Courage to Caregivers will host its third annual Caring for Caregivers Virtual Summit on Wednesday, November 16, and Thursday, November 17, 2022, from 9 am to 12:30 pm ET as part of National Family Caregivers Month. The event is free for licensed professional caregivers and anyone providing care to a loved one with mental illness. All are welcome to attend one or both days.
This year’s theme is Getting UNStuck: Moving From Languishing to Flourishing. The Summit will offer attendees insight on how to get “unstuck” and how to avoid languishing, which can lead to depression if not addressed by incorporating healthy habits. Both days will feature sessions by professional facilitators on topics ranging from connectedness and empowerment to resiliency and gratitude.
Now in its third year, the Summit provides education, information, and support for caregivers in their journey toward better health and well-being. Free continuing education units (CEUs) are available for social workers, counselors, and other behavioral health professionals (3 CEU credits available per day).
Caring for the Caregivers Summit 2022 is sponsored by the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, a partner and funder of Courage to Caregivers, and a foundation grant from Community Fund Ohio.
The deadline to register is November 14, 2022. Registration is available on Eventbrite
Topics and Presenters:
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
9-10 am ET: “Grounded Movement: A Practical Approach to Listening to Our Inner Voice” with Tasha Brandt, MSW/LSW. During this session, Tasha will be leading a trauma-informed grounding visualization with the option of light somatic movement. Tasha will briefly introduce tools for nervous system regulation, such as bilateral stimulation, to help participants have practical tools to bring into their everyday lives.
10:15-11:15 am ET: “Because You Matter: Caregiver Health Tips & Tools” with Lana Amawi, CTC. In this session, Lana will cover methods to maintain good mental health while caregiving, including A-Z tips and tools to help you be stronger while taking care of others.
11:30 am-12:30 pm ET: “Expressive Arts as a Doorway to Self-Exploration, Gratitude and Joy” with Dr. Kellie Kirksey, PhD. In this workshop, we will give ourselves freedom to play, journal, scribble, move our bodies, and engage creativity as a means to infuse more joy and self-reflection into our daily lives. No prior art experience is necessary, but do bring a few sheets of paper, crayons, or markers, and a spirit of play!
Thursday, November 17, 2022
9-10:30 am ET: “The Why and How to Build Your Own Unique Caregiver Resilience Toolkit” with Dr. Mary Rensel, MD FAAN, and Ali Hively. In this session, a brain doctor and a life coach will teach you the why and how to build your own unique multisystem resiliency plan to support you in dealing with life’s constant changes. You will learn why, as a caregiver, you need such a plan to optimize the support you can give others and to maintain your ability to be your full self. We will then walk you through the framework, and you will leave with a supportive unique resiliency plan to support your important work as a caregiver.
10:45 am-12:15 pm ET: “Preventing Caregiver Burnout: Getting UNstuck: Moving From Languishing to Flourishing” with Cathy Varley, Kristi Horner, CFPS, and Jenny Woodworth, MSW/LSW. If there’s anything we’ve learned from the pandemic, it’s that the world is feeling stressed out, and many are burned out. The pandemic has been a source of additional trauma, especially for unpaid family caregivers as well as professional caregivers. This presentation begins with a breathing and meditation session as an embodied experience, then moves into a workshop that will cover the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout.