​Summer wellness workshops are being offered by the ALCDSB Social Work Team to students entering grades 7-12 on July 18, 19 and 20. 

The objective of the wellness workshops is to offer psychoeducation and accompanying strategies and tools for a range of mental health and wellness concerns.  

Workshop #1:  
Let’s build a crisis survival kit! - Managing distress 
Who: ALCDSB students entering grades 7-12 who want to develop skills to manage short-term stress-inducing situations. 
What: This workshop is designed to teach you how to tolerate difficult situations and how to not make the situation worse. 
When: Tuesday July 18, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Where: Virtually via Teams and/or in-person East and/or West location depending on demand with Facilitator: Lethicia 
Why: To help you get through a crisis. What is a crisis? When you are really upset or things are stressful, it is a short-term situation, and you want it resolved now but can’t. These skills help you cope with overwhelming emotions or intolerable situations. They aren’t supposed to solve your problems, but they will help you survive painful emotions and not act on your urges. 
 
Workshop #2:  
Putting Problems in Their Place – Externalization 
Who: ALCDSB students entering grades 7-12 who want to reduce the distress problems cause them and increase problem-solving abilities. 
What: A workshop that helps participants objectify problems and decrease the power these problems hold over their lives. 
When: Wednesday, July 19 ,10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Why: To learn how to see problems in a way that separates the person’s identity from the problem. Develop skills to manage problems that may be poorly impacting mental health; learn how to externalize problems from an art and narrative therapy-based perspective. 
Where: Virtually via Teams and/or in-person East and/or West location depending on demand with Facilitator: Shannon 
 
Workshop #3:  
Keep Calm and Carry On – Mental Health maintenance
Who: ALCDSB students entering grades 7-12 who want to build upon their mental wellness and get going on their long-term goals without the worry that life will get in the way. 
What: A workshop that helps participants maintain their mental wellness and achieve goals. 
When: Thursday July 20, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Where: Virtually via Teams and/or in-person East and/or West location depending on demand with) Facilitator: Anastasia 
Why: Just like our health, our mental health has an immune system which helps us to experience life’s stresses without derailing our emotions and goals. Join this workshop to create a plan for supporting your wellbeing and manage future stresses. 

Students are invited to attend as many workshops as they would like based on their needs and interests. Said workshops do not constitute therapeutic interventions instead provide Tier 1 intervention to the ALCDSB student community.  

Student participants requiring more intensive support will be offered individual Social Work services through the standard referral process.

Attendance: 
If for any reason you cannot be present for the workshop you selected, please advise the social work team at socialworkfiles@alcdsb.on.ca 24 hours prior, when possible.  
 
Social workers are available from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., from Monday through Thursday and all forms of communications will be done within those times. 
 
Virtual Sessions: 
If participating virtually… 
a. Every student must have access to a functional computer (or another electronic device) with microphone and camera to fully participate and engage. 
b. We encourage all students to have their camera turned on, to gain the most out of the group and build connections with each other. 
c. Ensure that you will have a designated calm space for the duration of the workshop. 
d. We encourage you to have a notebook and/or any other ways to keep track of the information shared with you. You may also have some crayons and other arts & crafts tools with you. 
e. If a student is feeling triggered by any of the content, please follow-up with the social work team for support and guidance. 
 ​
In-Person Sessions: 
 
If participating in-person… 
a. You will receive further information about school/room location prior to the workshop. 
 b. If you require support with transportation to the workshop, please let us know. 
 
For more information please contact the Social Work Team: socialworkfiles@alcdsb.on.ca