Recorded webinar.

During this stressful time of COVID-19 isolation, social unrest, racial activism, justice, and equality how do we as people - both professionals and parents with young children – help children express the array of diverse feelings and questions they have but may not be able to find the words to express them? Equally challenging and vital, how do we find the time for our own personal reflection, when we have limited privacy and bandwidth while managing work and family life? And, as professionals working with “at-risk” families how do we hold a child’s attention through video conferencing – which may be our only means of connection for the foreseeable future? Though mindfulness activities are helpful, it can be very difficult to slow down, breathe and focus our own, and children’s minds when our bodies are feeling restless and agitated from confinement and inner chaos. Dr. Suzi Tortora, internationally acclaimed dance/movement therapist, teacher, author and senior dance/movement therapist at Integrative Medicine Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s MSK Kids, addresses these concerns introducing you to specific methods she has created to support you as a professional, parent and individual. Learn ways to listen and dialogue deeply with your own feelings, thoughts, images and sensations using her “Embodied Listening -Embodied Sensing” self-management method. From this grounded awareness, learn specific clinical tips and activities for children ages birth – seven, using movement, dance, and story to help families engage with their children, release stress, enhance self-expression and be able to implement mindful practices that support both caregivers and their children to support self-regulation and coping.  

Learning objectives:

1. Describe (2) specific mindful movement and dance- based activities using the “Embodied Listening -Embodied Sensing” self-management method for coping. 
2. Describe (2) specific movement and dance- based activities to support self- expression in young children while engaging the professional and child during video conferencing sessions.
3. Describe (2) movement and dance- based activities for parent and child to support positive engagement and co-regulation while at home.
4. Describe (2) movement and dance- based activities to help young children focus their attention reaching a mindful state of awareness to support self -regulation and coping.

Target Audience: social workers, mental health practitioners, creative arts therapists, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and other interested individuals.

We are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.

ADA Accommodations: If you require any support for your ADA needs in the United States, please contact us by email at least 3 weeks prior to the event by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.