Mon. Sep 25th, 2023

An approach to support students and staff with the negative affect of covid-19

10 DAY FASTRACK TO RE-TUNE & FOCUS AFTER COVID-19 ABSENCE AND RETURN:

We provide a ‘10 day re-tune’ that supports and guides pupils and staff back into a positive and co-operative  learning environment. It nurtures a willingness and ability to relax with the environment; and to better focus and retain information whilst improving resilience and social interaction – read on to find out more

The Problem:

The pupils are returning to school and you have an individual pupil (or multiple pupils) that need extra support because they can’t cope with the return to the school environment and learning. Even if the pupils are calm and not challenging; they may genuinely have a problem with concentrating, listening and retaining any information. You anticipate challenges because you have already experienced it with those who are in school and with home schooling – and you need to gear up to avoid anxiety and stress for the pupils, teachers and support staff.

Small disruptions can quickly disrupt the learning potential for the whole class and the domino effect of negativity can lead to that which you are striving to avoid!

Normal support is time consuming and needs specific 1:1 or small group work – and yet you probably already have all your support staff allocated for those who are challenging at the best of times – so what do you do with this covid-19 return and the increased anxiety and stress.

Be Super Ltd, are a Rochdale based provider of professional wellbeing solutions and we have a solution that is measurable, timely and cost effective – read on . . .

The Solution: (VFP#0-Coherence)

We have created a modified version of our school intervention / pastoral solution.

We call it “POSITIVE RE-RETUNE” and it provides a ‘10 day re-tune’ that supports and guides pupils back into learning. It nurtures a willingness and ability to focus and retain information whilst improving resilience and social interaction.

Between 1 and 10 pupils can be supported per 10 day block – and ‘additional ongoing tuning’ can be incorporated for self-regulation afterwards. (Numbers are subject to each unique situation)

It utilises HRV (Heart Rate Variability Technology) and

SSP Therapy (Safe and Sound Protocol developed from Polyvagal Theory)

Our qualified SSP therapist will work closely with the teachers (plus Heads of Year / Senco’s / Family Workers and Support Staff etc) and the pupil(s) to identify the main ‘points of concern’ (causing anxiety and stress). He will then personalise a creative learning environment/opportunity (possibly outside of the class) based on feelings of safety, trust, relaxation and positivity (avoiding that which triggers negativity). He will re-tune the pupils to be relaxed and positive with a combination of ‘activity / movement sessions (physical and thoughtful play & creativity) incorporating music, gentle discussion and ‘gaming technology’ (HRV Neurofeedback Games*1). He will introduce and develop ‘SCP’ (Scheduled Cycles of Positivity) that will induce / entrain positive changes in the pupils sub-conscious behaviour.

With our ‘SCP’ every day is planned, enabling the student(s) time to experience being themselves without any thought, discussion, emotional attachment, or initial learning requirement disrupting the moment – this purposefully avoids conscious negativity (including triggers, thoughts & memories).

  • It avoids ‘talk therapy /CBT’, and purely focuses on being in the now and being relaxed.
  • It avoids any mindfulness/meditation, which may be extremely negative (it may trigger negative emotions and thoughts).

Is there a measurement criteria ?

*1 – HRV (Heart Rate Variability) is used as a measurement criteria to establish a base level for ‘stress / positivity’ – (more specifically ‘coherence’). Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the ways you can measure your vagal tone and can be a great indicator of overall health (mental and physical) and indicates an ability to heal (emotionally and physically). It is an objective measurement based on the bodies truthful response to what is going on ‘in and around’ a person.

The HRV Neurofeedback Games provide a self-learning experience for the student to better regulate anxiety and improve calmness, mental clarity, positivity and creativity. This will manifest itself with improved social interaction and a greater willingness and ability to learn. This positivity will also be mirrored by an increase in HRV (providing ongoing evaluation criteria to support soft outcomes).

