The Path to Security & Autonomy

  • Gain an understanding of the adolescent brain, how it reacts to challenges, and why they do what they do

  • Learn frameworks for building resilience and fostering mental health in your family

  • Get real-world strategies for proactive parenting, resolving conflicts, and aiding the development of leadership skills

Program Outline

  1. 1

    • Introduction to the Course
  2. 2

    • Intro to Neuroscience

    • Activity: Neuroscience

    • Brain Development

    • Activity: The Three Stages of Brain Development

    • Pathways

    • Activity: ABC - 123

    • Activity: Audiation

    • Pruning & Paving

    • Activity: Pruning & Paving

    • The Seven Cs

    • Neurochemicals

    • Activity: Getting Neurochemicals

    • The PFC

    • Activity: The PFC & Executive Function

    • Autonomic Nervous System

    • Activity: The ANS

    • Activity: Combat/ Box Breathing

    • The Four R's

    • Activity: The Four Rs
  3. 3

    • Why Animation for Neuroscience?

    • The Resilient Mindset Model Intro

    • The Four S's

    • Activity: The 4 S Framework

    • The 4 Characters of The Brain

    • The Ant

    • The Grasshopper

    • The Glowworm

    • The Dragonfly

    • Activity: 4 Characters in Action

    • R.E.A.C.T.S.

    • Activity: Understanding Your Triggers

    • Mindful Choices

    • Activity: Dragonfly Mindfulness

    • Activity: Applying the Model
  4. 4

    • Mental Health Literacy Intro

    • Mental Health Continuum

    • Activity: Mental Health Statistics

    • Activity: Breaking The Stigma

    • Protective Factors

    • Activity: Protective Factors

    • Risk Factors

    • Activity: Risk Factors

    • Prevention

    • Ant Tools

    • Activity: Understanding The Ant

    • Balanced Decisions

    • Activity: Healthy Decisions Continuum

    • Stress & Threat

    • Activity: Stress and Threat

    • Trauma & The Brain

    • Activity: The Brain's Response to Trauma

    • Three Types of Trauma

    • Activity: Collective Trauma Now

    • Violence, Anxiety, Depression

    • Coping

    • Activity: Coping Strategies

    • Getting Help

    • Activity: Common Mental Health Disorders

    • Activity: Getting Help
  5. 5

    • Brain-Based Leadership Intro

    • Security & Autonomy

    • Activity: Roots and Wings

    • Leadership Styles

    • Activity: Leadership Styles

    • Scaffolding & Scripting

    • Activity: Scaffolding & Scripting

    • The Resilience Formula

    • Activity: What's the Trigger?

    • Planning

    • Activity: The Resilience Formula - Planning

    • Implementing

    • Activity: The Resilience Formula - Implementing

    • Reflecting

    • Reflecting Activity

    • Restorative Justice

    • Activity: Apologies & Restorative Justice

    • Activity: Difficult Conversations

    • Self-Care for Leading

    • Activity: Self-Care
  6. 6

    • Dragonflying

Instructor(s)

Founder of Pathways to Empower

Dr. Donna Volpitta

Always an educator, Dr. Volpitta loves finding ways to translate neuroscience so that people can apply it to their own lives. Her work is grounded in the latest research in neurology, psychology, and education. She is the co-author of The Resilience Formula, author of Neuroworld, co-creator of the Nametags Education Program, and is a sought-after speaker. A former classroom teacher (and mother of 4 adolescents!) with experience in both general and special education, Donna holds a doctoral degree in Learning Dis/Abilities from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Co-Founder/CEO

Jason Schofield

With a strong background in coaching, management, entrepreneurial consulting, and developing products and services in the technology space, Jason brings his creative spirit and forward-thinking mindset to the Pathways products. Jason feels incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to unite his three main passions, education, health, and entrepreneurship, through Pathways to Empower.