Workshops

"The workshop was amazing! Very insightful, informative, and fun! The facilitator has a unique strategy and teaching style. I felt so welcomed and heard." -Erica

Registration for workshops is required. Click here to register.

Please be punctual as we will be splitting into breakout rooms at the start.

If you don't find a workshop time that works, or you want to do something sooner or shorter, bookable online times are also being offered. Click here to learn more.

All Teddy Bear Talk Support activities can be attended free of charge.

Workshop description

With Teddy Bear Talk Support, "teddy bears" are primarily engaged in actively listening to a talker, but talkers may also ask teddy bears to provide other kinds of fodder for what the talker is saying. In this workshop, we'll be exploring the limited things that teddy bears might be asked to do, and we'll be offering ample opportunities to experience both the talker and teddy bear roles during our activities. As teddy bears, we'll be learning how to support the talker without bringing in our own agendas.  How do we keep it about them and not us (and what we might do or what we might be interested in)?

Examples of some different things that teddy bears might be asked to do:

• do some paraphrasing of parts of what the talker said
• offer some open, honest questions (and perhaps offer the questions in writing)
• make guesses at what's at the bottom of what the talker is talking about
• serve as a scribe by writing down the parts of what the talker is saying that they ask you to
• make guesses at what feelings and needs are underlying what the talker is saying

Examples of some things that a talker might talk through with their teddy bear:

• Whatever thoughts come to mind as they try to wade in when they're not sure where to start
• Prioritizing their day
• Making their intentions clearer with an email they just finished drafting out
• Reflecting on a parenting decision or a conversation they need to have
• Thinking through purchasing something
• Imagining how to navigate choppy waters with co-workers or family members
• Dealing with a small task that has been a thorn in their side
• Handling a major life issue

For parents

Since we are whole people and not just parents, it's possible that just the idea of easily accessible opportunities to talk to adult humans (whether it be about parenting or about ideas outside of parenting) might be what is most attractive about Teddy Bear Talk Support.

But, besides using Teddy Bear Talk Support with adults, you can also serve as a teddy bear for your child or have them serve as a teddy bear for you. Imagine the possibilities this offers for transforming how you engage with your child. What can happen when you ask your child to serve as a teddy bear for you? Perhaps it can give them opportunities to be helpful to you. Perhaps having your child role play someone else can help with giving them different perspectives.

Listening is a powerful gift we can offer each other. How can experimenting with Teddy Bear Talk Support make it so listening works its magic for you more often?

In-person workshops

In-person workshops are currently being held by request only. Contact Leeann at teddybear@teddybeartalk.com if you would like to schedule a time for an in-person workshop. These workshops can be for everyone or just for parents.

Online workshops

Thursday, July 11th one hour online workshop for everyone

• Click here to see the meeting time in your time zone
• Time: 8 - 9 pm Eastern
• Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024
• Zoom link: https://meaningfulaction.org/tb

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146

Passcode: 123123

Sunday, October 20th one hour online workshop for everyone

• Click here to see the meeting time in your time zone
• Time: 4 - 5 pm Eastern
• Date: Sunday, October 20, 2024
• Zoom link: https://meaningfulaction.org/tb

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146

Passcode: 123123

Online role-play sessions

Click here for details about online role-play sessions, which are the newest events offered by Teddy Bear Talk. One unusual feature of these sessions is that you can optionally record a role-play of your difficult conversation and then potentially share it with the person you actually need to have the difficult conversation with.

In-person co-working sessions in Ann Arbor, MI

Click here to learn more about Teddy Bear Talk Support co-working sessions.

There is no signup for the co-working sessions. There is no problem if we run out of space in our room because there are many tables in the main library room that we can also use.

Co-working sessions are being offered by request only at this point in time.

Along for the Ride Groups inspired by the moai groups in Okinawa

Along for the Ride Groups is a new project (that includes Teddy Bear Talk Support as a suggested activity) that is just beginning to be developed.  These groups are inspired by the moai groups in Okinawa, Japan-- groups of about 5 - 7 people that meet regularly over the long term, some since childhood, some for over 90 years. 

• Click here to express interest in joining an Along for the Ride group.
• Click here to express interest in collaborating on developing visions and plans for how Along for the Ride Groups could come to be.

Interested in future offerings?

• To express interest in future offerings, go to https://teddybeartalksupport.com/interested

Questions?

If you have questions, contact Leeann Fu by phone at (734) 237-7676 or by email at teddybear@teddybeartalk.com