Be Well Wednesdays

12/24/25-12/31/25: Pause for winter. May the transition into the new year bring you ease.

1/7/26: Mindful Gratitude Walks, with Jenny Andrews. Kick of the year with a practice of walking and observing the spaces around you. Feel free to listen in and have a walk during this session, around your office or home office or neighborhood.

1/14/26: BWW will pause on the second Wednesday of the month and encourages defenders to join the NAPD Wellness Collective meeting on the second Thursday of each month.

1/21/26: Well-being for Leaders and Emerging Leaders, with Heather Rogers.

1/28/26: TBD

2/4/26: TBD

2/11/26: BWW will pause on the second Wednesday of the month and encourages defenders to join the NAPD Wellness Collective meeting on the second Thursday of each month.

2/18/26: TBD

2/25/26: TBD

3/4/26: TBD

3/11/26: BWW will pause on the second Wednesday of the month and encourages defenders to join the NAPD Wellness Collective meeting on the second Thursday of each month.

3/18/25: TBD

3/25/26: TBD

 

NOTE THIS SESSION WAS POSTPONED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED DUE TO ILLNESS. [12/17/25: Let Them, part 2. Mel Robbins Theory: The 5 Second Rule: Transform your life, work, and confidence with Everyday courage, with Kelly Lachelt. You can pick up the book and read in advance, or join the conversation whether you’ve read the book or not. The 5 Second Rule is the secret to changing anything about your life. You can use the Rule and its countdown method to break any bad habit, interrupt self-doubt and negative self-talk, and push yourself to take the actions that will change your life. If you struggle with motivation…If you are tired of doubting yourself…If you know what you want but can’t make yourself go get it…You NEED The 5 Second Rule. The secret to changing your life isn’t knowing what to do–it’s knowing how to make yourself do it.]

12/10/25: Resilience Roundtable, in collaboration with the LACBA Well-Being Project.  A conversation featuring: Caroline Vincent: Co-Chair, LACBA Lawyer Well-Being Project, Jenny Andrews: BeSustained.org. Raul Ayala: Institute For Well-Being In Law, Greg Dorst: The Other Bar, Inc., and James Heiting: CoLAP, CA LAP, ILAA. Each of our featured guests will share what resilience means to them, before opening up the conversation to the rest of the attendees. Join an open and supportive virtual discussion designed to help legal professionals navigate the challenges of today’s demanding world.  This session offers a space to connect, reflect, and share practical strategies for building resilience, managing stress, and sustaining well-being in both work and life. With the world feeling increasingly unpredictable — and the holiday season adding its own mix of pressures — many attorneys are finding it harder than ever to maintain balance. This roundtable will explore ways to stay grounded, preserve perspective, and prioritize self-care amid personal, professional, and global challenges. Whether you’re seeking tools for self-care, inspiration from peers, or simply a moment to recharge, this interactive roundtable provides community and connection for lawyers at every stage of their careers.

12/3/25: Vicarious Trauma and Mindful Practices for Defense Legal Teams, with Constance M. Sheehan, PhD, LCSW. Defense work requires courage: standing close to human suffering while upholding justice. Defense teams often bear witness to repeated accounts of violence, trauma, and systemic injustice. Over time, this exposure can create vicarious trauma—a shift in worldview, emotional well-being, and bodily regulation. Symptoms may include intrusive thoughts, irritability, numbing, hopelessness, and difficulty separating work from personal life. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Recognize signs of vicarious trauma in themselves and colleagues. Apply at least three mindful practices (breathwork, somatic awareness, micro-pauses) in real-time contexts. Engage in experiential writing to process secondary trauma and clarify personal boundaries. Integrate resilience strategies into team culture, including brief centering rituals at meetings. Leave with a personal resilience plan tailored to their own work demands and stressors. Constance M. Sheehan, PhD, LCSW is a psychotherapist, educator, and consultant with expertise in trauma-informed care and mindfulness. She completed an interdisciplinary fellowship in end-of-life care, grounded in trauma-informed practice, and later founded and directed the Mental Health Human Rights Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She has also provided mitigation expertise in high-stakes legal settings, including Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as well as in Florida, Colorado, and Illinois. Dr. Sheehan has advanced training and teaching experience in trauma-informed mindfulness programs and practice, including the development of graduate-level courses. She also completed Harvard’s Mind/Body Medicine program and is a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through the University of Massachusetts. Her experiential workshops emphasize practical outcomes—equipping defense teams and legal professionals with tools for grounding, emotional regulation, mindful writing, and resilience.

11/3/25-11/26/25: BWW will take a winter pause and return on 12/3. We hope you all will rest and recharge in ways that are meaningful to you. Stay well!

10/29/25: Gender and Boundaries. Clear is Kind and Client Centered, with Inga Nelson, Jenny Andrews, Ronda Swenson, and Abi Resendiz-Zuniga. Not recorded.

10/22/25: Loving-Kindness Meditation, with Niel Rosen. Niel will speak briefly about loving-kindness (metta) meditation, then he will guide a 10-15 minute meditation, using phrases common to this practice.  Afterwards, he will share the phrases that he developed, talk about why he uses them, and allow time for participants to develop their own phrases. 

10/15/25: National Public Defense Well-Being Study Research Spotlight, part 2. On 9/10 Harvard Business School Researcher and Professor Jon Jachimowicz shared the format and goals of the study to be conducted in October. Recordings are at the National Public Defense Well-Being Study page. This BWW session will be an additional space for your feedback and questions and and ideas about studying well-being of public defenders.

10/8/25: Leading Humans is Hard: 3 Essential Strategies for Public Defense Leaders, with Shannon McQuaide. Join this Wednesday’s BWW to understand why creating conditions for connection and community are essential for Public Defense Leaders.

10/1/25: Creating an Emergency Plan, with Corey Smith and Jenny Andrews. In this session, we’ll each draft an emergency plan, with contact numbers, evacuation steps, and plans for emergency action. You will leave with an emergency plan to place in your office and car, and to review and circulate to your family members.

