EHS support groups help students deal with life issues Posted 11/17/00 by Sara Pool Staff Writer In between classes at Eagan High School, just like at other high schools around the country, students push past each other trying to avoid a tardy to their next class, read notes and give goodbye kisses to the boyfriend or girlfriend. But there are some differences today compared to days gone by. In recent years, school officials have noted the correlation between psychological balance and learning readiness. To combat the sometimes overwhelming emotional occurrences in a studentís life, the Guidance Department at Eagan High School offers support groups. Most schools within the ISD 196 school district have similar support groups, focusing on teen issues, grief, family change, eating disorders and body image and chemical addiction. Eagan High School guidance counselors Harold Lake and Beth Cordes facilitate such groups and vary the focus based on student needs. Each group hosts seven to nine students and is co-facilitated by two counselors at a time, each counselor usually hosting one group per trimester. They meet during school hours once a week and rotate hours so students do not miss the same class each week. ěFor students to know that other students are dealing with the same problems is one of the most beneficial aspects of the support groups,î said Cordes. While most students utilize their guidance counselors for schedule changes and post-high school planning, it is through these activities that the counselors can get to know their students. ěLots of times, our contact with students from this planning opens the door for students to come in and tell us x, y and z about whatís going on in their lives,î said Lake. ěAny student could benefit from a support group, but some get their support in different places and donít want to deal with their problems at school. But for students who donít have those needs met, it is good that these groups are here.î Success in a group is difficult to ascertain through statistics or facts. The groups are a support network for students and are not intended as therapy. However, if a student does need therapy, the counselors are in a better position to suggest specific recourses. ěThey help provide a sense of belonging and identity,î said Lake. ěSometimes the group encourages a studentís attendance and gives them a reason to come to school,î added Cordes. Lake and Cordes hope to initiate a tobacco-succession group and a chemical-education group in the future. The tobacco group would utilize money from tobacco settlements and would focus on breaking tobacco addiction in students. This is particularly notable considering recent studies have linked cigarettes with depression in adolescents. The chemical-education group would serve as a resource for individuals who are using to question drugsí impact on their lives. The support groups have had positive responses from students who evaluate the group at the end of the session. The counselors have also noticed the positive outcomes from groups. ěI am constantly reminded what a good point of view students have,î Lake said. ěI am constantly amazed with them coming up with something I wanted to say, but they say instead. Even the most struggling students know what's right and want to do well.î Lake and Cordes believe it is their appreciation for and knowledge of students that help them better understand student needs. This philosophy has not changed much over time, they say. ěKids have always dealt with the same issues and if there is more need for these groups, it is due to more students within these walls,î Lake said. While the counselors will try to increase their advertising and student awareness of the groups, word of mouth continues to be the best source for learning what groups will be offered. ěThe most important thing these groups offer is a caring, constructive environment,î said Lake. ©Thisweek Newspapers