Creative & Expressive Approaches to Support System-Involved Youth to Process Trauma & Shift to Healing

Robert Dousa

Training Description

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth (SIY) dealing with trauma or victimization (including exposure to violence) is to provide outlets for addressing emotional and/or problem behaviors, coping with painful experiences, and guiding youth to view themselves as survivors and not as victims. In this training, we will explore a sampling of creative & expressive healing strategies which can support system-involved youth to learn new skills, develop new talents, and express thoughts and ideas in creative ways. Learning and teaching these creative & expressive healing strategies will also support the strengthening of SIY problem-solving skills, autonomy, sense of purpose, and social competence which can foster positive emotions and strength, allowing youth to shift their view of themselves from surviving to thriving. Another intention of this training is to grow and support leadership skills for healthy community engagement and improved outcomes for all. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve the practice of how we empower SIY and their families.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

● Identify at least 2 creative & expressive arts healing strategies for addressing emotional and/or problem behaviors with system-involved youth.

● Identify at least 2 coaching of creative & expressive arts healing strategies for developing new talents and expressing thoughts and ideas in creative ways with system-involved youth.

● Acquire 2 techniques for coaching self-actualization techniques that strengthen a youth’s ability to participate effectively in healing activities.

Agenda

10:00-10:05am Sign-in and Introduction

10:05-10:15am Explore the development of creative & expressive arts healing strategies, and learn safety boundaries that might be in place, when roleplaying with SIY in creative & expressive arts healing strategies to address emotional and/or problem behaviors.

10:15-10:30am Learn about the expressive arts strategies of silent emotion expression dance movement, and drama improv insight seeking, that; in group, you will teach to the entire workshop audience.

10:30-10:45am Explore the outline of your chosen creative & expressive arts (dance movement or drama/improv strategies) with your small group and decide whether you are doing a demonstration or a presentation.

10:45-11:00am Prepare and rehearse the demonstration/presentationof the (dance movement or drama/improv strategies) with your small group.

11:00-11:15am Each group will share/present their demonstration or presentation with the entire workshop audience

11:15-11:30am Learn a sampling of performance coaching tips and self actualization techniques that strengthen an SIY’s ability to thrive while participating in creative & expressive arts healing strategies.

11:30-11:45am Practice in roleplay with colleagues performance coaching tips and self actualization techniques that strengthen an SIY’s ability to thrive while participating in creative & expressive arts healing strategies.

11:45am-12:00pm Questions & Answers + Wrap Up

Meet Our Trainer

Mr. Robert Dousa, for the past 26 years has been working on researching how to support the healing of people, especially young adults suffering from Complex Post Traumatic Disorders (CPTSD) while experiencing and receiving various healing modalities on himself and reading several alternative healing books for personal freedom from trauma. Prior to retirement from the public education system (22 years paid, 3 years volunteer) and most especially (2003-2022) as a Program Manager in the Behavioral Health Department for the Oakland Unified School District’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs Intervention program, Robert developed a strengths-based life coaching program, grant funded by the CA Dept of Education, that utilized 15 life coaches (diversity of gender, multi-ethnic, with individual hobby strengths) who utilized a variety of interventions and approaches while implementing inside Oakland schools. Currently, he offers services designed to empower young adults struggling with inner negative talk to find their own inner guiding light and individual gifts, talents, and passions in support of their future… and to also coach parents of SIY to re-establish a positive influential relationship with their children, guiding them towards healing their own inner child in the process. Currently, he is providing individual life coaching, training of intervention approaches, coaching training, and teaching to those individuals and organizations that support system involved youth.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.0) 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.