9/24/25: Happy 5th Birthday BWW! Come join a session on gratitude, appreciation and celebration! (not recorded)

9/10/25: BeSustained research spotlight. Learn about the National Public Defense Well-Being Study: BeSustained, a national nonprofit with the mission of improving access to justice by advancing the well-being of public defenders, is developing the first of its kind national study of well-being in public defense. The findings and recommendations from this project will help support individual defenders, improve the organizations we work in, and inform the systems making budget and policy decisions that impact public defense. The future of public defense requires a community of thriving public defenders who are supported to provide client-centered advocacy, particularly in light of the current challenges that we face. This project will provide an evidence-based path toward this goal. Harvard Business School Researcher and Professor Jon Jachimowicz shared the format and goals of the study to be conducted in October, and he will be available to answer questions. Recordings are at the National Public Defense Well-Being Study page.

9/3/25: Wellness Meetup. Open space to discuss wellness ideas, questions, challenges, strategies and anything coming up for you relating to well-being in public defense.

8/27/25: Seated Yoga and Meditation Practice, with Carmen Aguirre. Carmen will offer a 3-part summer series that combines chair yoga and meditation. Chair yoga has many of the benefits of a regular moving yoga practice, including cultivating stability, improving joint health and reducing tension, but is also non-vigorous movement that can be integrated seamlessly into the workday. The practice will focus on reducing joint stagnation and synchronizing movement with the breath, and will close with a quieting and centering meditation practice. This series occurs on 7/2/25, 7/30/25 and 8/27/25.

8/20/25: BWW Book Club: Let Them, with Kelly Lachelt. Kelly will be doing a brief introduction into the ‘Let Them” Theory written and created by Mel Robbins. As a born and raised people pleaser, I’ve had to learn the hard way that my main job in life, besides being a mom, is to live MY life in a way that aligns with MY values and what I know deep down is true for MYSELF. This book has been a great reminder to:
LET THEM….have their own opinions
LET THEM….have their own reactions
LET ME………have mine.
This will hopefully be a friendly reminder to start doing what makes you happy, being brave, taking risks and following your own path. This will always be more important than other people’s opinions about it. This is YOUR life, stop letting other people’s opinions having so much control…… As a quirky proud mom of four, and photographer with endless curiosity, Kelly Lachelt is always striving to master the art of juggling chaos, usually with a camera in hand. I thrive on learning new things and sharing that spark with others—because growth is way more fun when it’s contagious. Currently working as a Legal Assistant in the 9 th District Public Defender’s Office and head of the FUN Committee in the, I’m just looking to share my passion for self-care with others.

8/13/25: Wellness Meetup, with Corey Smith and Jenny Andrews. Open space to discuss wellness ideas, questions, challenges, strategies and anything coming up for you relating to well-being in public defense. (Not recorded)

8/6/25: Summer Pause.

7/30/25: Seated Yoga and Meditation Practice, with Carmen Aguirre. Carmen will offer a 3-part summer series that combines chair yoga and meditation. Chair yoga has many of the benefits of a regular moving yoga practice, including cultivating stability, improving joint health and reducing tension, but is also non-vigorous movement that can be integrated seamlessly into the workday. The practice will focus on reducing joint stagnation and synchronizing movement with the breath, and will close with a quieting and centering meditation practice. This series occurs on 7/2/25, 7/30/25 and 8/27/25.

7/23/25: BeSustained research spotlight. Learn more about an upcoming well-being study BeSustained will launch in September.

7/16/25: Fostering Interpersonal Communication Skills, a Workshop, with Heather Rogers and Shannon McQuaide. When we think of communication our focus tends to be on the speaker. But in reality, communication is a dance – an interaction that takes two to tango. The stronger the trust and connection between two people, the more effective the communication becomes. Learning how to communicate across power dynamics by remaining emotionally steady and responsive is your communication superpower. We will explore this idea together and a lot more. This workshop was originally designed for non-attorney defenders who often find themselves on the receiving end of challenging communications. Shannon has tailored this BWW workshop for ALL defenders, including all members of interdisciplinary defense teams. Everyone is welcome!

7/9/25: Summer Pause.

7/2/25: Seated Yoga and Meditation Practice, with Carmen Aguirre. Carmen will offer a 3-part summer series that combines chair yoga and meditation. Chair yoga has many of the benefits of a regular moving yoga practice, including cultivating stability, improving joint health and reducing tension, but is also non-vigorous movement that can be integrated seamlessly into the workday. The practice will focus on reducing joint stagnation and synchronizing movement with the breath, and will close with a quieting and centering meditation practice. This series occurs on 7/2/25, 7/30/25 and 8/27/25.

6/25/25: Body Scan Practice, with Niel Rosen. Niel Rosen is a public defender in Maryland, where he works in the mental health division, and a meditation teacher at the Center for Mindful Living, where he regularly offers body scans.  A body scan practice can provide a variety of intertwined benefits, especially present-moment awareness and somatic awareness.  The scan will begin at the top of the head and we’ll slowly bring our attention to the feet.  Along the way, Niel will offer some phrases of loving-kindness and self-compassion, as well as an invitation to tap into the experience of being alive.  Afterwards, Niel will hold the space for participants to share or reflect on their experience.   

6/18/25: Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning, with Kim Kupferer. Kim Kupferer is a Criminal Defense Lawyer who practiced for over 34 years doing primarily heavy duty and death penalty work out of Alameda County.  She worked her first 15 years for the Alameda County Public Defender spending 7 of those years on the Homicide Team.  In 2003 she went into private practice and ultimately began taking homicide cases from the court appointed system. She stopped doing trial work 2021.  A long time horse lover, Kim bought a horse farm in North Carolina and commuted across the country for work until 2021.  In the meantime, Kim began training in Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning in 2016. (All liberty and groundwork focused on presence, connection and energetic awareness.) In 2017 she opened Imagine Equus LLC where she leads well-being and empowerment retreats at her Western North Carolina Horse Farm.  Kim works with small, mostly women’s and women’s attorney groups exposing participants to what it is to be more horse like in the custom retreats on peaceful Imagine Equus Farm where guests experience time in nature, eating incredible & healthy food with a focus solely on the participant. Kim will provide more insight as to why working with horses and can make us more balanced and create more harmony in our lives as well as lead us through some well-being exercises. For more information see her web site at www. Imagine equus.com.

