Utilizing Expressive Arts to Support System Involved Youth with Stress and Anxiety

Ursula Elsa and Angelina Manriquez

Training Description

System involved youth may often feel their authenticity and self expression is restrained by school systems, mainstream culture, peers, and family culture. In our current climate of social distance learning and a worldwide pandemic, youth may feel those additional layers of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness based expressive arts offers youth a place to find full expression, play, and healing. Join this workshop to engage in expressive arts activities to support young people in finding their creative voice while navigating their anxiety mindfully. Please bring some basic art supplies to this workshop, paper, coloring markers or pencils, scissors, and glue. While not mandatory, if you have access to and feel inspired to play with watercolors, paints, paintbrushes, glitter, puffy paint or any other fun additions, bring them along, you can incorporate them!

Learning Objectives

• Explore trauma informed mindfulness practices 
• Engage in mindfulness practices 
• Understand how mindfulness and expressive arts are interconnected
• Discuss how expressive arts support anxiety and stress reduction for system invovled youth 
• Participate in at least 4 expressive arts activities for system involved youth

Agenda 

11:00am-11:15am Welcome, Housekeeping, and Mindfulness Practice 

11:15am-11:30am Introduction: How do Mindfulness and Expressive Arts Support Youth?

11:30am-12:00pm Expressive arts Activity #1 Finding your Voice 

12:00pm-12:30pm What is Mindfulness? 

12:30pm-1:15pm Lunch  (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

1:15pm-2:00pm Expressive Arts Activity#2 Self Acceptance and Celebration

2:00pm-3:00pm Expressive Arts Activity #3 Creating Belonging 

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

3:15pm-4:00pm Expressive Arts Activity #4 Creating Safety and Anchors 

4:00pm-4:45pm Customizing Expressive Arts for Youth you support

4:45pm-5:00pm 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 (5.0) 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.