Training, Curriculum Development and Consulting

Testimonials

  • “Laura really acknowledged the trauma that educators are going through as well, and that many of us may be pouring from an empty cup. Laura’s information is one I know I will be turning to again and again as the need arises. I will be doing more research using the resources Laura provided, so I can incorporate grounding things and the intriguing forest bathing.”

    - Feedback from an OELMA Teaching & Learning workshop

Training Topics

Listed here are some of the developed trainings that I have written.  These topics can be modified to fit your audience and time frame.  All topics can be done as a small group workshop, in person training or on-line. Please reach out for information about availability and pricing.

Baby’s Brain

From before birth into toddlerhood babies’ brains are changing and developing at an amazing rate.  How they develop will impact the rest of that individual’s life.  Babies learn by experience, and most importantly in relationship with others.  Understanding what is going on inside a baby’s brain, and how our everyday interactions make a difference, is critically important. 

Audience: Parents and caregivers of zero to three year olds, and helping professionals. 

Ethical Consideration in Working with Youth

Ethical concerns shift and change as clients journey from being children, through adolescence, to legal adulthood.  Ethical challenges can be opportunities to support youth as they develop their knowledge base, judgement, and critical thinking skills.  It is vital to consider your frame of reference, role, and communication strategies in managing ethical dilemmas with youth and their families. 

Audience: Licensed Social Workers and other licensed professionals.  

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Teens

Supporting or treating a teen who is diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a challenge.  It is also an opportunity to help a teen heal and move toward Post Traumatic Growth.  We will review the diagnosis of PTSD & Complex PTSD and consider how the usual symptoms impact day to day life.   We will consider ways parents and professionals can help a teen make developmental progress. 

Audience: Parents and caregivers, caseworkers, therapists and other helping professionals. 

Preparing for Crisis Conversations

Crisis conversations, high intensity conversations that may include risk of harm or damage, can be exhausting. Looking through the lens of Trauma Informed Care principles allows us to consider our internal and external resources so that we can be better prepared to support our clients, and take care of ourselves. Planning ahead allows us to make a difference while caring for all parties involved. 

Audience: Helping professionals, supervisors, and parents.  

Resilience: Learn Model Teach

Resilient behavior is a common occurrence, and an area needing continual growth.  Being resilient allows us to make a difference without being consumed by negativity.  Learning additional skills and tools increases our effectiveness and well-being. Modeling positive coping is a powerful message to our colleagues, families and children.  Teaching resilience spreads health and well-being.  

Audience: Humans, particularly those who help others. 

Self Harm In Children and Teens

Self-harming behaviors are increasing in children and teens. We will review NSSI (Non-Suicidal Self Injury), eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and the ways they overlap.  Understanding the risk factors, characteristics and purposes for these behaviors allows you to intervene with best practices. It is vital that we open communication and develop ways to support teens as they develop healthy coping skills. 

Audience: Parents and caregivers, caseworkers, therapists and other helping professionals. 

Anxiety Disorders in School-Age Children

Anxiety Disorders are common and can interfere with the development tasks of school age children.  Treatment of younger children is most successful when adults are able to support the child in “shrinking the worry monster”. We will discuss ways to align with the child and family as they create an action plan to best address the child’s needs at home, in the community, and at school. 

Audience: Parents and caregivers, caseworkers, therapists and other helping professionals. 

Supporting Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Adults who are parenting children with developmental disabilities are at risk of negative impacts on their own health and well-being. Focusing on the needs of the adults increases their ability to care for their vulnerable children. We will identify ways that professionals can support parents in order to foster a collaborative approach to meet the needs of the whole family.  

Audience: Human service professionals, caseworkers, and parents. 

Listening Matters

“There was nothing I could do to help; all I could do was listen.” We will cover the impact and nature of effective listening, which is a powerful tool for parents, professionals, and people of all ages. How we listen and respond impacts others’ well-being, builds healthy relationships, and creates bridges for communication.  

Audience: Humans over the age of 8. 

Ethical Humility in Action

The ethical humility framework supports social workers’ role in providing client-centered care. We will cover the micro, mezzo, and macro practice guidelines that support decision making in a variety of settings. Working with an ethical humility frame of reference improves client care and decreases professional stress by increasing collaboration with colleagues, clients, and other systems of care.   

Audience: Social workers and other licensed health providers. 

Suicide Prevention in Children and Teens

This course is for professionals who are assessing the needs of children and teens with suicidal ideation. We will review characteristics and behavioral indicators, along with their accompanying predictors of risk. Participants will practice ways to ask children, teens, and their families about risk and protective factors. Current research on best practice for prevention will be reviewed. 

Audience: Case workers, social workers, clinicians, and/or supervisors working with children and adolescents. 

FAQ

Yes, I have experience with both in-person and on-line training. I have trained in hybrid situations where there are participants both in-person and on-line at the same time.  

I have experience speaking to groups from 4 to 100’s. My training content, style and engagement strategies are adapted to the size of the audience in order to best meet the needs of the group. I have led 30 minute focused webinars and three-day workshop style trainings.  

Courses can be modified by time. Each duration offers a different level of detail:  

  • One hour webinar or presentation: Focuses on key areas of knowledge on the topic and share resources for further information.    
  • Two to three hour training: Covers topic with more depth, allow for increased participation and interaction allowing for more specific application to the needs of the audience.  
  • Six hour or multiple day training: Covers topic in-depth with time for specific questions, small group interaction, application to specific concerns, and practice sessions.  

Individual Solutions LLC is not a CE Provider but will work with contracting agency to meet ASWB, APA or other standards for CE approval. 

Training gives me hope. From parents and caseworkers to international experts, I have met 1,000’s of people who are working to make a difference. I love to connect with my audiences through storytelling, information sharing, laughter, and meaningful conversation. My role is to pull together information, ideas and resources then facilitate a training so that people can use this information, along with their own expertise, to create positive change.  

We are excited about our newest project on resilience to be found at learnmodelteach.com.