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Health and Wellbeing

How to Have Constructive Conversations with Distressed Students in Further Education Settings  

What to say, and what to leave unsaid, when a student at your college is clearly struggling.

  • 34 minutes
  • 0.5 CPD hours
  • Certificate

Free for 14 days, then £8 a month or £80 a year. Cancel before day 14 and you won't pay anything.

On its own: £51 including VAT · 12 months' access

About this course

A student who's usually chatty goes quiet. Another stops handing work in, or keeps asking whether it's good enough. You've noticed, and you want to say something, but you're worried about making it worse or getting out of your depth.

You'll learn to start that conversation early and keep it going. Open with what you've seen rather than your guess at the problem ("I've noticed you've not seemed yourself, and I wondered…"). Reflect back what you hear. Offer a walk instead of a face-to-face chat, or a pen and paper for a student who can't find the words. A little about the teenage brain explains why a four-week relationship ending can feel enormous at 17.

You'll also be clear about where your role stops, and how to refer a student on so they see asking for help as a sign of strength.

Modules

1 module
  1. 1The course34 min

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Good to know

  • A certificate with your CPD hours that anyone can check online.
  • Buy the course and you have 12 months to finish it.
  • Stop when you like and pick up where you left off.
  • Your school is a member? Log in and it’s already there. You won’t pay twice.

Start this course today

Try it free for 14 days. The trial opens every course in the library, including this one.

On its own: £51 including VAT · 12 months' access