Alina Gallupe
Bio
I am a graduate student of Mental Health Counseling in Cambridge, MA. I strive to combine my mental health knowledge and my love of writing to explore all topics related to the human experience. I am also a dedicated cat mom and home cook.
Stories (43/0)
End of the Year Activities for Kids
Termination can be a difficult time for both clients and counselors or teachers. Students can react to endings in a variety of ways that can often be unpredictable and really different from their usual behavior patterns. Some students might withdraw and mentally seem to create some distance, while others will become aggressive or might act out for increased attention. By incorporating activities to help wrap up the end of the year, you can help curb some of these reactions and ensure that students get closure around the work they have done with you. These can be especially helpful for teachers or counselors who will no longer be working with these children again the coming school year.
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Education
Self-Esteem Activities for Children
The children of today are growing up in a world over-saturated with impossible beauty standards seen everywhere from photo-shopped celebrity images on social media to beauty and fitness ads on television. Kids, especially young girls, are being exposed to these fake images and are learning from younger and younger ages that they need to look a certain way, a way which might not even be possible for them. While some companies such as Aerie and American Eagle are embracing the "un-retouched" ad, there is still a long way to go before body positivity messages can become mainstream. In the meantime, there are things you can do with your kids, either in a classroom setting or at home, to help combat this cultural phenomenon and teach your children that they are worthy of respect.
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Education
Coping Skills Activities for Children
A student's ability to cope with difficult situations will greatly affect their social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Children who learn healthy coping skills are better equipped to deal with complex emotions and have less disruptive behaviors in the classroom which is good for both that child and the classroom as a whole. These activities are a great way to introduce students to strategies that can help them regulate and calm down during stressful or anxious moments in their day.
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Education
Anxiety Activities for Children
There is no question that anxiety is on the rise in America's youth. Between an increase in school shootings and the realities of global climate change, our culture as a whole is in a very high-stress period. Children are not only seeing these worries played out in society, but they are also absorbing them as well. As a result, childhood diagnoses of anxiety disorders are on the rise. While this might seem like a hopeless and scary fact, there are things that parents, teachers, and school counselors can do to help students cope with and understand anxiety. The following activities can be done at home or in school and can be done either one-on-one or in a classroom setting.
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Psyche
Whole 30 Party Food Recipes
As Spring and Summer approach, invites to Pot Lucks and BBQ's are starting to pop up as readily as the dandelions. Being on a nutrition plan like Whole 30 shouldn't stop you from enjoying fun in the sun! With these three easy-to-make recipes, you will be the life of the party, and have something tasty to munch on!
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Feast
My Journey Through Whole 30
Fad diets with celebrity endorsements and cult followings are as common as Instagram models, saturating our culture in weight-focused “wellness.” With so many to choose from, and so many being bogus or even harmful, it can be incredibly frustrating to navigate the weight loss scene. As someone who adores food (I would happily label myself a Foodie in an unironic way), all of these diets seemed too restrictive, and simply not for me. That being said, I decided to jump into the world of diet culture and do the hard work for you! In this review, I will take a look at the Whole 30 nutrition plan, and take you step by step through my 30-day journey, even the painful beginnings.
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Feast
"Whole 30" Dinner Recipes
Picture this: You are just getting home after a long day of work or classes, you are starving and looking for something easy and fast to throw into your mouth. This is usually when the tempting images of garlicky pizza and steamy, beautiful takeout start dancing through your mind. But you can say "not today, Satan" with ease knowing that you can make one of these simple and delicious recipes!
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Feast
"Whole 30" Breakfast Recipes
For those of us taking the plunge into 30 long days of eating sugar-free, grain-free, legume-free, dairy-free, and fun-free (don't lie, it feels fun-free on some days), it can be really important to start your day off right. For me, breakfast was never a big deal. I would eat a yogurt and a cheese stick, maybe some oatmeal if I was feeling extra hungry, but that would be it. Unfortunately, all three of those items are now off limits to me so I had to quickly scramble for a good plan B. Here are some of the recipes that I found and enjoyed; maybe you will like them too!
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Feast
7 Tips for Moving with Cats
Moving can be both exciting and daunting. Not only are you tasked with packing up all of your worldly possessions and transporting them across distances, but you have a fur baby to worry about too. Cats are notoriously bad at change, if you have ever so much as switched their food brands then you probably know this all too well. Moving, by definition, is the biggest change you can possibly impart on your poor, confused little cat. Here are some tips to help you make that transition as smooth as possible all the way from packing up to the trip to helping them transition to your knew digs!
By Alina Gallupe4 years ago in Petlife
