Finding Joy & Purpose with System-Involved Youth & Families in the Midst of Difficulty

Vickie Xiao Rong Chang, PhD

Training Description

In this time of cascading traumas, and perhaps heightened awareness of mortality, having a sense of purpose can be a powerful way to engage meaningfully with life. This training will offer research, meditation, and exercises to guide participants toward discovering their unique sense of purpose so that they can facilitate this process with system-involved youth and families. Related, developing a growth mindset, practicing self-compassion and gratitude, and cultivating joy can support us and system-involved youth in enhancing well-being on a daily basis. These strategies are useful for providers to grow resiliency, prevent vicarious trauma, and can be used within efforts to support system-involved youth.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to identify three research studieswhich demonstrate how a sense of purpose and joy are connected to well-being.

· Participants will be able to identify three factors connected to sense of purpose which can be taught to system-involved youth and families.

· Participants will acquire and be able to apply three tools for well-being in daily life within efforts to support system involved youth and families.

Agenda

3:00-3:15PM  Share article on top five regrets of the dying. Talk about how death can inform life.

3:15-3:30PM  Present research on the connection between purpose and life satisfaction.

3:30-3:45PM  Engage in practices to connect with personal purpose and meaning, including meditation and writing.

3:45-4:00PM  Answer questions and hear from participants about their purpose and their experience of the practices.

4:00-4:15PM  Present research on connection between daily life satisfaction and self-compassion, growth mindset, mindful awareness, joy, and gratitude

4:15-4:30PM  Learn and practice skills for enhancing daily life satisfaction such as growth mindset.

4:30-4:45PM  Learn and practice skills for enhancing daily life satisfaction such as self compassion and building social connections.

4:45-5:00PM  Answer questions and offer support for practicing skills in daily life.

Meet Our Trainer

The daughter of Northern Chinese immigrants, Dr. Vickie Chang (she/her) was born and raised in the SF Bay Area. In her work as a psychologist, writer, and group facilitator, she is committed to personal and collective liberation. She is passionate about climate justice and supporting BIPOC/API healing in a variety of ways, including working with activist groups. For more on her background, see www.vickiechangphd.com.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.0) 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.