Meet Gardener Margaux -Licensed Associate Counselor
- The Gardening Team
- Jul 23, 2024
- 2 min read
Hello gardeners! Today, we are excited to feature Margaux Rustad MA, LAC, with whom we have been collaborating with since late spring. Gardener Margaux is a Licensed Associate Counselor at Ellie Mental Health in Parsippany, NJ. She reached out to Gardener Shanna directly for guidance on developing a group counseling program based on the You Are a Gardener® foundation. Having attended a #PullYourWeeds® event a couple of years back, Gardener Margaux resonated deeply with our message. Collaboratively, we outlined easy and impactful methods to incorporate our vocabulary and mindset into counseling sessions for young children.
Let’s check in with Gardener Margaux to see how it’s growing:
"I implemented a loose curriculum based on some activities and the language of the book with a couple of my kiddos, and so far, it has been really positive! One kiddo even mentioned that she had seen the book at school which made me happy.
I think it has been helpful for me too, to engage in getting comfortable with the language and the activities as almost a "trial run" of what will work best in a counseling setting. I have learned that the kiddos can relate to the language and find it makes it easier for them to express their emotions, plus utilizing the badges to make it even more engaging.
Parents have also responded positively to the curriculum, as I have presented them with the tools we use in session to also incorporate at home.
Overall, I have taken a lot of positives away from this, and am really hopeful that this will give me a better handle on how to make it the most effective group in the future!
I hope all is well with you, and am looking forward to more collaboration as I continue to "research" in individual sessions for the group setting!"
Margaux Rustad, MA, LAC
Therapist
Ellie Mental Health Parsippany
Comments