There’s a new group that has been meeting at the Counseling Center at Cohoes High School since October that aims to gather students together to discuss real-life problems in a safe space.
The Mindful Lunch Group was developed by school social workers Kortney Conley and Dana DelGenio as a way to help students find a space to sit around and discuss topics that are important to them. The meetings are held for one week every month during all lunch periods.
“Kortney and I wanted to bring something to all students, so that everyone has an equal opportunity to talk about topics that we’ve seen a trend in over the last few years here,” said Mrs. DelGenio.
Some of the topics include: Social Media and Digital Boundaries (October), Making Friends & Navigating Social Groups (November) and Managing Stress at School (December).
The idea has proven to be a good one, as more and more students have joined the group each month. They come in with lunch in hand and enjoy the low pressure, safe space where they can discuss their problems and just have fun.
“I joined to have a more peaceful, positive atmosphere during lunch. It’s a good way to meet new people and express yourself without judgement,” said student Sasha LeClair, adding that she also enjoys the company of Mrs. DelGenio and Ms. Conley.
Both social workers hope that students come away with a renewed attitude, new friendships and the realization that their peers are often dealing with the same issues.
“We hope students realize that others share similar struggles, but with the support of their peers, new friends and us, they have a safe place to talk about whatever is on their minds.”