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Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Support a Multi-Tiered System of School Counseling Supports by Matthew J. Beck, Erin M. D. Lane, and Ashley Dodson

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Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Support a Multi-Tiered System of School Counseling Supports by Matthew J. Beck, Erin M. D. Lane, and Ashley Dodson

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This article was interesting because the authors discussed a different technique when it comes to counseling. The counseling technique is called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This term is defined as "evidence-based theoretical approach that combines elements of cognitive-behavioral, positive psychological, and solution-focused brief counseling theories" (Beck, Lane, Dodson, 2021). This was an interesting theory for me because it plays a big role in helping individuals with their social anxiety. I was easily intrigued because I have social anxiety.

The concept of ACT for counselors is rooted in behaviorism and is holistic in nature. While performing ACT, the counselor has "strengths-based approach, client-created solutions, and focus on the present" (Beck, Lane, Dodson, 2021). Focusing on the present allows the client, or student, to be in the now and to put their focus on something other than past events. For some people, focusing on the past can become obsessive. Client solutions can be a huge thing for an individual. For an individual to obtain self-awareness towards their own problems and create healthy solutions, is something that everyone should want to be able to achieve.

My experience with my school counselor in elementary and middle school entailed me focusing only on traumatic events. This was due to a death occurring in my family almost every year from second grade to eighth grade. When I was in high school, I only saw the counselor twice within my four years. I saw her once because I was being bullied, so there was not really any ACT actions that I feel like could have helped. Another time was when I was getting ready to start applying for colleges. In my opinion, my school counselor did not do a lot of the things typical counselors. I never saw her talking with students, even in her office. I never saw her advocate for any minorities or support groups. Our counseling system seemed beneficial when it was positively impacting the school system as a whole.

References:
Beck, M. J., Lane, E. M. D., Dodson, A. (2021). Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Support a Multi-Tiered System of School Counseling Supports. Journal of School Counseling.

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Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Support a Multi-Tiered System of...

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I believe for students to succeed, they should have support from their school, guardians/parents, peers, and everyone else inside of their bubble. It's important to have the right people surrounding you. This needs to be happening in the early age of someone's life too, not just when they are about to be set off into the real world after high school. People should be supported throughout their life, even at the smallest moments at a young age.

I believe that an important characteristic to obtain an advocate role for every student is to be there for them. The students should know that the school counselor is one hundred percent there for them and there to help them whenever they need it. School counselors should have good relationships with all the staff. If all faculty members have a strong bond, they can help each other out with certain students. School counselors should obtain a positive, solid relationship with the parents of their students. The counselor needs the parents to know and understand that they want the best for their kids/students.

A program that I would like to establish as a future school counselor would be something along the lines of a mental health safety course. This program would entail going into depth with my students on suicide, self harm, and other things associated with mental health. I would want to show the students signs of mental health declining in others, and help them learn about ways they can help each other or themselves. I feel like this would be a great program to implement for the kids and their future.

My goal for school counselors is to make sure that the students know and fully understand that you are to be there for them. I wish for my students to realize that they are able to achieve great things, even when they do not believe in themselves.

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The results of my IAT were that I have weak association with academia with bad words and religion with good words. These results did not surprise me. I grew up in a very small, conservative town. My relationship with religion has always struggled in some way. When I was younger, I was in a relationship with God by fear. The church I attended, the people there were very critical and controlling. Now that I am older, I have decided to find a relationship with God. I still struggle at times with everything. Because of how I grew up in that church, my views on religion have been hard to change.

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My results of this IAT were a little shocking to me. The results stated that I prefer young people over old people. I find this shocking because I find myself not relating to anyone in my age group. I tend to make friends with people that are above my age group, probably 15 years older than I am. I notice with myself that I do not like to go out when there are a bunch of people my age. I sometimes feel like I am mentally above everyone around my age, maturity wise. I think because of some childhood trauma that I went through, it made me mature and act a few years older than the age I currently was.