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Today’s world presents new kinds of stress to children, and medications like Ritalin, antidepressants, and even antipsychotics are often used to ease the symptoms. While parents are not as quick to see stress in their children as they are in themselves, schools and mental health workers are seeing it and addressing it in innovative and simple ways.  In this panel presentation, hear about the stresses our children face and learn some evidence-based, drug-free techniques to help them manage and reduce their stress.  Panel discussion followed by an audience Q&A. 

Panelists:

Sarah Coville, MA, TLLP

Sarah, co-owner of Hulst Psychology, has been dedicated to the profession for more than twenty years. She began her career early as a passionate and active volunteer for Department of Human Services, helping her family make the holidays and every day special for the underprivileged.

Sarah specializes in the treatment, evaluation and psychoeducation for children who are facing challenges associated with ADHD, Tourette’s disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma, learning disabilities, autism and more.

Sarah received her Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and her Master of Arts in Psychology at Western Michigan University.   

Jackie Roberts, MEd

Jackie has been in public education for 25 years. She began her career teaching special education in elementary and middle school. For the past 16 years Jackie has been a middle school counselor dedicated to making positive mental health practices available to help students and families be school successful. More now than ever she believes there is real need for education to embrace their role in developing healthy lifelong learners. Jackie depends on her personal yoga practice and Mindfulness training to help her maintain balance in a stress filled world.

Patti Ward, MEd

Patricia has over 35 years of experience in the field of education. She has her Master’s Degree in the area of Learning Disabilities and four teaching certificates. She has been a special education teacher, a teacher consultant, curriculum director, professional learning consultant, title I director, adjunct instructor at Aquinas, CMU, and GVSU, and an educational consultant for Kent ISD. She currently is a supervisor for special education interns for GVSU and a Mindful Schools Certified Instructor.  She completed a yearlong certification process with Mindful Schools and is now teaching mindfulness to children K – 12 and is nearing completion of a yearlong certification process with Koru Mindfulness, mindfulness for emerging adults (18 – 29). She has been teaching Mindfulness to children and young adults for over four years.   

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Discover essential oils and their multitude of uses, including as home remedies, safe replacements for chemical cleaners, aromatherapy, and personal care products.  In use for thousands of years, essential oils are experiencing a resurgence of interest.  Come hear why and learn more about the myriad ways to incorporate them into a healthy lifestyle. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation.

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Allergies, and the subsequent suffering from the symptoms, are on the rise in today’s world, but alternative and more natural treatments to the traditional medications and shots are also available. Come hear about them from local expert, Barbara Meconis, RN, BS of Holistic Care Approach. Meconis, a holistic nurse consultant and health coach, specializes in NAET, a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to alleviate allergies of all types and intensities. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation.   

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The natural tendency of people in northern climates to conserve energy in cold, dark, winter months can be difficult to shake, even as daylight and temperatures begin to increase.  In this energizing session designed to help bring you out of your winter hibernation, a unique panel will provide ideas and strategies to renew your energy level, develop healthy sleep patterns, improve breathing, increase movement, and experience nature. Panel discussion with an audience Q&A to follow.

Panelists:

Angela Essick Dykes

Angela has led Laughter Yoga during Laughfest since 2013. She was trained as a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher by Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga. Angēla leads Laughter Yoga for residential communities, businesses (team building, ice breaker, holiday events, etc), groups & individuals, and offers certification for Laughter Yoga Leaders. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Rockford, MI.

Margaret Moen, MD

Margaret Moen, MD is a board certified sleep physician at the Mercy Health Sleep Center in Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Moen is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine and did a Neurology residency at Henry Ford  Hospital. 

In addition to her residency Dr. Moen also did a fellowship in Neurophysiology, EEG and Sleep Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

She is board certified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Moen's interests include helping those with chronic sleep issues, people with sleep apnea and other sleep conditions that require medical intervention. She believes sleep is essential for good health and can be a super power. She enjoys the challenges and rewards that come from providing patients and caregivers the tools to achieve optimum sleep habits for the best night’s sleep.

Sally Triant

Sally, place-based educator, founded Grow Wise Learning in 2014 to develop a seasonal curriculum for all ages and to serve as a resource within the community.  Her education and experience span the Fine Arts and the Sciences bound by the common thread of teaching.  Her goal is to help individuals, children, and especially families find their way back to the natural world; while in turn discovering more about themselves and their local environment by developing a keen seasonal awareness.  She has learned that from the cultivated field to the wilds of the forest there is always wonder, inspiration, wisdom, and fellowship to be found.

Moderator:

Susan Woolner, CPXP

Susan is the neuroscience patient support coordinator at Mercy Health Hauenstein Neurosciences in Grand Rapids. She provides support for patients, caregivers and families who have been impacted by a variety of neurological illnesses including dementia, Parkinson's disease, ALS, Stroke, MS and Epilepsy.

Support may include technology, assistive tools, educational programming, creative art therapy, support groups and peer mentors programs all of which help provide independence, emotional support, peer connection and quality of life for patients and families. Susan has been a pioneer in the creation and monitoring of secure online patient communities and the methodology that makes them successful. She recently was Certified as a Certified Patient Experience Professional and has a Mayo Clinic Social Media Fellowship and uses social media to connect with people and communities.