Mental Health First Aid for Circus Coaches - Janelle Peters
Mental Health First Aid for Circus Coaches - Janelle Peters
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID - ALL LEVELS
FRIDAY 430-6 GR
Mental health struggles have been stigmatized in western culture, and in many athletic and other training spaces for generations. However, they are just as common as physical health struggles. This workshop helps coaches dismantle stigma, and learn skills for supporting their students’ mental health while maintaining appropriate boundaries. Participants will gain vocabulary, specific strategies, and a better understanding of how common mental health difficulties can impact circus students. You will leave feeling more confident and empowered to work with your students even when they’re struggling, and with resources for when their needs exceed your capacity.
Janelle is a professional contortionist and aerialist from the San Francisco bay area. Janelle coaches her aerial and flexibility students with a style informed by her background in dance and education theory. She empowers her students to identify and pursue their own goals, while emphasizing the importance of safety and technique. Described as humorous, encouraging, exploratory, and warm, Janelle creates a personal connection with students that persists outside of the classroom. She works with all ages and skill levels, and excels with students who are exploring their artistic identities. Janelle coaches act development with a unique perspective produced by her training as a therapist and in physical theater method; exploratory, unflinching, and holistic. Janelle completed an apprenticeship with the Paperdoll Militia in 2013 and has been teaching since then. Janelle was the Aerial Program Lead Instructor at Ascend Aerial Arts before moving to Colorado in 2017. Janelle is now the Education Director at MOTH Contemporary Circus Center, and enjoys traveling to teach at studios around the United States. Janelle is also @cirque_psych on instagram, where she provides psychoeducational materials directed at exploring and understanding our beautiful, complex, circus minds.
OBSERVERS: NOT Allowed
PHOTO & VIDEO POLICY: students may photo or video THEMSELVES, but not my teaching.