Cabin Counselor Manual 2013 Final - Interlochen Center for the Arts

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Assist Campers in Regaining What Has Been Lost Remain calm; know when to give yourself a time-out before dealing with an issue. Be cautious of voice tone and volume and cadence. Make directions short and specific. Avoid threats. Avoid power struggles. Maintain appropriate proximity control (know where your body is in relationship to the situation and the camper). Avoid rushing the process, give appropriate “wait time” for students to process and respond. Avoid escalating the situation. Use specific praise: o “Thank you for making your bunk.” o “Great job getting quiet after taps.” Use empathy: o “I understand you…” o “It sounds like what you’re saying is…” o “I see you need some help with…” Psychological and Emotional Health Caring and Helping: What Can Be Done • Listen: A person in mental crisis needs someone to listen to what s/he is saying. • Evaluate the seriousness of the youngster’s thoughts and feelings. • Evaluate the intensity or severity of the emotional disturbance. It may be possible that the camper may be extremely upset without being suicidal. Often, if a person has been depressed, and then becomes agitated and restless, it can be cause for alarm. • Take seriously every complaint and feeling that a camper has. Do not dismiss or undervalue what the camper is telling you. • Do not be afraid to ask directly if the camper has entertained thoughts of hurting his or her self. The camper may not openly mention this during a crisis time, however if questioned appropriately at an appropriate time the opportunity to discuss it may arise. • Do not be misled by the camper’s comments that s/he is past the crisis point. Follow-up is crucial. • Be affirmative, but supportive. Strong, stable guideposts are essential in the life of a distressed camper. Provide emotional strength by giving the impression that you know what you are doing and that everything possible will be done to assist him/her. • Evaluate available resources. Friends, family, connection to Divisional Staff, availability of Health Services and Professional Counselor. • Act specifically. Do something tangible, give the camper something definite to hang on to, such as contacting another helping person, arranging for them to see you at a later time. Allow them to feel that they have gained something from the conversation. • Obtain appropriate assistance and consultation. Camper Psychological and Emotional Concern Protocol - There are rare occasions with a camper’s behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable in terms of their response to stress or strong emotions. Each situation listed will include consultation among the Personal Counselor, Health Services, Divisional Staff and Camp Administration. Parent/Guardian will be notified in all cases. Although efforts will be made to normalize the situation as often as possible, it may be determined that a camper be removed from divisional activities and require other assessment or support. In an extreme case, the camper may spend the night in the infirmary with a Camp counselor in attendance. The presence of a counselor with a student serves to protect the safety of the student as well as afford him/her the attention that he/she may need while unstable. Level One - Emotional Upset - Camper is distressed or emotionally upset to the extent that extra support is necessary. Cabin Counselor will bring concern to the Division Director. Division Director will meet with the Camper and assess the need for further support. One of the Deans, Professional Counselor and Parent(s) may be contacted and involved in the decision-making as appropriate. If camper is to be temporarily removed from the cabin, one of the Deans is notified. If incident occurs after hours, camper will be seen by a Professional Counselor the following day. It may be appropriate for a student to stay overnight in Health Services for LEVEL ONE emotional concerns. 17
Counseling Services and Divisional Staff will determine whether the student needs his/her Cabin Counselor in attendance. Level Two - Self Harm May Be Indicated - This includes but is not limited to: Verbalization or written expression of intent or desire to harm self Cabin Counselor must report ideation to the Division Director. Division Director will contact one of the Deans who will make the judgment regarding the best course of action to stabilize and protect the camper. Parent(s) and Professional Counselor will be notified by Division Director or one of the Deans and be involved in the assessment and care plan. If it is determined that the camper will stay in the infirmary overnight for his/her safety, a Cabin Counselor will be required to stay with the camper at all times. 18
Page 1 and 2: CAMP LIFE STAFF 2013 Cabin Counselo
Page 3 and 4: Understanding Your Campers ........
Page 5 and 6: Camp Life Personnel Divisional Stru
Page 7 and 8: Camp Life General Information Camp
Page 9 and 10: Practicing - Practicing in the cabi
Page 11 and 12: • an exaggerated concern for auth
Page 13 and 14: The 10 Year Old Physical Developmen
Page 15 and 16: Taking Care of Campers Behavior Man
Page 17: Teaching Appropriate Behavior Plann
Page 21 and 22: 4. Explain your need for their inpu
Page 23 and 24: Fire In the event that fire occurs

Cabin Counselor Manual 2013 Final - Interlochen Center for the Arts

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