7 AM to 6 PM. WHS students, staff, and parents will have the option to participate in complimentary mindfulness exercises for 20 minute sessions offered every half hour.

Currently, some teachers have signed up to bring their classrooms to briefly visit the PeaceBox. Parents will be receiving an email notification directly from their student's teachers if they are planning to visit. Any student can opt out of the classroom participation if they do not want to participate. Otherwise students are able to visit the PeaceBox before school, during their lunch, or after school. The PeaceBox will also be open to the community from 7am until the school bell rings at 8:50am and again from 4:15pm until 6pm.

PeaceBox teaches a secular approach to mindfulness and offers tools intended to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance wellness. The timing is critical as WHS students have recently reported high levels of stress.

The partnership with PeaceBox began last spring when Westlake High School PTO funded a 6-week Mindfulness@Schools training offered by PeaceBox. Sixteen WHS counselors and teachers participated and received certificates of completion. Eanes ISD has a district wide initiative to keep focus on our educational objectives of communication (respect, civility, and tolerance), SEL - Social Emotional Learning (respect for all, empathy resilience), and innovation (always striving for best practice). We believe this evolving partnership with PeaceBox will continue to advance us in each direction.

If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, Stacy Thrash, owner of PeaceBox, will be leading our Speaker Series this Thursday from 12-1 PM at the Westbank Library and more information about PeaceBox teachings can be found at https://peacebox.com.

- Kristi Waidhofer and Katie Bryant - Student Support Counselors

*PeaceBox Summer of Giving program: Austin-area Businesses partner with PeaceBox to donate "PEACE DAYS" mindfulness education and practice to eligible schools. For every 2 days an employer hires PeaceBox to train their employees, one PEACE DAY will be donated to an eligible school.

Feeling blue? go green!

9/26/2018

We are past the first official day of fall, and now we can look forward to changing leaves, dropping temperatures, and an abundance of pumpkin spice lattes. One of the best things about fall in Texas, in my opinion, is that the temperature outdoors is no longer one hundred degrees. Beautiful weather is coming and so is the opportunity to take advantage of it.

Decades of research has shown that spending time outdoors is excellent for your mind, body, and soul. The effect is so beneficial that ecotherapy - what clinician Howard Clinebell described as “healing and growth nurtured by healthy interaction with the earth” - is gaining popularity as an effective mode of therapy. Ecotherapy is based on the premise that humans are a part of nature and are profoundly affected by spending time in it. Being immersed in the great outdoors makes us realize that there are things bigger than ourselves and our worries. It’s not only the sight of beautiful scenery that makes us feel better: our other senses are engaged in the therapeutic experience as well. The sound of natural noises like flowing water and the scent of natural fragrances like flowers and rain-misted foliage do wonders to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

You don’t have to schedule a session with a certified ecotherapist to reap the benefits of ecotherapy. Now that it’s cooling down in Austin, there is no limit to the possibilities for outdoor exploration. Here’s a list of good-for-the-soul things you can do with your student this fall:

Get into the spirit of the season by going to a pumpkin patch and picking out your own bulbous fruit. Nomad Ranch offers an abundance of pumpkins as well as sweeping pastoral views of the countryside. Barton Hill Farms pumpkin patch is voted the most scenic pumpkin patch in Texas with its proximity to the Colorado River and fields of flowers, pumpkins, and farm animals.
Hike! The beautiful Violet Crown trail offers a bit of a challenge for even the seasoned hiker. The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve takes hikers on a gorgeous stroll past a waterfall and an overlook of the basin. A lesser-known gem in South Austin is the Sunset Valley Nature Area, which leads hikers on a serene journey through quiet and undisturbed forest.
Take it easy at a park. Other than the famed Zilker park, Austin is home to many gorgeous green areas, such as Onion Creek Metropolitan Park. Described as “flat, woody and pond-filled” on its website, it seems like a perfect place to go for some ecotherapy. If you’re looking for some quiet time in nature with the addition of peacocks, look no further than Mayfield park!
Take time to smell the flowers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. View the spectacular array of native plants and flowers and the animals that love them, such as hummingbirds.

If an outdoor expedition isn’t possible, you can still elevate your spirits by bringing some nature inside. Several species of flowers thrive in Texas autumn weather, such as chrysanthemums, pansies, and the brilliantly purple Texas aster flower. Hardier options include a display of fall gourds and pumpkins, which can cheer your student and yourself as you think about the holidays to come and the loveliness of Texas in the fall.

These ecotherapy approaches won’t remedy all your worries, but they are wonderful ways to spend your day and lift your spirits. Get out there, Chaps, and stay healthy!

-MSSW Intern Kirsten Dalquist

Happy and Safe Homecoming!

9/20/2018

Fall in Texas means football and football means homecoming and homecoming means mums (which did you know are primarily a Texas thing?). Homecoming also means dresses, dinner reservations, party buses/limos, and parties (both pre-graming and the after party). We want to make sure that parents are educated in providing a fun but safe homecoming experience for their teenagers!

Did you know that when a teen admits to drinking, they aren't admitting to drinking the same way an adult drinks? Teens chronically are binge drinking. Binge drinking is much more dangerous than casual/social drinking. This article explains the dangers of binge drinking and how to talk to your child about their drinking habits!

What's a parent to do? SAMHSA recommends to "Talk. They Hear You.", with the following goals in mind:

Voice your Values. Over 80% of kids 10-18 say parents have the biggest impact on their decision on whether to drink, so decide upon your family values and communicate your expectations to them. Keep in mind this can also include clever ways to help them get out of tricky peer pressure situations as discussed in this article!
Show you care. Keep calm and neutral while stressing the short-term consequences on your child's growing brain, social standing and academic performance.
Show you are informed. Teach them about alcohol and how it affects their growing body. Read below for some good info to share with your student.
Help them resist peer pressure. Agree on a word or phrase he or she can use to have you pick them up, no questions asked. Come up with 5 excuses they can use to refuse a drink. This article has some excellent suggestions!