*2 – SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol) using the Unyte/iLs App involves 30min scheduled headphone listening to ‘acoustically altered sounds’ that positively stimulate the Parasympathetic Nervous System of the Vagal Nerve (inducing your sub-consciousness to be relaxed, creative and positive). The SSP is a portal to the Social Engagement System, and it has a powerful impact on how someone interacts with other people and their environment. Resulting new behaviours reflect an increased sense of safety in the world, yet ‘they are fragile and can be disrupted if not recognized and responded to in a positive manner’ – hence, SSP, should only be overseen by our qualified practitioner.

Essentially, the SSP is opening the system for greater engagement. The aspect of ‘SAFETY’ must come before the SOUND experience takes place. What comes with and after the SSP will then cement and extend the gains.

Our Solution is UNIQUE and is delivered on a 1:1 basis with our therapist and the pupil. It may also be delivered in a small group environment (subject to the maturity and interaction of the pupils and any supporting staff).

How long does it take to affect long lasting positive behavioural change?

It normally takes 9 – 12 weeks to affect long lasting positive behavioural change. However, this solution is not attempting to do this – it is seeking to quickly ‘re-tune’ pupils who have lost the willingness or ability to feel relaxed and positive about learning, their future or even the present moment.

Many are involved in cycles of negative behaviour that control them through their sub-conscious mind -and this is what we seek to change with contact time varying from 30mins to 6 hours per day (for 10 days) with SSP being the core of this solution. We build on this with HRV Neurofeedback games, and further build on this with a variety of focused breathing techniques and the use of visual and audio affirmations and natural cycles/ratios to create a new positive cycle/rhythm for more ‘focused work-reward’ experiences. It then progresses into gentle, positive social interaction, creativity and resilience (and starts to mirror the classwork of mainstream lessons, assessments and mock exams).

All of this is completed in just 10 days – 10 days to turn a pupil around, to re-tune them back to being the best they can be!

Marcus Pearson is our qualified and experienced SSP Therapist (the co-founder of Be Super Ltd); and he is available to provide personal support within a 25mile radius of Rochdale, Lancashire, England.

AN EFFECTIVE COSTING AND DELIVERY SOLUTION:

Our solution is being offered at a reduced rate. The normal price for the full SSP therapy is approx £500.00 per person (normally delivered via 5 x 1 hour sessions over 5 consecutive days). Plus the HRV Neurofeedback gaming is normally £199.00 per person. What we are offering extends the normal provision of 1 hour per day for 5 days to 6 hours per day for 10 days. We have modified and improved this delivery for school children for maximum benefit and practicality.

We provide a fixed daily rate (rather than a 10 day block); and the number of pupils that may be supported is between 1 and 10 per day (so if you had 10 children rather than 5 it would be more cost effective).

ALL IF THUS IS FLEXIBLE ( and is just an example of our proposed way forward), however, we are capable of modifying this to suite your specific needs and circumstances.

Our reduced rate is VERY AFFORDABLE  – BUT HURRY because we only have limited capacity in the short term – and then prices and our  flexibility may significantly change.

OUR SUGGESTED PATHWAY for every pupil – every day for the “POSITIVE RE-RETUNE”:

  • 30 mins split – 20 mins of togetherness (physical and mental tuning) PLUS 10 mins of focused breathing techniques (1:1 with Marcus or as part of a small group)
  • 30 mins of 1:1 HRV Neurofeedback gaming time (as an individual)
  • 30 mins of 1:1 SSP time (as an individual)
  • 30 mins of visual and audio affirmations (1:1 with Marcus or as part of a small group)
  • 30 mins developing natural cycles/ratios to create a new positive cycle/rhythm for more ‘focused work-reward’ experiences (as part of a small group)
  • 30 mins progression into gentle, positive social interaction, creativity and resilience (and progression to mirror the classwork of mainstream lessons, assessments and mock exams) (1:1 with Marcus or as part of a small group)

Each ‘Pomodora Cycle’ will be split with a 30 minute activity for physical and mental positivity

All of this increases the Optimal Arousal Zone of the student – as shown in the info-graphic below:

