# data[].attributes.body
19 Tex. Admin. Code §239.15

American Counseling Association (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics.

https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2021). The ASCAMindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College-and Career Readiness for Every Student describe.

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/Mindsets-Behaviors.pdf

Koch, S. (2020, February). School counselors are school leaders. School Counselors Are School Leaders - American School Counselor Association (ASCA). https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Newsletters/March-2020/School-Counselors-are-School-Leaders?st=NE

Yalom ID. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy

(4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.

# data[].attributes.body
Standard 4C of the Texas Administrative Code addresses the significance of including teachers,  parents, and administrators in the involvement of student progress. Each stakeholder will be included in the framework and progression of Worry Warriors. Teachers, administrators, and parents each hold an important role in promoting group counseling, referring students, and maintaining student confidentiality.

# data[].attributes.body
The Texas Administrative Code contains principal standards that are required by the school counselor to sustain while conducting their counseling program. Standard 3C focuses on the importance of using appropriate counseling theories and techniques in response to students' needs in a small group setting. I will use appropriate counseling techniques that encourage student social and emotional growth regularly.

# data[].attributes.headline
Worry Warriors & Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors

# data[].attributes.subject
Worry Warriors & Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors

# data[].attributes.body
Worry Warriors uses a range of Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors, such as instillation of hope, universality, altruism, and interpersonal learning (Yalom, 1995).

Instillation of Hope: By the end of the 6-week group sessions, all counseling objectives will be met.

Universality: Students will support one another during group sessions. They will encourage each other while also working toward overcoming test anxiety for themselves.

Altruism: Students will encourage each other while also working toward overcoming test anxiety for themselves.

Interpersonal Learning: Students will have the opportunity to share and offer positive feedback to group members.

# data[].attributes.body
Stage 1

Introductions

The first counseling session for Worry Warriors will set the tone for the next six weeks of group counseling. The first session is designed to introduce all students in a positive and respectful manner, as well as lay the ground rules for expectations and confidentiality with the group commitment poster. This activity will allow each student in the group to feel comfortable to share their thoughts and feelings about struggling with test anxiety.

Stage 2

Goal Setting

Each week the group will go over discussions, skills learned, coping strategies, and rules and expectations so that continuous progress can be made toward each students’ goals. Students will have time to share their progress with the group each week. A goal log will be kept for each student to track their own progress. I will check their tracker at the end of each session.

Stage 3

Group Closure

The group closure will reflect on growth and achievement for members of the group. Students are encouraged to check in with each other to offer support and kindness. I will monitor grades and will check in with students on a periodic basis, depending on how well they are able to use their coping strategies and their level of progress dealing with test anxiety. A post survey will be asked of the teacher or parent who referred the student. The survey assesses the student’s level of ability to deal or resolve their issue with test anxiety. If a student is showing little or no progress, an outside referral may be offered to the parent.

# data[].attributes.body
After discussing the meaning and purpose of confidentiality, students will sign a confidentiality poster agreeing to all the rules of the group. The poster will be displayed in the counseling room and the counselor will remind students to read the confidentiality poster at the end of each session.

# data[].attributes.body
During the second faculty meeting of the school year, I will announce that Worry Warriors will begin in two weeks and explain the process of nominating a student, as well as giving parents the opportunity to nominate their child. An email will be sent to teachers to complete the Parent/Teacher Pre-Screening survey. Parents will be provided with the information to nominate their child during the first parent night with the counselor.

# data[].attributes.body
The signed parent consent form is mandatory for students to be eligible to participate in group counseling. The form provides the counselor with the parent's permission to allow the student to be involved in group counseling.

# data[].attributes.body
This survey will consist of five questions, in which the student will rate their willingness with a response of No, Maybe, or Yes.

1. Are you willing to participate in group projects?

No    Maybe    Yes

2. Are you willing to talk about your feelings in a small group with other students?

No    Maybe    Yes

3. Are you willing to work with other students in the group?

No    Maybe    Yes

4. Are you willing to listen to others and share personal stories?

No    Maybe    Yes

5. Are you willing to play games with the group?

No    Maybe    Yes

# data[].attributes.body
A teacher or parent can complete a pre-screening survey if they suspect a student is showing signs of repeated anxiety due to test taking and the issue is hindering the student's academic success. Based on the data collected from the survey, the counselor will determine if the student is eligible to participate in group counseling.

Before a student can participate in Worry Warriors group counseling, a signed parent consent form is required. The counselor will contact the parent and student to determine the student's level of interest and willingness to participate.

The survey will consist of six questions, in which the adult will rate the response with 0-3, (0- No, 1- Very little, 2- Somewhat, 3- Yes).

1. Does test anxiety affect the student’s grades?

0   1   2   3

2. Has test anxiety affected the student’s attendance?

0   1   2   3

3. Has test anxiety affected the student’s emotions (displaying signs of increased anger, sadness, or anxiety)?

0   1   2   3

4. Has test anxiety affected the student’s academic behavior (not participating in class or completing their work)?

0   1   2   3

5. Has test anxiety affected the student’s eating habits (eating less or more than usual)?

0   1   2   3

6. Has test anxiety affected the student’s ability to participate in extracurricular activities?

0   1   2   3

# data[].attributes.body
After the completion of Worry Warriors, students will be prepared with the following mindsets and behaviors based on the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies.

Mindset:

Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being (ASCA,2021).

Behaviors:
Self Managing Skills
B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills

B-SMS 10. Ability to manage transitions and adapt to change

Social Skills
B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them

B-SS 4. Empathy

B-SS 6. Effective collaboration and cooperation skills

B-SS 9. Social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and environment

(ASCA, 2021).

# data[].attributes.body
https://padlet.com/kkidd5_/worry-warriors-wgv1swli1xqkifqf/wish/2880420932

# data[].attributes.body
Worry Warriors is a counseling group that consists of middle school students struggling with test anxiety. This group will progressively work towards learning and discussing coping skills to manage feelings of anxiety before, during, and after assessments. This group will be a supportive group for students to openly share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
"The school counselor as a leader in the 21st century is someone who can create a fundamental transformation in the learning cultures of schools. Leadership in today's schools requires vision, the ability to develop others, collaboration skills, the willingness to be accountable and the ability to see the bigger picture. School counselors are and need to be school leaders" (Koch, 2020). This is a

The leadership style for Worry Warriors is Participative. The group is lead by the counselor, but is also navigated by the student participants. The counselor will guide the group with the focus each week, as well as strategies for goal progress, but the students’ discussions and level of interest when participating will determine the outcome of each session.

# data[].attributes.body
The teacher or parent who provided the referral will be asked to complete a post counseling survey. The survey will consist of five questions, in which the adult will rate the response with 0-3, (0- No, 1- Very little, 2- Somewhat, 3- Yes).

1. Has the student shown improvement with managing their test anxiety?

0 1 2 3

2. Have you noticed the student’s confidence improved since completing group counseling? 0 1 2 3 3. Has the student’s grades improved since completing group counseling?

0 1 2 3

4. Has the student’s moods improved since completing group counseling?

0 1 2 3

5. Do you think the student should continue to attend group counseling sessions for test anxiety?

0 1 2 3