Journaling workshop helps parents address childhood trauma and adversity
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will host Donna Jackson Nakazawa in a program titled “The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal: A Workshop for Parents” at noon and 7 p.m. via Zoom.
The trauma of the past can’t be undone, but people can take charge of how it affects them in the present and remove its hold over their future. Nakazawa returns to GPS to introduce using the power of journaling to heal, release worry and access inner calm.
Putting thoughts to paper can help identify and adopt new ways of responding to stress and allow the brain to re-wire one’s emotional responses. People can create a new narrative of their life — one that breaks free from deeply ingrained or self-destructive thoughts and behaviors.
Using thoughtful guided writing strategies, Nakazawa will help attendees learn to live authentically, create new habits of self-talk and move away from self-criticism, and gain a sense of gratitude for who they are.
Go to GPSparentseries.org for information and the links to these webinars. Continuing professional development units are available for this program.
Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, author of seven books, and an internationally recognized speaker whose work explores the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, and human emotion.
Her recent book, “Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media,” was named one of the year’s best books by The Washington Post. Her latest work is “The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal: Neuroscience-Based Writing Practices to Rewire Your Brain from Trauma.”
GPS is generously sponsored by the Emmy Gaffey Foundation, Cebrin Goodman Center, Prevention Leadership Team of the DuPage County Health Department, Duly Health and Care, Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, KidsMatter, Endeavor Health, Community Consolidated School District 93 Birth to 5 Coalition, DuPage Regional Office of Education, and Webb-Hutter Family Fund of DuPage Foundation.
To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in advance, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at gilda_ross@glenbard.org or (630) 942-7668.