Powerful.
Engaging.
Informative.
Amy's Talks & Training
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Keynote: Beneath the Surface: The Pain Killing Our Kids
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Mental Health 101 for Parents and Educators
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QPR Certification Training for Adults and Youth
Beneath the Surface: The Pain Killing Our Kids
Description: Death by Suicide in teens is on the rise and shows no slowing down. Let's slow this devastating trend. Dive beneath the surface of the youth mental health crisis and explore the real issues driving teens to end their lives.
Through the power of personal stories, parents and educators will
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Learn to recognize and validate emotional pain using three life-saving messages all struggling teens need to hear.
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Discover the power of confidently initiating mental health conversations as a solution, not to be dreaded.
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Gain real-life insights that turn talk into a walk of saving lives.
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After this presentation, parents and educators will see the crisis from a new perspective and understand their role in initiating conversations that become the bridge on which teens walk out of isolation into connection.
Youth Mental Health 101:
What Parents and Educators Need to Know
Do you ever worry about your teen's mental health but don't know what to say or do to help them? Do you ever wonder if what they are struggling with is normal adolescent ups and downs or the start of a mental health condition? In Mental Health 101, parents and educators learn the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health conditions, the difference between typical adolescents and a clinical diagnosis, and explore the latest statistics to better understand just how common mental health struggles are. Every parent and teacher needs to hear this talk because the best thing you can do for your teen is educate yourself and be prepared to offer the life-saving support they so desperately need.
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In this talk, you will learn:
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Signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders.
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How to recognize and better understand unhealthy coping mechanisms of self-harm, drugs, and alcohol.
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Learn the role trauma and emotional pain play in the development of mental health conditions.
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Learn which teens are the most at-risk of suicide and how to support them.
Topics
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Trauma
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Abuse & Sexual Assault
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Eating disorders
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Body image
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Suicide and self-harm
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Mental illness
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Stigma
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Human Connection
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Courage
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Mental and emotional healing
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Resilience
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Triumph over adversity
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Youth mental health
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Human connection
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Eating disorders in dance
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Parenting & Mental Illness
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Career-ending Injury
I use my story as a mirror for people to see inside their own lives.
Amy is not afraid to get real. She takes an in depth look into our inner thoughts, feelings, doubts and fears. Her engaging, relatable, dynamic and honest approach allows her to connect to all audiences, especially young people (5th grade & up).
Since 2017, Amy has presented to over 4,000 middle and high school students at assemblies and classroom presentations, parents, teachers and professionals. Amy will customize her presentations to meet the needs of the audience to take in consideration their age, level of knowledge, and understanding of mental health. She teaches through stories and real life examples. Amy’s goal is for her audience to walk away knowing more about themselves.
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Amy draws on her personal story in order to meet the needs of her audience. Amy's story includes: childhood abuse, pre-professional classical ballet career, a life changing spinal injury, sexual assault, an eating disorder, living with Bipolar II Disorder, surviving suicide & self-harm, as well as domestic violence.
Amy's Message
"You are not alone. Let my story be your guide. When I am speaking, the goal for my audience is, and always will be, for them to walk away from my speaking engagements knowing more about themselves and their own story. I use what's called the mirror method. I tell my audience I hope to be a mirror for them to see inside their own lives so they can walk out knowing more about themselves. I encourage people to use my story as a guide, or roadmap of sorts, to help them navigate their own."
SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS AMY'S SPOKEN AT
What Teachers Are Saying...
“Thank you so much for having this service available to our students. Not only was the information vital for each and every teenager to have, I believe ALL people should hear this presentation. The presentation was informative and organized, but even more so, the presenter was engaging, remained in authority over the students, and taught the subject matter in a relevant way. I truly felt the students were captivated with the stories. The way it was presented helped them to better understand the importance of mental health for each individual. As well as be given the tools to be empathetic to those around them who are struggling as well as action steps in case the need arises. I was very encouraged and excited to know that this is in schools because it is such important information for them to know.”
