Brewing Wellness

Teenagers test limits and push boundaries. But some behaviors, such as withdrawing from friends and family or increased anger and mood swings, may indicate your teenager or child is struggling with their mental health. In this episode of Classroom Café, we are joined by Lexi Mulee, a licensed mental health clinician and the founder of Wise Mind Counseling. Mulee specializes in working with teens a...

Grief is an intensely personal experience, which can look very different from one person to the next. There is no "right" way to grieve. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, we are joined by Ashley Groesbeck, a clinical social worker, and Alain Metellus, the UFT's director of crisis intervention, for a discussion of ways we can validate the experience for the bereaved and help them, or o...

What does addiction look like, and how can our personal biases, experiences and judgments affect the way we view this illness? In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, we are joined by Steven Sulzer, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, educator and credentialed substance use disorder counselor. He will share his own experience as well as tools and resources we can use when a...

Learn practices, techniques and resources that can be used in school-based settings to identify survivors of domestic violence and support their health and well-being. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, Jules Perkél, a trauma psychotherapist and clinical social worker, will discuss the most commonly seen behaviors of survivors of domestic violence and the best practices when working wi...

Learn ways of identifying students at risk of substance use and how to support them. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, the New York Times best-selling author Jessica Lahey will discuss her latest book, The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence . She will share her personal story as an educator with addiction, the latest research around youth and substa...

Here we are in the the 2021-22 school year, still talking about COVID-19, still wearing masks, social distancing and dealing with stressors the pandemic has created. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, mental health speaker and best-selling author Mike Veny will discuss the "next normal" and how to support people where they are.  Listen in for tips on how you can maintain your own menta...

Students are trying to figure out how to navigate this new school year.  In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, Dr. Miri Rosen talks about how educators can support students as we re-engage at school. Learn how to identify students in need and how creating healthy boundaries and engaging in self-care for ourselves can benefit our students.  Dr. Rosen is a board-certified child, adolescent...

Feelings of isolation, stress and anxiety have been heightened during the pandemic, creating the perfect storm for an increase in substance use and other addictive behaviors. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, Anthony Rizzuto of the Seafield Treatment Center on Long Island, a master social worker, alcoholism and substance abuse counselor and national speaker, will discuss how these str...

The year 2020 has been tough. The pandemic has taken a toll on our emotional well-being, whether we have suffered the loss of a loved one or we miss our normal work routines and time spent with family and friends. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, mental health speaker and best-selling author Mike Veny shares the profound mental health journey he has been on since childhood. His insig...

The holidays are a time of joy — and for many, a time of stress and anxiety, too. The year 2020 has brought an array of new challenges, including how to celebrate safely during a pandemic. What is the best way to manage? With careful thought and preparation. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, Jonathan Benz, a New York City-based behavioral health professional, shares tips, strategies a...

The coronavirus pandemic has upended our lives in many wa ys, affecting everything from work to leisure activities. In this episode of the Classroom Café podcast, Christine Whelan, who teaches classes on well-being at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, shares strategies for finding your purpose, even during a pandemic. Learn what happens to you when you embrace  a purpose mindset and connect to...

In this episode of the Classroom Cafe podcast, we share tips for managing interpersonal relationships during challenging times. Join us as we talk with Krista Rizzo, a transformational life coach, motivational speaker and author who specializes in relationships. To learn more about Krista Rizzo, visit her website at Why Am I Yelling? .

The start of this school year poses challenges, concerns and stressors that are unique and different from any other school year. In this episode, three UFT members share their experiences and perspectives on returning to their school buildings and on teaching remotely. Learn strategies for dealing with your own feelings of stress, anxiety and fear from these intrepid New York City educators.  Lear...

Grieving the loss of a loved one, whether a family member, friend or colleague, can be complicated and difficult. Grieving during a pandemic is more complicated still. Listen in as Alan Fruzzetti, Ph. D., a psychologist from McLean Hospital and cofounder of The Center for Trauma and Stress Education, shares his insights. While there is no "right" way to grieve, in this episode, we will learn strat...

In this special podcast episode for UFT retirees, hear how retired UFT members throughout the country are experiencing life during this pandemic and learn strategies that retirees are using to cope with the new reality. "We want our retired members to know your union is here for you and you're not alone," said Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. "Listen in to our conversation as one way to...

Learn tips and strategies about creating boundaries, setting routines and virtually supporting students in the remote era from Doreen Ng, the director of mental health at the UFT's United Community Schools program, and Christopher Chin, the director of the union's Retiree Social Services Department. In this interview with Lindsay Strickler-Levine, a licensed counselor with the union's Member Assis...

UFT Member Assistance Program Director Tina Puccio, LCSW, and licensed counselors Lindsay Levine and Jenice Acosta, who have been facilitating the union's virtual support groups, discuss that strategies that have helped UFT members deal with the fear and anxiety triggered by the coronavirus crisis. Learn more about how the individual consultations, virtual support groups and online resources that...

Together we make a difference: transforming student-teacher relationships through functional fitness, with Libby Douglass, a CrossFit coach at CrossFit Wall Street and Jackie Boyle, a NYC public school teacher. Hear about the benefits of using exercise in the classroom and ways to incorporate exercise into your daily classroom routine.  Learn more about the UFT's Member Assistance Program at www.u...

Getting Ready to Launch with Gisele Noisy-McBride, UFT Teacher Center. How can you set yourself up for a successful school year? Hear about steps you can take to focus your actions and beliefs. Learn more about the UFT's Member Assistance Program at www.uft.org/map and check out resources for new teachers at www.uft.org/teaching/new-teachers

Creating Safe, Welcoming and Inclusive Schools for ALL of Our Students, Families and Staff with Mitch Klages- Bombich, M.S. Ed., PLC professional Development Coordinator. In this podcast, you will hear about Embracing Family Diversity, Creating LGBTQ and Gender Inclusive Schools and Classrooms, and an Overview of NYCDOE Guidelines Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students. To learn more about...

Time Management: How can I get it all done? with Gisele Noisy- McBride, UFT Teacher Center Field Staff . In this podcast, you will learn 3 simple and realistic steps to help you better manage time and tasks that arise during your workday. To learn more about the UFT, make sure to check out the Member Assistance Program at http://www.uft.org/our-benefits/member-assistance-program and the New Member...

10 Ways to Eat Healthier With Limited Time with Meredith Price, a Brooklyn-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Meredith will provide her top 10 strategies on how to eat well when you have limited time during the work week. To learn more about Meredith and some of the websites she utilizes, please visit: https://www. PricelessRD.com , www.101cookbooks.com , www.cookieandkate.com  , www.h...

Making Classrooms Happy Places with Dana Ashley, Director of the UFT Positive Learning Collaboration (PLC) & Miranda Selbst, PLC Restorative Practices Coordinator and Former High School Teacher. In this two part series, Dana & Miranda will discuss components that can contribute to making a happy classroom. This will include rituals and best practices to create community in your classroom. To learn...

Making Classrooms Happy Places with Dana Ashley, Director of the UFT Positive Learning Collaboration (PLC) & Miranda Selbst, PLC Restorative Practices Coordinator and Former High School Teacher. In this two part series, Dana & Miranda will discuss components that can contribute to making a happy classroom. This will include rituals and best practices to create community in your classroom. To learn...