Mind Matters

Why do certain student behaviors trigger an intense emotional reaction in us? According to Maria Munro-Schuster, it often has less to do with the child and more to do with our own history. In this episode, Emily sits down with Maria, a licensed clinical professional counselor and author of the new book, The Empathetic Classroom: How a Mental Health Mindset Can Support Your Students and You, to discuss the gap between therapeutic insight and the reality of the classroom. They talk about the use of the term "Mental Health Mindset" to describe a way of being that prioritizes nervous system regulation over behavior management. They also discuss complex topics like counter-transference (how our own past influences our reactions to students), and neuroception (how our bodies scan for safety), and provide guidance on how to set flexible boundaries that protect both the adult and the child. TAKEAWAYS Educators' own histories and emotional patterns can dictate their reactions to students. Safety is a prerequisite