Workshops and Groups
For Faculty, Staff and their Immediate Family Members
June & July Programs
This summer FSAO will be offering mindfulness practices to support moments of reflection. Join our team for a variety of practices that we hope will inspire you to pause and nourish yourself. June and July are included here. August’s schedule will be shared in the first week of that month.
June
Mindfulness Meditation
Wednesday, June 7, 4:40 pm to 5:00 pm via zoom, Event has past – please scroll down for more Mindfulness opportunities.
Join FSAO counselor, Sarah Henderson, LICSW for a 20-minute guided mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is the ability to be present in the moment. Anxiety and stress often cause our attention and thoughts to wander to the future – with worries about what might happen- or to linger on past experiences, often with regret. Mindfulness helps us to be more attuned and aware of our own internal experience. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to promote positive change in the brain pathways involved in stress, focus and attention, memory, and mood.
Mindfulness with Expressive Arts
Thursday, June 22, 4:40 pm to 5:00 pm via zoom, Register Here
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed by your daily tasks? Do you need a break to relax and recharge your energy at the end of the day? If so, join FSAO counselor Violet Li, LMHC for a 20-minute mindfulness online activity that also has an element of expressive arts. You will learn how to practice mindfulness breathing techniques creatively. You will also have an opportunity to rekindle your playfulness that might have withered due to life responsibilities. This activity is designed to help you reduce stress, re-connect with your creativity, and enhance your overall well-being.
July
Mindfulness with Expressive Arts
Wednesday, July 12, 4:40 pm to 5:00 pm via zoom, Register Here
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed by your daily tasks? Do you need a break to relax and recharge your energy at the end of the day? If so, join FSAO counselor Violet Li, LMHC for a 20-minute mindfulness online activity that also has an element of expressive arts. You will learn how to practice mindfulness breathing techniques creatively. You will also have an opportunity to re-kindle your playfulness that might have withered due to life responsibilities. This activity is designed to help you reduce stress, re-connect with your creativity, and enhance your overall well-being.
Self-Compassion Meditation Practice
Thursday, July 27, 4:45 pm to 5:00 pm via zoom, Register Here
Join FSAO Director Karen Brouhard, LICSW for 15 minutes of Self-Compassion practice to cultivate this important component of emotional equanimity and well-being. Self-compassion involves extending the same kindness to ourselves that we would offer a friend who was having a difficult time. It opens our hearts to acknowledging and accepting our humanness – that we all suffer, make mistakes and are imperfect. It helps us treat ourselves with warmth and understanding rather than harshness and judgement when we experience setbacks and fall short of our ideals. With practice, we can develop the habit of self-compassion, becoming better able to give ourselves the support and comfort which helps us bear life’s pain and suffering.
Recent Recordings
Psychological Readiness for Retirement: Are you Prepared? presented by Karen Brouhard, LICSW and Director of BU’s Faculty and Staff Assistance Office
Managing Stress and Anxiety, Presented by Dr. Marshaun Glover. Recorded on Monday, March 13, 2023. Recording Available
This presentation will discuss the structure of thoughts, the relationship between the way you think about situations and how that influences your behaviors and responses. Dr Glover will share cognitive and behavioral strategies to overcome stress and anxiety towards developing psychological resilience.
ADHD 101, presented by Dr. Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D. Recorded on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Recording Available!
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodiverse condition characterized by attention dysregulation, hyperactivity, impulsivity and executive functioning issues. Although known by name, ADHD is culturally marked with misunderstanding and many misconceptions. This webinar will cover the neurochemical and genetic etiology of ADHD, as well as ways it can manifest with different people of different ages. The speaker, who has ADHD and children with ADHD, will also discuss strategies, parenting tips, academic accommodations and treatment recommendations, as well as encouraging a strength-based, positive identity model of ADHD. There will be time for Q+A so bring your questions!
About the presenter:
Dr. Roberto Olivardia is a Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital and Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He also specializes in the treatment of eating disorders in boys and men. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex, a book which details the various manifestations of body image problems in males. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board for ADDitude, a publication serving the needs of individuals with ADHD and Learning Disabilities, as well as sits on the Professional Advisory Boards for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD), the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and is a Featured Expert for Understood. He presents at many conferences, podcasts and webinars around the country.
For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation ( e.g. ASL Interpreters, Communication Access Realtime Translation CART), please email fsao@bu.edu. Please submit requests for accommodations as soon as possible.
Always available recorded webinars:
Put Your Mind to Bed with Headspace: An Intro to Sleep. FSAO sponsored webinar presentation by Headspace. Watch the recorded webinar (42:27)
Dreaming of more restful sleep? Headspace is here to make bedtime better. Join Headspace Engagement Manager Ban Ishii for this 45-minute webinar on how to create the ideal environment for sleep. We’ll discuss the science behind mindfulness and sleep, share tips for getting a good night’s rest, and explore how Headspace can help.
If you haven’t already, sign up for Headspace here: https://work.headspace.com/bostonuniversity/member-enroll
Burnout Prevention, presented by Sarah Henderson, LICSW Presented on Wednesday, November 16, 12:00 to 12:45 pm, via zoom, Please see the recoding of the presentation
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a “syndrome” that results from “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Burnout can impact your physical, social, and psychological wellbeing. In today’s fast-paced, high-demand society, it can feel challenging to find the time to stop, breathe, and be present. With the right tools and some simple mindfulness strategies, you will be better able to prevent the negative effects of burnout. This workshop will identify signs of burnout, how to prevent burnout, and stress management strategies that promote resilience.
Supporting Gender Diverse Children and Teens, presenter Becky Smith, LSW from Out at Home, a program of The Home for Little Wanderers, via Zoom, Recording Available!
This workshop focuses on looking at how parents can best understand and support their gender diverse/expansive children and teens.
Saving Our Last Nerves while Navigating Parenting, led by By Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby, LICSW. Recording available!
This 45-minute talk will focus on helping parents navigate the challenges of parenting teens in the Midst of Difficult Times.
Balance & Boundaries, recording available, offered by Blue Cross MA/Wellness Concepts.
Suicide Awareness and Prevention, recording available Led by Sarah Henderson, LICSW, a presentation of suicide prevention resources, and most importantly ways to support yourself and others. (length – 41:18)
Overcoming Burnout in the (Nearly) Post-Pandemic Workplace presented by BU Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders clinical psychology faculty member, Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D. This one hour recorded replay of the April 2021 Leadercamp webinar can be found in BU’s Terrier E Development
Skills for Coping with Change and Uncertainty presented by Sarah Henderson, LICSW, FSAO Counselor. This twelve-minute presentation focuses on mindfulness and cognitive behavioral strategies for coping effectively with change and enhancing your overall mood. Found here.
Cultivating Psychological Resilience, presented by Karen Brouhard LICSW, FSAO Counselor and Director. This 23 minute presentation focuses on on actions you can take to strengthen your stress tolerance and resilience as we navigate the challenges of our current moment. Found Here.
Coping with the Climate Crisis, presented by Kelsey Hudson, Ph.D. Recording found here. The presentation will focus on how climate change impacts our mental health, common reactions to climate change, and some strategies for coping with the climate crisis. Dr. Hudson will also provide additional resources for individuals who wish to learn more about this topic.
Webinars and Presentations from Other Trusted Sources
McLean’s Mental Health Webinar series