Earn 1.5 CEUs - 1.5 of Cultural Competency!
Sithara Stohr is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and licensed yoga and meditation instructor. They have experience in organizing and supporting restorative justice and social justice initiatives with a passion for bridging gaps in communication within communities in need of support. Throughout their career, they have had the opportunity to provide mental health services directly to a wide variety of communities. Their experiences have provided them with the needed facilitation skills to lead large group training events, small groups, and community-based interventions. Sithara utilizes a somatic-focused, strengths-based, and person-centered approach within all facets of their work. In a training or community setting, they excel at fostering safe spaces for teams to work through tension together. Their work focuses on creating connection and providing sustainable skills to maintain the work outside of sessions. They value community and believe that healing and growth often happen in these supported group spaces.
Mel Burbules, M.Ed, individual, couple, and family therapist with Artesian Collaborative, believes in the power of authentic, collaborative relationships to foster personal growth. Drawing on her background as a professional opera singer, she helps clients connect with their true “voice.” Her work is grounded in Person-Centered Therapy, feminist theory, and advocacy, with a focus on anxiety, identity, trauma, and the impact of systemic injustice—especially for women of color and LGBTQIA+ clients. Melanie’s compassionate, curiosity-driven approach supports clients in aligning with their most authentic selves.
Key Takeaways
Understanding ourselves is the first step in addressing any identity-based conflict. Using the knowledge of how we are shaped by our perspectives enables us to understand our reactions when we find ourselves in an unexpected conflict. Understanding the diverse ways others approach differences can allow us to extend grace and assume positive intent when working towards a resolution that meets our shared values.
Core Concepts
Impact of Identity
Within every room we enter, different aspects of our identity take the driver's seat. To understand how our personal narratives affect others, we must first understand how identity affects us individually. From here, we connect our experiences and perspectives to how we interact with others.
Safety & Tension
Your story matters. It is vulnerable and can often feel risky to share our perspectives and stories. This session focuses on the why behind engaging nonetheless. We know that these conversations are uncomfortable, and often sit on the back burner. Our goal is to help you develop a sense of safety within yourself to navigate tension as it arises.
Skills to Engage
Approaching Differences
We take what we learn from our identities and perspectives and translate it into action. This skill allows us to connect the dots between how to engage intentionally when our perspectives may be different.
Preparing for Tension
Tension is an inevitable part of life. This skill provides you with a foundation for how to prepare yourself for working with it. We recognize that differences will happen–in narrative, perspective, belief, etc. Together, we will navigate how to prepare ourselves to engage in these conversations with intentionality.
Objectives:
1. Articulate how the different dimensions of your identity have shaped how you lead and interact with peers.
2. Differentiate between two responses to unexpected tension and recognize the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive reactions when approaching differences.
3. Assess skills and behaviors to promote team belonging while respecting your own identity and responses.
