In-Service Workshops

There are many barriers that prevent people from disclosing abuse and getting the support that people deserve. In this session, we will identify barriers of receiving support. We will build confidence on having conversations that might make us uncomfortable, especially when working with people we care for. Participants will leave with tools for responding to difficult questions, as well as learn techniques to create 2-way discussions about values, boundaries, and your role in supporting them.

A core need for children is the need for belonging and one of the fastest and most direct ways to create belonging, and connection and to develop relational trust is through well-led social play. In today's world, due to more screen time, academic pressures, pandemic realities, and our fast-paced culture, finding the necessary and needed time to play can often be challenging. Howard Moody, Play Specialist and Author of Nurtured Heart Play and The Heart of Play Games Manual and the co-creator of the Adventure Game theater will lead this highly experiential and laughter-filled playshop. Using Energizers, cooperative games, improv theater games and active play Howard will remind everyone that play can be interwoven throughout the educational process. Play, for all ages of students, is an active and real way for students to feel and express their joy and is also a remarkable tool for emotional regulation and learning effective social skills. Play is nature’s training for Life.

This presentation is designed to help educational, mental health, and community professionals both deepen their connections with their colleagues, students, teams, and families and focus on their own self-care as a way to build and maintain professional resilience. We will focus on strategies to foster interprofessional collaboration so that all team members share both the challenges and joys of their work. We will also discuss barriers and share solutions to collaborating and engaging in consistent self-care.

All schools have bullying response guidelines but sometimes school staff struggle with understanding the causes of bullying. This workshop addresses the dynamics between bullies and victims and explores the role bystanders play. Practical suggestions to deal with bullying will be given. This presentation is only available to school staff and administrators.

This dynamic and interactive presentation explores the critical difference between being a bystander and becoming an upstander in the face of bullying. Participants will learn to recognize various forms of bullying—physical, verbal, social, and cyber—and examine the powerful role peers play in either perpetuating or preventing harmful behavior. Through real-life scenarios, discussion, and practical tools, attendees will gain the confidence to intervene safely and effectively. The session emphasizes empathy, accountability, and the importance of creating a culture of respect in schools and communities. Whether you're a student, educator, or community member, this presentation will challenge you to shift from silence to action.

Every day, educators bear witness to the impacts of trauma in their classroom. Young people share their stories with us through behaviors (acting out, withdrawing, overachieving), attitudes (angry, distracted, anxious), and their own words. We care deeply about our students and creating a safe and supportive learning environment. As teachers, we also have our own stories and our own pain- both past and present. The goal of this workshop is to create a space to acknowledge the cumulative toll bearing witness to trauma can have on us and develop strategies to care for ourselves and support one another in doing this important and impactful work.

Prom is a special night one should always remember. Nothing will spoil that memory more than underage substance use, or worse, bad decision making. This presentation is for juniors and seniors ahead of prom, educating them on the dangers of underage substance use and unhealthy decision making and empowering them with alternatives to ensure their prom is a night to always remember!

This presentation is designed to educate students on the dangers and realities of vaping. Participants will learn about the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, how vaping is marketed to youth, and the impact nicotine can have on developing brains. Through real-life stories, current data, and interactive discussions, students will gain the tools to critically evaluate vaping culture and resist peer pressure. The session also highlights strategies for making healthy choices and provides resources for those seeking help to quit. Ideal for middle and high school audiences, this presentation promotes awareness, empowerment, and prevention.

Participants will learn the basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and how to implement CBT in their own personal lives and during treatment. Participants will also learn the inter-relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors and how they interact with decision making and maladaptive behaviors. Participants will receive tools defining and addressing cognitive distortions, the dysfunctional response cycle and confronting cognitive distortions by meta-cognition. Participants will receive tools to implement during clinical sessions and group therapy.

For students to maximize outcomes across home, school, and community, it is integral that parents be considered partners in their child’s education, including behavioral programming that both decreases challenging behavior and promotes skill development. Oftentimes, however, there is a lack of communication between educators and parents that can lead to misunderstandings, frustration and mistrust. As a result, a student’s learning and generalization of skills may be negatively impacted. Bridging the gap between home and school may be done through compassionate communication and collaboration with all team members at school and at home. In this workshop, we will discuss ways to improve our communication and collaboration skills with parents.