6/11/25: Mindful Moment: Sun, Rain, Flowers, with Cynthia Barlow. As the seasons pass in public defense, is it possible to shake off some of the stress and the coldness of winter so that can we see renewal? Could we let go of some of the toxicity of the criminal punishment system and the negativity it propagates and let in some light? Can we take a deep breath in, take a full breath out, relax, and smile? Sometimes yes. Let’s lean into that letting go, renewal, and recreation with some mindfulness, breathing, gratitude, and loving-kindness meditation. Do not let the word meditation put you off because you can keep your thoughts, your phone, your email—these moments are for us. No judgment, just paying attention with friendliness, curiosity, and community. (rescheduled from 4/16, the day zoom wasn’t functioning. Thank you Cynthia for rescheduling!)

6/4/25: Wellness Meetup, with Corey Smith and Jenny Andrews. Open space to discuss wellness ideas, questions, challenges, strategies and anything coming up for you relating to well-being in public defense.

5/28/25: BWW Research Series: An Update on Research from Valerio Baćak, Ph.D.  Professor Bacak is the co-author of The Stress of Injustice: Public Defenders and the Frontline of American Inequality  and “Satan’s Minions” and “True Believers”: How Criminal Defense Attorneys Employ Quasi-Religious Rhetoric and What It Suggests about Lawyering Culture. He presented his research findings in an informative webinar in 2022. This time, he will join us for an informal and interactive conversation about research on public defender well-being, including the areas explored by his research and the research of others, and ripe areas for further research. Data driven solutions shape policy and budget decisions, so research is foundational to increased support for defender well-being. Bring your research questions and ideas!

5/21/25: Towards a More Beautiful Work Life: A Workshop on Flourishing for Public Defenders, with Prof. Brandon Vaidyanathan. Amidst the relentless demands of work–high caseloads, emotional stress, and the danger of burnout–it is possible to flourish in your daily work? In this interactive online workshop, we’ll explore practical pathways to cultivate beauty in your work, through reconnecting with your purpose, enhancing your daily process, strengthening relationships with the people around you, and recognizing excellence in your professional outcomes. Join us to discover how recognizing and generating beauty in the work you do can enhance your well-being and sustain you in your vital role as a public defender. Dr. Brandon Vaidyanathan is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institutional Flourishing Lab at The Catholic University of America. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and HEC Montreal respectively, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Vaidyanathan’s research examines the cultural dimensions of religious, commercial, and scientific institutions, and has been widely published. He is also Founder of Beauty at Work, a media platform which includes a podcast and YouTube channel that aims to expand our understanding of beauty: what it is, how it works, and why it matters for the work we do.

5/7/25 and 5/14/25: Yoga Nidra part 1, with Carmen Aguirre. On May 7 and 14, Carmen Aguirre will present a 2-part series on stress and yoga nidra, including its guided practice. While this is offered as a series so participants can reap the benefits of practicing several times over a week’s period, the learning and practice themselves are not cumulative. In other words, drop-ins are welcome and encouraged. Stress itself is not problematic when managed and properly balanced with relaxation. Yoga nidra is a guided, deep relaxation practice that takes the mind into the brainwaves of deep sleep. These brainwaves include those responsible for rest and renewal — and also accessing clear and creative thinking. Nidra offers all of the benefits of practicing meditation, and because it is guided and restful, can be more accessible to those who may not have a regular meditation practice. There is no physical stretching practice and nidra requires no flexibility or previous experience. For the practice, you will want to be in a quiet space where you have privacy from anyone not practicing. Ideal would be to have a yoga mat and / or blankets and a pillow and be able to lay down with height under knees and head, the body covered for comfort. However, nidra can also be practiced in a seated position with the head resting on a desk and on its side atop folded hands. And in any position in-between. Think of finding the most nap-like conditions that are available to you. (not recorded)

4/30/25: Motivation, Identity, and Boundaries in Public Defense, with Jeff Sherr and Jenny Andrews. Is public defense something you do or something you are? What is ikigai? Join us for a discussion of purpose and motivation in public defense. Learn about the public defense motivational triangle conceptualized by Jeff Sherr, and how to use it to sustain motivation and remain client-centered.

4/23/25: BWW Research Series: Restorative Just Culture as Mitigation for Moral Injury, with Wendy Dean, M.D. Dr. Dean will share new research on moral injury and answer questions about building restorative just culture. Bring your questions! Wendy Dean was a practicing psychiatrist, Department of Defense medical innovation lead, and SVP of operations for a $500M international non-profit before cofounding MIHC. Her work has been published in three of the most well-respected peer-reviewed medical journals, and is recognized as a thought leader by mainstream media. She is the coauthor of, If I Betray These Words: Moral Injury In Medicine and Why It’s So Hard For Clinicians to Put Patients First, and cohost of the Moral Matters and 43cc podcasts.

4/16/25: Mindful Moment: Sun, Rain, Flowers, with Cynthia Barlow. As the seasons pass in public defense, is it possible to shake off some of the stress and the coldness of winter so that can we see renewal? Could we let go of some of the toxicity of the criminal punishment system and the negativity it propagates and let in some light? Can we take a deep breath in, take a full breath out, relax, and smile? Sometimes yes. Let’s lean into that letting go, renewal, and recreation with some mindfulness, breathing, gratitude, and loving-kindness meditation. Do not let the word meditation put you off because you can keep your thoughts, your phone, your email—these moments are for us. No judgment, just paying attention with friendliness, curiosity, and community. Apologies that a widespread zoom problem impacted this session; we will reschedule!

4/9/25: Wellness Meetup, co-hosted by Jenny Andrews and Corey Smith. Open space to discuss wellness ideas, questions, challenges, strategies and anything coming up for you relating to well-being in public defense.

