Inner Coach vs. Inner Critic 

One of the strategies many students have been exposed to during counseling sessions and Guidance lessons include learning about our thoughts and how sometimes they can be helpful to us and positive (INNER COACH) or negative and hurtful (Inner Critic).  We teach that we all have these thoughts and that we can learn to notice them and change our Inner Critic Thoughts into Inner COACH thoughts :) This is also called re-framing in the counseling world.

For example: 

Inner Critic:  I’m so bored, there is nothing we can do.

Inner Coach:  Finding new things to do is hard but if we work together we can.

Inner Critic:  I will never be able to get this right.

Inner Coach: This is hard but if I keep trying I may be able to do it.

*Check out this video about Olaf and Sven (Frozen characters) and see if your child can say or notice any of their thoughts like, “Oh NO!” (Critic) or “He’s almost there.” (Coach).  Can you think of better thoughts to stay instead when you notice a Critic thought?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2OaIbPSII&list=PLuRkh6DdRwiOGExxs4XJFnw179zM9cklm&index=3&t=0s

This might be something fun to continue to practice at home- noticing these thoughts and changing thoughts that are not helpful, especially during this time when it can get easy to get stuck into a pattern of negative thoughts.

Parent Tip: Please continue to support yourselves.  Take a peek at this popular on-line Yale University Happiness course - which is now free! 

Laurie Santos, Instructor - Interview

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/health/yale-happiness-course-wellness/index.htm

How to Register for the FREE Course:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?ranMID=40328&ranEAID=EHFxW6yx8Uo&ranSiteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&siteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&utm_content=10&utm_medium=partners&utm_source=linkshare&utm_campaign=EHFxW6yx8Uo