Fostering Resilience During Times of Chronic Stress: Strengthening Coping and Protecting the Most Vulnerable

The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us, our loved ones, and our communities to adapt in new and novel ways in almost every part of daily life. Although much of the current crisis response is focused on the potential physical health risks of COVID-19, many are also struggling with major emotional and behavioral impacts resulting from the stress of this pandemic. Given this, it is critically important to find ways to leverage our existing resilience and coping abilities, as well as learn new strategies. In this webinar, typical reactions to crises such as COVID-19 will be discussed and the human ability to be resilient and protect ourselves against long term ill effects will be emphasized. Effective strategies for coping adaptively will be taught, including ways to tolerate and manage distress, access and maximize supports, and process feelings and thoughts in a helpful way. Also discussed are ways that you can use these strategies to support and bolster the people around you. Information on additional resources for those seeking more intensive help will also be provided. Although COVID-19 is an enormous challenge facing us all, we hope that this webinar will help you to draw upon your own natural resilience as you weather this ongoing crisis.

Presenters: Kristen Lindgren, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences & co-director of Trauma Recovery Innovations, University of Washington School of Medicine & Michele Bedard-Gilligan, Ph.D., associate professor & co-director of Trauma Recovery Innovations, University of Washington School of Medicine

Drs. Lindgren & Bedard-Gilligan are co-directors of UW Trauma Recovery Innovations. They are faculty members in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and licensed clinical psychologists in the State of WA. Their expertise includes anxiety and other reactions to traumatic stress, including problematic substance use. They are researchers, teachers, clinicians, and caregivers. Their academic careers were launched with postdoctoral fellowships supported by the National Institutes of Health and their current work is supported largely by continued grant funding from both national and local funding organizations.