Learning How to Respond To Stress & Trauma in a Healthy Way

 

From Despair to Coping to Hoping to Living Successfully

 

Workshops for Students

From Fourth Grade through High School

 

Workshops for Educational Staff

 

Workshops for Parents

 

Created & Presented by:

Rabbi Edward Simcha Sheldon, Ph.D.

© 2004 All rights reserved

 

What is the purpose & goal of these workshops?

The purpose of these workshops is to help students, educators, and parents cope with and overcome the psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual difficulties that arise from living in an ongoing context of terror, as well as from the unusually high stress which is experienced due to Israel’s challenging security, economic, social, and political realities.

 

Workshops for students will enable students to:

  1. Learn about the various difficulties, problems, & challenges which arise
  2. Identify one’s personal difficulties & problems
  3. Understand the dynamic processes which cause & maintain these difficulties
  4. Recognize that there are effective ways of dealing with these challenges
  5. Discover how to use inner tools for health
  6. Cope with the challenges
  7. Overcome feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, pessimism, helplessness
  8. Create positive cognitive & emotional sets for hope, happiness, & success
  9. Strengthen spiritual faith & commitment
  10. Increase optimism, motivation, self esteem & the desire to live a positive healthy life

 

Method: This workshop is an interactive multi-modal experience, which utilizes:

  1. Presentation of information – helps students understand their inner experiences
  2. Group discussion – helps students to experience universality, empathy, support
  3. Exercises – help students learn to utilize specific coping techniques & build skills
  4. Music & Singing – help students heal & strengthen ego through positive expression,

     aid in meditation and guided imagery, and reduce stress

  1. Guided imagery – helps students create positive emotions & cognitive mind sets
  2. Spiritual inspiration – helps students to have faith, hope, trust, and calm

 

Learning & Presentation Materials & Equipment:

1. A workbook containing:

1.      Information about trauma, stress, and the treatment of disorders

2.      Topics for group discussion

3.      Exercises to acquire and strengthen coping skills

4.      Guided imagery & Meditation

5.      Song Sheets

6.      Suggested activities

7.      Evaluation questionnaires (pre & post)

8.      Note paper

 

2.  A PowerPoint Presentation will be used as a multimedia learning aid

 

3.  Musical instruments & pre-recorded music will be used for the workshops musical components

 

4.  A sound system, computer, computer projector, video screen

 

Format:

 

Time: The length of the workshop is dependent upon the age and number of participants.

Grades 4 through 6 – workshops last approximately one hour.

Grades 7 through 12 – workshops last approximately one and a half hours.

 

Place: Most workshops are presented in school classrooms; however, a better location would be a comfortable conference room.

 

Number of Participants: It is preferable to not have more than 20 participants in a group; however, larger groups can be accommodated.

 

Assemblies in Auditorium:

a. After a number of classes have participated in class workshops, students can join together in the auditorium

for a unified musical & motivational reinforcing school experience.

 

b. The workshop can be presented to a larger group in the auditorium if the budget does not allow for individual class workshops.

 

Workshops for Educational Staff:  

Workshops for Educational Staff can be provided either during the day or in the evening.

The length of Educational Staff Workshops is usually between 1 and 3 hours, as it includes the learning experiences of the students’ workshop,

And adds the following additional options:

a. training in stress management techniques specifically for educational staff

b. teacher training in classroom stress management techniques & activities

c. opportunity to discuss specific student issues

 

Workshops for Parents:   

Workshops for parents are held in the evening.

The length of the Parents’ Workshop is usually between 2 and 2 ˝ hours.

The parents’ workshops include the learning experiences of the students’ workshop, and offers

additional training specific to both parents’ stress and relating with children and spouses.

 

For more information:

Please contact Dr. Simcha Sheldon

In Israel: 08-976-1056

In the U.S.: 310-597-4233

Email: traumaworkshops@lovingheart.org