There is a lot more to contend with than the mere monotony of Zoom calls as replacements for in-person classes. There’s also the fear and stress around the prospect of never returning to “normal life” because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In fact, it’s safe to stay that for many people “normal life” seems like a thing of the past, a memory to visit via Facebook memories or perhaps in one’s dreams.
Students, parents, and teachers are doing their best to adopt to the sudden changes in their routine but the uncertainty of what could happen next month let alone next week only compounds daily stress (like dealing with Zoom, as an example).
American students, in particular, those living in single-parent households or in poverty, are struggling to stay on top of their schoolwork due to disparities their peers residing in wealthier homes may not contend with.
Dr. Danielle Einstein, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist in Australia, is no stranger to navigating change. She has been developing programs to enhance emotional health at schools based on fear of uncertainty since 2013 and is regularly called on by mainstream media in Australia to provide her expert opinion.
Alongside International Education Advisor Dr. Helen Wright, who has worked with schools worldwide, Dr. Einstein has launched COVID-19: Chilled and Considerate Bootcamp. The boot camp, which was initially developed for Australian schools, will also be supportive to American teachers, students, and parents, given the pandemic’s severity in the United States.
“Over the last two months, we have witnessed new insights develop from Australian teenagers, parents, and teachers. They have learnt about messages in the news and patterns we fall into that feed worry and anxiety. This is a worldwide crisis and we are aware that US students are suffering. One day they will make decisions that will influence our future. Helen and I want to help as many families as possible to mitigate the impact on their emotional health. There is an urgency to get these programs out.”
Through her bootcamp, she wants to remind people, particularly young people, that uncertainty is everywhere. The Chilled and Considerate Bootcamp helps students recognize their vulnerabilities and understand how to best navigate their COVID-19 fears. The program contains a one hour online course for parents, and several clear school programs to minimize stress, worry and anxiety.
Images, meditations, journals, and videos are just some of the components of the program, which is to serve not only students and teachers but also parents and anyone struggling with uncertainty.
With an endless stream of information coming via mainstream news, social media, and other sources, the waves of uncertainty can often feel overwhelming (and endless). Through Dr. Einstein’s program, participants will gain a stronger sense of self-awareness and the proper tools to help them tackle their uncertainty head-on.
To learn more about Dr. Danielle Einstein you can go here and register for the boot camp here.