How can counselling help to overcome fear in the classroom
2nd April 2020Fear is a common feeling that often occurs when a person feels that he/she is in danger. Fear only becomes a problem in the person’s life when the response to fear activates often and according to a study almost 50% of children in the age group of 6 to 12 years have many fears and concerns. A child can be afraid to go to school or attend any particular class for various reasons. Some may be valid reasons like being bullied by a classmate or something as common as the fear of failure, for instance: unable to answer correctly when the teacher asks a question. This is when you as a teacher need to put aside the traditional role of being a teacher and showcase counselling skills and become a guide, and a mentor in the form of a counsellor and help the child overcome this feeling of fear. Good educators understand that when a child is afraid in the class and therefore, is unable to concentrate on his/her studies.
Being afraid all the time can cause anxiety in an individual and a child is no different in this case, more so if the child is unable to discuss his/her problem with an elder or teacher and tries to suppress/avoid this feeling. Counselling will provide the child with the opportunity to discuss his/her issues with the teacher in an environment where he feels safe and comfortable. Therefore, listening to the child without being judgemental and then comforting the little one with some reassuring words is what counselling is about. If a teacher or a school counsellor is unable to identify and treat this kind of fear in the early years then it may turn into phobias and chronic fears, interfering with the well-being and the daily function of the child’s life.
Your counselling skills can help the child in the following ways:
- Make the child understand that fear is just another emotion
- Address the reason behind the fear with rationality
- Provide the child with confidence so that they can overcome the challenges
- Reassure the child that he/she can confide into you whenever they need you