Everyone seems to be talking about burnout these days, and with good reason. The rates of burnout are sky rocketing, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. While many different groups are at risk for burnout, parents are at the top of that list. Adding in the complexities and challenges of having a child with a disability, and it is clear that burnout can present a very real crisis.

Join us for this important webinar, in which we will explore the burnout experienced by families within the Down syndrome community. Rooted in the work of Dr. Martin Seligman, we will explore how Positive Psychology can provide a toolkit for addressing burnout you may currently be experiencing, as well as play a preventative role in decreasing future burnout risk.

Given their practical and tangible nature, Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI) are effective in helping individuals improve well-being. This may look like increasing positive emotions, strengthening relationships, engaging in meaning making, and finding a sense of accomplishment in your life. Greater wellbeing provides a strong foundation upon which you can face the challenges of parenthood, specifically the complexities found in families with Down syndrome and chronic health issues.

This webinar is being offered by Courtney Edwards, MS, BCC. Courtney is a former psychotherapist turned board certified coach, specializing in the use of positive psychology tools, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral approaches to help her clients invite greater wellbeing into every day life.

Courtney holds a Masters degree in Counseling from Pace University and is Board Certified as a coach through the Center for Credentialing and Education. She also holds certifications in relationship coaching and meditation instruction. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct instructor for Counselor Education at the State University of New York, at New Paltz.

Courtney resides in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and their blended family. She was invited into the world of Down syndrome when her daughter Lucy was born in 2007. 

Learning Goals:

• Examine the rates of burnout among parents of children with disabilities as well as the burnout rates for parents who face multiple challenges: chronic health concerns, single parents, and multicultural variances 

• Understand the impact of burnout on parental health outcomes (mental and physical) as well as relationships within and outside of the family

• Learn to recognize burnout in your self and among family members 

• Become familiar with the basic tenets of Positive Psychology from the 1990s to today and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI)

• Recognize how PPI mitigate the impacts of current burnout and can play a preventative role for future burnout 

• Plan for PPI implementation in your own life, beyond #selfcare, to take an intentional and self-compassionate approach to your own wellbeing as a parent and caregiver. 

Learn more and register at: NDSC Ages and Stages Webinar Series