Optimal-Arousal-Zone

School : Home Mirror Affect Ratio:

In most instances the full benefits of this “POSITIVE RE-RETUNE” are only maximised and become long lasting when they are duplicated at home as well as in the learning environment. This is even more relevant during Covid -19 restrictions, home learning and the return to school. Subsequently, our solution provides pastoral support opportunities for the parents / carers to also experience the HRV Neurofeedback Games, and to experience the acoustically altered music used in the SSP experience. Furthermore, support and guidance are provided to try and ensure that the home environment is as safe, trusting, relaxed and AWARE as possible.

This type of support would be discussed with any family / pastoral workers the school may have in place.

N.B. Marcus may be available on a full-time basis if the opportunity arose to integrate this type of approach for the benefits of children and young people WITHIN A SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT.

Where do you go from here –

Contact Marcus on 07931326164

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SSP Certified UK Therapist

Some of the negative effects of Covid-19 include:

  • Struggling to deal with loss and / or feeling isolated or lonely..
  • Joint pain, loss of energy and weakness.
  • Feeling unsafe and not knowing why.
  • Confusion and frustration with not understanding what is going on.
  • A lack of trust with people, situations and places.
  • The lack of stucture and order and not knowing what to do with your time.
  • Brain fog - not being able to concentrate or think clearly.
  • Struggling to have longer conversations and discussions about positive and creative opportunities - and too much negative talk.
  • Couples and families stuggle interacting together due to a lack of personal and joint purpose in life.

The severe isolation measures imposed by governments have been traumatic to the psyche of people; to the extent, many have the fear of getting tests done and or divulging the results to authorities for fear of loss of income or further isolation. Others live every moment on the edge of media releases and feel totally reliant on vaccinations and guidance and rules on how to live.

THE BIGGER PERSPECTIVE - FURTHER CAUSES OF NEGATIVITY . . .

Society has created a situation where many people have an overdependence on other people for guidance and regulations on how they live. This can be clearly seen with those people who have retired or are suddenly not working and do not know what to do with their time. For many people walking the dog, watching some form of day time TV and cooking, represent the limits of their activity. Their social interaction and discussions are based around such activity or in discussing the limitaions imposed on them and everyone else -

"very few people do something that is both creative and of benefit for themsleves and others; furthermore, they do not discuss the creative process for making this happen - they have lost (or never developed) this self-relience and love of life - they are lost within an 'auto-pilot' existence" -

THIS IS THE BIGGER PERSPETIVE THAT COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS!

When individals within a relationship or within a family, educational, work or team environment, lack any purpose in life or don't have any creative ideas to stimulate their emotions or thoughts, then they are more dependent on external forces to influence their behaviour. The majority of outside forces are negative, therfore most of the time people will be negative. Covid-19 is not the cause of this negativity - it highlights the hidden problems faced by most people and society.

This post provides a short practical instruction on how to conduct a quick coherence / QUICK CALMING/POSITIVITY PRACTICE:

The optimal times for doing this practice are:

  • first thing in the morning whilst still in bed (before getting up)
  • First thing when you get to work or school etc.
  • every 90 mins once you are active and the day has begun
  • when you get back in bed to settle for a sleep.

It is perfect when combined with other people (especially smaller groups) just before a meeting/lesson/meal.  It may even be used by a family group or a group of friends or work/school/college friends - perhaps in conjunction with an agreed 'positive statement/affirmation'.

Whilst it helps to reduce stress; with the 'the more advanced breathing progression' it is most beneficial in promoting a feeling of wellbeing and positivity; and in activating your parasympathetic nervous system (your feel good system). Once activated this may lead to positive stimulation that facilitates exceptional mental and physical performance, or, if you are relaxing, it will lower your heart rate, lower your brain frequency and promote better rest and natural sleep patterns. When a calm and positive state is maintained for longer and longer periods (with monitoring and practice) then it leads to 'flow' and extends the 'optimal arousal zone'.

