09/09/2020
From a young age, I have found myself enamored of people who appear to have the highest level of control over their bodies. I was drawn to the quarterback who could spiral a football to a receiver, a gymnast doing graceful flips, or a martial artist shattering cement blocks with hands, feet, or sometimes even their heads.
As a sports psychology enthusiast, I also regularly find myself researching what sets people apart when it comes to the 1/10 th of 1% of the population that is able to make impossible
tasks look effortless. The simplified answers I continue to stumble upon revolve around three key elements:
1) a person’s capacity to stay connected to themselves (and others) during stress
2) the ability to emotionally and physically regulate
3) a willingness to do hard things.
In addition, I have learned that these skills are not just for a fraction of the population, but that they translate to marriage, parenting, learning, work life, faith, and, ultimately, health. Further, there is a team of people, led by the Health Foundation of Wilkes, that wants to make regulation skills available to as many Wilkes residents as possible at little or no cost. And, we at CareNet Counseling of Wilkes recently received a grant from United Way of Wilkes to
contribute to this ongoing effort.
To date, a curriculum called “Reconnect for Resilience” has been taught to over 300 Wilkes residents. I could tell you about the glowing participant reviews of this curriculum, but
instead wish to tell you of its power. For full disclosure, it is important to note that there is a difference between learning skills and practicing skills. This curriculum, to have significant
effects, must be practiced beyond the formal training. Regardless, in teaching the skills found in “Reconnect for Resilience” I have seen marital conflict decrease, parents learn to “keep their cool” with children, parents teach their kids how to self-regulate, teachers’ facial expressions light up as they have an epiphany about how to help their students, principals learn how to best support their staff, nurses learn how to help patients
de-escalate, individuals discover how to regulate and practice self-care, and people who reported being disconnected from their faith, reconnect.
In my own life, this curriculum has assisted me in becoming a better parent, husband, and clinical counselor. So what is it? “Reconnect for Resilience” is a collection of evidence-based practices, neuroscience and population health research, and practical skills bundled into a 14-hour curriculum that focuses on how to assist people to understand the biology and practice of
regulation and connection. Said plainly, there are seven core skills, along with vital information pertaining to adversity, stress, trauma, and connectedness. All are designed to help anyone and
everyone live a better life and have more power/control.
“Reconnect for Resilience” is normally taught in a 14 hour class (and there will be upcoming classes for the Wilkes community). However, as we are living in a chaotic time, we are able to
office resilience skills training online via Zoom in one-hour increments.
For more information and to sign up to attend resilience classes please navigate to: https://healthywilkes.org/reconnect-for-resilience/rfr-classes/
Robert Willis, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Regional Director
CareNet Counseling Northwest Region
