Program Description: Empathy and rapport are frequently connected to important outcomes in personal growth environments; however, they are rarely topics or skills that are effectively taught to new professionals. How can we use verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to align with our students? What is empathy? How do we respond empathetically when an individual shares a struggle? How can applying empathy help us build rapport with the students that we work with? Why is this important? How can this information help us through tough conversations? This session will give professionals the knowledge, skills, and confidence to communicate empathetically with students, and will explore specific strategies to connect students who are struggling with outside resources.
Series Description: Between January-June 2021 BaMidbar will offer four 90-minute virtual programs for the UpStart community. Each program will be a combination of psychological theory and practical tools youth professionals can use to support their students. All programs will include a combination of content delivery and experiential activities, discussion, and reflection to help professionals integrate these concepts into their personal and professional life. Professionals can join for a single session and are encouraged to join for all four sessions, as the overall series will follow a curricular arc.