Cool, Calm, Collected: Therapeutic Centering for Faculty and DEIB Leaders

A Half-Day Workshop for Inclusive Leaders

Working to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion is tough. Practitioners face fear of change, fear of failure, and fear about their own ability to make an impact, especially in times of war and political strife.

At Sagely, we support educators and leaders working to build inclusion by offering them the same training that coaches and therapists have. This is because discrimination is traumatic. When we understand the neuroscience behind it, we can see what’s happening before us with a new lens. We become less activated; we are less likely to experience burnout; and we have language to offer others that helps them engage calmly and peacefully.

In this interactive workshop, Robyn Smith, LCSW, and Lesley Curtis, PhD, share with you: 

  • how to spot activation in others, including inherited stories about self worth that surface more readily in times of stress

  • practices to regulate your nervous system in order to be present with activated people

  • accessible details about the neuroscience of trauma healing so that you can promote connection and inclusion

Workshops are available in both a virtual and in-person format. Virtual is 2 hours and in-person is 2.5 hours. Both include breaks and time for physical movement.

Virtual: $1500

In-person: $2500 + travel if outside of Philadelphia

What Our Clients Say

  • “I learned to create more space for myself and others when facing a difficult situation. It helped build my capacity to consider some of the reasons that students and colleagues might be experiencing pain, anger, and anxiety, whether in response to microaggressions, current events, or institutional policies—and to set aside a defensive posture while opening up to listen to those concerns without needing to jump in to “solve the problem,” as is often my first instinct. I see this training as instrumental for me to better serve students."

    — Assistant Dean, Duke University

  • "Robyn is an amazing facilitator because she understands that coping strategies often involve the nervous system. She helps participants ground so that they can engage fully. When they do, they help others more effectively, too. It's a remarkable experience."

    — Lecturer and DEI Facilitator

  • “As a DEI professional, the support and guidance I have received through working with Lesley is incredibly valuable. She expertly balances empowering and lifting up your strengths while challenging you and fostering your continued growth and success. Her trauma-informed and loving approach radiates through individuals, teams and organizations, which makes for long-term impactful change.“

    — Coaching client, DEI Director in the field of Education

  • “Sagely’s support for inclusive leaders was the best leadership development I’ve ever had.”

    — Faculty Member, Arizona State University

About the Facilitators

  • Lesley Head Shot

    Lesley Curtis

    Group Facilitator

    Lesley is the co-owner and founder of Sagely. She holds a doctorate from Duke University, where she focused on storytelling and social justice movements. She is particularly interested in helping clients heal from the impact of intergenerational trauma by rewriting their stories of what’s possible in honor of past lessons learned.

    Lesley has a unique perspective on DEIB work because she combines her humanities expertise with her study of psychology and meditation. She created the neuro-narrative approach to equitable culture change, relying on the close relationship between narrative and neuroscience to help clients make impact. She and Robyn partner together to offer leaders and educators practical skills for being a calming presence for others.

  • Person close up

    Robyn Smith

    Group Facilitator

    Robyn Smith is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist. They hold a B.A. in Film Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, and an MSW in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. They frequently work with academics, particularly those in the field of medicine, on healing work in support of living more fully and authentically.

    Robyn brings their nearly twenty years of experience helping clients heal to their coaching and facilitation work with Sagely. Together, Robyn and Lesley have done equity and inclusion facilitation at ASU, Duke, Yale, UNC, and Temple, among others. Robyn helps leaders learn and use what therapists know: how to guide others while maintaining a consistent awareness of their own safety and calm.

 

Let’s talk
about your goals.