4/2/25: Jailbreak of the Imagination: The Intersection of Creativity and Wellness, with Jennifer Roth and Jenny Andrews. Arts and crafts and creativity can inspire us and reinvigorate us and shake us free from the legal frameworks that sometimes limit our ideas. In this session, we’ll share some art that inspires us and invite you to do the same. Bring a photo, a poem, a short video of a song or dance, or share about the art that inspires you from the walls of your office. Share what inspires you!

3/26/25: Lawyers and Addiction; A Plague on Our Profession, with Rick Wardroup. More than 45% of attorneys suffer from depression and nearly 12% report having considered suicide. Many times, lawyers who are struggling with depression or anxiety or other common mental disorders self-medicate with alcohol, medications not prescribed for them, and/or illicit drugs. Studies indicate that 21% of all lawyers and over 32% of lawyers under 30 have a substance use disorder (SUD). Fortunately, Lawyer’s Assistance Programs and other organizations provide resources and care to struggling attorneys. The road to recovery can be simple, but it isn’t easy. Rick Wardroup intended to be a doctor but wound up in law school. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in November 1980. In the late ’80’s and early ’90’s he drank too much and engaged in other problematic behaviors that ended up with his license being suspended twice for short periods. In 1995, he entered a recovery program and has stayed sober since. He served on the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program for two terms and served as the defense lawyer for the Lubbock County Adult Drug Court and DWI Court from their inception. He has worked for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since March, 2011, first as the Capital Assistance Attorney and now as the Curriculum Director-Staff Attorney. He regularly presents on lawyer wellness at TCDLA programs. Rick lives in Taos, New Mexico.

3/19/25: Nervous System Regulation Practices, with Stacy Sims. Sims is the Executive Director and Founder of The Well, a national nonprofit working at the intersection of arts and wellness. She will present a brief review of the science behind human wellbeing and what interrupts it and share simple, profound practices to support nervous system regulation.

3/12/25: Gideon Day Celebration: Community Partnership, with Justin Heim, Tatiana Kline and Jenny Andrews. Tatiana Kline will share her experiences increasing inclusion of system ​impacted people in training programs. Justin Heim will share ​experiences with getting feedback from client communities through survey and discussion, community engaged research initiatives that center client perspective, and examples of how client panels have been impactful during trainings.

3/5/25: Open Space. Join this open conversation to discuss well-being challenges you are working through, ideas for things you’d like to see in this BWW space, or simply to be in the space with peers.

2/26/25: Non-Violent Communication: An Overview and Suggestions for Use in Practice, with Carmen Aguirre. Carmen Aguirre is a Santa Clara County public defender and also a yoga, dance and meditation teacher who is interested in how mindfulness can benefit PDs in every aspect of practice.

2/12/25 and 2/19/25: Pause (no BWW session), enjoy a well-being practice on your own or with colleagues!

2/5/25: Trauma-Informed Yoga-inspired Tools for Stress Release, with Carmen Aguirre and James Fox. James Fox will present about the use of evidence-based, trauma-informed practices as a means of self-transformation, including in carceral settings. He will discuss the harm of mass incarceration reaching far beyond those incarcerated and how interventions using yoga and mindfulness techniques has been able to impact those harms. Finally, James will lead us in a simple practice. James Fox is the founder and director of the Prison Yoga Project. The Prison Yoga Project is a global nonprofit organization that has developed a holistic approach to rehabilitation and transformation in the criminal legal system. A yoga and meditation practitioner for over 30 years, James began teaching trauma-informed yoga in California prisons in 2002 and training others to do the same. PYP uses evidence-based, trauma-informed methods to equip individuals with tools for self-regulation, self-discovery and personal growth. Advocating for healing over punishment, PYP envisions a cultural shift to a healing-centered approach to addressing crime, substance use disorder and mental health issues. Carmen Aguirre is a Santa Clara County public defender and also a yoga, dance and meditation teacher who is interested in how mindfulness can benefit PDs in every aspect of practice.

1/29/25: Organizational Assessment and Using the Data You Collect to Support Well-Being, with Sarah McCarthy and Heather Cessna. Join the conversation to learn about their experiences using survey data in internal initiatives to support staff and for external budget advocacy to increase investment in public defense. The Kansas surveys and reports Heather will reference are available at the BIDS Well-Being Committee page. Sarah McCarthy is the Assistant Public Defender at the Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender. For more than 20 years, Sarah has been a public defender in both Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Sarah has supervised misdemeanor and felony lawyers, and now serves as part of the management team as an Assistant Public Defender with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office. After observing the impacts the work was having on her colleagues and herself, Sarah completed MLTT’s Mindfulness in Law Teacher Training in 2018 and launched The Wise Warrior in 2019, a program designed to support the well-being of attorneys and staff serving clients in the criminal legal system. The Wise Warrior offers training, education, and tools through which staff can develop awareness of the signs and symptoms of stress and trauma, have honest conversations about how they’re doing and what they need, and develop skills that support resilience. The Wise Warrior operates on the principle that to successfully serve our clients we must diligently care for ourselves. In 2022 we offered weekly virtual meditation, though a program called Mindful Mornings. We have offered a variety of MCLE trainings on topics like secondary trauma, mindful communication, and self-compassion, and will continue to provide trainings to support self-awareness and care as they pertain to our bar-mandated duties of legal ethics, competence, and elimination of bias. We launched a structured mentoring program for new lawyers in 2021 and held a Speaker Series during summer of 2022, bringing in a variety of speakers to share perspectives on mindfulness and self-care. We continue to explore new and interesting ways to support staff and shift a culture that has long ignored health and resilience as important as core values in our public defense practice. Heather Cessna is the Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services. She is responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the public defender system and assigned counsel program, supervising all Kansas Chief Public Defenders, developing the agency’s budget, acting as a liaison between the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services and the legislature, and working with the Board to formulate policies and plans for improving indigent defense in Kansas. Heather is a 2002 University of Kansas School of Law graduate. Prior to becoming Executive Director in October 2019, Heather worked for sixteen years at the Kansas Appellate Defender Office, where she served as both an Assistant and Deputy Appellate Defender, arguing criminal defense appeals in front of the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court. Heather serves on the Kansas Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee, the National Association for Public Defense’s Workload Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Kansas Supreme Court Task Force for Attorney Well-Being.

