Helping Mental Health Professionals at DBTeensNH Engage Clients Online

It was great to be with the therapists, teachers and coaches at DBTeensNH recently. They have a fantastic 12-week intensive outpatient telemental health treatment program for youth ages 12-18.

Once the “Yes And” mindset of applied or medical improvisation was introduced, we explored how a simple activity like Radical Acceptance can be used to promote complex social and emotional learning. From here, they were ready and willing to learn a variety of activities and develop strategies for adapting them into their coaching, skill-building and other programming. They had fantastic and unique ideas!

Psychological counseling and improv have been so helpful to me personally and professionally that it was a deep honor to work with this group!

Upcoming Sessions through Dartmouth Hitchcock Continuing Education for Professionals

Cultural Sensitivity for Nurses and Nurse Assistants

It is an honor for me to be working with Jen Orbeso, DNP, RN, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist and Clinical Nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital for this full day in-person presentation on 3/15/23 in Lebanon, NH.

During our workshop, “Developing Cultural Sensitivity & Understanding its Role in Nursing Practice” we will weave in traditional teaching with experiential learning activities and case studies. The class is filling up AND you don’t have to be affiliated with Dartmouth to register!

Team Development for Healthcare Leaders

Also, coming this May through Dartmouth Con’t Ed are two ~half-day online sessions of Game-Changing Experiential Activities for Interprofessional Team Development: One Activity at a Time. Both are open to all current and developing healthcare leaders managers and anyone who works with teams.

Learning outcome(s)
After this learning activity, (at least 75% of) participants will be able to explain how four experiential activities can be used to improve interprofessional communication and teamwork.

More info and registration links:

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 11:30 AM – 3:15 PM – EST: https://dh.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=139591

Friday, May 19, 2023, 7:45 AM – 11:15 AM – EST: https://dh.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=139592

Game Changing Team Development Hourly Sessions

Last Fall I started offering short, activity-based sessions of Game Changing Team Development for Healthcare Leaders! Once a month we’d meet for one hour and focus on teaching one activity. The idea behind this is to give leaders simple activities they can use with their teams during already scheduled meetings to:

  • Improve communication
  • Boost morale
  • Decrease stress
  • Promote positive relationships.

Next up on 3/7/23 from 6:30-7:30PM – EST we’ll be exploring an activity called, Sound Ball! Suggested donation: $20 USD – Register here. You will need to set up an account with Sutra by providing your email address.

A Few Words About Sutra

Early this year I discovered Sutra, a new(ish) online learning platform used by organizations like; Harvard University, Unicef, The Presencing Institute and the World Health Organization. The platform is built for creators who focus on heart-centered work and building community.

After watching their ‘Facilitate the Future Series” I decided it was the best place for workshops I’m hosting. The customer service, integrity of the system and technological possibilities are so refreshing! The work I’m trying to do is respected and their staff want to help me do it!

Truthfully, I didn’t want to ask healthcare professionals to have to become members or learn a new platform. I know so many of you simply don’t have time. Yet, the benefits are powerful and in the long run, I hope (and trust) that they will outweigh the barriers. Please consider joining my email list on Sutra!

Ellen Schnur and Jim Mecir of ImprovTalk.com have been helping me with these so a shout-out to them and to this Palliative Care Physician who offered some affirming feedback on LinkedIn.

Outreach Efforts re: Interprofessional Education Competencies (IPEC)

Speaking of Ellen and Jim, ever since our successful work with Faculty and Students at Ball State University, Jim Mecir, Ellen Schnur and I have been reaching out to educational institutions who are affiliated with IPEC. Whether you call it Medical Improv, Applied Improv, or Experiential Learning, the programming we offer is designed to improve:

 – Expressive communication skills

–  Listening skills

–  Ability to think on one’s feet

–  Empathy

–  Communicating in teams

–  Mindfulness

–  Attitude of respect

Our work is not limited to IPEC institutions! Here’s our flyer with more information!

That’s about all for now. I hope you are well and thriving in your work. You deserve to be!

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Author

  • Beth Boynton, RN, MS, CP

    Beth Boynton, RN, MS, CP (She/Hers) is an author and consultant specializing in communication and related skills.  She has been researching and teaching these skills to healthcare and mental health professionals for two decades! In addition to textbooks,  “Successful Nurse Communication: Safe Care, Healthy Workplaces, & Rewarding Careers” (Revised Reprint, 2023, F.A. Davis) and “Complexity Leadership: Nursing’s Role in Healthcare Delivery”, with Diana Crowell, PhD, RN, (2020, F.A. Davis), she wrote the industry first book on Medical Improv.  Personal note: I love working with psychotherapists, social workers and Personal note: I love working with visionary health and mental health care leaders because they understand how critical theses skills are and how challenging they can be to develop and practice. Especially in high-stakes, high-stress work we do and chaotic world we live in. I know this, not only as a teacher, nurse and trainer but also because of my own work in counseling many years ago. I will share more in this workshop! Join the email list for access to free videos, articles and more: http://sutra.co/space/6t9m26

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