Training & Events

In this introduction to the latest research on Mindfulness and contemplative practice, Dr. Chris Willard will be guiding us through the latest practices and what is actually happens in our brains during this time. Touching on physiology, neuroscience and even epigenetics, we will spend the time both practicing and learning, all while strengthening neural networks and connections throughout our brain and body.

Dr. Christopher Willard, (Psy. D.) is a clinical psychologist, author and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has been invited to more than two dozen countries to speak, and has presented at two TEDx events. He is the author of eighteen books, including Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016) and How we Grow Through What we Go Through. (2022) His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, cnn.com, and elsewhere. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.

As human beings, it is inevitable to make mistakes or feel a sense of inadequacy. When we are going through difficult times, we may notice we tend to be more critical of ourselves versus how we would treat other people in similar situations. The MSC program is designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion and teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.

Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships.

Read more about the course here.

Research shows that the relationship between a teacher and a student is key in supporting the students' growth and learning. Through this workshop, we will focus on equipping teachers with evidence-based tools and skills to improve the quality of the relationship with their students, while maintaining professionalism and setting healthy boundaries.

Through a series of scenario-based learning, role-play and guided reflection, participants will also have the opportunity to immediately practice and apply these interventions.

Through this workshop, teachers will

1. Examine the quality of the relationship with their students
2. Learn about the different pathways to develop High Quality Connections with their students
3. Understand the different elements of trust and how to build trust effectively
4. Practice skills such as compassionate listening and powerful questioning to improve teacher-students relationships

This course is designed to equip teachers to support themselves, their colleagues and their students through challenging times. Through this course, participants will also be empowered to attend more effectively to themselves, colleagues and students should they be facing mental or emotional distress.

The first part of the course focuses on helping participants to identify and recognize symptoms of the two most common mental and emotional health challenges - depression and anxiety, as well as to deepen their understanding of what may cause these mental and emotional health challenges, and how it may show up in school.

The second part of the course focuses on equipping participants with skills to support themselves and others mentally and emotionally. Using various modes of experiential learning such as role-play, reflection and various interactive activities, participants will also learn how to hold space for their teammates, to ask appropriate check-in questions and direct them to relevant help if necessary.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will learn:

1. To lookout for symptoms of mental health challenges, specifically depression and anxiety
2. An introduction to the psychology of mental illness vs mental wellbeing (traditional psychology vs positive psychology)
3. Science-based skills and tools to support others who are facing emotional and mental health challenges.
4. Research-based techniques to practise effective stress management and emotional regulation and how to share them effectively with others
5. Assessment of suicide risk and intervention
6. How to set healhy boundaries

The Peer Mentoring for Key Personnel and Senior/Lead Teachers programme is for clusters or schools planning to enrich the mentoring process among KPs.

This workshop will enable KPs to understand

• The philosophy behind peer mentoring.
• The difference between different types of mentoring and coaching.
• Various mentoring models.
• The model that the sponsoring body will be adopting.

Target Audience: Key Personnel, Admin Managers and Senior/Lead Teachers

Good takeaways from this workshop

• Better awareness of mentoring approaches, applicable in my work as KP.
• Exposed me to different models of mentoring.
• Mrs Charles has been superb. She is very clear in her delivery with a whole wealth of rich experience. Love to listen to her stories.
• Good pace. Workshop peppered with authentic experiences of the trainers, making it relevant and engaging.
• Very helpful tips & insightful info about mentoring & leadership. Enjoyed myself very much in this fulfilling workshop conducted by Mrs Charles. Honour to learn from you!
• I like how the presenter was candid with her examples. I could easily relate to them.