Counseling at Horizons
We are so happy you took a moment to check out this page! My name is Kristine Franklin, and I am Horizons Greater Washington’s Director of Counseling. At Horizons Greater Washington, we believe that learning happens best in a community where students feel safe, valued, and connected. My goal as Director of Counseling is to support each student by creating an environment where students feel seen and supported, and to partner with families through this process. Every few months I will update this page with new mental health tips and activities to try. My hope is that these tips are useful to your everyday life and that these activities are something you can enjoy with your family.
Have a question or want to share some feedback? Email me at kfranklin@
Want to connect in person? I will be at Saturday Academy on the following dates:
November 7th - all day December 5th - AM only January 16 - all day
Tips for Back-to-School Season
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Sleep is key! A good sleep routine will help your child stay focused and better able to manage their emotions during the school day.
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Every Sunday take a moment to help your child plan for the week. This will mean fewer surprises and will help them learn better time management skills.
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Are you tired of asking how your child’s day went only to hear good or fine? Try asking one of these questions instead:
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What was the most interesting thing that happened today?
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What was something you did today that you’re proud of?
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If your child isn’t a big sharer, try starting a conversation that doesn’t require eye contact. For example, you could walk and talk, talk while coloring, or talk while driving.
Activities to Try
It can be really challenging to know where to start when you think about talking with your kids about emotions and managing stress! Below is a fun low-stakes game that you can try at home to get the conversation going.
Feelings Charades
What you’ll need:
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A writing utensil
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A large piece of paper
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A bag or a hat
Instructions:
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Tear up the paper into 10 or more pieces of paper.
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Write down a feeling on each scrap of paper.
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Place pieces of paper in a hat or bag.
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One player will randomly select one feeling word and act it out.
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The player who guesses the feeling correctly will act next.
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Repeat until all feelings have been acted out.
Here are some examples of feelings words you can write on your scraps of paper:
angry, disappointed, surprised, proud, jealous, bored, sad, happy, nervous, calm
Feelings Charades - Bonus Round (optional)
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Put all the emotions back in the bag or hat.
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When you pick out a feeling word, share about a time you felt that way.
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Repeat until all feelings words have been chosen.
Below are two other activities that you can try with your child. These strategies are best practiced when your child is calm so that the strategies are ready to be used when they feel upset or overwhelmed.
Breathing Techniques
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Relajación Muscular Progresiva
Mental Health Resources
Horizons Greater Washington does not provide crisis support. If you need urgent mental health support, the resources below are available 24/7.
988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call, Text, or Chat / Línea 988 de Prevención de Suicidio y Crisis Llama, Textea, y Chatea
DC Access HelpLine - 1-888-793-4357
Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services (chAMPS) 202-481-1440
Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-422-0009