Using Mindfulness Expressive Arts, Storytelling and Play to Support System Involved Youth with Emotional Resilience

Ursula Elsa

Training Description

This mindfulness-based training will offer those who support system involved youth culturally relevant and engaging tools, practices, and strategies for developing emotional awareness and resilience through embodied practices and play. We will explore trauma informed mindfulness and activities to engage play, expressive arts activities and use storytelling for developing emotional literacy. Participants will receive guidance and tangible practices to support facilitation of mindfulness-based play practices for system involved youth.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

● Identify at least 1 culturally relevant activity which can be used to support system involved youth in reflecting on their connection to play and the imaginal realm to cultivate emotional resilience

● Identify at least 1 activity which can be used to support system involved youth in learning emotional literacy through storytelling and at least 1 mindfulness-based strategy for co-regulation using play

● Identify at least 2 mindfulness activities and/or practices which can be used to help system involved youth and families reduce anxiety

Agenda 

10:00-10:30 Welcome: Agreements, Intros and Mindfulness Practice

10:30-10:45 Self Reflection and Pair Share

10:45-11:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Expressive Arts

11:00-11:30 Building Emotional Awareness: Curiosity, Emotional Literacy, and Understanding through Storytelling

11:30-12:15 Mindfulness and Expressive Arts: Mindfulness Based Play, Expressive Arts Drawing and Painting Practices

12:15-1:00 Lunch (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:00-1:15 Mindfulness Practices for Emotional Regulation

1:15-2:15 Mindfulness Based Play: Facilitating Resourcing, Co-regulation Techniques, Centering Youth Leadership

2:15-2:30 Adapting Activities for Participants

2:30-3:00 Closing: Reviewing Packet, Reflections, Takeaways and Feedback

Meet Our Trainers

Ursula Elsa (they/she) was born and raised in the beautiful land of the Bay Area, Ohlone Territory. She has been teaching mindfulness and nature connection to youth in the Bay Area for 8 years and is currently leading rites of passage and nature connection programming for Gaia Passages. Ursula is passionate about creating programming for LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse communities. She is also a trained doula and an advocate of parent’s rights in the birth community. 

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.