During these last few years all of us have had to change the way that we live as well as change the way we deliver services to our clients. These changes put an extra strain on an already stressful workload for both professionals and the people we serve. During this workshop we explore the concept of resilience in our lives and profession, expand the “resilience toolbox” for ourselves, and discuss ways that we can foster resilience in the lives of the people we serve. This is a participatory and experiential workshop.
Testimonials
“Very thoughtful and informative presentation. information that I will use”.
“Ilana is brilliant! I liked how she practiced skills with us, instead of just naming it. Also, how she explained the rationale behind it and not just telling us it works. Overall, I enjoyed Ilana’s presence – she’s real and genuine”!
“Presenter lively and slides attractive”
“Ilana was encouraging and open to group participation and info was provided in both clinical and “layman’s” terms which made it feel very accessible and relevant”.
“The instructor was warm, well prepared, easy to connect to. The information was really relevant to my life and practice”.
“Relevant for my work and also being mindful to take care of myself”.
Participants learn about and discuss the different aspects of wellness including Nutrition, Sleep, Stress Management, Exercise and Mindfulness. They learn stress management and mindfulness techniques, discuss sleep patterns difficulties, and explore potential remedies for improved sleep. Additionally, participants will discuss ways to implement newly learned skills in their work and daily life.
Testimonials
“Clear explanation on what goes on in your body when stressed”
“I liked that the presenter was able to engage all of the participants within the class, it was a very interactive session”
“I liked Ilana’s personality, humor and energy”.
“Ilana is clearly an expert on the subject and was effective in presenting actionable technics to
accomplish the goal of managing stress. She was also very empathetic”.
“Authentic, responsive to the group. Great energy and positivity”
“Loved learning the benefits of play + laughter; how they can be very helpful in our work and for ourselves.
Sleep is a major health issue and sleep pattern difficulties have been linked to both depression and anxiety. Participants in this workshop learn about the neurobiology of sleep (what happens in the brain when we sleep). They also learn about different sleep patterns, what is involved in sleep hygiene, and how to take the knowledge and use it to improve sleep. In addition, we discuss sleep aids, including their benefits and side effects. The skills learned in this workshop can be taught to
Testimonials
“Personable and easy to relate to presenter”
“Presenter was excellent”
“It was experiential”
“Really liked the combo of techniques, neuroscience and practice”.
“I like the humor woven in; hand on activities, dialogue, and how begin with mindfulness exercise. Allowed ability to ask questions in tactful way throughout”
Coping with stress during the pandemic and other uncertain times are major challenges for everyone. Participants in this workshop discuss and explore the challenges that parents and caregivers experience as they navigate their lives during uncertain and anxious times. Participants learn about the neurobiology of attachment and how this affects parental functioning. They bring case examples to demonstrate stressful situations that parents encounter. Using the principles of positive parenting, techniques, and practices, they identify positive parenting interventions that can be used during challenging times to assist their children as well as take care of themselves.
Testimonials
“The speaker had very positive energy and was engaging.”
“I thought Ilana was an excellent presenter, who very much engaged the participants as well.”
“She was prepared as well as had good practical ideas and examples that could be applied”.
“She did a nice job of being authentic and transparent, relaying real examples of what she was talking about.
“She respected us as individuals who have also experienced the pandemic trauma”.
Everyone likes to hear stories. They capture the minds and hearts and are a gentle way to get to core issues without “barging” through defenses.
This workshop draws heavily from the research of Milton Erickson, DW Winnicott, Richard Gardner and Bob Ziegler, who noted the importance of storytelling and book writing in therapy.
This is a participatory, skill-enhancing three-part workshop that explains and demonstrates the use of metaphors, storytelling, and book writing with clients. We learn from case examples, unique playing cards, and mutual book writing. By the end of the training, participants are able to use their skills creatively and immediately with their clients.
Testimonials
“The creative use of metaphors”
“Excellent speaker- respectful, knowledgeable, informative”.
“I liked creating the books and the word games”
“New perspective was very helpful”
“The speaker was very knowledgeable, warm, and engaging. I enjoyed my time with her”.
“She is excellent. Very well prepared — excellent experience. Great personality and relates well to the group. Very approachable and interesting”.
“Humorous, invested, hands-on.”
Mandala means “circle” in Sanskrit. Mandalas were brought to Western culture by Tibetan monks and were introduced as a therapeutic tool by Carl Jung. Participants in this workshop learn four different uses of mandalas for clinical practice. They explore the value of the different forms for affect regulation, communication, enhanced concentration, social skills and team building. Upon completion of the workshop, participants have acquired hands-on experiences that allows them to use this mindful intervention tool immediately in their practice.
Testimonials
“I enjoyed and was inspired (by)the presenter’s energy and obvious passion and knowledge of Mandalas. I think it would really be relevant to my practice with adolescents and look forward to implementing it”.
“Today’s workshop was very useful, fun, and informative. Ilana was a great instructor”.
“I loved the different ways of experiential learning, discussion, different modes of interacting” with the material and content kept me engaged throughout.
“It was dynamic and immersive
“Mandalas can help people heal from trauma; Mandalas activate different parts of the brain”
Empathy, communication, integrity, and respect are essential characteristics of an effective and inspirational leader. Can we teach those skills to our students, managers, and the people that we serve? This workshop focuses on the characteristics and skills of a compassionate leader. We review the neurobiology of empathy and compassion as well as some of the professional risks associated with having “too much” empathy. Participants will experiment with empathy-enhancing skills that they learn as well as teach their clients and team members.
Testimonials
“The speaker was very knowledgeable and easy to engage with.”
“Speaker was excellent. Presentation was well paced. I appreciated the opportunity to engage with the presenter directly throughout. Content was great.”
“The speaker was well organized and prepared. She wanted the group engaged.”
“The speaker was lovely and knowledgeable.”
“Inclusive and open to on-the-go feedback”
“Great presentation! Exceeded my expectations.”
During this workshop, participants explore the concepts of vicarious trauma and burnout. They experience different forms of self-care, including mandala-making and Qi Gong Participants are introduced to Laughter Yoga (laughter exercises and yoga breathing), and partake in a Laughter Yoga session to promote their own health and wellbeing.
Testimonials
“ I liked Ilana’s approach and her positivity”
“Openness, Relaxation, and getting out of the routine”
“Ilana, you did a great job”
Returning to work during these times is both welcomed as well as anxiety provoking. We all need this experience to be affirming and joyous. Participants in this workshop learn about the value of play for creating a positive atmosphere in the workplace. They experience different team-building activities using unique group discussion methods. They work together and collaborate to solve a problem while learning team-building skills through joyful activities.
Testimonials
“I enjoyed and was inspired (by)the presenter’s energy and obvious passion and knowledge of Mandalas. I think it would really be relevant to my practice with adolescents and look forward to implementing it”.
“Today’s workshop was very useful, fun, and informative. Ilana was a great instructor”.
“I loved the different ways of experiential learning, discussion, different modes of interacting” with the material and content kept me engaged throughout.
“It was dynamic and immersive”
