Finding the Words: Empowering Struggling Students through Guided Conversations

Boost your confidence in supporting the mental health of all students Educators can’t always fix or change students’ challenging situations, but with Dr. Hayley Watson's Finding the Words, they can create compassionate, safe spaces to truly make a difference to student wellbeing. As educators, we are in a position where we can help students break out of cycles of anxiety, low mood, and peer struggles, without needing to be a mental health expert. This book shows you how to support students with issues like parental loss, low body image, bullying, addiction, and more—with practical language that you can use anytime you are on-the-spot with a struggling student. This language helps you set boundaries to protect your own wellbeing, by guiding your students towards self-reliance and resilience. In Finding the Words, author and clinical psychologist Hayley Watson offers practical advice with a personal, self-reflective, and relatable tone. In each chapter, you’ll explore the topics students struggle with most, including hot-button issues like consent and prejudice. You’ll learn how to talk to kids about these issues in a way that helps them make positive changes in their lives. With this book, you will feel like you have a psychologist on hand to support you in those moments when you know your response could mean the world to a struggling student. Understand the common issues your students face—anxiety, low body image, acting out, and beyond Read first-person accounts from youth ages 5-19, showing how appropriate responses can nurture and support students through any challenge they face Gain specific, practical techniques and takeaways to use right away in your interactions with students Learn the most effective language to use when you are on-the-spot with a struggling student This is a critical resource for school leaders, teacher leaders, classroom teachers and school staff. Any adults who work with youth can benefit from this insightful, expert advice on how to help in the moments when your students need you most.