A resource on intentional strategies to help students deal with difficult subjects
and how professors can prepare for facilitating difficult conversations.
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
A summary of Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen (1999), Difficult conversations:
how to discuss what matters most. They provide a step-by-step approach to having difficult
conversations that includes:
The recently passed election season has evoked a wide range of emotions and for many, has been a source of significant stress, anxiety and even fear. We have seen reports of hostile and aggressive speech and behavior on some campuses. Many young people are confused and upset about the campaign and election. With this in mind, we鈥檇 like to share some brief suggestions for college administrators, faculty and staff to consider for the coming days:
Keep clear boundaries between political discourse and emotional distress:
Students who are distraught, anxious or angry should not necessarily be directed to
the mental health system on campus. We should acknowledge that strong reactions to
real events are a valid element of discourse and debate and should not be pathologized.
Instead, there should be settings in which the political situation can be safely discussed
on campus, distinct from the counseling system.
It is helpful for students to hear from campus leadership in times of stress/distress:
Regular, supportive communication from the university president, provost, dean of
students or other upper administration will both reassure students that leadership
is aware and engaged in campus reactions and concerns, and will also help to reinforce
appropriate limits to behavior (if students feel heard and attended to they are also
less likely to feel a need to act in dangerously dramatic ways). See an example below.
Make sure students are aware of campus mental health and peer emotional support services for those who are experiencing distress to the extent that they are having trouble functioning or may be at risk.
Please feel free to share and use JED posted November 9, 2016.