WWS Parent University and the Wellbeing Coalition of Westfield presented “Diving Into Our Brain and Body, Well-being” with Dr. Lori Desautsels on April 25th & May 2nd.
If you missed the opportunity to connect with Dr. Desautels, don’t worry; we RECORDED IT! We are sharing the link to each recording along with a “toolbox” of resources in support of mental health and wellbeing for our parents, guardians, teachers, and community members.
Recorded Sessions:
Resource Toolbox:
- Brain Aligned Strategies (printable)
- Revelations in Education – YouTube Channel with Dr. Lori Desautels.
- Polyvagal Graph – A tool to befriend our nervous systems understanding the beautiful communication between our brains and bodies. -Deb Dana/Dr. Lori Desautels
HIGHLIGHTS
We understand the importance of Self-care of our brain and bodies as our emotional and mental health drives our overall well-being. To support parents, guardians, teachers, and our community we connected with Dr. Lori Desuatels to host a workshop in support of Mind-Body Fitness. Dr. Desautels has been an assistant professor at Butler University since 2016, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. Lori was also an assistant professor at Marian University in Indianapolis for eight years, where she founded the Educational Neuroscience Symposium, now sponsored by Butler University.
We are thankful for Dr. Desautels guidance as we learn, together, how our brain and body affect our mental health, how COVID has impacted our lives, and how with resiliency, we inhabit to move through challenging times and experiences. Throughout both workshops, Dr. Desautels shared resources, practices, and strategies to calm our nervous systems. We encourage you to listen to the recordings above or check out some of the highlights below.
What is your brain and body state?
“We know when we as parents or educators are calm there is contagiousness to our calm.”
4 Pillars of Applied Educational Neuroscience
We are beginning to look at the nervous systems states within our schools. We are using science to empower our students.
Feeling Safe and Feeling Connected
Purpose and Roles of Brains!
The Pair of Aces
This is not a “disorder” but a reordering of neural networks.
Fight, Flight, Freeze is how our body protects us! Dr. Desautels shared the value of having this slide accessible to your family and/or students.
Befriending Your Nervous System – Deb Dan
A short clip sharing the value of co-regulation.
Calm Nervous System, Creating our safe place!
The goal is to recognize dysregulation in our bodies. “I feel stuck.”
A 90-second pause is a difference between a reaction and a response.
What are you planting? What are you weeding?
What is Trauma?
Stress impacts the brain and body
Don’t miss the opportunity learn along side Dr. Desautels. Both sessions were filled with buckets of resources to support parents, guardians, staff, and our community!
Stay Connected:
Dr. Desautels is an Assistant Professor at Marian University Indianapolis and Assistant professor at Butler University Published author; Eyes Are Never Quiet: Listening Beneath the Behaviors of Our Most Troubled Students, How May I Serve You? Revelations in Education, and her most recent publication Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline. To view her full profile, click here.
Parent Self Care Short Videos with Dr. Lori Desautels, Ph.D
At the start of COVID-19, in March 2020, we reached out to Dr. Lori Desautels, Ph.D. seeking support for parents and staff with regard to the pandemic and the uncertainty that was forming. Walking alongside Dr. Desautels we shared weekly videos to help calm our nervous system, understand our emotions, and develop strategies for coping.