In a period of deep uncertainty and transition, a foundation from which to resource emotionally is more important than ever. Led by VISIONS Mental Health Program Director Dr. Haley Sparks, this new weekly series will focus developing core mental health maintenance and self-care skills in community. The goal is to offer participants tools for taking better care of themselves and others, including and especially in periods of deep turmoil.
The sessions will build on one another, but participants are not required to attend all sessions and are welcome to attend as interested/able.
When: Wednesdays at 5:30-6:45 ET / 2:30-3:45pm PT (dates below)
Format: 75-minute virtual workshop (link will be sent to the email you register with)
Cost per session: $10 community rate, $20 standard rate, $35 donation/support rate, $5 hardship rate.
Upcoming dates & topics:
Wednesday March 26: Emphasis on Empathy
Wednesday April 2: Self-Awareness, the Core of Intent and Impact
Wednesday April 9: Gratitude in Practice
Wednesday April 16: Practical Pacing for Emotion Regulation
Wednesday April 23: Mindfulness
Wednesday April 30: Bounding Back from an Impact
Wednesday May 7: TBD
Wednesday May 14: TBD
Wednesday May 21: TBD
Wednesday May 28: TBD
Note that this program does not offer continuing education credit.
Facilitation Team
Dr. Haley Sparks
Dr. Haley Sparks takes the lead on VISIONS's mental health services program. Haley received her PhD in the Personality and Social Contexts area of Psychology at the University of Michigan and Masters in Social Work at the University of Michigan. Haley is an Ease and Enjoyment coach primarily helping high-achieving Black people prioritize ease, peace, pleasure, love, and joy in all aspects of their lives. Haley has worked as a therapist with individuals, couples, families and groups and currently serves as the Director of Community and Organizational Development in External Affairs at the University of California-Los Angeles. In her free time, she loves trying different exercise classes, traveling, and hearing people's stories.
Dr. Leena Akhtar
Dr. Leena Akhtar brings a perspective she developed having grown up and lived in several different countries to her organizational change work. After starting her career in finance, she engaged in trauma studies at NYU and then earned a PhD from Harvard University. She has extensively researched and worked on issues of cultural change around exclusion, harassment, and power-based violence in organizations and institutions, work that she continues to do via her consultancy, The Greater Us, in addition to collaborating with VISIONS.
Tickets - Sliding Scale
Standard rate: $20 (please pay if able!)
Community rate: $10 (for those unable to pay the standard rate)
Support rate: $35 (enables us to sustain this work)
Hardship rate $5 (please choose only if you wouldn't be able to participate otherwise!)