Root #1: Authentic Relationships
Trauma-Informed
Center for Adolescent Studies (CAS) → These semi-self-paced courses are for anyone working with youth struggling with or affected by trauma; therapists, educators, coaches, mentors, etc. Weekly presentations are available for review of basic principles in being trauma-informed
Trauma Basics - 2 hours
Trauma Essentials - 8 hours
Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment (MBSAT) → An evidence-based, experiential approach to working with high-need adolescents. It combines best practices from the fields of education, mindfulness, psychology, youth development, and recovery; and focuses on building relationships, working with resistance, and ways to intrinsically motivate change
Get Sam Himelstein’s book - “Mindfulness-Based Approach to Working with High-Risk Adolescents”
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Resolution → body-oriented therapeutic model, with 45 years of clinical application, that helps heal trauma and other stress disorders. A multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics
The number of anxious, depressed, hyperactive, and withdrawn children is staggering — and still growing. Millions have experienced bullying, violence (real or in the media), abuse, or sexual molestation. Many other kids have been traumatized from more “ordinary” ordeals such as terrifying medical procedures, accidents, loss and divorce. Trauma-Proofing Your Kids sends a lifeline to parents who wonder how they can help their worried and troubled children now. It offers simple but powerful tools to keep children safe from danger and to help them “bounce back” after feeling scared and overwhelmed
Get Peter A. Levine’s book - “Trauma Proofing your Kids”
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
An empirically-based psychological intervention using acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility
Since the original publication of this seminal work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – the Process and Practice of Mindful Change, by Steven Hayes, Kirk Storsahl, Kelly Wilson Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT – from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques – written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient-therapist dialogues are integrated throughout
Self-Determination Theory
a meta-theory for framing motivational studies, a formal theory that defines intrinsic and extrinsic sources of motivation; in relationship with cognitive and social development
Get Richard Ryan and Edward Deci’s book - “Self Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness”
Root #2: Connection with Nature
Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku)
Shinrin-yoku is a term that means “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing.” It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world
Get the illustrated book by Dr. Li Qing - “Forest Bathing”
Greater Good Science Center
A compendium of information. They hosted the conference on The Art & Science of Awe. They hosted a study on the improvements in stress reduction bio-markers from time in nature
National Geographic
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA
Root #3: Embodied Peak Experience
Self-Efficacy
Flow State
The Optimized Brain: A Workshop on Flow-States with Steven Kotler
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Flow → psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s famous investigations of “optimal experience” reveals that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life
Get Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book - “Flow”
Root #4: Helping Others
Psychology Today
Time Magazine
Greater Good Science Center
Other Useful Resources
Future of Psychiatry
Interview with Sami Timimi, MD - Helpful ideas on medication
Get Dr. Peter Kinderman’s Book - “A Prescription for Psychiatry”
Dr. Eric Maisel
Learning Theory
Paul Tough - Author, Speaker, Journalist → In Helping Children Succeed, Tough takes on a new set of pressing questions: What does growing up in poverty do to children’s mental and physical development? How does adversity at home affect their success in the classroom, from preschool to high school? And what practical steps can the adults who are responsible for them — from parents and teachers to policy makers and philanthropists — take to improve their chances for a positive future?
Get Paul Tough’s book - “Helping Children Succeed”