Previous Courses – Illuminated Education

A Developmental Approach to Helping Children and Families Navigate Health Journeys

Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Ashlee Reid, PhD CE Units: 2.0 When: Friday, July18th, 2025 Time: 9:00am – 11:05am Brief Description: As mental health and medical professionals, many of our child and adolescent clients and their parents share difficult stories about a breadth of health concerns. These may include health worries and fears, allergies, stress-related physical symptoms as well as health conditions that include chronic pain and/or uncomfortable medical procedures. Using an integrative developmental, systemic, and anti-oppressive approach, Dr. Reid and Dr. Johnson will address the questions we often hear from mental health and medical practitioners colleagues. Location: Zoom – Live Virtual Workshop Course Level: Intermediate Cost: $120 early bird cost for the training, $150 after July 11th Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website to register. OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to: 1. Identify 3 ways that…

Working with First Generation College Students and Professionals

Presenter: Elisa Hernandez, PhD Date: 20 May 2025 Time: 11am – 12pm Course Length: 1.0 hours CE Credits: 1.0 Where: Institute for Girls’ Development 95 N. Marengo Ave Pasadena, CA 91101 Course Level: Introductory to Intermediate Cost: There is no charge for this program. It is for Institute employee training only. Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website to sign up OBJECTIVES Participants will be able to (1) Describe how identifying the unique challenges of First Gen individuals can guide effective problem solving (2) Name the 8 correlates of success for First Generation College students. (3) Describe how one would use the 8 correlates of success to guide assessment and treatment planning when working with the First Gen population. SCHEDULE 11:00 – 11:05 Overview of definitions and research identified strengths/challenges of the First Gen population. 11:05 – 11:17 Review of the 8 correlates…

Working with Challenging Caregivers

Presenter: Johanna Sagarin, PhD CE Units: 1.25 When: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 Time: 10:00am – 11:15am (Dr. Sagarin will remain after the program for lunch and to chat and answer questions.) Brief Description: This presentation will help clinicians working with children thoughtfully engage caregivers in the therapeutic work. We will focus on connecting with caregivers and improving caregiver skills, including recognizing expectations and attributions, validation and attunement, and creating nurturing moments with their children. We will also look at specific challenges with caregivers and ways to address them. Location: 95 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101 (Institute for Girls’ Development) Course Level: Introductory to Intermediate Cost: No cost. All attendees will be Institute employees. Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more details. OBJECTIVES: Participants will be able to 1. Explain three sets of skills important for improving parenting competencies. 2. Describe two…

Show, Tell & Do: Retraining the Brain for Executive Functioning through Therapy – July 12, 2024

Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Anna Hasbun CE Units: 2.0 When: Friday, July 12th, 2024 Time: 9:00am – 11:00am Brief Description: In this post-pandemic and digitally saturated world, therapists, educators, researchers and parents recognize increased challenges with focus and executive functioning for youth. Our two experts, Anna Hasbun and Dr. Melissa Johnson bring together contemporary research and applications from education, psychology and neuroscience to provide practical strategies and tools. This dynamic and interactive presentation is designed to equip clinicians and counselors in their support of their clients, students, parents and caregivers. Location: Zoom – Live Virtual Workshop Cost: $120 early bird cost for the training, $150 after July 5th Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more details. OBJECTIVES: Participants will be able to 1. Explain one of the challenges of executive functioning for children and teens today. 2. Describe at least…

Stand Up! Speak Out!® Curriculum Training: Empowering Friendship & Conflict Resolution Skills – June 20-21, 2024

For professionals empowering girls, children and teens to navigate friendships. Program is based on the Stand Up! Speak Out!® curriculum being implemented in many schools and after-school programs and will be informative for Psychologists and other mental health providers. Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Vicki Chiang, PsyD. CE units: 12.0 When: June 20 – 21, 2024 (Thursday and Friday) Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm (Sign in and light breakfast 8:30 – 9:00) Location: Institute for Girls’ Development, 95 N. Marengo Ave, Suite 100, Pasadena, CA Please go to the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more description of this program. Course Level: Intermediate. This course will be useful for Psychologists and other mental health professionals as well as school counselors, school psychologists, educators and those who lead programming for girls. Learning Modalities: Attendees learn through demonstrations, videos, breakout sessions, presentations, and experiential activities. All participants receive a training packet with resources.…

