SEL

Attending my first ever independent school counselor-specific PD in April was so meaningful. I am so grateful to CSEE for so effectively organizing the summit in Baltimore for the 60 counselors that were able to attend.

The biggest takeaway for me was related to the Open Hearted Approach that was presented and discussed by presenters from SEE Change consulting. While I value a trauma-informed lens clinically and professionally (and for some time that vantage point was lacking in our broader society), it is now at times become pathologizing and patronizing or undermining. I appreciate the goal of considering a person's or student's experience through the open-hearted wonder lens. Some of the indicators from this approach are: Wellbeing is more fully defined, students are more themselves, interactions feel well, not strained and the focus shifts from product to understanding. This means entering each conversation, issue, conflict and dynamic with wonder and the desire to further understand versus just solve a problem. With so much overwhelm and overworking permeating in our lives, I really appreciate any invitation to step aside and look at wellbeing, human imperfections and misalignment with more grace, wonder, curiosity and care. Open-hearted wonder asks the question: What if there is another way? While I am still digesting this framework, I appreciate the pause it helps to create as humans interact.