Quick Coherence only takes 1 - 2 minutes (it is best done with your eyes closed):

Welcome - By following this short process you will feel calm, positive and energised. The process will work even better when you smile during the process and continue smiling after it has finished - let us begin - you may keep your eyes open or close them - do whatever helps you focus . . .

  • Focus your attention on your heart just to the left of centre in your chest. If it helps, place the fingers of your right hand over the heart so you can physically feel your heart beat - then relax.
  • As you breathe in, visualise the air going into your heart. As you visualise breathing in, count to between 4 and 7 and with each count visualise your heart expanding your belly. Continue doing this until you find your own natural timing. Once you have established your natural breathing in cycle move to step 3.
  • As you breath out and feel your belly go down, visualise either:
    • a special place that makes you feel good; or
    • visualise what you are doing that makes you feel so good;
    • and /or visualise a person or group of people that makes your love come out.
    • as you become more familiar with this, and as it becomes easier to do - focus on giving appreciation or gratitude to someone and allow your love to come out.
  • More advanced breathing progression - once you have become familiar with all of the above - then as you continue with the heart felt focus - PROLONG the breathing out stage, so it is between 3 and 5 seconds longer than your breathing in stage. Then continue this staggered breathing cycle for between 1 and 3 mins. This will physiologically activate your parasympathetic nervous system and stimulate creative and happy hormones.

Adopt quick coherence as a pattern of positive performance:

The quick coherence practice, including the more advanced breathing progression, may also be used in the build up to a high performance related activity - especially as a precursor for being in the flow zone. This is perfect for activities such as climbing or skill related performance or even high intense muscular activities such as arm wrestling, powerlifting, strongman event and surprisingly combat sports - because the more you can perceive stress as a positive opportunity, the greater you will maximise your optimal flow zone perform to your maximum potential. When stress is perceived as being negative, it increases anxiety, increases muscle tension, reduces reaction times and speed and reduces power. Negative stress leads to a quicker loss of energy and reduces mental clarity and sharpness.

Smile and be positive.

Group / team coherence:

Imagine the benefits to a team if you all acknowledged gratitude for one another prior to starting a more physical warm up or at the end of a warm just before you went out to compete. This would minimise stress and allow you to perform at even higher levels of intensity for much longer.  

When Phil Jackson began coaching the Chicago Bulls - and later the Los Angeles Lakers - he says he used the Zen philosophy of mindfulness to help build both teams.

sports-team-quick-coherence

Coherence practice is used by the NHS in Derbyshire:

Quick coherence may be used to overcome feelings of anxiety, stress and help calm you or someone else down when they are feeling their behaviour is becoming more challenging to others.

(https://my.dchs.nhs.uk/Portals/0/Health%20Psychology%20The%20Quick%20Coherence%20Technique_1.pdf)

More scientific research on this is available at - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179616/

Monitoring and measuring coherence can be done using new technology and with the correct insights.

Elimination is the lowest level of consciousness and calibrates <20:

The strategy for getting yourself or someone else out of this stage is provided below:

The VFP strategy for achieving higher/more positive 'natural patterns / cycles of being' is to re-tune your mental and emotional energy fields, so they do the 'right things' on an automatic basis (using your autonomic nervous system), rather than a cognitive basis (having to think and feel if what you are doing is working).

This approach is more significant when dealing with those at the lowest levels of consciousness. Such individuals 

  • You must have natural cycles of imbalance in your life. These should be positive in maximising you as a physical being. Look at every situation as an opportunity!
  • You should maximise the functioning and capabilities of your physical body/mind.
  • You should maximise your individual creativity and find purpose in all that you do.
  • You should be your best and give yourself for the benefit of all.

When you do this you will find love will allowed to flow from you and you will attract it!

You can’t tune into Love when you have negative forces influencing you - 'love is felt through tuning in to the truth'.

Love is not felt when someone is holding you back and not caring for you as best they can.

