Virtual Hope Box

This weeks item of interest is called the Virtual Hope Box. The Virtual Hope Box app is a therapeutic tool that can be used for those who may have difficulty coping with negative thoughts and stress, including patients who may be at risk of suicide or non-suicidal self-harm. It is available as a free download on iOS and Android platforms and can be used for adolescents and adults. This app is used among many of the teens at Waukegan High School based on the student's needs. There are different categories that contain coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking techniques. The distraction techniques include games that require focus, such as Sudoku and word puzzles. Some relaxation techniques offer a variety of guided and self-controlled meditation exercises. The coping techniques offer suggestions for activities that reduce stress. The inspiration section offers quotes to improve mood and motivation. 

Virtual Hope Box is connected to evidence practice for many reasons. This app was developed by Nigel Bush, a research psychologist for the Defense Department’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) a component center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. VHB is a tool for moments of crisis and intended to supplement treatments already happening. The purpose of this tool is to help individuals distress by using coping and emotion regulation skills.

 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.vhb&hl=en_US or App Store

This is a great activity for students in social work group because it makes students identify their own strengths.  This makes students self aware and makes them look at the positives qualities they have.  They get to share what they are good at and feel good about themselves.  By putting the chains together, it becomes a teambuilding activity because it shows that utilizing each others strengths is what makes a team great.  These chains should be hung in the classroom or in the social work office to serve as a reminder for the students of their own strengths!

This activity is from a book titled “Everyday SEL in Elementary Schools” Integrating Social-Emotional Learning and Mindfulness into your Classroom.  The title says it all about this activity.  This activity is a practical strategy for teaching social emotional learning and mindfulness.
model: 

 Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=LihqDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=strengths+paper+chain&source=bl&ots=FmWI60o8qr&sig=6tIdB1ov0A6bsPGtN487lkul_wI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifwciWmpPQAhUFOiYKHT1QBiYQ6AEIKTAC#v=onepage&q=strengths%20paper%20chain&f=false

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