Secondary School Stress Relief
Nacho gets belly rubs from a high school student.
Relax. You’ve Got a Fur-iend.
Our Dogs Relax Students so They Can Cope with Life’s Challenges
Being a teenager is hard. Beyond schoolwork, there are so many outside stressors that can make life seem overwhelming at times.
Our SSSR program began with our certified teams attending bereavement support groups in CBSD high schools for students who have suffered the loss of a loved one at the request of CBSD administrators. The efficacy and positive impact on the students were immediately noticeable, and soon, our support for high school students expanded.
Our teams now visit students in stress management classes who are learning different ways to cope with generalized anxiety and/or depression. Roxy dogs are also present on days when students have exams. Those times during the school year can be incredibly stressful, and having the unconditional love and support of a dog in between exams has proven to be extremely beneficial for secondary students.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more ➜
“The Guidance Department runs groups aimed at helping teens who are struggling with anxiety and stress management, emotional issues, bereavement, and other concerns. Bringing Roxy Therapy Dogs into these sessions has had an immediate and positive impact. After just one session, students reported feeling calmer, happier, and in a better mood to face the challenges in their day.”
— Lisa V. Corr, Central Bucks High School West, Coordinator of Guidance Services
Rocket works magic at CB East High School
Secondary School Stress Relief
Benefits to Children
The impact of our visits with students who are in Stress Management classes has been extremely profound. For these students, who need assistance coping with everyday life stressors, the opportunity to decompress and relax with a calm, gentle therapy dog is incredibly beneficial. These sessions allow students to let go of their worries and be in the moment, stress-free.
Locations
Central Bucks High School East, Central Bucks High School West, and Central Bucks High School South
Director
Sharon Fleck, Director of Secondary School Stress Relief
Stress Management
Volunteer Story
by Sharon Fleck
A few years ago, my dog Mo and I visited kids at one of the high schools to offer some stress relief during final exams. Students would come up and spend a few minutes with us, and you could see the calm that would come over them as they pet Mo and share a few stress-free moments with her.
One girl who looked particularly stressed seemed to be struggling that day.
She stayed with Mo much longer than the other students. When she was getting ready to head to her next exam, she thanked us for coming and told me that before seeing Mo, she was about to call her mom to ask her to come pick her up because the day's stress was too much. She said that now she was certain she could make it through the rest of the day at school.
You never know how much spending just a few minutes with a dog can literally change your entire day.
