Sunday, September 22
“Developing Self-Compassion Why and How”
Speaker: Jennifer Griggs, Physician and Leadership Coach
10:45 - 11:30 a.m. Lewis Room
Cultivating self-compassion allows us to respond to our inner critic, to manage perfectionism, and to respond to setbacks. By learning to treat ourselves with kindness and understanding, we develop the capacity to extend that compassion to others, fostering stronger connections, greater empathy, and a more compassionate society. Through interactive exercises, you'll learn to embrace self-compassion as a powerful ally towards wholeness and authentic living, while contributing to a kinder, more compassionate world.
Sunday, October 20
“Changing Smiles, Changing Lives”
Speaker: Dr. Christian J. Vercler, Director of the Craniofacial Anomalies Program at UM, and associate director of bioethics at the Center for Bioethics & Social Sciences in Medicine at Michigan
10:45 - 11:30 a.m., Lewis Room
Discussing how the practice of medicine can be an important part of Christ’s redemptive work in a fallen world, and how his theological understandings inform discourse on ethical dilemmas in contemporary medical practice. Dr. Vercler’s surgical practice is focused on children born with facial differences (e.g. cleft lip) and adults who have acquired facial differences from trauma, burns, or cancer. He was on the team that did the first successful conjoined twin separation in Michigan a few years ago, which is pretty interesting. I think a lot about our embodiment and how changing our appearance and structure of our bodies impacts human flourishing, which I take to be a part of what it means to “have life more abundantly.” He is currently working on conversation with physicians about the moral duty of surgeons to care for patients who have complications from “medical tourism” (flying to another country to have discounted or sketchy surgical procedures.)
Sunday, November 3
“The Worrisome Mental Health of our Youth: What can we do?"
Emily Laird Bilek , Clinical Associate Professor, UM
10:45 - 11:30 a.m., Lewis Room
Dr. Bilek is a board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She is passionate about improving access to effective treatments for youth anxiety, obsessive compulsive, and related disorders. She pursues this passion by contributing to research to improve available treatments, by researching and reducing barriers to accessing treatment, by developing programming that is more accessible to youth, and by providing trainings in the community. She is also passionate about teaching and supervises trainees across disciplines through the Child OCD and Anxiety Disorders Program.
Sunday, December 1
“The Inevitable Winter Solstice: The Disorienting Darkness of Grief. Helping those who Mourn through the Holidays”
Christy Miller, LMSW, ACSW: Program Director, GrieveWell
10:45 - 11:30, Lewis Room
While the holiday season is filled with family, friends, and festivities, holidays can be a painful time for those who are grieving the loss – recent or past – of a loved one. This community gathering is an invitation to connect, learn and navigate challenging emotions during the holiday season. Christy is the programmatic key to the GrieveWell’s professional and thoughtful efforts to support those in grief. Christy is a licensed clinical social worker and has more than 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist for individuals, groups, and families. She provides a talented and professional perspective and ability as she trains and guides GrieveWell’s peer counselors to help our clients appropriately. Christy oversees their grief training and workshops, and ensures they reflect best practices and are informed by real-life experiences.
January, Date TBD, Zoom only!
Panel Presentation on Zoom, 7 p.m.
“Living Life in the 90’s: Strange, Beautiful, and Challenging”
A panel of members of First Pres, including Sara VanderVoort, Stephen Minister and MSW, in a candid conversation about living life into what may be the last decade of life. Physical, social, emotional, mental changes, transitions, family issues, and more - will be discussed. First watch this together:
Monday, February 10
"Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”
Emily Laird Bilek , Clinical Associate Professor, UM
7 p.m., Monteith Hall
Dr. Bilek is a board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She is passionate about improving access to effective treatments for youth anxiety, obsessive compulsive, and related disorders. She pursues this passion by contributing to research to improve available treatments, by researching and reducing barriers to accessing treatment, by developing programming that is more accessible to youth, and by providing trainings in the community. She is also passionate about teaching and supervises trainees across disciplines through the Child OCD and Anxiety Disorders Program.
Monday, March 10
“Um’s Alcohol Management Program”
Bethany Lemm, MPH, MSW
7:00 pm | Monteith Hall
MHealthy Alcohol Management Program (AMP) offers brief, confidential health education and one-on-one counseling to anyone with mild to moderate alcohol problems. What is best? Abstinence or Moderation? Choose from in-person, Zoom, and phone in options. The program serves anyone who wants to make changes to their alcohol use. Our clients include U-M faculty, staff, retirees, Michigan Medicine patients, and the general public. Through Zoom and phone options, they able to help clients nationwide.
Monday, April 14
7:00 pm | Monteith Hall
“The relationship of trauma and substance abuse”
Kristal Reyes LMSW, MPH, CAADC (she/her/hers)
School of Social Work University of Michigan, University of Michigan - Dearborn
Monday, May 12
7 p.m., Monteith Hall,
“The Art of Spiritual Care in a Hospital Setting”
Rev. Eileen Jewell, retired PCUSA clergy
Retired Hospital Chaplain from Tampa General Hospital in Florida. Married to Richard Jewell, she currently resides in Pinckney and Crystal River, Florida where she can be near my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.