Page 7 - Nadide Times 9
P. 7
APRIL 2023 9th EDITION
AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR COUNSELLOR
ZÜMRÜT KURTULUŞ
Abdullah OĞUZ (7th Hunters)
I met with our dear counsellor Zümrüt Kurtuluş to Abdullah OĞUZ: Do you have any suggestions
have a short chat about the earthquake. for families whose children are experiencing
anxiety during this process?
Abdullah OĞUZ: Dear Zümrüt hocam, thank you
for taking your time for this chat as I know that you Zümrüt KURTULUŞ: First of all, as a parent,
are all tied up as we have been living in an one of the most meaningful things we can do to
extraordinary time. Here comes my first question. help our children is to listen to and chat with them.
Have you observed any changes in the students’ I think, it is the right and healthy method for them
behaviour after the earthquake? to get through this difficult process. Let your
children tell you about their concerns. Tell them
Zümrüt KURTULUŞ: I have observed that some that these feelings are normal when it's
of my students have increased negative thoughts convenient. Play games and spend more time with
about anxiety-related events. I noticed that some them.
of my students, even if they are not exposed to the
situation, have sleep disorders and negative Abdullah OĞUZ: How we should treat our
thoughts which effect the school activities friends that come from the earthquake zone?
accordingly.
Zümrüt KURTULUŞ: It’s good to ask as many
Abdullah OĞUZ: What are your suggestions to questions about their life as possible, hobbies,
our friends who have anxiety after the earthquake? favourite games, etc, like usual. We need to ask
these kinds of questions and we shouldn’t ask
Zümrüt KURTULUŞ: First of all, we need to questions about the earthquake. We can invite
know that this fear and anxiety we experience is them when we play games. We can show them
very natural. We should not be afraid to show our around the school. We can tell them that they can
fear. We can share our anxiety with people we love always consult us when they need help. Being
and value as much as possible. You can keep an understanding is the most helpful.
emotion diary (a diary in which we express our
emotions). In particular, we can take care to spend Abdullah OĞUZ: Thank you very much, but one
more time with our family and relatives. In this more question. What do you think about miners?
process, we should not neglect our self-care
(personal cleaning). You can do relaxation Zümrüt KURTULUŞ: In difficult times, we come
exercises (breathing exercises). We should pay closer and get to know each other better. One of
particular attention to our sleeping patterns. If we the biggest examples of this were the miners. They
have regular routines, it is more important that we showed that they had great virtue in their brave
maintain them. actions. Seeing them like this made me emotional.
Abdullah OĞUZ: Thank you for answering my
questions and being helpful for all of us.
