Hijacked by Anxiety: Now What?
Professional Day Workshop: Hijacked by Anxiety: Now What?
More than ever, mental health challenges can impact the learning environment in schools, for both teachers and students. This full day experiential workshop will focus on providing practical skills and strategies for navigating the challenge of anxiety. First, Michelle will discuss what is happening “under the hood” in children and teens who are struggling. By exploring the nervous system, we can better understand how anxiety impacts their emotions, their body, and their cognition.
Most of this workshop will then focus on what to do when anxiety becomes a problem. Michelle will introduce the T.E.A.M. method (Teach, Empathize, Approach, Model) as a framework for addressing anxiety in the classroom. Using instruction, case examples and opportunities for hands-on practice, the following topics will be explored:
- How to teach children about their nervous systems
- Daily practices to support emotional regulation
- Language to use (and language to avoid) with children who are anxious Strategies to address avoidance, negative thinking, and perfectionism
- How to collaborate with parents to support an anxious child or teen
- Concrete resources, such as videos, books, and classroom supplies from K-12
The goal of this workshop is to equip participants with the necessary information, tools, and exercises to support a classroom environment that is hijacked by anxiety.
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Complimentary Webinar Series with Workshop Registration
October 6th, 2022: Pre-Workshop Webinar. 3:30-4:30
Pre-Workshop Webinar: Recognizing the Complexity of Anxiety
In this introductory webinar, we will explore how to recognize the presence of anxiety in children and teens. Michelle will discuss the diagnostic categories of anxiety, and how these relate to developmental milestones as a child grows into adolescence. We will identify ways in which anxiety can overlap with neurodivergence and distinguish anxiety from other kinds of emotional dysregulation. The goal of this webinar is to provide a “nuts-and-bolts” understanding of the experience of anxiety.
November 3rd, 2022: Post-workshop Webinar. 3:30-4:30
Post Workshop Webinar: Regulating Ourselves in the Face of Anxiety
This post-workshop webinar will focus on the often-unaddressed impact of working with an anxious child or teen; that is, the inevitable impact on you! We will explore the ways in which our own nervous systems may react automatically to anxiety, and ways to maintain calm so we can implement the strategies we’ve learned. Common styles of reacting will be discussed, such as “pushing and protecting”, and” jellyfish and ostrich” parenting. Participants will have a chance for individual self- reflection and goal setting to support their own personal growth.
Download and share the workshop flyer:
Who Should Attend:
• K-12 Classroom Teachers
• Learning Resource Teachers
• Para-educators
• Parents and caregivers
• Other professionals who support students with complex learning needs
About Our Presenter: Michelle Srdanovic M.A., R.C.C
Michelle Srdanovic is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (1999) and Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology.
She works primarily with families and couples who are navigating the impact of anxiety, historical trauma, and challenging patterns in relationships. She is trained in Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples and Families (EFT), Gottman Couple’s Therapy, Expressive Play Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Generally, her clinical approach is informed by an understanding of neurobiology and attachment.
In the past, she was a Board Member for the BC Play Therapy Association (BCPTA) and a supervisor for graduate students in the field of Counselling Psychology. Currently, she divides her time between private practice, part-time teaching as Faculty at BCIT, and providing supervision to community agencies.
She is passionate about connecting with communities on important topics that impact families and continues to provide workshops virtually during the unprecedented context of the Covid-19 pandemic.