Three Things To Remind Your Students About Alcohol:

Alcohol affects you, even if you don't feel it. How fast alcohol affects you is influenced by many things, including your weight, how much you've eaten, how fast you drink and even changes in your hormones that happen during the month. Even if you aren't slurring your words or stumbling, alcohol is causing changes in how you act and react.
The only thing that will sober you up is time. Coffee, cold showers, exercise or other "cures" will not speed up how fast your body gets rid of the alcohol. Know this when your friends want to do shots or play drinking games. It takes one hour for a 100 lb. girl to metabolize 1 oz. of alcohol.
Have a plan. Remember that some of your friends may want to say no, too - support them. Ideas: Offer to be the designated driver. Carry the same drink around all night; pouring some down the bathroom sink. Have Fasten or your parents ready to call for a ride.

Don't be a afraid to talk to your kids - they are listening and they DO want your support!

Often times an easy location to binge drink is on the party bus/limo ride over to dinner, the game, or the after party. Here are some tips on what to look out for if your child is celebrating with a party bus!

We also want to remind parents (and their teens) about services like Uber, Lyft, Fasten, Yellow Cab, and BeMyDD because there is no "good" reason to even be a passenger in a car when someone else has been drinking!

Homecoming CAN be an amazing, memorable, fun, and safe time. Make sure you are talking with your teen so that they can enjoy this homecoming and future events too!

Go Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer

National Suicide Prevention Week 2018

9/13/2018

Did you know that for young Texans ages 15-34, suicide is the second leading cause of death? Or that for every completed suicide there are 25 suicide attempts??

Parents can play a key role in early detection of warning signs and behaviors indicating that a child may be considering suicide. Trouble focusing, increased withdrawal from family, friends and school, a lack of interest in favorite activities and risk-taking behaviors are a few signs that indicate suicide risk.

We’re kicking off National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with a simple message — trust your gut and start the conversation. It can make a big difference.

Furthermore, if you've been stayed on top of our last several blogs you've may have noticed a theme of CONNECTION. When people feel connected, they can no longer feel isolated and therefore are at a DECREASED risk of suicide.

To support our students we are asking all Westlake students to download A Friend Asks on to their iPads. A Friend Asks is a user-friendly app to learn more about the warning signs of suicide and mental health illness and how to access help! We recommend that parents download this app as well as it's extremely informative.

As always we want to make sure everyone has access to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number. Download this card to carry in your wallet or save the number into your phone!

Additional resources for CONNECTION to have saved in your phone!

Crisis Text Line - Text “HELLO” to 741-741

National Suicide Hotline
800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
800-442-HOPE (4673)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-TALK (8255)

The Trevor Lifeline
866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386)

MCOT – Mobile Crisis Outreach Team
512-472-HELP

Finally, just a reminder that there is tons of support at school. We are lucky to have two Master's Level clinical interns from the University of Texas joining us this year. Contact us at any time!

Stay Healthy, Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer

Take Time To Pause!

9/6/2018

The students are already moving full steam ahead which is great BUT it's important to take a moment for yourself tune in to what's important.

Mindful outlines easy steps to do this: Here are three simple ways to make your time your own, no matter where you are.

1) First, take time for nothing — really. When we have a moment to spare, we have a tendency to try and fill that time up with things, be it places to go or people to see. Unfortunately, this often has the opposite effect than intended, leaving us wound up when we actually wanted to unwind. Follow these three tips to give yourself the chance to do nothing at all and truly savor your down time.

2) Then, savor something beautiful around you. Not all of us have the time plan out a formal meditation practice, but adding a mindful pause when you’re at the beach or simply enjoying the view from your backyard can provide you with the opportunity to notice how your body feels and be present with the here and now. Try these three ways to practice taking meaningful pauses in different outdoor settings.

3) Finally, keep your mind steeped in the moment. It’s common to do one thing while thinking of the next — thoughts racing as you compile a to-do list in your head. Explore this meditation practice to bring your attention back to the present moment and focus on one thing at a time.

Allow me to share a brief story. Last semester I had had a long day at work. Due to the events of the day I even left work an hour late. I was also in a time crunch because I had an exercise class scheduled up north at 7pm. So I rushed home (can anyone rush home in Austin traffic?) and changed into my work out clothes. I was all prepared to walk out the door when I realized that my purse felt lighter than normal. Upon inspection I learned that my wallet was missing. PANIC MODE! I retraced my steps, called the restaurant we had been at for lunch (it wasn't there). I checked my bank account (thankfully no new charges). So where was my wallet? I decided to come back to the school just to see if maybe it fell out of my purse in my office. IT WAS THERE! Whew!!! But now the pressure was on...I could maybe make the work out class and only be 10-15 minutes late. The anxiety grew as I sat in traffic trying to get up north when I finally took a breath and said, "No. You need to SLOW DOWN." I took the exit and made my way to Mount Bonnell and got there just in time for the sunset. I savored every second of that sunset, the changing colors, the moving clouds, the occasional boat on the lake. I snapped the above photo to be a reminder of that moment and how important it was to slow down and the beauty that is happening all around us but we are often too busy to notice. I missed my work out class but the comfort and relaxation I gained in those moments watching the sunset was exactly what my body needed.

Here’s hoping you all find moments to enjoy being mindful this week.

Stay Healthy, Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer

PeaceBox - Tuesday, October 2nd

Feeling blue? go green!

Happy and Safe Homecoming!

National Suicide Prevention Week 2018

Take Time To Pause!

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