For Foster Care Agencies
Supporting LGBTQ Youth in Your Care: The Gender Spectrum
In this workshop attendees will be introduced to essential concepts and culture of LGBTQ people; how to be a foster parent to an LGBTQ youth if your religious beliefs are in conflict; how the idea of being a public servant can guide you to provide a loving and safe home to LGBTQ youth. Content includes understanding and defining what LGBTQ stands for and what it means to the LGBTQ population; the number of the LGBTQ population and how that compares to genetic anomalies in the mainstream population; Identifying the overlap between typical male and female physical, emotional and sexual traits. Much of the course is based on science but also includes personal narrative, video, images of intersex babies and chromosomal influences that impact humans and their physical outcomes. The training frames being LGBTQ as a natural occurrence for people in the world. Many conservative religious people have a heart-opening experience after attending this class and become enthusiastic allies.
Developing Healthy Sexual Development in Youth in Your Care
This workshop helps caregivers talk to their youth, of any age, about the Facts of Life. It focuses on the 5 Circles of Healthy Sexuality, which include: Sensuality, Intimacy, Relationship Identity, Health and Reproduction, and Sexualization. The concept of Consent is woven through each circle and relates to children of every age. Asking children if they want to hold hands or be tickled is a great way for them to understand and practice bodily autonomy. A lack of bodily autonomy is correlated with early unwanted pregnancy and perpetuation of sexual abuse and trafficking. There is no one way to discuss sexuality with kids. This workshop acknowledges this fact and helps build confidence to say “I don’t know,” or “Let’s find out,” and “Wow! I am so glad you asked! I have been waiting for you to want this kind of information!” The California state requirement is heavily focused on birth control, which for many youth is out of context and premature. Kids who have been exposed early to sexual behaviors will need someone who understands the 5 Circles of Sexuality to help guide them into their own healthy boundaries.
Harnessing Your Happiness Hormones: Who is Driving this Bus--You or Your Hormones?
This workshop is a stand-alone or part 2 after Trauma-Informed Care. Over time, our hormone levels get affected by many factors in our lives. Stress has the worst impact on us and can negatively impact four happiness hormones (Serotonin, Endorphins, Oxytocin and Dopamine) and one stress hormone (Cortisol). The workshop focuses on the individual and their hormone levels. Each participant takes a hormone quiz which is based on "hormone deficit." The higher the score, the bigger the deficit. The scores get graphed, so each person gets a "picture" of themselves and how well they are functioning. This is an eye-opening experience about the necessity for better and more consistent self-care. The experience is quite profound for people. This workshop was selected by the 50th Annual National Foster Parent Association Conference for June 2020. Each hormone is connected to one of the 5 Languages of Love.
Whole Brain Parenting
Whole Brain Parenting (and partnering): The Magic Wand for High Functioning Relationships This workshop is based on The Whole-Brain Child Workbook, by Daniel Siegel, M.D., and Tina Bryson, PhD. Emotional “flooding” is something that happens regularly for youth in care. It is also a frequent occurrence in caregivers, a form of PTSD, that happens as a result of compassion fatigue, exhaustion, and despair. Teaching caregivers how to see these floods as “signals" from their child's (or partner or self's) brain, instead of manipulative or intentional bad behavior is a heart-centered transformation for many people. Learning new ways to recognize signals and then create communication tools for individuals and families is a powerful, highly bonding experience that can positively impact self-esteem and self-efficacy in profound ways. "You mean you really do care about me?" is a frequent question children and adults say about their family members when signals are understood and compassion reigns.
Negative Behaviors or Nervous System Overload?
Why do our kids have such challenging behaviors? Under stress, especially long-term and beyond-our-control stress, our nervous systems get stuck in "fight or flight" which can make behaviors seem strange and out of place. In this workshop you will learn how to recognize the state of your own nervous system and will be better able to help yourself, your spouse, and your children come back to center and begin to change your nervous system responses to many usually stressful situations. This workshop includes learning about the autonomic nervous system, 3-6 breathing, meditation and guided imagery as tools for noticing one’s own stress response mechanisms and how to validate them to assist you in moving back to center.
Trauma-Informed Care: How to Mend a Broken Heart, Including Your Own
This workshop demonstrates the difference between a scary event and a trauma; how a trauma is formed, and how it relates to pre-set cortisol levels and the degree to which the person believed they might die. We will make use of several hands-on activities to enter into an in-depth discussion of neuroscience, intro to the autonomic nervous system, the 5 Languages of Love and guided meditations to help mend the damage done from endured trauma(s)
~ What our students say about us
"My family has completely transformed from me taking this class. I didn't think it was possible to have a happy family experience. I am so grateful for having taken this class!"
Dave ~ Northern CA Foster Parent
"I've been in Nick's class many times and I've loved every class! I feel like I'm dedicating time for myself as a place for me to grow. I am learning how to stay in a more quiet and peaceful place in my mind so that I can connect better with my kids. They are watching me put into practice what we are learning, and by doing that they are learning, too. It's really been great for my whole family! Thank you so much Nick. I really appreciate what you do and I love the classes. Thank you!"
Alejandra ~ Northern CA Foster Parent