safeTALK prepares people to be more alert to suicide and to help persons with thoughts of suicide make safe connections. The intervention goal is that persons with thoughts of suicide connect with someone who will help them keep safe from suicide and access further support. Participants will leave equipped to: 1. Describe the role of […]

There is no one-size fits all approach in education. Much like how educators adapt to different learning needs, our education environments must similarly adapt to support students who have or are experiencing trauma. This learning session will focus on more advanced trauma informed classroom practices and discuss Tier 2 responses in the learning environment. Learning […]

This session will focus on developing awareness of one’s experiences, including thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and external circumstances. Moreover, participants will develop skills in intentionality – making purposeful choices. Learning goals: 1) Develop awareness of ongoing experiences happening in the mind and body 2) Assess the workability of one’s behaviors 3) Classify behavioral choices in […]

safeTALK prepares people to be more alert to suicide and to help persons with thoughts of suicide make safe connections. The intervention goal is that persons with thoughts of suicide connect with someone who will help them keep safe from suicide and access further support. Participants will leave equipped to: 1. Describe the role of […]

The presentation will walk participants through five, research-tested mindfulness practices to use with secondary students including Check-in, Breath Work, Movement, a Guided Mindfulness Practice, and a Close of Practice. Through interactive practices, participants will learn about each mindfulness technique, and how they can be combined into a lesson and separated into short brain breaks. Participants […]

This presentation will walk participants through five, research-tested mindfulness practices to use with elementary students including Check-In, Breath Work, Movement, Guided Mindfulness Practice, and Close of Practice. Through interactive practices, participants will learn about each mindfulness practice, and how they can be combined into a lesson and separated into short brain breaks. Participants will also […]

Using empirically supported strategies, Dr. Thomas will apply relevant skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Iowa educators. The three trainings will focus on three core skills: 1) Acting on one’s personally chosen values – identifying what matters and pursuing these values via consistent action. 2) Developing awareness of one’s internal and external world […]

Bullying remains a pervasive problem among school-aged youth. Therefore, educators are tasked with the responsibility to identify, intervene, and reduce bullying within their classrooms and schools. In this session, bullying prevention will be addressed through a multi-tiered lens. Specifically, this session will highlight the defining characteristics of bullying, provide an overview of predictive and protective […]