The following are abstracts detailing talks/presentations we are equipped to share with you in small or large groups in both discussion-based and educational formats. We will gladly work with you to tailor the specific content of these messages to meet the needs of your community. Please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about our presentations and how we can best be of service to you.
Anxiety/Stress Management: Most of us feel stress in certain areas of our lives that we learn to live with. We live in a faced-paced culture and we feel tension when our ability to keep up is in question. Over time this tension can rob us of the peace and contentment that our soul desires, in addition to causing a number of health and relational problems. This talk will discuss how anxiety and stress affects you on a personal, spiritual, and relational level, and what strategies can help you experience a greater sense of peace.
Authentic Masculinity: Men in our culture are indirectly taught a way of relating in their work, family, and spiritual lives that often leads to an undercurrent of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. In the midst of busy lives, they can feel irritable, lonely, and depressed. This talk with bring to light some of the myths that our culture teaches about masculinity, as well as ways that men can experience a more authentic and richer existence.
Bullying: Bullying is the cause of some of the worst stories we hear on the news or from our friends and families. While there is greater recognition that bullying is a serious problem, most don’t know how to respond when it happens to them. This talk will offer practical steps that will empower the victim of bullying to change his or her situation and make bullying less likely to continue.
Depression: Depression is one of the most debilitating illnesses in our country. However, it is not always easy to differentiate normal feelings of sadness or grief from clinical depression. This talk will describe in real-world terms what depression looks and feels like, what risk factors necessitate help from a mental health professional, and some of the fundamental approaches to overcoming or safeguarding oneself from depression.
Grief and Loss: Sadly, grief and loss are a part of our daily lives and experience as human beings. Whether it is tangible loss such as loss of a loved one or even natural disaster, or intangible such as loss of a dream or a loss of hope, it is important to understand how to walk through the grief instead of running way or trying to deny or stuff our emotions. Healthy grieving is a very important part of the healing process and this talk will offer general guidelines as well as practical applications toward this end.
Healthy Electronics/Media Use: The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that children spend an average of 7 hours per day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices. The task of monitoring media diet, engaging through other non-electronic means, and promoting a healthy balance of electronics and media in our lives can seem daunting. This talk will share the importance of personal engagement and interaction as well as suggest helpful ways to promote positive electronics/media usage.
Identity: One of the primary goals of childhood and adolescence is to begin to shape and mold one’s identity. This can result in a period of great growth in self-awareness and maturity or a period of feeling lost, depending upon others to feel good about yourself, and being driven by what you believe others think of you. This talk will address the process of developing a healthy identity and the pitfalls of unhealthy identity development.
Parenting/teaching/relating with Love and Logic: Parenting and teaching can be two of the most challenging jobs out there. It is easy to get pulled into power struggles with our children, our students, or our friends and this generally does not lead to a healthy, thriving relationship or a healthy, thriving individual. This talk addresses the basic principles of parenting with love and logic: presenting choices, logical and consistent consequences, and empathy for your child in good or bad choice situations. The principles can be applied to any relationship and therefore are applicable to anyone.
Perfectionism: For some, the idea of “doing their best” translates to impossible standards that can cause anxiety, depression, self-loathing, and even suicide. This talk will highlight the problem of perfectionism, behaviors that reflect it’s presence, and how to find a thriving existence in the midst of pursuing excellence.
Resolving Destructive Conflict in your Marriage: A common myth in our culture is that conflict in a relationship is always something to be avoided, which makes sense as much of our experience with conflict is painful and unproductive. Many couples feel they keep having the same fights about the same issues without any resolution and in a manner that pushes them further apart. This talk aims to show how conflict can promote intimacy and practical strategies that couples can use to insure that their conflict is understandable and even helpful.
Social Media: Social media has become pervasive throughout American culture – it’s in our homes, our schools, in our workplaces and in our relationships. This talk speaks to the practical, relational, and emotional impact of these changes. The talk for students will focus more on social media’s impact on identity, self esteem, and how to use social media responsibly. The adults’ talk will focus on social media information, education, and how they should be monitoring their child’s use of social media.
Talking with your children about Sex: The majority of adolescents state they wish they had heard about sex for the first time from their parents. With modern societal influences and earlier exposure to sex, it is important as parents to be equipped to have meaningful and comfortable conversations about sex with our children. This talk will share developmentally appropriate resources as well as offer practical steps in promoting a healthy context for sexual communication at home.
Transitions:
Into Middle School
Tweens facing the transition into middle school experience changes physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Friendships become more important and students may begin dating. Tweens begin to spend less time with their parents, desire more time with their peers, and may experience greater conflict at home. Students experience more responsibility for their academic success and face new challenges in their social setting. Due to the large amount of change that happens during this time period, many tweens experience difficulty managing their emotions as mood states fluctuate rapidly. This talk equips parents and students to navigate this transition in an emotionally and relationally positive way.
Into High School
The transition from middle school to high school is both scary and exciting. Students experience a stronger focus upon academic excellence in preparation for college while also gaining additional freedoms as they mature and begin driving. Dating and romantic relationships often form and some teens experience pressure and curiosity in the world of drugs, sex, and alcohol. This talk is intended to help rising high schoolers handle this transition well.
Into College
A high schooler’s transition into college is likely the largest that they have embarked upon to this point in their life. With complete freedom, freshman students must establish their own independence by making their own choices, which can range anywhere from solid, healthy choices to unhealthy choices with negative consequences. These young college students will want to explore their identities and determine who they are in their careers and in love. There is a strong feeling of being “in between” with a high level of instability, which this talk will prepare them for, give tips, and help students know how and when to ask for help.