1/22/25: Open Space, with Jenny Andrews. Join this open conversation to discuss well-being challenges you are working through, ideas for things you’d like to see in this BWW space in 2025, or simply to be in the space with peers.

1/15/25: BWW pause as several of the BWW team are incorporating wellness principles and practices at the NLADA Appellate Defender Training in Oakland this week.

1/8/25: New Year, Less Overwhelm, with Jenny Andrews. A new year is an opportunity to support our well-being by reducing overwhelm with strategies to distinguish stress from overwhelm, mitigate overwhelm by tapping into purpose and self-awareness, shorten our task lists, and create spaciousness even in full public defender days.

1/1/25: Pause. Wishing you a time of rest and rejuvenating activities, and connecting with holidays you observe. We look forward to seeing you in 2025 as the light increases.

12/25/24: Pause. Wishing you a time of rest and rejuvenating activities, and connecting with holidays you observe. We look forward to seeing you in 2025 as the light increases.

12/18/24: Quotes to Live By, with Marilena David. In this session, we will share a few favorite quotes, what they mean to us, how they motivate our decision-making, how they can help troubleshoot some of life’s most common hurdles, and how these lessons keep us moving forward with open eyes and open hearts.

12/11/24: Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Defenders, with Caitlin Becker. In this training open to defenders in all roles, we will offer a refresher training on trauma-informed advocacy. In every defender role, we work with clients who have experienced trauma in their lives. This session will review the basics of trauma-informed advocacy and offer tools to more effectively work with clients who have experienced trauma.

12/4/24: Mindful Moment: Rest and Restore, with Cynthia Barlow. As we enter the rest and recover season of winter, we can process some gardening advice: No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn. With some breathing practices, a little intention setting, and a Metta meditation, let’s take this time to pause, look at some pretty slides, let go of striving, and breathe, relax, and smile.

11/27/24: Pause. Give thanks in ways that are meaningful to you.

11/20/24: Equanimity: Practice for Resilience, with Carmen Aguirre. This session will include a short practice, discussion of equanimity and its practice, and close with a short meditation.

11/13/24: Yoga Nidra, with Cynthia Barlow. (not recorded)

11/6/24: Practice: Release and Renew, with Carmen Aguirre. This session will include chair yoga, breathing, and meditation practices focused on the intention of release. Thank you to the BWW community member who suggested we could all use a nonpartisan space to acknowledge/release the stress of this election cycle. (not recorded)

10/30/24: Awareness, Exposure and Metabolizing: Planning for Trauma Exposure, with Marisa Beckley and Jenny Andrews. Drawing from the Trauma Stewardship framework, we’ll talk about trauma exposure response and strategies to recognize your response signs, to be intentional about your approach to exposure to traumatic content, and to metabolize the physical and emotional impacts of exposure. A free introduction to some of these concepts is at Laura van Dernoot Lipsky’s TED Talk Beyond the Cliff.

10/23/24: Pause (Identity and Motivation session rescheduled to 12/4).

10/16/24: Self-Awareness is an Activator of Well-being, with Gina Pruski and Jenny Andrews. In this interactive session, we’ll explore a few self-assessment tools and how to use them to activate well-being and set supportive goals for yourself.

10/9/24: The Role of Compassion, with Carmen Aguirre. Short chair yoga and meditation practices will accompany a presentation around the importance of compassion – for self and others – to balance and resilience.

10/2/24: The Unique Challenges of Public Defense Work, with Jenny Andrews. In this session, we’ll chat about a few new studies on well-being, and how the research can inform our strategies and responses in individual, organizational and system transformation work to sustain well-being. This discussion included sharing the 2024 Well-Being Report: The Divide Between Health & the Legal Industry, and these tools that are available as downloads from the BeSustained Resource Library: The BeSustained 3 Spheres Inventory Checklist, the newly updated Well-Being Research page from the A-Z Guide, and the BeSustained Competence Flyer.

9/25/24: Happy Birthday BWW! A celebration and an open brainstorm about how this space can be useful to you!

9/18/24: Burnout Recovery: Strategies to Help You Reset, with Sonya Willis.

9/4/24: Recognizing and responding to grief in our work, with Elizabeth Keeney. There is increasing recognition and understanding of the impacts of trauma in public defense work but how folks experience grief at work is rarely discussed. In this Wednesday session we’ll pause to think about the different ways grief shows up in defense work and discuss how collective acknowledgement and grief ritual might improve well-being and foster sustainability. Attendees are invited to participate in a brief (and easily transferable!) grief ritual designed to support defender well-being. Here are links to resources she referenced and some additional resources: The Geography of Sorrow (article on Francis Weller in Sun Magazine), Books by Francis Weller, Five Gates of Grief summary from Pacific Healing Circles 

8/28/24: The Joy of Learning Random Things with Gina Pruski. In our work as defenders, we have to learn and know a lot of important information in order to best serve clients. If we lack or are mistaken about that information, it can have a negative impact on our clients’ lives. For this week’s BWW, let’s take a break from all of that and immerse ourselves in trivia—information that doesn’t really carry any responsibility. We will watch a 12-minute TED Talk where writer Annie Rauwerda talks about the joy of learning random things on Wikipedia. We’ll then talk a bit about the virtues of learning random things and, who knows, maybe we’ll walk away feeling inspired to learn something new purely for fun.

8/21/24: Let’s take a moment for a gratitude affirmation, with Cynthia Barlow. There are good and beautiful things in this sweet world, gifts and benefits we have received, blessings we have been granted, and good things that we have achieved through our blessings. The sources of this goodness are both inside and outside of ourselves.

8/14/24: Trauma-Informed Practice: Good for Clients, Good for Self, with Marisa Beckley. In this week’s BWW, we’ll explore what it means to be ‘trauma-informed.’ We’ll not only examine the core values of trauma-informed practice but also discuss practical strategies for implementing them in our work. Even small adjustments can significantly enhance clients’ experiences and help reduce fatigue and burnout in ourselves.

