Creating Body Positive and Sex Positive Youth Cultures

Salina Mae and Ursula Elsa 

Training Description

Creating a safe container of acceptance, nonjudgement, body + sex positivity and belonging is critical for the well-being of youth. In this workshop you will learn how to support youth in processing unaccepting attitudes from dominant culture, peers and families systems. You will be guided in practices that support cultivating resilience, developing self-awareness, and a strong self-love.  For youth, a mindfulness-based approach around body awareness can support healthy choices around sex and intimacy. This foundation can be especially transformative by providing compassionate practices, awareness practices, and healthy honest conversation around these challenging topics. You will gain tools to deepen your allyship to your clients, in a way that truly honors the intersectional layers of their identities. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand and identify the impact of systematic oppression, capitalism and consumerism on youth’s bodies and relationship to sex and sexuality
• Practice self-acceptance and radical self-love and guidance for youth
• Engage in at least 1 activity to support youth in their self-acceptance of their bodies
• Exploring the impact of social media on body image 
• Learn how to cultivate your allyship and advocacy as a youth worker 
• Learn and practice how to utilize at least 1 mindfulness-based nonjudgement practice for youth pertaining to their choices they make with their body - appearance and sex
• Engage in at least one activity to support development of self-confidence for youth
• Practice and learn at least 1 breathing technique for youth to cope with stress and anxiety around body image issues and dysphoria

Agenda

1:00-1:15  Welcome, Housekeeping, and Mindfulness Practice

1:15-1:30 Introduction to Body and Sex Positive Cultures for Youth

1:30-1:45 Intersectional Identities and the impact of Systematic Oppression on Body Image

1:45-2:00 Activity 1: Exploring the impact of social media on body image 

2-2:20  Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

2:20-2:50 Activity 2 Self-Acceptance practice and Expressive Arts Activity 

2:50-3:20 Activity 3: Engaging in Conversations around Healthy Sexuality and Pleasure 

3:20-3:40 Breakout Groups 

3:40-4:00 Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

4:00-4:45: Activity 4: Cultivating Body Positivity and Allyship

4:45-5:00 Closing and Feedback 

Meet Our Trainers

Salina Mae (she/her/hers), is a Bay Area born and raised community leader with over 15 years’ experience serving California schools both as a K-12 classroom teacher and as a mindfulness coach and consultant. With a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, she received her Master’s in Education and California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at the Claremont Graduate University in 2006.  She specializes in building creative, inspired, and socially awake trainings and curricula that lead to action in the areas of mindfulness, social justice, and systems change. Salina is a certified yoga teacher, a dedicated mentor and advocate for LGBTQI+ youth and is currently the Director of Mindful Education at Seeds of Awareness in Oakland. 

Ursula Elsa (she/her/ hers) 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 over 6 years and is currently leading rites of passage work for Gaia Girls. 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. Ursula has been collaborating with Salina since 2013 to create mindfulness-based programming, educator trainings and curricula. 

This course meets the qualifications for (3.5) 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.