Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience

Mind Matters (MM) curriculum is designed to address the life-long effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It combines ACEs science with the most current research-based recovery skills to provide people the opportunity to notice and interrupt destructive thought patterns and harmful behaviors. By learning personal self-managed skills of restoration, people are given a way to take charge of their emotions and improve their states of mind, addressing their physical, relational, and mental health needs. As participants learn the skills and strategies in MM, they can begin to say, “I am not a victim of what happened to me,” and are empowered to take charge: healing their brains, promoting their health, and setting goals for their future.

Participants will learn five key strategies that can be used in psychoeducational programs:
► self-soothing and emotional regulation (cultivating a mindfulness practice)
► developing an observing self (managing stress, dealing with intrusive thoughts)
► relationship skills (developing empathy, building and using a support system, asking for help)
► compassion for the hijacked brain
► self-care skills (physical activity, yoga, rhythm, focus attention, tapping, sleep intentionality (goal setting, developing a new self-statement)

This training is for family support professionals who work directly with diverse parenting populations, such as: parenting coaches/educators, home visitors, family advocates, and early childhood educators.

About the Guest Speaker:
Carolyn Rich Curtis, Ph.D. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is author of Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience, a psychoeducational program to overcome trauma. She founded and was the former Executive Director of the Relationship Skills Center. In her clinical practice of thirty-five years, she specialized in working with couples, alcohol and drug abuse, and trauma. She was an Adjunct faculty member in the Psychology Department of California State University, Sacramento and American River College. Dr. Curtis is a trainer of facilitators in several major relationship education programs: Bringing Baby Home, Mastering the Mysteries of Love, Relationship Enhancement, and PAIRS. She is a Certified Imago Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She presented papers at major national and international conferences including speaking at the White House. She is a recipient of the Presidential Point of Light Award.

[Recorded 10/9/2018]