7/17/24-8/7/14: Summer pause: BWW is committed to supporting cultures of rest and rejuvenation. BWW will pause 7/17/24-8/7/24 for deep rest. We hope you find some, too.

7/10/24: Introducing the Hispanic Attorney Wellness Survey, with Raul Ayala. Over the past several years, the legal profession has been the subject of a series of research projects in an effort to answer this exact question. You have undoubtedly noticed local, regional, and national discussions on this topic – what is the state of lawyer well-being in today’s complex and challenging struggle to achieve some semblance of a so-called “work-life balance?” Starting with the research conducted by Patrick Krill, et al. in 2016, over 20% of the respondents reported problematic drinking as well as elevated mental health issues compared to the general population (28% depression, 19% anxiety and 23% stress). There have been a number of other surveys that have produced similar findings. Thus, the answer to this question – can we effectively quantify attorney well-being – is a resounding “yes!” The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), in partnership with the Institute for Well-Being in Law, is conducting a similar research project, a first-of-its kind effort to discern differences between Latinx attorneys and the majority population of U.S. lawyers. A national survey has been constructed and disseminated. A primary focus of this research is to capture how Latinx attorneys may perceive and react to the pressures of our profession, and to thereafter compare our responses to similar questions posed in other surveys across the country. Join us to hear the details and to share your views on how research may help us all develop a healthier and more rewarding profession.

7/3/24: BWW will pause on 7/3 with no group session. Observe or participate or celebrate democracy in a way that is meaningful for you.

6/26/24: Boundaries and Self Care: Power Struggles in Self Defense, with Julie Tedesco and Jordana Confino. As all PDs know our job is not a job at all, but a way of life. Our dedication and passion can oftentimes cause us feel overwhelmed, and hinder our ability to set boundaries between ourselves and the work. This session will be co-led by Jordana Confino, certified professional coach, speaker, and advisor, whose expertise in this very topic was driven by her need to create boundaries in order to thrive. We encourage this discussion to be interactive where fellow PDs can share their stories, ask for advice, and dig deeper into the difficult dichotomy that exists between balancing our career and our well-being. Additional resources from Jordana Confino: Self-Compassion Guide and Chronicles of a Recovering Type A+ Perfectionist blog.

6/19/24: Juneteenth, A Reflection on Resilience, with Sonya Willis. Juneteenth represents a historical turning point in the fight against racial discrimination. The day also serves as a reminder of how African Americans persevered through immense adversity. Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the resilience, strength, and cultural contributions of Black individuals. Juneteenth can also serve as an opportunity to address mental health challenges within the Black community. Mental health within the Black community has long been impacted by historical trauma. It is vital to have open conversations, reduce stigma, and seek support when needed.

6/5/24: Turn on the Tap, with Stephanne Thornton. There are so many things to worry about when doing this work that has so much at stake. It may seem inevitable that rumination and pessimistic thinking overtake our thoughts and become occupational hazards. But we can learn to turn off the tap to pessimistic thinking and rumination, and it may not only help us in the process but it may also help the way we work.

5/29/24: Chair Yoga for Busy Defenders with June S. Phillips, hosted by Denise Smith. Chair yoga is a gentle, therapeutic, and inclusive variation of yoga that involves performing poses while seated or with the help of a chair. It’s often recommended for seniors, people with disabilities, busy professionals often working from home or at a desk, and those who find traditional yoga too challenging. Chair yoga can help build strength, flexibility, and balance and can also reduce stress and depression.

5/22/24: Yoga Nidra, with Cynthia Barlow. Join us for a yoga nidra practice. Also known as a guided awareness meditation, yoga nidra is done seated or reclined, in the most comfortable position that you can find. Once we have moved around a little, we can begin to drop down. Listen to some, all, or none of the words being said in the background, tune out the day, tune in any soothing spa music or ambient sound that you find relaxing, and let your breath wash in and out, relaxing you, letting you rest. Along the way, you can play with setting an intention or selecting a short, positive phrase to return to if your mind wanders back to your desk. Through prompts, we will use body sensing, breath awareness, and some guided imagery to wander through the flowers to a restful, healing place. Drop in, drop out: there is no way to do this wrong, every way is right.

5/15/24: Coaching for Defenders, with Shannon McQuaide and Heather Rogers. How can coaching techniques help defenders find their voice, view problems from different perspectives, and stretch out of their comfort zones to grow and thrive? Shannon and Heather embarked on a coaching journey to start the new year. Shannon will discuss what it means to be a coach, Shannon’s coaching journey, and how Shannon approached coaching Heather, a new public defense leader easing into a new and different role. Heather will discuss how the process of being coached helped her look at things in a new way and strengthen her voice. Shannon and Heather will share some of the problems and techniques that came up during their coaching sessions, including offering techniques defenders can try on their own.

5/8/24: Trauma Cues, with Katherine LeGeros Bajuk. She will discuss trauma cues aka triggers and how we as defenders are particularly susceptible because of the work that we do. She will then offer a 15-20 minute instructional video practice on one method of emotional regulation for when we are triggered.

5/1/24: Jeff Berman

4/24/24: Meditation for Public Defenders, with Edward Willey

4/17/24: Strategies for Reducing Moral Injury, with Wendy Dean and Jenny Andrews

4/3/24: Year of Yes Book Club, moderated by Tatiana Kline

3/27/24: Know Your Fears, with Lori James-Townes

3/20/24: Navigating Ambiguous Loss in Public Defense, with Marisa Beckley

3/13/24: Using Nonviolent Communication Tools to Ask for What You Need at Work, with Ray Ibarra and Jenny Andrews

3/6/24: Year of Yes Book Club, moderated by Tatiana Kline

2/28/24: Navigating Trauma Exposure, with Jenny Andrews

2/21/24: Balancing the Scales: Finding Work-Life Wellness as a Public Defender, with Priya Rednam-Waldo and Annie Phillips

