Taming Anxiety and Worries in Challenging Times

A collection of conversational and embodied practices to reset the mind-body connection

Online Workshop
with Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, Ph.D.

Monday, January 27 , 2025, 4:00 -7:00  pm EST

Reports of anxiety have skyrocketed for many people recently, especially given the concerning sociopolitical climate in many countries of the world.  Anxiety includes several embodied dimensions that are difficult to redress with language alone. Conversational practices are necessary to change the meaning and experience of one’s sense of identity, while somatic and sensorimotor practices are crucial to address embodied manifestations of this problem. In this unique presentation, Marie-Nathalie will propose specific questions to mobilize people’s agency in the face of this seemingly out-of-control problem. She will also explore several embodied practices to address the five dimensions of an emotional experience. Concrete ways to alter the physiological activation and biochemical releases associated with this intense emotion will be discussed and facilitated so participants experience first-hand their helpfulness.  When people of all ages are made aware of their biology and given tools to hijack the highjacking of anxiety, they are in a better position to cultivate moments of inner safety and agency.
Exemplified by inspiring clinical videos, this workshop proposes innovative practices that use the five senses, reset accelerated heart rate, and access a variety of helpful counter-states. Some of the ideas are inspired by Narrative practices and emotions, and others are newly developed. We hope you can join us for this hands-on clinical practice event.
Register Now!
Earn 3 Alliant CE credits

Learning Objectives

This program will enable participants to:

  1. List several of the key brain–body effects of anxiety.
  2. Understand the five dimensions of an anxious experience
  3. Demonstrate specific practices to stabilize breath and heart rate
  4. Explain how to use the five senses in therapeutic settings.
  5. Recognize the seven belts of tension.
  6. Describe six key types of questions to jumpstart perspective on the problem.
  7. Find ways to cultivate and expand on experiences of safety and stability.

Introducing Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin

Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, Ph.D., deeply cherishes nature and values being a mother, wife, activist, consultant, teacher, and compassionate practitioner. She was born and raised in Canada, is French speaking, loves cross-country skiing, dancing, rock climbing, and hiking snowy mountain peaks.

Marie-Nathalie directs Skills for Kids, Parents & Schools (SKIPS), a 9-month intense narrative therapy, neurobiology and mindfulness training program in California where she works with children, adults, families, and school communities. Prior to immersing herself in narrative therapy in the early 1990s, Marie-Nathalie had trained in Human Biology and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.  She now brings together fields that have influenced her life and work for the last 30 years, and as a result has pioneered narrative clinical practices to respond to distressing emotions and traumatic experiences.  She has written over 50 professional articles and many books such as the popular The SKiLL-ionaire in every child: Boosting children’s socio-emotional skills using the latest in brain research (2010), written for parents, teachers and counselors (French, English, Spanish).  She has also co-authored Collaborative Therapies and neurobiology: Evolving practices in action (Beaudoin & Duvall, 2017), and  Mindfulness in a busy world: Lowering barriers for youth & adults to cultivate focus, emotional peace & gratefulness (Beaudoin & Maki, 2021). Her latest book, co-authored with Gerald Monk (Beaudoin and Monk, 2024) is Narrative Practices and Emotions: 40+ Ways to Support the Emergence of Flourishing Identities. It combines her lifelong passion for the immense possibilities inherent to our bodies and brains, with novel narrative practices inspired by Interpersonal Neurobiology, Sensorimotor Therapy, and Positive Psychology. With a background in improvisational theater and dance, Marie–Nathalie is well-known for her thought-provoking and engaging presentations. Her websites are www.mnbeaudoin.com and www.skillsforkids-SKIPS.com.

Marie-Nathalie is featured in our new online course, New Horizons in Narrative Therapy, Affect & the Body as well as a contributor to the course currently in development, Contemporary Narrative Therapy. In addition, she is a prolific writer (see below for a list of her publications).

BOOKS and CHAPTERS 

  • Beaudoin, M.-N. And Monk, G. (2024). Narrative practices and emotions: 40+ ways to support the emergence of flourishing identities. WW. Norton.
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. & Maki, K.  (2020).  Mindfulness in a busy world: Lowering barriers for adults and youth to cultivate focus, emotional peace, and gratefulness.  Rowman & Littlefield. NY
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. & Duvall, J. (2017).  Collaborative therapy and neurobiology: Evolving practices in action. Routledge, Taylor & Francis, NY
  • Beaudoin, M.N. & Moureaux-Nery, F. (2015).  Les mille et une compétences en chaque enfant:  Prévenir et résoudre les difficultes sociales et émotionnelles a l’aide des découvertes en neurosciences. L’Harmattan, Paris, France.
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. (2014). Boosting ALL children’s social and emotional brain power: Life transforming activities.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press Publications.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2013).  Cómo hacer de cada niño un millonario en habilidades.  Madrid, Spain: EOS Instituto de Orientation de Psicologica Asociados and in Mexico: Editiones Zeus.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2010).  The SKiLL-ionaire in every child:  Boosting children’s socio-emotional skills using the latest in brain research.  San Francisco: Goshawk Publications.

ARTICLES

  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2022 in press). Revisiting agency and choice in the face of trauma: A narrative therapy map.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 41(4), 67-87.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2020). Affective double listening: 16 dimensions to explore affect, emotions and embodiment in narrative therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapie,39 (1), 1-28.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. & MacLennan, R. (2020).  Mindfulness and embodiment in family therapy: Overview, nuances, and clinical applications in poststructural practices.  Family Process, dot:10.1111/famp.12624.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (July, 2019).  Intensifying the preferred self: Neurobiology, mindfulness, and embodiment practices that make a difference. The international journal of narrative therapy and community work, 2, 1-10.
  • Beaudoin, M.N (Fall, 2018).  Thinkitis vs Mindfulness.  Family Therapy Magazine, AAMFT, Sept-October, 36-40.
  • Beaudoin, M.N., Tan, A., Gannon, C., Moersch, M. (2018). A comparative study of the effects of 6,12, and 16 weeks of narrative therapy on social and emotional skills: An empirical analysis of 722 children’s problem solving accounts.  Journal of Systemic Therapie,36 (4), 57-73.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2016). Broadening the scope of collaborative therapies: Embodied practices arising from neurobiology, neurocardiology and neurogastroenterology, Journal of Systemic Therapie, 34(4), 1-12.
  • Beaudoin, M.N, Moersch, M., & Schnare, B.  (2016).  The effectiveness of narrative therapy with social and emotional skills development: An empirical study of 835 children’s stories. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 35(3), 42-60.
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. (2015).  Flourishing with Positive  Emotions: Increasing clients’ repertoire of Problem Counter-State.  Journal of Systemic Therapies. 34(3), 1-13.
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. (Jan, 2014).  Can new discoveries in brain research help us better prevent bullying?  Patio: Revista Pedagogica, 68, 10-13.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. & Zimmerman, J. (2011).  Narrative therapy and interpersonal neurobiology: Revisiting classic practices, developing new emphases.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 30(1), 1-13.
  • Beaudoin, M.-N. (2008).  Therapeutic Movement and Stuckness in Family Therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 27(2), 58-73.
  • Beaudoin, M.N. (2005).  Agency and choice in the face of trauma: A narrative therapy map.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 24(4), 32-50.