Bringing Nature In: Nature-Based Strategies for Providers Working with Youth and Families

 

 

Training Description

For as long as human beings have existed, we have known that natural environments have the power to heal and restore. Sadly, our modern society does not often view Nature as a resource for our well-being. Growing evidence points to the power of Nature Based Practices in addressing some of our most difficult emotional, physical, and social challenges. Sometimes these strategies are even more effective than our conventional approaches, while incurring less cost and side effects. In this training you will learn to take an ecopsychological view on some of the most common issues you are likely to face working with system involved youth. You will acquire several Nature Based Practices to use with clients, no matter what setting you are in., as well as develop a skill set around identifying the best NBP to use in a variety of professional settings. Finally, you will receive support in integrating these NBPs into your work with system-involved youth and families, through handouts, additional resources, and professional support.

Learning Objectives

• Learn, and practice leading, at least three nature-based and mindfulness techniques appropriate for your professional settings.

• Based on an understanding of how NBPs and mindfulness fit together, develop two culturally sensitive Nature Based Mindfulness Interventions for work with youth in care/vulnerable youth

• Apply a neuroscientific, ecological, and social equity lens to identify at least three ways your clients would benefit from NBPs, and address three accessibility issues for system involved youth/youth in care.

• Collectively identify 5 common obstacles that prevent providers from utilizing NBPs, with system involved youth and with themselves.

• Identify and learn one NBP to do at home that will increase your effectiveness as a provider

Agenda

9:15 - 10:00 Arrival and introductions, overview of day and intention setting, first experiential exercise – place visualization

10:00 - 10:30   Understanding the value of Nature Based Practices and Mindfulness through  Neuropsychological, sociopolitical and ecopsychological perspectives.

10:30-11:15 Applying NBPS to participants’ specific professional interests

11:15-11:30     Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

11:30 - 12:30 Three Experiential NBP exercises (can be outside or inside); Debrief practices in partners

12:30-1:30      Lunch (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

1:30 – 1:45     Experiential Debrief (big group)

1:45- 2:15      Practice teaching the previous NBPs in pairs

2:15-3:00 Professional Applications and Obstacles: small group brainstorming/group harvest

3:00-3:15 Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

3:15-3:45 Addressing Obstacles to NBIs in Real World Settings, group discussion and other questions from the day

3:45 – 4:15     Closing experiential and evaluations

This course meets the qualifications for (6) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.

Location: Fred Finch Youth Center - Building E | 3800 Coolidge Ave. Oakland, CA 94602 

**Please note that we provide trainings to Alameda County providers, so providers from other counties may be put on a waitlist until there are enough Alameda County participants.**