Using Mindfulness and Compassion Practices to Cultivate Body Awareness and Positivity for System Involved Youth

Ursula Elsa

Training Description

Cultivating an awareness of self and others, acceptance, nonjudgement, body positivity and belonging are critical skills for the well-being of youth. A mindfulness-based approach around body awareness can support healthy choices and habits for young people. This foundation can be especially transformative by providing compassionate practices, awareness practices, and healthy honest conversation around these challenging topics. In this workshop you will learn how to support system involved and/or at-risk youth in processing oppressive attitudes around bodies from dominant culture, peers and family systems. We will explore the inner critic and learn practices to shift these negative thought patterns. You will be guided in practices that support cultivating resilience, developing self-awareness, and strong self-love. You will gain tools to deepen your allyship with system involved youth and families in a way that truly honors the intersectional layers of their identities. Participants will receive guidance and tangible ways to support facilitation of mindfulness practices to cultivate body positivity for system involved youth.

Learning Objectives

● Identify the impact of systematic oppression, capitalism and consumerism on youth bodies

● Practice at least 1 activity to foster self-acceptance & radical self-love and guidance for system involved youth

● Explore the impact of social media on body image and the inner critic

● Learn how to cultivate your allyship and advocacy as a support person for system involved youth

● Learn and practice how to utilize at least 1 mindfulness-based nonjudgmental practice for youth pertaining to the choices they make regarding their body

● Practice and learn at least 1 breathing technique for youth to cope with stress and anxiety around body image issues and dysphoria for system involved youth

Agenda 

11:00-11:30am Welcome, Housekeeping, Intros and Mindfulness Practice

11:30am-Noon  Mindfulness Practice and Self Reflection

Noon-12:15pm  Introduction to Mindfulness and Body Positive Culture for Youth

12:15-12:30pm  Activity 1: Exploring the impact of social media on body image

12:30-1:30pm  Activities 2 and 3: Exploring the Inner Critic and Expressive Arts Activity

1:30-2:15pm  Lunch Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

2:15-2:30pm  Mindfulness Practice

2:30-3:00pm  Activity 4: Self-Acceptance and Compassion

3:00-2:30pm  Activity 4: Cultivating Body Positivity and Allyship

3:30-4:00pm  Closing 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 CEUs 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.