Integrating Sex and Sexuality in EFT Couples’ Work – Feb 2 & 5, 2024

Presenters: Lisa Blum, PsyD and Silvina Irwin, PhD Course Description: Have you experienced the dilemma of helping couples achieve greater emotional connection through EFT, and yet found that this does not always translate directly into greater sexual desire, contact and flexibility between the partners? This workshop will present a frame for understanding that dilemma, and offer approaches for more fully integrating sexual concerns into our EFT work, with the goal of helping couples take new risks with each other so that they can share a more vibrant sexual connection. This workshop will include: how to decipher the map of a couple’s sexual cycle; how to do thorough assessment of each partner’s sexual history, taking into the account the context of the client’s intersecting identities; understanding sexual responses and freezes within an attachment frame; interventions that help create a secure base of “safe touch”; how to identify and work with our own…

BODY LIBERATION: Building grit, resilience and community – July 21, 2023

Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Angela Youngs, PsyD CE units: 2.0 Location: Zoom Brief Goal: Using the Body Liberation framework, we can help our clients, students, and ourselves find freedom from oppressive cultural body messages while recognizing our value is not determined by societal systems. We are valuable as we are, right now, in this moment. When: July 21, 2023 (Friday) Time: 9:00am – 11:00am (Sign in 8:45 – 9:00) Course Level: Intermediate. This course will be useful for Psychologists and other mental health professionals as well as school counselors, school psychologists, educators, school counselors, and youth program leaders Cost: Early bird cost is $105; $120 after June 16. Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more details. OBJECTIVES Attendees will be able to: identify 3 socio-cultural factors that impact how girls and women feel about their bodies. briefly describe 1 theoretical lens…

Gaps and Gains – July 30, 2021

Understand the Social, Emotional and Academic Setbacks and Gifts (Yes, Gifts!) of the Covid-19 Year with Clinical Implication. How has the last unprecedented year and a half affected our children and teens? During this pandemic season, youth have experienced loss, trauma, racial justice concerns, excessive screen time, upended routines, and isolation. They’ve also experienced less frenzied schedules, perhaps developed some new skills and interests, and experienced different kinds of family time (for better or worse). The Covid-19 year has changed children’s lives in so many ways. While the long-term developmental impact of navigating this global pandemic is yet to be known, we’ll have a chance to look together at the latest research, survey data and anecdotal accounts of suffering and resilience. We’ll discuss relevant clinical considerations, interventions and applicable activities through a decolonizing lens. Date: Friday, July 30, 2021 Time: 9am to 11am CE Units: 2.0 Overview: Topics addressed include…

Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Youth: Clinical Tools for Working with Youth Across the Gender Spectrum – August 13, 2021

Presenter: Caroline Carter, PsyD This generation of youth are profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. This training will focus on providing practitioners with a deeper conceptual understanding of TGNB youth. When: August 13, 2021 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: This professional training session is a live, interactive webinar. We will send you the link to join the session after your register. The program is presented in conjunction with the Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA who will send the link and manage registration. CE units: 2.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION This generation of youth are profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this,…

Expressive Art Therapy: Explore the Healing Power of the Arts August 6, 2021

Presenter: Sushi Frausto, LMFT The Creative Arts have historically been a way for humanity to express, discover, grow and connect. Combined with therapeutic and educational theories, the arts can wield powers of true transformation. Expressive Art Therapy brings together various theoretical approaches and combines them with the artistic process to create spaces for healing and growth. In this course, we will discuss ways to make art safe and approachable, learn how to use various art modalities to foster development, and discover ways to incorporate the arts into the approaches you are already using. But let’s not just talk! Come ready to experience the arts for yourself as we enjoy practicing interventions you can use for yourself and those you support. When: August 6, 2021 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: This professional training session is a live, interactive webinar. We will send you the link to join the session after…