Lunch & Learns
Join us the third Thursday of each month at noon. We will guide an interactive, virtual discussion on popular behavioral health topics. There will be time at the end for Q&A.
Discussion about the ParTNers Center closure
Thurs., July 27, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
Join an interactive discussion about the closing of the ParTNers Center. Dr. Andrea Dowdy, director of clinical services with Benefits Administration, and Caroline Portis-Jenkins, clinic manager, will:
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Talk about the reason behind the closing
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Explain options for transitioning your care to other providers
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Let you know how you might be able to continue seeing our nurse practitioners, Dave and Cathy
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Answer any questions you have
This session will not be recorded, but you can view the slides used in the session and/or read the closure letter to learn more.
COVID: Where do we go from here?
Thurs., April 20, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
Covid continues to impact our lives. It can affect our:
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Short-term and long-term physical health
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Behavioral health
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Social behaviors
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Relationships
While there’s much experts still don’t understand about COVID, during this Lunch & Learn, we will discuss what we do know and offer some ideas for skillfully navigating the challenges. We will also spend some time answering your questions about COVID.
Customized resolutions you can actually keep
Thurs., Jan. 19, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
When each new year comes around, thoughts often turn toward making resolutions. The clean slate of a new year seems like a perfect time for a fresh start. But, as many of us know, resolutions can be hard to keep. Fortunately, they don’t have to be. Set yourself up for success by learning how to set goals specific to you.
Join Cathy Spencer and Dave Flecksteiner, your ParTNers Center nurse practitioners, to get tips on:
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Evaluating your current starting point
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Choosing the right resolutions for you
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Developing an action plan for keeping them so you can thrive in 2023 and beyond
Not your mother’s menopause! Manage it better
October 20, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
“I’ll never forget when my mom went through menopause. We just had to keep our heads low,” recalled a patient who was seeking help to manage her menopause symptoms.
While common symptoms of menopause — mood changes, hot flashes and weight gain — might be the same as those your mother experienced, today’s treatment options are different. They’re also much more effective. Hormone therapy, non-hormonal prescription medications, natural remedies like starting a mindfulness practice, and eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein can all help reduce menopause symptoms. But that’s not all!
Join us at this Lunch & Learn to find out about available tools and resources that can help you (and your loved ones!) thrive through menopause.
You can heal from trauma
September 15, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
If you’ve suffered a physical or psychological trauma, you know how it feels. But did you know that trauma can actually change the structure of your brain and how it functions? This can impact the way you respond to the world around you.
Trauma affects the parts of your brain that control your emotions, instincts, memory and impulses. Just remembering a traumatic event can cause your brain to go into overdrive and act as if it’s experiencing the event for the first time.
The good news: This process is reversible. You can rewire and retrain your brain.
Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, at this Lunch & Learn to find out:
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What exactly trauma is
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How to process trauma in a healthy way
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Steps you can take to heal
Weight Management
August 18, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
Losing weight isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. Instead, it’s crucial to find an approach that fits YOU.
Finding a one-size-fits-you solution starts with:
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Having realistic expectations
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Setting reachable goals
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Finding an eating plan that’s healthy and satisfying
There are new techniques and advances in the field of weight loss that can help you achieve your goals, safely and healthfully.
Join the ParTNers Health & Wellness Center family nurse practitioners to hear about the latest medications, procedures and weight management strategies. You’ll also learn how to customize your personal weight-loss journey using your Partners for Health and ActiveHealth wellness benefits.
Understanding depression and depression disorders
July 21, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
It’s natural to feel sad after a major life change like a divorce or the death of a loved one. However, when that grief starts to disrupt your daily life for an extended period, it may be time to seek help.
Clinical depression is very common after a traumatic event. Nearly 21 million Americans have been diagnosed with a major depressive episode at least once in their lives. Though common, depression is often misunderstood by the general public, and unfortunately, goes untreated for many.
Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, on July 21 to learn more about:
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The basics of depression
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How depression can impact your daily life
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Treatment options
Understanding depression presentation
Anxiety vs. anxiety disorder: what's the difference?
June 16, Noon – 1 p.m. CT
Nobody is immune to feeling anxious. Anxiety is a natural protective response to perceived danger. It speeds up our breathing and our heartbeat, pumping oxygenated blood to our muscles as our body prepares to either fight or flee.
In small doses, anxiety itself is not a bad thing. It can push us to complete tasks or make necessary changes in our lives.
So, when does it become a problem? Anxiety can become an issue — or a disorder — when it begins to overtake smaller issues in our lives, creating a dysregulation in our system. Anxiety disorders can disrupt both emotional and physical health. And it can lead to problems at work and in our relationships. Did you know that 1 in 5 American adults suffers from an anxiety disorder?
Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, on June 16 to learn more about:
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The basics of anxiety and anxiety disorders
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How each can impact our daily lives
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Possible solutions
Anxiety vs. Anxiety disorder presentation
Physical self-care: 7 things you need to know
Review the presentation from May's Lunch & Learn by clicking on the link below.
Is preventive care really important since I am young and don’t have any issues? Do I really need a mammogram every year? Does my family history matter? Are there alternatives to getting a colonoscopy? Am I too old for the HPV vaccine?
Knowing which preventive care exams and screenings you need — and when you need them — can be confusing. Our very own nurse practitioners, Dave Flecksteiner and Cathy Spencer, will answer your questions and tell you 7 things you need to know to make prevention a valuable part of your self-care routine. There will be lots of time for Q&A.
How to draw the line...with kindness
Review the presentation from April's Lunch & Learn by clicking on the link below.
What is a boundary? Simply put, it’s a dividing line. We use boundaries all the time: We don't go into our neighbor's yard uninvited. We don’t tell jokes that could hurt or offend others. We stop answering our phones at a certain time at night.
Boundaries are a familiar concept. So why is it so hard to set personal boundaries with friends, family and co-workers? Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, on April 21 to learn:
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The basics of boundaries
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How to recognize if your boundaries are crossed
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Practical tools to improve your boundary setting – in an effective, healthy way
Better sleep is possible
Mar. 17, Noon - 1 p.m. CT
(in honor of Sleep Awareness Week Mar. 13-19)
Sleep isn't something we give much thought to until it's a problem. But given that one-third of American adults suffer from sleep deprivation — a problem that has only worsened in recent years — it's a problem that needs attention. Lack of sleep directly affects how we think and feel.
Join Amy Jackson, LCSW, MPH, on Mar. 17 to learn the basic tenets of sleep hygiene. The information she'll share could drastically improve your sleep and positively impact every aspect of your life.
