Saida Eazizayene

I developed this intervention, particularly for children. After building trust with the child through one-on-one sessions, I organize a group session with other children in the same age range. For instance, if my client is eight, I will aim for 6-11 children in our group. Of course, after the consent of the parent/guardian of my client, I will ask all the parents in the school if they would like their child(ren) to support my client by being a part of the counseling group. 

This intervention will allow my client to get insight from other children going through the same or at least similar experiences, which will likely help them understand if they hear it from other younger people. The guests or those children joining us to share their experiences and offer empathy will encourage them to be supportive, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent kids. 

I use various evidence-based techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness practices, to help our students/clients overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors. I believe in a holistic approach to mental health, addressing both the mind and body.

The wisdom comes when things start to fall apart. That's where we should take the initiative to do the right thing.  When maladaptive behavior occurs, we service providers, educators, and parents have two choices: either escalate the situation and make the consequences double, or we can use strategies to de-escalate the situation and make it an opportunity for all of us to learn. 

To achieve that, I developed an emotion tracker. 

I designed this tool to help students identify their challenging emotions early before they develop into more significant ones or are expressed in a way that will create more difficulties.