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What We Offer
ADVOCACY | EDUCATION | PREVENTION
ADVOCACY | EDUCATION | PREVENTION
The Elephant & Willow Project provides free and low-cost prevention-first education through three core programs. All programs use evidence-based frameworks created by Jodee Gibson.
→ Foundational Workshops (learn the tools)
→ Community Connection Circles (practice with others)
→ Self-Assessment Tools & Resources (independent learning)
All workshops are free or low-cost. Registration required.
The Elephant and Willow Project builds awareness around the systemic roots of mental-health challenges and equips leaders, educators, and communities to prevent them before they begin.
Foundational Workshops | Three Tools For Behavioral Health
Foundational Workshops | Three Tools For Behavioral Health
We offer three (3) different 2.5-hour workshops, each focused on one core prevention tool. Attend any or all throughout the year as each workshop is complete on its own. Together they create a comprehensive framework.
→ Understanding Behavioral Health | Spilling TEA™
Learn to identify what's really driving behavior
→ Introduction to Trauma Prevention | Interrupt the Story™
Learn to stop reactive patterns before they escalate
→ Building Emotional Capacity | The AMEND Practice™
Learn emotional regulation and relational repair
Schedule: Rotating monthly (see calendar below)
Duration: 2.5 hours each
Format: In-person, Southfield, MI
Cost: FREE | Registration required
[View Full Details and Registration Below]
Understanding Behavioral Health | Spilling TEA™
Understanding Behavioral Health | Spilling TEA™
2026 Dates
January 24 | March 21 | June 20 | September 19
Learn to identify what's really driving behavior, yours and others', instead of just managing symptoms.
What you'll learn:
→ How to recognize patterns beneath behavior
→ The difference between symptoms and root causes
→ How early experiences shape current reactions
→ When behavior signals capacity limits vs. clinical concerns
→ How to respond with curiosity instead of judgment
Tool you'll gain:
Spilling TEA™ - A framework for assessing what's really driving behavior
Who should attend:
Parents, caregivers, educators, individuals seeking self-awareness, anyone curious about behavioral health.
Introduction to Trauma Prevention | Interrupt the Story™
Introduction to Trauma Prevention | Interrupt the Story™
2026 Dates
February 21 | April 25 | July 18 | October 17
Learn to stop reactive patterns before they escalate and break cycles that no longer serve you.
What you'll learn:
→ How to recognize when you're "in your story"
→ How to interrupt reactive patterns in real time
→ How to pause unconscious responses and choose new ones
→ Language that builds connection instead of defensiveness
→ Prevention strategies that stop harm before it begins
Tool you'll gain:
Interrupt the Story™ - STOP reactive, unconscious story-telling and build a new narrative
Who should attend:
Anyone tired of repeating patterns, parents navigating challenging behaviors, people wanting to break generational cycles.
Building Emotional Capacity | The AMEND Practice™
Building Emotional Capacity | The AMEND Practice™
2026 Dates
May 16 | August 15 | November 14
Learn emotional regulation and relational repair, how to navigate distress w/o breaking down and repair when ruptures happen.
What you'll learn:
→ Practical emotional regulation techniques for yourself and others
→ How to co-regulate without absorbing others' distress
→ The five steps of The AMEND Practice™
→ How to repair relationships after conflict or rupture
→ How to build capacity without burnout
Tool you'll gain:
The AMEND Practice™ - A step-by-step framework for emotional regulation and relational repair
Who should attend:
Parents navigating challenging behaviors, educators supporting students, healthcare providers seeking relational tools, anyone wanting to strengthen communication and repair skills.
Community Connection Circles | Building Belonging Through Shared Learning
Community Connection Circles | Building Belonging Through Shared Learning
Monthly gathering spaces for individuals and families to practice tools,
share experiences, and build community.
What happens in Connection Circles:
Practice Spilling TEA™, Interrupt the Story™, and The AMEND Practice™ in real-life scenarios
Share challenges and successes in a judgment-free space
Learn from others navigating similar patterns
Build accountability and support for ongoing growth
Reduce isolation through intentional connection
Who should attend:
Anyone who has attended E&W workshops and wants ongoing support, practice, and community. No prior experience required, newcomers welcome.
Circle format:
Monthly 90-minute gatherings, facilitated by E&W team
Topics rotate:
→ Parenting challenges
→ Relationship repair
→ Workplace communication
→ Personal growth and healing
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Format: In-person
Frequency: Monthly
[Join a Circle] [Learn More]
Self-Assessment Tools & Resources
Self-Assessment Tools & Resources
Free (clickable) tools for self-awareness:
ACEs Assessment (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
The Seed or The Weeds Newsletter (weekly insights)
Crisis Resources (for immediate support)
Future Programs (2026-2027)
As The Elephant & Willow Project grows, the upcoming additions are as follows:
SUMMER 2026
SUMMER 2026
→ Relational Skills Training (4-week intensive)
Master all three tools with personalized coaching
→ YouTube Video Library
Learn at your own pace
WINTER 2026/27
WINTER 2026/27
→ Certification Program (2027)
Train to facilitate E&W programs in your community
→ Advocacy & Systems Change Training
Learn to influence mental health policy and build prevention-first cultures in schools, workplaces, and communities.
→ Leadership Development for Prevention
Multi-day intensive for educators, organizational leaders, and healthcare administrators.
Want to be notified when these programs launch? Join Our Newsletter
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