# data[].attributes.body
The Here & Now is a Mindfulness technique group for high school students to help them deal with stress and anxiety that they experience in school, social, and home life.

# data[].attributes.body
Through the sessions, the students should master the following ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors:

M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed.

M5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest tom achieve high-quality results and outcomes

B-SMS 6. Demonstrate ability to overcome barriers to learning

B-SMS 7 . Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem

# data[].attributes.body
Teachers will make referrals to me as to which students should join the group. I will make this group public to teachers through a facility meeting, following up with an
E-mail. To further the spread, I will post flyers in the teachers' break room.

# data[].attributes.body
I will gather referrals from teachers for their recommendations of which students might need additional help with dealing with stress and anxiety. I will meet with the students to determine their willingness to participate in the group and if their needs meet the criteria for the group.

# data[].attributes.body
Once the students have been screened and chosen for the group, I will send the students home with a consent form detailing the purpose and goals of the group and obtaining parent/guardian signature. As this group is for high school students, students over 18 may sign for themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Maintain confidentiality
2. Respect each group member
3. No interrupting when either a student or counselor is talking
4. No swearing

Additional rules will be made during the first session in which I will ask students to come up with additional rules to be agreed upon.

Once all rules have been established, I will make a poster of the rules to be hung up during the session.

# data[].attributes.body
This group will consist of 5-7 high school students. Due to this, the students may or may not know each other before starting.

Stage 1 - Due to the potential that the students will come in not knowing each other,  I will express the importance of confidentially among members. To help build a rapport among the students, I will inform the students that I will be joining them with their homework and practice. I will share some personal but appropriate stories for examples.

Stage 2 - To help build relationships among the students, I will have the students do group activities to learn the techniques and group discussions on their homework.  This will help the students learn about each other, help them to understand that they aren't alone in their issues and can seek trust and support through each other.

Stage 3 - There will be a distinct final session where we will review all the techniques and what the students have learned throughout their time in the group. This could include a pizza party. I will meet with the students throughout the sessions to see how they are doing and if needed, meet with students in a 1-1 setting to further counseling.

I will meet with the teachers who made the referrals throughout the 6 weeks and afterwards to see how the students are doing academically. This will help determine the success of the techniques and if students need additional support.

# data[].attributes.body
This will be an interactive and instructional group. As such, to help students learn and to build rapport, I will demonstrate a democratic style of leadership. I will help the students learn the new techniques and have them practice by themselves and with other students in the group.  The democratic style will best achieve this. With the group discussions and activities, I will encourage the students to participate and share their experiences.

# data[].attributes.body
I would like to see the following therapeutic factors exist in my group:

Installation of hope - These students are experiencing stress and anxiety that is affecting their school, social, and home life. Seeing the progress of other members will help students recognize that the techniques help and to further engage in the process.

Universality - Students will see that other students are undergoing stress and anxiety as well.

Interpersonal Learning  - Through group discussions and activities, students will learn from the other students. They'll be able to learn from other students about which techniques are working for them, when they used the techniques, etc and can use this information in their life.

# data[].attributes.body
According to the Texas Educational Code, it is the counselor's job to "counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal, and social abilities." Helping students deal with stress and anxiety will help students navigate through the struggles of school, social, and home life.

# data[].attributes.body
The Texas Administrative Code states that counselors should "use both preventive and intervening strategies to address the concerns of learners and to help them clarify problems and situations, set goals, explore options, and implement change".

Mindfulness techniques will help students recognize the stress/anxiety in their lives, teach them to slow things down and to focus on the task at hand.

# data[].attributes.body
American School Counselor Association. (2019). ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies. Alexandria, VA: Author.

Cherry, Kendra. (2020). Leadership Styles and Frameworks You Should Know. Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312

Missouri Professional School Counselors and Counselor Educators. (2015). Professional school counselor small group counseling guide: A professional school counselor’s guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating school-based counseling groups. https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/guid-respon-serv-small-group-counseling-guide-2015.pdf

19 Tex. Admin. Code §239.15

2 Texas Education Code § 33

Yalom ID. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.