Current Programs

For Faculty, Staff and their Immediate Family Members

April Programs

Mindfulness Practice for Releasing Stress  

Presented by Colleen McGuire (she, her), LCSW
Thursday, April 9, 12-12:30pm via Zoom, Recording available

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Having effective ways of coping with stress helps maintain health and wellbeing. We will review types of stress and their impact, then share a 15-minute guided practice focused on releasing stress.  

Supporting Survivors: Tools, Boundaries, and Resources 

Presented by Madeline R. Wigon (she, her), LICSW  
Crisis Intervention Counselor at the BU Survivor Advocacy Response & Prevention Center (SARP) 
Wednesday, April 15, 12-12:45pm via Zoom, Recording Available

In this Faculty & Staff Assistance Office (FSAO) and SARP co-hosted workshop, students, faculty, and staff will learn ways to support survivors, including friends, loved ones, and students. Topics will include best practices for offering support, boundary setting, self-care, and resources available at BU and in the broader community.

Presenter’s bio: My name is Madeline (she/her). I am a Clinical Social Worker and trauma specialist at SARP, where I provide counseling and advocacy services to students who have experienced both violent and non-violent trauma. While I enjoy working with people across the lifespan, I find working with college students especially rewarding. I believe in the power of empowerment, laughter, creativity, and connection as key components of healing, and I strive to bring those values into my work every day. Outside of work, you can usually find me enjoying a good comedy show, working on my latest art project, or spending time with my cat, Sassafras. 

Relationship Health
Rescheduled from February
Presented by Brian D. Doss (he, him), Ph.D. 
Professor at the University of Miami and co-founder of OurRelationship 
Wednesday, April 29, 12-1pm via Zoom, Register Here  

Romantic relationships are one of the strongest predictors of long-term health, happiness, and well-being—yet many couples struggle without understanding why. In this talk, Brian D. Doss, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Miami and co-founder of OurRelationship, introduces a research-backed framework for strengthening relationships through a “DEEP” understanding of what really drives conflict and disconnection. Participants will learn how the Differences, Emotions, External Stress, and Patterns (DEEP) of communication interact to shape relationship dynamics. OurRelationship is available to BU employees and their partners at no cost. 

Dr. Brian D. Doss is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami.   His research is focused on ways to increase the reach of couple interventions, with a special emphasis on technology.  As Director of a 15-year project funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Administration for Children and Families, he has provided digital interventions to more than 10,000 people.  Dr. Doss has over 125 professional publications and is a co-author of two books: a self-help book for distressed couples (Reconcilable Differences) and a couple therapy manual (Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: A Therapists Guide to Creating Acceptance and Change). Dr. Doss’ research has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, the Miami Herald, and elsewhere.   

May Programs

Somatic Tools for Managing Stress at Work and Beyond 

Presented by Sarah Henderson (she, her), LICSW
Assistant Director of the FSAO
Wednesday, May 6, 12-12:45pm via Zoom, Register Here  

This workshop introduces practical, body-based techniques for managing stress and building nervous system resilience. Participants will learn how stress shows up physically, and how to use simple, accessible tools to regulate activation in real time. Through guided exercises including grounding, breathwork, and gentle movement you will develop skills to reduce overwhelm, increase emotional regulation, and restore a sense of balance. 

Meeting the Moment: Skills for Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times   

Presented by Annell Ovalles (she, her), MPH
BU doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology
Tuesday, May 12, 12-12:45pm  via Zoom, Register Here 

This presentation will focus on understanding and managing anxiety during times of uncertainty. We will begin by exploring the biopsychosocial mechanisms that contribute to ongoing stress and anxiety, offering a framework for understanding why these experiences are so common and persistent. Building on this foundation, participants will be introduced to practical, skills-based strategies drawn from ACT, CBT, and DBT. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to respond to anxiety, develop effective coping strategies, and engage more fully in the present moment. Attendees will leave with concrete tools they can apply in their daily lives. 

Annell Ovalles is a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Boston University studying mechanisms of tailored treatments for pain, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, with a focus on how psychosocial factors in ethnic and racial minorities influence pathology and therapeutic change. She is a clinical trainee at McLean Hospital, providing short-term, skills-focused therapy, conducting structured assessments for acute depression, anxiety, trauma-related, and personality disorders, and delivering evidence-based interventions (CBT, DBT, ACT) while co-facilitating interdisciplinary skills groups. She currently leads a research project adapting an app-based CBT intervention for the Hispanic/Latinx community to ensure cultural and linguistic appropriateness. 

Mindfulness Practice 

Presented by Karen Brouhard (she, her), LICSW 
Senior Director of the FSAO 
Thursday, May 21, 4:30-4:45pm via Zoom, Register Here

 Mindfulness can be a helpful way to support mental health by creating space to slow down, manage stress, and reconnect with the present moment.  We invite you to join us for a 15-minute guided mindfulness practice. This brief session offers an opportunity to pause at the end of your workday, reset, and build simple skills that can support focus, resilience, and overall well-being. All are welcome, whether you are new to mindfulness or already have a practice. 

Related Recording from March

OurRelationship Demo    

Presented by Brian D. Doss, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami and co-founder of OurRelationship (he, him)
Tuesday, March 3, 12-12:20pm via Zoom, Recording Available 

This demonstration provides an overview of the OurRelationship platform, a self-guided and coach-supported digital intervention based on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). The demo highlights core program phases, interactive tools, and outcome-driven design, illustrating how evidence-based relationship care can be delivered at scale while maintaining clinical integrity.  

Watch Recordings of Past FSAO Programs

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.

Recommended Webinars and Presentations from Other Trusted Sources

McLean’s Mental Health Webinar series