LIVE WEBINAR #3: Emotional G.P.S.: Camp Staff’s #1 Strategy to Support Four Levels of Frustration, Anger, & Meltdowns & Teach Campers How to Cope

Learning Objectives and Additional Information

Meltdowns and shut-downs are the worst part of everyone’s day. Frustration and anger are normal feelings, but when they are acted out, they can be disruptive, hurtful, and harmful to the group’s safety and cohesion. Tragically, they also cause feelings of shame, rejection, and incompetence in the child who loses control. Meltdowns and shutdowns are a devastating emotional storm inside the camper usually caused by rigid/inflexible thinking and underdeveloped assertiveness, problem-solving, and coping skills. These are all skills that can be developed and camp is the perfect place to learn and practice them! Did you know there are three levels of frustration that precede meltdowns? Untrained staff can accidentally escalate situations and provoke meltdowns by using a mismatched support strategy for each level of frustration. Let’s prevent unnecessary meltdowns at all costs by teaching your staff a color-coded and numeric framework to understand four levels of frustration and anger - along with precisely what to say to a frustrated camper at each level.  You’ll learn campers’ subtle clues when they simmer beneath the surface. Then, we’ll practice preventative coping language that helps campers calm and decrease the frequency and intensity of meltdowns. Finally, staff will learn and role-play a loving, hands-off, and safe de-escalation plan to use while supporting a melting down camper.

About the instructor:

Mike Fogel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC is a board-certified art therapist, licensed professional counselor, entrepreneur, and author with over two decades of clinical experience. Mike is an expert in treatment and advocacy for neurodiverse children with autism, ADHD and learning differences and also treats a wide range of childhood emotional-behavioral challenges at his private group therapy practice in Philadelphia, the Child and Family Art Therapy Center. Mike’s work is supercharged by heartfelt faith that every person has the innate capacity to heal, grow, and progress towards their vast personal potential. Camp is instrumental in that growth! Mike’s love for neurodiverse children propelled him to develop the comprehensive Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program® and curriculum, found Camp Pegasus, a therapeutic social skills day camp, and publish “The Social-Emotional Guidebook: Motivate Children with Social Challenges to Master Social & Emotional Coping Skills”. Mike passionately preaches that social skills are for everyone and that they represent the key to creating a compassionate, kind, and peaceful world. Let’s create a BetterWorld together!