Rest, relaxation and rehabilitation came into focus at the ‘Thriving, Not Just Surviving’ Symposium on June 4 as nearly 200 school counselors and licensed professionals gathered in the Irvington Conference Center to take a well-deserved break to recharge physically and mentally.
The Center for Safe and Secure Schools (CSSS) hosted the inaugural day-long event, which welcomed vital discussions on wellness, networking opportunities across local school districts and effective strategies for practicing self-care. CSSS Climate and Culture Specialist Tiffany Chaney, a former school counselor who joined the division last fall, developed the idea to create a safe space where professionals could invest in themselves after nine months of focusing on their students’ mental health and well-being.
Click here to view the photo gallery.
“I feel like counselors are the heart of a school. That’s who we are and how people see us,” Chaney described. “We wanted to create an event that said, ‘Hey, I see you, and I appreciate you.’ But we also wanted to give people a chance to recharge over the summer so they can return and continue investing in their communities.”
Attendees remained active throughout four symposium speakers, who discussed everything from keeping students engaged to developing a pathway to recovery after traumatizing experiences and exploring the cost of caring for other individuals as a professional counselor. However, burnout remained at the forefront of conversations.
Dr. Jamie Freeny, director of the Center for School Behavioral Health with Mental Health America of Greater Houston, presented counselors with techniques for recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout in students, educators and themselves. She described burnout as a nationwide challenge stemming from jobs, family care and social conversations about heavy topics.
“There is something special about having a shared connection that helps to lower stress levels,” Freeny said. “This conference is creating a space to have conversations where counselors are validated, encouraged, motivated and reminded of the importance of their work on campus and their impact on young minds.”
When discussing opportunities to self-reflect and prioritize counselors’ well-being, Chaney compared burnout’s mental and physical challenges to charging a cell phone.
“Much like those devices, we have to recharge ourselves,” Chaney said. “If we don’t, our battery will die. Counselors often put everyone else first and save ourselves to care for last, but we deal with students’ lives. We have to be tuned into everything because sometimes it’s not a word, it’s a look that says something is wrong. If we miss that, somebody’s life can be lost, and that’s irreplaceable.”
Freeny moderated a panel that included Dr. Jessica Foti from The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, Anthony Childress from Aldine Independent School District, Dr. Regina Meeks and Antonio Wilson from Spring ISD, Dr. Alicia McKinzy from KIPP Texas Public Schools and Chiante Deal from Ideal Collegiate Prep. The group discussed topics such as compassion fatigue, how to develop a support system and strategies to address challenges effectively.
The first 100 registrants received a free self-care kit to support their wellness journey. Attendees also received continuing education hours to explore innovative counseling practices with colleagues. ‘Thriving, Not Just Surviving’ reminded professionals that while aiding students in navigating life’s challenges, it’s also important to self-reflect and try new strategies that might reach those overlooked.
To learn more about the Center for Safe and Secure Schools, visit hcde-texas.org/CSSS.