Were you aware that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? If you are looking for a little support for your mental and emotional well-being, check out the new presentations, plus discussion and support groups offered by the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO).

Please note:

• Please complete this online form to attend presentations or groups.
• These programs are open to faculty and staff from all academic campuses. 
• Michigan Medicine faculty and staff can request additional presentations from the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience.  
• Space is limited so early registration is encouraged. If there are multiple dates for a presentation, be sure to indicate your preference.

May 2024 Presentations for Campus Faculty and Staff

Please complete this online form to attend presentations or groups, unless otherwise noted.

Mindful Self Compassion 

Wednesday, 5/15 | Noon - 1:00 pm

The word "mindful" has gained attention recently. Contrary to everyday conversation, mindfulness is not simply meditation and offers several tools that can enhance your health and well-being. For example, mindfulness has been associated with less stress and improvements in focus. Attend this interactive presentation to learn mindfulness-based strategies that can help you be more in the moment, enhance compassion, and increase gratitude. This presentation is great for those looking to learn about mindfulness for the first time to those with intermediate levels of knowledge.

Presenters Alex Jendrusina and Joanne Bernard

Creating Healthy Boundaries

Thursday,  5/16 | 10:00 - 11:00 am

Healthy boundaries are so important for our emotional well-being, but how do we set and maintain them? In this session, you'll learn the importance of setting personal and professional boundaries, how to recognize your own limits, and tips for having difficult conversations and communicating your needs.

Presenter: Jill Castro

Selecting a Therapist and Identifying Community Resources (Mini Session)

Monday 5/20 | 12:00-12:30 pm

This session provides descriptions of the types of mental (behavioral) health providers, an understanding of their listed credentials and suggestions in how to select one. An overview of the styles and approaches that therapists use in providing services (resolution focused, family systems and analytical). Also, some sample questions to ask when choosing one will be offered. In addition, a brief overview of how to identify and locate support groups will be provided.

Presenter: Tom Waldecker

Balancing Personal Life & Work Life “How do I do this?”

Wednesday, 5/22 | Noon - 1:00 pm 

This session will help one look at all of the responsibilities each of us have and provide some tools for how to decide what is really important to us as an individual. Participants will learn how to define balance, identify our values and examine external and internal messages that influence the decisions we make. In this interactive session strategies in how to deal with multiple demands will be offered, along with ways to focus on finding balance and find time for things we cherish doing.

Presenter Tom Waldecker

NEW - Microaggressions & Mental Health: Coping strategies to take care of yourself

Thursday, 5/23 | Noon - 1:00 pm 

Research and lived experiences tell us that microaggressions can negatively impact one’s mental health. This presentation focuses on coping strategies to use after experiencing a microaggression. Participants can expect to learn ways to care for their emotional health and wellbeing around these experiences.

Presenter: Alex Jendrusina

NEW - Women and Mental Health

Thursday, 5/23 | 10:00 - 11:00 am 

Research has identified differences in women and men regarding risk, prevalence, presentation, course, and treatment of mental health conditions. This presentation will explore factors that affect women's mental health, mental health disparities, and the importance of mental healthcare for women. Folks of all genders are welcome to attend, although part of the presentation will include an experiential component for those who identify as women.

Presenter Jill Castro

Discussion and Support Groups 

Please complete this online form to attend presentations or groups, unless otherwise noted.

Discussion group on Procrastination

Please note, attendance is required for both sessions.

Tuesdays  5/14 & 5/21 | Noon - 1:00 pm

This confidential group discussion for faculty and staff is intended to facilitate the management of procrastination and the distress associated with it. Procrastination will be defined and cognitive and behavioral approaches to managing procrastination will be presented. Group members will share their experiences of procrastination and strategies to mitigate it. The format will be interactive and informal.

Presenter Andrew Greifer

Discussion Group on Forgiveness

Thursday 5/16 | Noon - 1:15 pm

It is said that "Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself." Do you find yourself struggling with hanging on to regrets or past issues that negatively impact you?  If so, the power of forgiveness may be helpful in dealing with these concerns. This is an interactive session with attendees participating.

Presenters Janell Kilgore and Joanne Bernard

Support Group for New Moms

The Faculty & Staff Counseling & Consultation Office (FASCCO) is offering an ongoing drop-in style support group for women returning to work following the birth and/or adoption of a child. The group is designed for women in their third trimester of pregnancy through the time their child is two years old.

The group will address various topics, including preparing for maternity leave, work/life balance, separation anxiety, familial adjustments, lactation support, baby blues, sleep hygiene, feeding issues, childcare, returning to work, and building a postpartum support system. This offering emphasizes group discussion of participant experiences as well as educational components. There is no charge for staff or faculty to attend.

For schedules and registration for the new moms group, please contact Jill Castro at [email protected] or (734) 936-8660.

Need Support? We're Here for You

If you’d like to learn more about self-care, stress management, or tips in structuring your day, or are interested in support, counselors are available for no-charge, confidential services. If you work on an academic campus, contact the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO) at 734-936-8660 or [email protected]. If you work at Michigan Medicine, contact the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (OCWR) at 734-763-5409 or [email protected].