Community Outreach at Interactive Discovery
Nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of Park Slope, Interactive Discovery is deeply committed to connecting with the needs of the community it serves. Beyond providing therapeutic services, this practice recognizes the importance of community outreach events to engage with residents, promote mental health awareness, and offer support. Below are examples of how Interactive Discovery utilizes community outreach to foster psychological well-being in our community.
Needs Assessment: Interactive Discovery begins by conducting a thorough needs assessment to connect with the community effectively. This involves engaging with residents, attending community meetings, and collaborating with other healthcare providers to understand the unique psychological needs and challenges within Park Slope.
Collaboration with Local Schools: Mental health awareness often begins in schools. Interactive Discovery collaborates with local educational institutions to offer workshops and counseling services to students, teachers, and parents. These partnerships aim to promote emotional well-being among the community's younger members.
Collaboration with Local Organizations: Interactive Discovery provides tailored trauma-informed services and workshops to local organizations to meet their specific needs.
Community Events: Interactive Discovery hosts several fun community events to increase mental health awareness in a fun and exciting way including our classic Halloween Outreach Activity.
Interactive Discovery's commitment to community outreach in Park Slope exemplifies the importance of addressing psychological well-being as an integral part of overall health. By actively connecting with the community's needs through community events, collaboration with local schools, workshops, support groups, and counseling services, we can contribute to a healthier and more resilient neighborhood. Through our dedication to reducing stigma and fostering mental health awareness, we play a pivotal role in creating a stronger, more emotionally resilient community.
Collaboration with Local Schools and Organizations
Interactive Discovery has had the privilege of collaborating with numerous local schools in the vibrant Park Slope and Brooklyn community. Our dedicated efforts include delivering in-house counseling services for students and facilitating educational workshops and groups tailored for teachers, parents, and students. Among the many schools we have worked with are PS 107, PS 321, Allied Achievement, Berkeley Carroll School, Essense Middle School, and many others. Interactive Discovery has also collaborated with wonderful private and non-for-profit organizations and practices including Tribeca Pediatrics, Slope Pediatrics, Catholic Charities, Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, and others. We specialize in providing trauma-informed services and workshops tailored to the needs of the organization.
Building Strength Together Workshop
The "Building Strength Together" program by Interactive Discovery Consulting and Psychological Services., P.C. is a comprehensive, trauma-informed, and attachment-based support initiative for school personnel. This program addresses the emotional and psychological needs of staff impacted by traumatic events, fostering a resilient and supportive school environment. The program consists of four phases, with an "Introductory Workshop" as the initial step.
Introductory Workshop: Connecting, Identifying, and Coping
1. Connecting and Safe Expression:
Introduction
Welcome and overview of the workshop's purpose and structure.
Establishing a safe and supportive space
Icebreaker activities to build rapport and create a positive atmosphere.
Prompts and questions to encourage open expression of emotions.
Creating a community
Fostering an environment where staff can connect, share, and understand each other.
2. Identifying and Processing Emotions:
Utilizing creative exercises
Engaging staff in creative exercises and directives to help identify and process emotions.
Psychoeducational tools
Incorporating psychoeducational tools to enhance emotional awareness and constructive processing.
3. Discussing Tangible Coping Strategies:
Facilitating discussions
Engaging participants in discussions on tangible coping strategies.
Tailoring coping strategies
Addressing the unique needs of staff and the school community.
Providing resources and guidance
Offering practical tools to navigate challenging emotions and situations.
Addressing specific examples faced by staff.
Integrating psychoeducation
Enhancing understanding of trauma and its effects, fostering an informed and supportive community.
4. Summary and Take-Aways:
Summarizing main points
Recap of key concepts and insights from the workshop.
Assessing additional support
Identifying individuals who may need further assistance.
Providing information on outside support and resources.
Closing remarks
Encouraging ongoing communication and support within the school community.
The "Introductory Workshop" serves as a foundation for the subsequent phases of the program, setting the stage for ongoing support, intervention, and collaboration within the school community. The combination of process-oriented approaches, creative exercises, and psychoeducational information creates a holistic and tailored approach to address the diverse needs of school personnel.
Building Resilience After-School Program
Interactive Discovery's after-school program is a unique initiative designed to enhance children's skills and cultivate positive mentalities not traditionally emphasized in academic settings. The primary focus is on developing a sense of community among children, drawing on extensive literature that highlights the effects of community building.
Community Building for Resilience:
Emphasizing the role of perceived social support in moderating the impact of stressors on task performance.
Building strong and positive relationships as a protective factor for self-confidence and overall task success.
Teaching children effective relationship-building skills to enhance self-confidence and success in various domains.
Importance of Soft Skills:
Acknowledging the significance of "soft skills" in overall well-being and future success.
Highlighting the role of personality traits beyond IQ, grades, and standardized tests in predicting outcomes.
Emphasizing the malleability of intrinsic traits through education, parenting, and environment.
Social Intelligence for Lifelong Success:
Highlighting the impact of childhood programs targeting social skills on academic motivation, performance, and behavioral factors.
Focusing on the long-term impact of procedural knowledge of interpersonal behaviors on internship and job performance.
Showing that social intelligence has a more valid correlation than cognitive factors measured by standardized tests.
Expanding Notions of Intelligence:
Challenging the traditional emphasis on crystallized intelligence in education.
Recognizing the importance of fluid intelligence in academic and real-world success.
Activities in the program dedicated to creative problem-solving to enhance fluid intelligence.
Unique Aspects of Interactive Discovery's Program:
Eclectic Curriculum:
Prioritizing often overlooked "soft skills" for holistic skill development.
Multifaceted approach to intelligence, learning, and self-esteem development.
Therapists as Program Administrators:
Leveraging clinicians' expertise to administer the entire program.
Clinicians' regular focus on soft skills and acute awareness of emotional states.
Addressing sensitive topics with a focus on children's visceral responses.
Tailored Program for Lasting Impact:
Carefully planned and specifically tailored program for the school year.
Aimed at positively impacting children's emotional well-being and skill development in the long run.
Interactive Discovery's after-school program stands out for its commitment to holistic development, community building, and unique program administration by therapists. The goal is to positively impact children not only during the school year but also for an extended period, fostering their well-rounded growth and success.
Halloween Outreach Activity
Annually, Interactive Discovery organizes an exciting Halloween outreach event for the Park Slope community. We distribute candies, treats, and other delightful prizes to children, teenagers, and their parents, fostering a lively and engaging community-building activity. Over the past two years, participants have been invited to respond to entertaining and whimsical questions such as, "What is my superpower?", "If I had a magic power, what would I do?", "What two things would I bring to a deserted island?", and "What fun facts about Earth would I tell an alien?".
