As the 2014 – 15 school year began, Janice Coe, Area 2 Coordinator for Exceptional Student Education, welcomed a new family counselor, Ana Muth, LCSW.
Throughout the school year, the family counselors work with students and their families with a focus on accessing their education. Topics may include anger management, self-calming techniques, bullying, increasing self-esteem, empathy and social skill development. One therapeutic approach implemented was the introduction of mandalas. Mandala means “magic circle” in Sanskrit. It is a circular design that has been used since ancient times to invoke a spirit of healing. Creating mandalas as art therapy can be a wonderful activity for emotional expression and self-calming. The mandala series continued for several weeks. Students were introduced to the concept using a large variety pre-printed mandalas which were to be colored. They were asked to choose a mandala that spoke to them in the moment. The culmination was the creation of a sand mandala. Following each lesson, students were allowed to discuss either one-on-one or in the group, about what their mandala represented, the colors chosen and the pattern created. Below are several photos of the student mandalas.