Neuroscience of Connection – Lydia Byhardt Bollinger, LCSW
Oregon Attorney’s Assistance Program Women’s Wellness Retreat
Depression, anxiety, and conflict with peers and family get in the way of mental wellness and connection. This hour-long workshop explores the basics of neuroscience, and how to use the natural functions of the brain to re-connect with the self, the heart, and relationships. Participants will learn some techniques to manage stress utilizing neuroscience as a guide to helping our bodies relax and respond in a healthy way and use that knowledge to enhance connections -with colleagues, with clients and within personal relationships.
Tuning your engine: Navigating around Burnout on the Road to Resilience
A one-hour presentation for the OHSU Community Partnership Program
Lydia Byhardt, LCSW, is a seasoned mental health therapist and neuroscience enthusiast who grew up with one of the preeminent radiation oncologists as her father, Dr. Roger Byhardt, MD, FACR.
This presentation is a journey through the intensity and challenges of a life dedicated to treating cancer and teaching new doctors. After years of wearing himself thin with new research, treatment, and dealing with the bureaucracy of the government system, Dr. Byhardt’s health declined. He had to change his approach and focus to include his own self-preservation and the coherence of his family.
Five years ago, Lydia cajoled the retired Dr. Byhardt to co-write his story and share his wisdom on caregiving from the perspective of the silver end of the time spectrum. In the process of creating what has become the Byhardt magnum opus, a story of resilience emerged, and a relationship transformed.
Lydia brings her perspective as a seasoned therapist with 20+ years specializing in working with trauma and big life transitions. Lydia explores with us the anatomy of caregiver burnout – what is it? How does it happen? More importantly, how do we inoculate ourselves against it? Or, more likely, how do we recover and find renewed energy and sense of purpose? This exploration includes the magic of community connection, the lightness of a shared burden, meaning making, what REAL self-care means, the power of presence, and humility paired with growth mindset.
Most importantly, we’ll explore the big WHY we do this – cancer doesn’t take a holiday, or care what your obligations are, or how many kids you have. Together we share the vision of connection and community that transcends the challenges of the journey.
In this presentation, Lydia’s passion is motivated by honoring her father’s contribution to medicine and cultivate the wisdom of his experience of maintaining balance, building resilience, and preventing (or recovering from) burnout. According to Dr. Byhardt, “’All of us’ is stronger than any ‘one of us.’ Nobody knows it all, and you know more than you think.”
Illuminating the Steps of Change – Using visual tools for more effective therapy
A 90-minute presentation for the Oregon Counseling Association’s annual conference
From complex theory to concrete application that your client will actually take into daily life, this presentation strives to translate the big ideas of personal change into simple diagrams that you can use daily. These diagrams have been used for 20+ years, and have really accelerated growth, deepened understanding, and bypassed resistance. And you don’t have to be an amazing artist to do it. Stick figures and simple lines do the trick.
We explore:
- How to describe and illustrate the triune brain
- Understanding nervous system regulation and dysregulation
- Visual model of mental wellness (and risk)
- Simple diagrams illustrating other common topics, such as boundaries, attachment styles, process of change, etc.
- Discussion of useful tools and supplies to have on hand for deeper growth in session.
You will walk away from this presentation with concrete tools ready to use immediately in your practice.
When Clients Fall Apart: How to put the pieces back together (and get the job done!)
A 2-hour workshop for caregivers and professionals
Have you ever thought that you are working harder on your clients’ goals than they are? Have you wished your clients could just make rational decisions so you can give them the support they need?
This workshop is designed to help you understand the biological, chemical, emotional & psychological factors impacting your clients/patients, and provide tools you can incorporate into your daily life.
After attending this workshop, you will:
- Understand the basic anatomy, functioning, and development cycle of the human brain
- Understand how involuntary physical, chemical, and psychological responses impact human behavior and decision-making.
- Be able to identify ways to improve your own business practices to help your clients engage their rational brains to meet their goals.
Neuroscience Friday: Compassion and Integration
An 8-week series exploring the neuroscience side of meditation.
Belly Dance Basics
Belly Dance is a celebration of feminine energy and community from middle eastern culture.
In this two-hour workshop we learn some basic moves, explore the art form, and show you how to shimmy those hips, shake those shoulders, and find muscles you didn’t know you had.
We also share the joy with other women, explore your relationship with your body, and work on falling in love with what nature gave you.
Wear comfy yoga-style attire. Hip scarves and sparklies provided.
Custom trainings and presentations available:
Neuroscience, healing trauma, somatic and subconscious therapy application and practice, clinical supervision, expressive arts therapy, CEUs, working with multiple communication and processing styles, etc.
Remember the Joy! 