Workshops and Drop-in Groups

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

Session #1: Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00pm on Zoom (starts February 4)

Session #2: Thursdays, 4:00-5:00pm on Zoom (starts March 6)

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 semester – while all four sessions are recommended, join when you can!

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

Mondays, 3:00-4:30pm on Zoom (starts February 3)

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

There are two sections of this virtual body doubling group offered this term:

Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00pm BIWEEKLY on Zoom (starts January 29)

Fridays, 2:00-3:00pm on Zoom (starts January 31)

This 60-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: Kelli Chen, OTR/L; Leeanne Tobler, OTR/L; Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW

First Thursday of the month, 3:00-4:30pm in person at AON Cottage – pre-registration is required through MyHealth Portal!

• February 6th: Creative Crafts
  Unwind and express yourself through a guided craft session. Whether you’re an experienced crafter or trying something new, this session provides materials and support to create a project you’ll enjoy. Project plan: collage candle holder/jar (prints, pressed flowers, stickers, glitter options)

• March 6th: Quiet Play
  Enjoy a calm and relaxing session designed for quiet leisure activities. Choose from puzzles, Legos, or other hands-on tasks that allow for focus and creativity in a low-pressure, parallel play setting.

• April 3rd: Topic/Activity TBD

• May 1st: Party Games
  Engage in a variety of group games that encourage connection and collaboration. This session offers a casual opportunity to socialize and enjoy lighthearted activities in a supportive environment.

Facilitators: Justin Harker, MS and Devonte Joynes, LCPC

Thursdays, 4:30-5:00pm on Zoom (starts February 6)

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

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00pm BIWEEKLY on Zoom (starts January 29)

This drop-in group is intended for learners who have received an official diagnosis, someone who is self-diagnosed, or someone who suspects they are neurodivergent and would like to explore their identity. Neurodivergent conditions may include, but are not limited to, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties (such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia), 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 function. Discussions around self-advocacy and accessing resources will also be addressed during sessions. All sessions do not need to be attended, but participants are welcome to join as many sessions as they would like.

Facilitators: Michael Wood, LCPC and Zachary Pocchia, LGPC

Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm BIWEEKLY, in person at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion on the Homewood campus (starts March 12)

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.

March 12: Communicate with Confidence – Assertiveness Skills

March 26: Build Stronger Relationships – Interpersonal Techniques

April 9: Navigate Difficult Conversations – Conflict Resolution Skills

April 23: Understanding Your Emotions

May 7: Managing Intense Emotions

May 21: Cultivating Emotional Balance

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 and learners.

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 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, 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.