2/14/24: Self-Love, the Greatest Love of All, with Tatiana Kline

2/7/24: Year of Yes Book Club – Moderated by Tatiana Kline

1/31/24: Breathe, Relax, and Feel: Pranayama practices for fun and relaxation, with Cynthia Barlow

1/24/24: Grief and Loss, with Molly Ranns, MA, LPC, CAADC

1/19/24: The Best Advice I Ever Received, with Gina Pruski

1/10/24: Year of Yes Book Club – Moderated by Tatiana Kline

12/20/23: Journey Toward Wellness Throughout the Year, Including the Holiday Season, with Melinda Pendergraph, Marsha Plank, Rachel Allen, Sonya Willis

12/13/23: (Un)guided meditation, with Justin Heim

12/6/23: Navigating Painful Emotions, with Tatiana Kline

11/29/23: ProQOL, with Marisa Beckley

11/15/23: Discerning Your Purpose, with Caitlin Becker

11/1/23: Creating Belonging & Psychological Safety as a Way to Enhance Relationships and Reduce Stress with Shannon C. McQuaide, M.A., E-RYT

10/25/23: The Benefits of Showing Gratitude with Gina Pruski

10/18/23: Meditation with Justin Heim

10/11/23: Open space for Israel with Tatiana Kline

10/4/23: Burnout and the Bhagavad Gita with Zach Schwarzbach

9/27/23: Safety’s Role in Wellness: Considerations for Public Defense with Marisa Beckley

9/20/23: Reconnecting to Your Purpose, a workshop to connect back to your calling – Arielle Yoon

9/13/23: Mindful Parenting Tips from Headspace with Gina Pruski

9/6/23: (Re)Introducing the 10 Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense–Caitlin Becker

8/30/23: Resilient Like Tina Turner with Tatiana Kline

8/23/23: Vikki Reynolds’ Zone of Balance: Redefining Burnout with Marisa Beckley

8/16/23: Building Resilient Defenders: Strategies for Supervision and Training with Caitlin Becker

8/9/23: The Future of BWW with Tatiana Kline and Jenny Andrews

8/2/23: Sleep Inducing Techniques with Tatiana Kline

6/28/23: Breathing as a Trial Skill with Jenny Andrews

6/21/12: Finding Your Deep Flow with Lisa Lunt

6/14/23: Honoring Juneteenth with Tatiana Kline

5/31/23: Establish A Positive Mindset with Tatiana Kline

5/24/23: Strategies for Creating Healthy, Supportive & Productive Client-Defender Relationships with Heather Rogers

5/17/23: Communication Strategies for Supportive Leadership, with Jenny Andrews

5/10/23: Strategies for stress part II with Tatiana Kline

5/3/23: Strategies for stress with Tatiana Kline

4/19/23: Crisis Debriefings for Public Defenders with Caitlin Becker, Marisa Beckley, and Robyn Mar

4/12/23: Workplaces Can Be Engines of Mental Health and Well-Being with Justin Heim

10/26/22: Step Into Your Power & Live Without Apology with Tatiana Kline 

10/19/22: Turning Liabilities into Gifts with Stephanne Thornton     

10/12/22:  Making Public Defense a Welcoming Space for Trans Clients and Staff, with Dee Glickman

10/5/22: Tending to the Ticker: Let’s Talk About the Heart Joseph Clarke    

9/21/22: What’s Good?    Marilena David                                                                             

8/31/22: When Enough is Enough with Lisa Lunt  

8/24/22: Loud, Proud, and Completely Wrong-Celebrating Progress Over Perfection, Jeni Benavides             

8/17/22: Recruitment and Retention Through Client-Centered Leadership with Jenny Andrews                       

8/10/22:Turning Off the Gas on Gaslighting with Stephanne Thornton       

8/3/22: Navigating Overwhelm with Caitlin Becker            

7/27/22: Feel Good Music, with Tatiana Kline                                                         

7/13/22: Get a Hobby! Celebrating the Things that Bring Us Joy with Justin Heim         

6/22/22: The Power of Asset Framing with Lisa Lunt                                           

6/15/22: I Would Like to Give You Permission with Tatiana Kline                                     

6/8/22: How Creativity Leads to Better Health with Gina Pruski                                   

6/1/22: Healing Circle with Christine Start                                             

5/25/22: Turning Around Self-Talk with Brent Getty                                             

5/18/22: A Celebration of Celebration with Jenny Andrews                                              

5/11/22: Leading Like Ted Lasso with Tatiana Kline                                                    

4/27/22: It Take Two Wings to Fly: Wisdom and Compassion with Justin Heim                                         

4/20/22: Rest is Part of Strength – Reducing Overworking, with Jenny Andrews      

4/13/22: Taking in the Good, with Stephanne Thornton                                    

4/6/22: Creating a Public Defender Peer Support Team, with Carol Heinisch; Tina Fang      

3/30/22: Compassion Fatigue & Why It’s OK to Not Be OK, with Tatiana Kline                                           

3/23/22: Sleep: Understand and Unlock Your Superpower, with Lisa Lunt                                  

3/16/22: Laughter Really is the Best Medicine, with Lisa Lunt and Kathleen Casey-Gamez                   

3/9/22: Connecting to What’s Alive in Us, with Justin Heim                                            

3/2/22: Managing Yourself to Manage Your Time (Part 2), with Marilena David     

2/23/22: Managing Yourself to Manage Your Time (Part 1), with Marilena David

2/16/22: Public Defender Motivational Triad and Resiliency, with Jeff Sherr              

2/9/22: Using the Four Frames Model to Address the Public Defense Retention Crisis, with Justin Heim        

2/2/22: Live with Intention: Swap your “To Do” List with a “To Be” List, with Gina Pruski  

1/26/22: Help! There’s a Pandemic and I’m a Parent and a Public Defender! With Jessica Zimbelman            

1/19/22: Our Warring Self v. Our Infinite Self, with Tatiana Kline     

1/12/22: Breathe and Stretch to Reduce Stress Response, with Jenny Andrews       

1/5/22: Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Meditating with Yourself, with Justin Heim    

12/29/21: Jenny Andrews: Anything But Resolutions!

