Past events
2024
The Science & Practice of Gratitude
Healthy & Well at LBNL is hosting the second annual 5-day gratitude practice - join us!
We all know that gratitude is a good idea, but did you know that research suggests that consciously giving thanks can have profound effects on our well-being and relationships?
The simple practice of paying attention to the good things in our lives - from the small (my latte was delicious) to the profound (my spouse gave birth to a healthy baby) - and then translating those thoughts into concrete language by writing them down makes us more aware of them and deepens their emotional impact. The more we pay attention, the more we notice and that can shift the emotional tone of our daily lives.
Dates: Monday Nov. 18 - Friday Nov. 22
More information and to sign up > 5-Day Gratitude Practice
Employee Assistance Program Workshops for Berkeley Lab
Be Well at Work's Employee Assistance Program provides no-cost confidential counseling and referral for Berkeley Lab staff as well as workshops on eldercare, parenting, and stress management. All Lab employees are welcome to register and attend.
Prepare to Care
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Time: 12 noon - 1 pm PT
Join us on Zoom
Presenter: Natasha Boissier, LCSW
"Being a family caregiver is a job no one applies for,"states Gail Sheehy author of "Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence", and certainly one we are not always prepared for ahead of time. Prepare To Care is a one hour workshop which will highlight advanced planning essentials - both medical and legal - to consider when preparing to care for an older adult, as well as provide an overview of government and community resources available to caregivers of people with chronic or neurodegenerative illness.
Sharpening our Focus at Work
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 12 noon - 1 pm PT
Join us on Zoom
Add the Event to Your Calendar
Presenter: Elliot DiTusa, LPCC
Many of us strive to work in a productive and efficient manner. This can often be easier said than done. Our work environment, thoughts, and feelings can sometimes distract us from our workplace goals. This workshop will identify common workplace distractions and explore how we can use a variety of strategies to effectively manage them. Strategies discussed will include cognitive reframing, regulating emotion and utilizing performance psychology.\
2023
Handling Work Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Date: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Thursday, November 2nd, for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Note: Due to the sensitive nature of EAP workshops, they will not be recorded. However, we will post slides and handouts after the workshop on the Past Events page.
Handling Work Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Unhealthy work-stress can lead to reduced levels of productivity and performance and negatively impact our lives outside of work. Alternatively, stress managed well can help us create a healthy relationship with work that can strengthen our careers and positively impact our personal lives. This workshop will provide information on stress and burnout and introduce effective strategies to manage our work-stress including; boundary setting, focus strategies, and ways to build community at work.
About the Speaker:
Elliott DiTusa is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Elliott is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 9 years of experience working in various Employee Assistance models. His work experience also includes providing individual and couples counseling at a group psychotherapy practice. Elliott received his BS in Secondary Education from Indiana University and his MA in Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. Elliott enjoys serving all members of the LBL community, and has a special interest in working with those experiencing career stress/pressure, and work/life balance challenges
Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Date: Wednesday, September 20th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Workshop Handouts:
Please join us on Wednesday, September 20th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Habits govern 40% of our day, and can largely determine what we eat, how often we move and rest, and how we treat others. Yet habits are also automatic, and can become difficult to change. This workshop explores multiple frameworks to help us become more aware of how habits develop, and how to harness our strengths to make positive changes. Participants will also receive handouts they can utilize to continue practicing strategies on their own.
About the Speaker:
Kiran Johl (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a background in providing trauma-informed counseling and group therapy for physical and sexual abuse survivors. Kiran has experience in crisis intervention and case management which she sees as an important part of the therapeutic process. Kiran received her B.S. in Human Development from UC Davis, and her MSW from Sacramento State University.
Kiran’s approach is interactive and collaborative. She enjoys connecting clients with resources and discussing strategies that can support their emotional health outside of the counseling session. She has a special interest in working with women of color, individuals identifying as first or second generation, as well as those exploring cultural identity development. She also enjoys helping individuals who are experiencing life and/or career transitions.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Date: Tuesday, June 13th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Tuesday, June 13th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Understanding and managing our emotions can increase our sense of well-being, motivation, empathy and ability to relate to others in a healthy way. This workshop will examine what it means to be emotionally intelligent and how to apply key concepts to create a more successful and fulfilling work/life experience.
About the Speaker:
Elliott DiTusa is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Elliott is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 9 years of experience working in various Employee Assistance models. His work experience also includes providing individual and couples counseling at a group psychotherapy practice. Elliott received his BS in Secondary Education from Indiana University and his MA in Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. Elliott enjoys serving all members of the LBL community, and has a special interest in working with those experiencing career stress/pressure, and work/life balance challenges
Creating Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace
Date: Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Healthy Boundaries overview - types & styles
Please join us on Thursday, May 18th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Creating Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace
Healthy boundaries in the workplace are essential to support our mental health and maintain job satisfaction. This workshop provides information about different types of boundaries, how to handle boundary challenges, and how to comfortably say “no”. We will introduce strategies to help participants establish healthy boundaries and improve work-life balance.
About the Speaker:
Julie Resnik (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with experience providing therapeutic support and extensive case management assistance to individuals and families. She also has a specialty background supporting people experiencing chronic illness and organ transplantation. She has worked as a healthcare provider and as a behavioral health educator, teaching classes on wellness, mental health, and managing depression. Julie obtained her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology at Colgate University, and her MSW from Columbia University with a clinical concentration in Health, Mental Health and Disabilities. She received advanced training in Palliative and End of Life Care at NYU’s School of Social Work.
Julie strives to make each person feel understood and uses a client centered approach which focuses on an individual's unique circumstances and goals.
