Self Reflective Practices to Unwind Internal Biases for Those Who Work With System Involved Youth

Ursula Elsa and basha* star

Training Description

What is the tapestry of the world that we live in, and how are we rendering to pick out the fibers that no longer serve us? To effectively support young people, it is important that we are aware of our own identities as practitioners and willing to shift and change. In this training, we will be unwinding the pieces of ourselves so that when we are face to face in working with system involved youth, there is a consciousness of the impact it may have. Mindfulness practices will support us in building awareness of our patterns and approaching ourselves with compassion. We will learn how to slow down so that we can be thorough in doing internal reflections around internal biases that we hold. We will engage in practices to examine bias, prejudice, and gain understanding around how white supremacy impacts you personally and professionally. From this place, we will explore how to build allyship to youth and communities that we serve.

Learning Objectives

● Understand and identify the impact of colonization, white supremacy, bias, and prejudice as practitioners working with youth in a multicultural, multiracial context

● Identify and explore places where there is an unaware oppressor pattern / places where we have misses individually around internal biases

● Build an understanding of one’s own intersectional identities

Agenda

10:00am-10:15am  Welcome, Housekeeping, Agenda Overview

10:15-10:30am  Objectives, Participant and Facilitator Intros

10:30-10:45am  Embodied Mindfulness practice

10:45-11:00am  Intro to Power Wheel

11:00-11:15am  Exploration - individual identity

11:15-11:30am  Reflection Activity - early memories around identity

11:30-11:45am  Pair Share

11:45am-12:00pm  Group Share + Questions

12:00-12:15pm  Building Awareness through Mindfulness

12:15-12:30pm  Self Compassion and Empathy

12:30-1:15pm  Lunch (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:15-1:30pm  Mindfulness Practice

1:30-2:30pm  Unwinding Internal Biases

· Introductory Framing

· Self Reflection Activity

· Small Group Share

· Integrating and Strengthening the Practices

2:30-2:45pm  Setting Intentions for Work with Youth

2:45-3:00pm  Wrap-up and Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Ursula Elsa was born and raised in the beautiful land of the Bay Area, Ohlone Territory. They have been teaching mindfulness and nature connection to youth in the Bay Area for over 10 years. Ursula is passionate about creating programming for LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse communities. They are also a trained birth and end of life doula.

basha* star was raised and rooted in the Bay Area. She practices as a Priestess supporting ancestral connection and offering spiritual counsel. She has been working in mental health support services for over 20 years currently focusing on DEI work in the mental health non-profit sector in Alameda County.

This course meets the qualifications for (4.25) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.