Breakout Session #1
Title: "Using Encouragement and Positive Psychology to Promote Resilience"
Presenters: Dr. Reade Dowda, Ph.D., LPC, CHST, Assistant Professor of Counseling and Brian Weber, M.S., NCC, Instructor of Counselor Education
Session Description: Join us for an engaging and interactive discussion about the benefits of incorporating Adlerian encouragement and positive psychology interventions to promote resilience. We will specifically discuss the attitudes, characteristics, and skills of Adlerian encouragement as well as strengths-based interventions. Using a PowerPoint to guide discussion, we will give specific examples of how to effectively use these interventions to enhance your counseling, teaching, and personal life. Participants will learn interventions that can be used immediately in both school and community settings. Audience participation is strongly encouraged.
Breakout Session #2
Title: "Implementing Truama-Sensitive Strategies and Interventions in the Elementary Classroom from an Empathetic and Loving Perspective"
Presenters: Megan Willis, B.A. in Psychology, Family Support Facilitator and Sara Goldsby, B.S and M.S. in Special Education
Session Description: Learn how trauma presents itself in the classroom and build your own personal tool box that allows you to move beyond simply understanding trauma, to knowing how to respond and create a safe environment through effective and loving interventions. Participants will learn positive ways to build relationships with students and how their ‘serve’ can dictate the child’s ‘return’.
Breakout Session #3
Title: "Secondary Traumatic Stress in Educators and Clinicians: Practical Skills that Foster Resilience and Mitigate the Risks of Burnout and Overstress"
Presenters: Jessica Albin, LMSW, LMAC, Kelly Center and Student Health Case Manager
Session Description: When we work with individuals who have been traumatized, we can begin to experience the impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). As a result, burnout and overstress are common occurrences among educators and clinicians. This session will explore the signs and symptoms of STS, and discuss the primary way the risk of STS can be mitigated: increased resilience. We will spend most of our time learning practical skills to build resilience and brainstorming ways to integrate these skills into the rhythm of our already busy lives.
Breakout Session #4
Title: "Building Trauma-Responsive Awareness in the Classroom"
Presenters: Lindsey Sellers, B.S Elementary Education and M.S. School Counseling and Sarah Lancaster, PhD, State of Kansas Licensed Professional School Counselor, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Session Description: This session will provide strategies for your toolbox that are applicable when you only see students for limited periods of time throughout the day, primarily in secondary settings. Participants will learn how trauma presents itself in the school setting with an adolescent population. You will take away techniques that encourage reflection on classroom behavior, foster relationships and enhance resilient learners.