2022
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Thursday, October 13th, Noon - 12:50 pm (add it to your calendar)
Please join us on Thursday, October 13th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Understanding and managing our emotions can increase our sense of well-being, motivation, empathy and ability to relate to others in a healthy way. This workshop will examine what it means to be emotionally intelligent and how to apply key concepts to create a more successful and fulfilling work/life experience.
About the Speaker:
Elliott DiTusa is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Elliott is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 9 years of experience working in various Employee Assistance models. His work experience also includes providing individual and couples counseling at a group psychotherapy practice. Elliott received his BS in Secondary Education from Indiana University and his MA in Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. Elliott enjoys serving all members of the LBL community, and has a special interest in working with those experiencing career stress/pressure, and work/life balance challenges
What is the Employee Assistance Program? The Employee Assistance Program provides no cost confidential counseling and referral for Berkeley Lab employees. The program is available to employees, and their families and dependents. The services are completely voluntary and there is no fee for services.
Navigating Change
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | via Zoom
Workshop Slides
Worksheet/Handout
Please join us on Wednesday, August 17th for a lunch time workshop brought to us from Berkeley Lab's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Navigating Change Workshop
We have all successfully navigated changes in our lives numerous times. Despite lots of practice, we typically resist any new changes when we first hear about them, especially at work. This workshop discusses the importance of understanding our mental/emotional process as it relates to change and strategies to help ourselves move through resistance and maintain a sense of wellbeing throughout the process.
About the Speaker:
Craig Mielcarski is the Director for Be Well at Work - Faculty/Staff Health Programs at UC Berkeley which includes managing the Employee Assistance Program for LBNL. Craig is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with 25 years of experience. Craig received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Amherst College and his master's degree in social work from Boston University. He also has completed formal training in organizational and management consulting, critical incident response, and violence risk assessment. Craig is passionate about supporting individual and organizational health and wellness.
What is the Employee Assistance Program? The Employee Assistance Program provides no cost confidential counseling and referral for Berkeley Lab employees. The program is available to employees, and their families and dependents. The services are completely voluntary and there is no fee for services.
(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)
Leading Change - A Workshop for Managers & Supervisors
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | via Zoom
Leading Change Presentation Slides
Employee Change Readiness Assessment & Indicators and Strategies worksheet
Please join us on Tuesday, May 24th for a lunch time workshop brought to us from Berkeley Lab's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Leading Change Workshop for Managers & Supervisors
Resistance is a natural and even necessary part of how individuals navigate change. As managers and supervisors, we are tasked to accomplish the objectives related to organizational changes. In order to be successful, we need the individuals on our team to be willing to change some behaviors. This workshop discusses elements of organizational change, the nature of resistance, and strategies to help lead people through a change process.
About the Speaker:
Craig Mielcarski is the Director for Be Well at Work - Faculty/Staff Health Programs at UC Berkeley which includes managing the Employee Assistance Program for LBNL. Craig is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with 25 years of experience. Craig received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Amherst College and his master's degree in social work from Boston University. He also has completed formal training in organizational and management consulting, critical incident response, and violence risk assessment. Craig is passionate about supporting individual and organizational health and wellness.
What is the Employee Assistance Program? The Employee Assistance Program provides no cost confidential counseling and referral for Berkeley Lab employees. The program is available to employees, and their families and dependents. The services are completely voluntary and there is no fee for services.
(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)
Reframe to Refresh: Why Our Thoughts Matter
Thursday, April 28 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | via Zoom
Please join us on Thursday, April 28th for a lunch time workshop brought to us from Berkeley Lab's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This workshop on "Why Our Thoughts Matter," is the first in a series of four 2022 workshops from the EAP team.
Reframe to Refresh: Why Our Thoughts Matter
The way we think about ourselves and the world around us greatly influences our self-esteem, emotional states, and behavioral responses. Over time, we may adopt automatic and unhelpful thought patterns that keep us feeling stuck. This workshop discusses the cognitive-emotional-behavioral connection, strategies to help identify unproductive thought patterns, and ways to reframe them for a more positive and refreshing outlook.
About the Speaker:
Kiran Johl (she/her/hers) is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Kiran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working in both clinical settings and state government. She is skilled in crisis intervention and trauma-informed counseling for survivors of abuse. Kiran received her BS in Human Development from UC Davis, and her Master's of Social Work from Sacramento State University. She has a special interest in working with women of color, individuals identifying as first or second generation, and individuals experiencing life/career transitions.
What is the Employee Assistance Program? The Employee Assistance Program provides no cost confidential counseling and referral for Berkeley Lab employees. The program is available to employees, and their families and dependents. The services are completely voluntary and there is no fee for services.
2021
Loneliness Webinar
Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 12 - 1:00 pm
Prior to 2020, there was a quiet epidemic going on all around us which the pandemic has served to intensify: loneliness. This presentation takes a closer look at loneliness, its impact on health and wellbeing, and what we can do to de-stigmatize and alleviate it – for ourselves and others. Webinar was presented by Alison King, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with Managed Health Network (MHN)
Back to School, Parenting and the Pandemic Age - September 2, 2021
Presented by Alison King, LSCW, Health Net
A lot of us may be feeling ill-equipped as parents these days, as we try to manage our own stress and overwhelm while juggling personal and professional responsibilities, during a completely disorienting time. So…how do we bring our “A game” to parenting during this pandemic age? Do we even need to have an “A game,” or is a “ B game” okay? This presentation will cover a variety of topics…back to school anxiety, how to help our kids accept change and tolerate uncertainty, “good enough” parenting paradigm, and a bit about a really important parenting goal – especially now - supporting our kids in their social-emotional development.