Workshops and Drop-in Groups

Facilitators: Michael Wood, LCPC, Amanda Menke, LCSW-C and Zachary Pocchia, LGPC

Biweekly on Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, in person at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (Homewood Campus) starting October 9.

This series provides an opportunity for students and learners to learn new skills and connect with one another, particularly during challenging times that may include socio-political stress or responses to world events. These 90-minute workshops use the principles of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based therapy modality that will help bring awareness of how emotional dysregulation can happen in your day-to-day life, and skills to regulate and be present when experiencing emotional distress.

October 9: Cultivating Connection While Keeping Your Peace

October 23: Finding Your Center: Reduce Stress and Enhance Focus

November 6: Calm Down, Carry On, and Prosper Under Pressure

November 20: Thriving Through Tough Times

December 4: Mindful Momentum: Living in the Moment

December 18: Building Resilience: A Distress Tolerance Workshop

Facilitators: Kelli Chen, OTR/L and Leeanne Tobler, OTR/L

Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm, in person at MHS Homewood (Counseling Center) – September 25, October 9, November 6

Body doubling is a productivity strategy to promote focused time spent on a less desirable task. For many with executive functioning or attention difficulties, having someone nearby can assist with feeling focused, engaged, and motivated. For this drop-in group, individuals can log in during this time slot to work in the company of an occupational therapist. Executive functioning skills and strategies such as the Pomodoro technique and structured breaks may be used based on participant preference and needs.

Facilitators: Adrian Hernandez, Psy.D.; Joel Kwame, MA; Queen-Ayanna Sullivan, MA

Session #1: Thursdays, 4-5pm starting September 12 on Zoom

Session #2: Tuesdays, 4-5pm starting October 15 on Zoom

These 50-minute workshops teach skills and tools to help you manage anxiety and stress more effectively. Skills will include exposure to relaxation exercises, mindfulness practices, and cognitive restructuring tools. You will receive weekly materials that combine into a workbook, full of resources that will be useful in many domains of life. This 4-week series runs twice during the fall semester – while all four sessions are recommended, join when you can!

Facilitators: Kelli Chen, OTR/L and Leeanne Tobler, OTR/L

Mondays, 3-4:30pm on Zoom starting September 30

Body doubling is a productivity strategy to promote focused time spent on a less desirable task. For many with executive functioning or attention difficulties, having someone nearby can assist with feeling focused, engaged, and motivated. For this drop-in group, individuals can log in during this time slot to work in the company of an occupational therapist. Executive functioning skills and strategies such as the Pomodoro technique and structured breaks may be used based on participant preference and needs.

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Fridays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting August 30

This bi-weekly, 90-minute virtual accountability group is for students who benefit from support starting tasks and maintaining workflow. The concept of body doubling leverages the presence of others to support tasks that might be tough to get started or seen through to completion. Bring a task to work on!

Facilitators: Justin Harker, MA and Devonte Joynes, LCPC

Wednesdays, 4-4:30pm on Zoom starting September 11

Emotional Adulting is a drop-in skills workshop series designed to help participants work with emotions from a space of compassion, awareness, non-judgment, and curiosity. The skills taught in this series, which are generally drawn from mindfulness and trauma symptom management practices, are beneficial for our general emotional well-being as well as helping to manage distress related to depression, anxiety, trauma, and other experiences. Each session is just 30-minutes long, and you’ll leave each workshop with helpful resources and suggestions for how to practice the skills in everyday life. While all eight sessions are recommended, join one or more – when it works for you!

• Week #1: Grounding
• Week #2: Self-Compassion
• Week #3: Working Within Your Window of Tolerance
• Week #4: R.A.I.N. Technique
• Week #5: Containment
• Week #6: Creating Space for Emotions
• Week #7: Calm Place Imagery
• Week #8: Four Elements of Stress Reduction

Facilitators: Kelli Chen, OTR/L

Thursdays, 2:30-4pm, in person at MHS Homewood (Counseling Center) starting October 10

This in-person group will focus on the intentional use of time and energy to promote enhanced wellbeing by using a model and framework for lifestyle balance. Participants will learn and apply the model through education, discussion, activity, and reflection. This group is ideal for individuals who are experiencing increased stress, disorganization, or confusion surrounding how to best focus energy to promote wellbeing. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions in the series but drop-ins are also acceptable. This skills-based group will be facilitated by an occupational therapist with advanced training in promoting balanced habits and routines.

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting September 4

Do you have difficulty managing skills such as task initiation, time management, and organization? Do you have, or suspect you have a neurodivergent condition? This 90-min, virtual drop-in group provides psychoeducation and a time to discuss challenges and get support around executive functioning skills. Participants can join at any point in the semester, and can attend as many sessions as they’d like.

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting September 11

This 90-minute, virtual drop-in group is intended for students who have received a new diagnosis (within the past year) of a neurodivergent (ND) condition(s). Neurodivergent conditions may include, but are not limited to, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and sensory processing disorders. The goal of the group is to provide psychoeducation on the conditions and the impact it may have on areas of functioning. Discussions will include self-advocacy and accessing resources and support. Participants can join at any point in the semester, and can attend as many sessions as they’d like.

Outreach is about increasing mental health awareness through prevention, awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Through various outreach programs, Mental Health Services staff are able to connect with the larger JHU community and ultimately strengthen a campus atmosphere that is conducive to the well-being, personal growth, and psychological health of all students.

To this end, the Mental Health Services staff provide presentations and programs to various groups on campus on topics related to mental health and well-being. Topics might include: coping with stress, time management, suicide prevention, dealing with anxiety, developing a growth mindset, resilience, managing emotions, bouncing back from failure, developing a balanced lifestyle, handling transitions, healthy relationships, body image, and many more. If you are interested in a program or workshop for your group, please complete contact Amani Surges Martorella or call 410-516-3311 to speak with a leadership team member about your request.

The staff within Mental Health Services collaborates with staff across Johns Hopkins University to provide suicide prevention training sessions for the JHU students, learners, faculty, staff and community. These evidence-based programs are shown to be effective prevention programs to identify students at risk, empower staff and faculty with skills and knowledge around mental health, and to train the JHU community on making effective referrals.

To learn more, click here.