Utilizing Expressive Arts to Support System Involved Youth with Anxiety

Ursula Elsa

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 transitions out of an ongoing global pandemic, youth may feel additional layers of anxiety. Mindfulness based expressive arts can help provide youth a safe place to find full expression, play, and healing. Join this workshop to engage in expressive arts activities which can be used 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

• Explain how mindfulness and expressive arts are interconnected
• Identify at least 1 way that expressive arts activities can support anxiety reduction for system involved youth
• Acquire at least 4 expressive arts activities which can be used with system-involved youth

Agenda

10:00-10:15am Welcome, Housekeeping, and Mindfulness Practice

10:15-10:30am Introduction: How do Mindfulness and Expressive Arts Support Youth?

10:30-11:00am Expressive arts Activity #1 Finding your Voice

11:00-11:30am What is Mindfulness?

11:30-12:15pm Lunch (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

12:15-1:00pm  Expressive Arts Activity#2 Self-Acceptance and Celebration

1:00-2:00pm  Expressive Arts Activity #3 Creating Belonging

2:00-2:15pm  BREAK (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

2:15-3:00pm  Expressive Arts Activity #4 Creating Safety and Anchors

3:00-3:45pm  Customizing Expressive Arts for Youth you support

3:45-4:00pm  Closing and Feedback

Meet Our Trainer

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) 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.