About Social Emotional Mentoring
About Social-Emotional Mentoring
While the majority of research on mentoring and developmental relationships focuses on youth, there is no research out there suggesting that the importance of quality relationships diminishes in any way with age.
A Social-Emotional Mentor is perfect for someone who is experiencing mild to medium signs of declining mental health, but isn’t quite in need of, or ready for professional psychiatric care. Working with me is a relaxed and fun approach to improving emotional, social, and physical health.
The Comrade Morpho program is developed based on studies suggesting that for real influence and positive change to occur, a mentor and mentee should meet frequently, consistently, and over an enduring period of time.
I created Comrade Morpho because I know there are people out there, of all different ages, circumstances, and abilities, who are craving connection and emotional support.
- It’s an enduring one-on-one relationship that builds a sense of safety, trust, and belonging through consistent in-person quality time.
- A purposeful connection that passively models healthy and happy habits through structured, but casual mentee-centric activities.
- Interactions are responsive, and adaptable and provide support to everyday challenges and goals.
- Over time the mentor becomes a trusted support system in the mentee’s life; someone they can confide in when life feels hard, and alternatively, someone to witness and celebrate life’s victories.
- Everything between mentor and mentee is confidential, and there is never any pressure or expectation to discuss difficult issues.
As a mentor, my intentions are to...
As a mentor, my intentions are to...
Express Care
Challenge Growth
Provide
Support
Share Power
Expand Possibilities
Learn more about Developmental Relationships at search-institute.org.
Just Some of The Benefits for Mentees
Just Some of The Benefits for Mentees
Social Emotional Growth
- Experience a decrease in feelings of anxiety and depression
- Develop awareness of and comfort with who they are as an individual
- Understand their own strengths and challenges
- Able to manage emotions
- Take ownership of their behaviours and fulfill commitments
Academic Strength
- Increased punctuality and attendance and school/work
- Self-motivated to do well
- Believe in personal responsibility for grades/performance
- More engaged
- Develop a desire to explore new subjects and challenges
- 76% of mentored youth aspire to enroll in and graduate from college
Civic Commitment
- See helping others as a personal responsibility
- 50% more likely to volunteer
- 13% more likely to give to charity
- 17% more likely to be gainfully employed and earn 13% more on average, compared to non-mentored peers
Decreased Risky Behaviour
- Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are:
- 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to start drinking
Examples of joint activities
Examples of joint activities
Each mentee is unique, with their own set of interests, needs, challenges, abilities, and goals, and our time together reflects this. These are just some of the things we could do together during our 1-on-1 time. If a mentee is interested in it, I’m open to it!
- Play With Clay
- Working on assignments at the library
- Laser Tag
- Attending local festivals and community events
- Museums
- Art Galleries
- Concerts (my favourite!)
- Shopping for the perfect outfit for that big occasion
- Searching far and wide for the perfect Halloween costume
- Going to the movies or drive-in
- Recreation centre activities
- Amusement Parks
- Thrifting and antiquing
- Seeing plays at local theatres
- Going out to restaurants
- Visiting the Donkey Sanctuary
etc, etc, etc...
- More involved hikes in nearby locations
- Swimming
- Ice skating
- Tobogganing
- Making earth art
- Building snowpeople
- Playing tennis
- Beach day
- Exploring Toronto Island
- Picnics by the river
etc, etc, etc...
- Doing arts & crafts
- Playing board games
- Cooking up a storm in the kitchen
- Baking a cake for a special occasion
- Having tea
- Watching tv & movies
- Working on homework
- Practicing presentations
etc, etc, etc...
- Doing random acts of kindness, like shoveling driveways
- Regular volunteering at local foodbanks, community kitchens, shelters
- One time volunteering at special events and festivals
etc, etc, etc...
- Life model drawing
- Pottery
- Dance
- Zoomba
- Spin
- Kickboxing
- DYI workshops
- Improv
etc, etc, etc...
These things take time...
These things take time...
Studies demonstrate that high-quality relationships that are frequent, consistent and enduring can have stabilizing effects on our emotional, physical and mental health.
One Year: Beginning, Middle and End
For formal mentoring, a 1-year commitment is recommended. To establish trust, and form a meaningful bond, it requires a beginning phase of getting to know each other; and the real momentum starts mid-way through the year, once trust has been established and a bond begins to develop. Thoughtful closure at the end of the program is crucial. Premature termination or a poor ending can undo all the benefits gained by the mentee throughout the match, and in some cases, can even be harmful.
Eight to Ten Hours Each Month
Studies on mentor/mentee relationships suggest that providing limited access to mentoring is worse than no mentoring at all. The magic formula for real impact is 10hrs a month, ideally split up between one interaction each week. Lives are busy, schedules are hectic and things come up, so while once a week is the goal, there is plenty of flexibility with how the 10hrs are divided each month. The main goal is to maintain steady contact.
For the Comrade Morpho Program, during the first 3 months, I start with 8hrs a month. It takes a lot of energy to get to know someone new, and hangouts can get exhausting for mentees, so short and sweet interactions are better in the beginning.
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