You cannot hold other people responsible for their imperfections in respect of your relationship. You need to break negative cycles with people - this does not mean you have to stop being with them, or loving or caring for them; but it does mean you must take responsibility yourself for following more positive natural cycles. If you are not capable of allowing love to come out of yourself for your TRUE SPIRITUAL BEING then your imperfect physical being will dominate your life. You must learn to let love come out by turning negative thoughts and emotions into opportunities to help yourself and others.

You must stop feeling sorry for yourself and you must stop using others as an excuse.

You are not an 'imprisoned physical being' - you may feel like one, and may be treated like one - but you have the opportunity to change this.

When your mind thinks with moving pictures rather than thinks with words (self-talk), then the results/benefits are significantly better.

Mental imagery is a more intuitive process than an intellectual one. It allows you to influence and take control of your unconscious and subconscious; whereas self-talk and worded affirmations focus your influence within your conscious mind.

For most people the language of imagery is commonly experienced during REM sleep at night or whilst daydreaming. However, becoming aware of images whilst waking simply requires us to give it more focus than we currently do. Most people self-talk rather than self image!

Scientific research confirms the benefits of imagery for improving health:

Doctors prescribe pharmaceuticals that control the mind through the body; eg. tranquilizers, antidepressants and anaesthetics. In much the same way, we can use the mind to control the body - and imagery is far more effective at doing this than self talk. There are at least two major scientific journals devoted to imagery research; one from Marquette University (The Journal of Mental Imagery) and one from Yale University (Imagination, Cognition and Personality).

Mental imagery may be used as a process for reacting to experiences (negative or positive), however, it is more powerful when used as a way of 'creating new experiences'. After successive repetitions/cycles (21 days being a natural cycle time that changes behaviour) then the physical body attunes with the mind to make the mental imagery reality - THIS IS A PROVEN BENEFIT!

Within the VFP Digital Tuning Chart we have created audio links that explains how to use imagery to help create your own good health (this is an ongoing development).

 

HRV (Heart Rate Variability):

In terms of 'measuring SPIRITUAL BEING REALISATION' or 'SPIRITUAL COHERENCE' - it may be measured on a physical basis by HRV (Heart Rate Variability). However, what you have to realise is that SPIRITUAL COHERENCE extends beyond your physical being and HRV is therefore limited in its potential to measure the higher levels of consciousness. It would be reasonable to estimate that below the level of 200 HRV is low and not smooth. Peak HRV will start and continue at a level of approx 250. Above this level HRV will peak but it will not indicate your level of consciousness - this can be better estimated using the VFP Digital Tuning Chart.

The similarity between SPIRITUAL COHERENCE and HRV, is that HRV maintains 'high activity, smooth sine wave cycles' regardless of the heart rate or brain wave frequency (excitatory or inhibitory) - and SPIRITUAL COHERENCE maintains 'natural/balanced cycles of smooth waves - that can be excitatory or inhibitory' - so they are very similar to measure!

When SPIRITUAL COHERENCE occurs, on a physical basis, the heart and brain waves become more synchronised / tuned in to one another on an autonomic basis. The important aspect to measure is not whether the heart or brain frequencies are high or low - but that the 'HRV is high and smooth', thus showing a willingness and readiness for either positive/excitatory or negative/inhibitory states. Good coherence indicates a wide range of optimal flow zone frequencies (an ability to perceive stress as a positive challenge, rather than something negative to overcome).

Coherence and a good HRV are indicators of:

  • Positive relationships.
  • Creative initiatives between positive people.
  • Problem solving and group decision making.
  • Bonding and mutual support.

Quick coherence practice is only part of the VFP Tuning Protocol; By following the VFP retuning protocol you will reduce and prevent the negative effects of stress, fatigue and exhaustion, sleep disruption, anxiety and burnout - you will feel calm, positive and energised.

VFP uses the Inner Balance App in conjunction with the Bluetooth sensor from Heart Math to measure HRV. By recording your HRV before any interventions/therapy sessions, during the sessions and after the sessions we can better evaluate the impact of our VFP Protocol.