12/22/21: John Lopez: Ancestor Practice

12/15/21: Justin Heim: Transformative Justice: The Role of the Public Defender in Re-Imagining the Future.

12/8/21: Tatiana Kline: Gratitude Exercise

12/1/21: Gina Pruski: An Introduction to Sound Bath Meditation        

11/17/21: Caitlin Becker and Dr. Maya Prabhu: Building Resilience and Sustainability in Defender Communities

11/10/21: Justin Heim: Parenting in Public Defense Discussion

10/27/21: Christine Start: Healing Circle

10/20/21: Marilena David-Martin: Establishing Boundaries to Maintain Balance

10/13/21: John Lopez: Forgiveness Meditation

10/6/21: Tatiana Kline: Imposter Syndrome

9/30/21: Justin Heim: 3 Minute Breathing Space (from Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy)

9/22/21: The Stress of Injustice, a talk with researchers Valerio Baćak, Sarah Lageson, and Kathleen Powell

9/15/21: Lori James Townes: Forgiveness is Self-Care 

9/8/21: Tatiana Kline and Marilena David-Martin: Happy Birthday BWW: How to Build Celebration in Public Defense

9/1/21: Christine Start: A Healing Circle for the Public Defender Community

8/25/21: Justine Heim: Conscious Transitions: Channeling your Inner Mr. Rogers

8/18/21: Tatiana Kline: Stress Management Tips and Tricks

8/11/21: Gina Pruski: Time to Get Our Brag On

8/4/21: Marilena David-Martin: Navigating Current Challenges

7/28/21: Justin Heim: NAPD Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense: Principle 4: Staff Promote Values that Align with a Healthy Work Culture

7/21/21: Tatiana Kline and Jenerra Crenshaw: Micro Aggressions

7/14/21: Jeff Chapdelaine: How to Support LGBTQIA+ Colleagues

7/7/21: Dee Glickman: Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Colleagues

6/30/21: Sharing Models and Ideas That Are Working: Using Surveys and Assessments: facilitator: Jenny Andrews. Panel: Meryl Carver-Allmond, Sarah McCarthy, Ali Erbes.

6/23/21: Sarah McCarthy: Mindful-Ethical Communication 

6/16/21: Dave Klaus and Luke Wientzen: Breathwork

6/9/21: Gina Pruski and Justin Heim: Growth Through Conflict

6/2/21: Joseph Clark: Brain waves, Heart waves, and Well-being

5/26/21: Caitlin Becker:  Building Resilient Defenders: Strategies for Supervision + Training.

5/19/21: Justin Heim: Walking Meditation

5/12/21: Tatiana Kline: How to Give A Wellness Training

5/5/21: Marilena David-Martin: 4 Things You Can Do to Improve Mental Wellness That Have Nothing to Do With Anyone Else

4/28/21: Sharing Models and Ideas That Are Working: NAPD Principle 6: Coverage and Time Off. Facilitator: Heather Rogers.

4/21/21: Lisa Lunt: Fill Up Your Cup: Brain and Body Boosts for Tumultuous Times

4/14/21: Gina Pruski: Our Feelings in Color: A Mindful Writing Practice

4/7/21: John Lopez: Hope Based Journaling

3/31/21: Marilena David-Martin and Justin Heim: NAPD Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense Offices

3/24/21: Marilena David-Martin and Justin Heim: NAPD Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense Offices (Part 1)

3/17/21: Justin Heim: A Mindful Eye: Meditating with Art

3/10/21: Tatiana Kline (San Diego, CA), Sarah McCarthy (Santa Clara, CA), Erin Biggs (Colorado), Jenee Bowden (Colorado), Jenny Andrews (Santa Barbara, CA): Discussion of Well-Being Committees and Initiatives

3/3/21: Bernadette Rabuy, Ray Ibarra, and Facilitator: David Klaus. Mentorship Part 2: Perspectives of Mentees and Mentors and the Value of Coaching Skills for Supporting Well-Being.

2/24/21: Jenny Andrews, Renate Lunn, Melanie Foote. Mentorship Part 1: The Value of Mentorship and How to Design a Structured Mentorship Program.

2/17/21: Robin Konrad and Edvique Shaver: Meditative Doodling

2/10/21: Kirstyn Wentzel: Poetry

2/3/21: John Lopez: Lovingkindness Practice

1/27/21: Elizabeth Vartkessian and Katherine Atkins: Part 2: Addressing Trauma, Loss, and Resilience in Criminal Defense – Focus on Your Office

1/20/21: Elizabeth Vartkessian and Katherine Atkins: Part 1: Addressing Trauma, Loss, and Resilience in Criminal Defense – Focus on You

1/13/21: Justin Heim: Orderly Chaos: A Meditation on Noise

1/6/21: Tatiana Kline:  “New Year, Better You”

12/30/20: Jenny Andrews: Resolutions, Goals, Micro goals, and SMART goals.

12/23/20: Marilena David and John Lopez: Accepting Gifts of Support and Paying it Forward.

12/16/20: Jeff Sherr: The Public Defender Motivational Triad and Resiliency

12/9/20: Justin Heim: Poison as Medicine: Tonglen for Public Defenders

12/2/20: Dave Klaus: Mediation Introduction Sampler

11/25/20: Tatiana Kline: Giving Thanks Gratitude Practice

11/18/20: Anupama Vishwamitra: EQ>IQ

11/11/20: Jenny Andrews: Dynamic Mindfulness

11/4/20: Caitlin Becker: Connecting to Your Intention

10/28/20: John Lopez: The Tree of Life

10/14/20: Gina Pruski: The Five Senses: Our Gateway to the Present Moment

10/7/20: Tatiana Kline: Gratitude/Journaling Practice

9/30/20: Justin Heim: Investigating our Experience of Self and Identity

9/23/20: Jenny Andrews: Dynamic Mindfulness for Reducing Stress Response

9/16/20: Justin Heim: Wellbeing Happens Here and Now: An Intro to Meditation

9/9/20: Marilena David-Martin: Finding Balance through Boundary Setting

9/2/20: John Lopez: Self-Care Vision and Creating Space