In the December Professional Development session of the 2025-2026 school year, Chrissy Mignogna, Lead Trainer and Director of Education at movemindfully presented trauma-responsive practices for mental health.
Mind-Body Practices for Mental Health
Sharing from her book, "I Am Safe," which explores the integration of mind-body practices in mental health care for children and adults, Chrissy explained that these practices, including breathing, movement, relaxation, and visualization, can support mental health and be effectively integrated into existing support systems. Chrissy emphasized the importance of teaching these skills to create neural pathways for managing emotions and stress, aiming to increase public access to mental health tools. The session aimed to equip attendees with practical strategies to implement these practices in educational and community settings.
Mind-Body Skills for Stress Management
Chrissy presented portable mind-body coping skills for managing stress and teaching self-regulation to children. She explained the science behind these practices, referencing Dr. Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model of the brain. Chrissy demonstrated a simple technique called "Hands on Top, Everybody Stop" to help individuals pause and reset when feeling dysregulated.
Stress Management Techniques Overview
Chrissy discussed various techniques for regulating the nervous system and managing stress, including placing hands on the head, tapping, and massaging pressure points. She explained the science behind these methods, such as the neurovascular hold and its ability to increase circulation to the head. Chrissy emphasized the importance of providing students with choices in coping strategies and shared specific techniques for managing low energy, anxiety, and stomach aches.
Anxiety Management and Well-being Strategies
Chrissy also explored butterfly tapping, gentle stretching, and focusing on positive thoughts with participants. She emphasized the importance of practicing these techniques regularly, even for short periods, to build neural connectivity and counteract the negativity bias. Chrissy introduced the "Favorite Place" activity as a way to reduce stress and promote relaxation, and shared a personal anecdote highlighting the effectiveness of repeated practice in building coping skills.
Classroom Mental Health Strategies
Chrissy offered strategies for developing mental health literacy and self-regulation skills in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of fostering connections and using mind-body techniques to manage anxiety and stress. She introduced simple movements, such as rocking and swaying, to help regulate energy and improve focus, and highlighted the benefits of these techniques for both children and adults. Chrissy also stressed the significance of sleep and rest breaks for overall well-being and suggested incorporating these strategies into daily routines to support mental health.
Child Relaxation Techniques Training
Finally, Chrissy shared techniques for teaching breathing and relaxation to children, including using stuffed animals as a visual aid and having students lay down with legs elevated. She introduced the concept of "glimmers" as accessible moments of peace or safety, which can be more effective than gratitude exercises for some individuals, particularly those struggling with mental health challenges.
Watch the full PD with Chrissy below and stay tuned for the next PD session topic in January, decided by participant feedback!
Professional Development Recording
Professional Development Resources
