Thrive Talks
Please join us for Thrive Talks. This is a series of engaging presentations on timely mental health topics. Our expert speakers come from across the region and share practical tips and tools on parenting, relationships, aging, effective communications and more.
Thrive Talk presentations will take place in person from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Oak Park Main Library in the Veteran’s Room on the 2nd floor, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park. Parking available in the library garage and street parking.
Past Thrive Talk recordings are found on our Resources Thrive Talk Recordings page. To visit, please click here.
March 20th, 6:00 pm at the Brookdale Senior Living, 1111 Ontario St., Oak ParkTopic: Aging Fearlessly: Are You Embracing Who You are Now? See flyer with details below:
Our presenter Julie Bach, LCSW is a Gerontology Coordinator and Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Dominican University. Julie holds two Master’s degrees – one from the University of Illinois Circle and one from the University of Southern California; as well as a PhD in Social Work form the University of Illinois Circle. Julie will explore ideas we carry about aging and how these ideas cause us fear and feeling like our lives are out of control.
November 10th, 7:00 pm at the Oak Park Public Main LibraryTopic: The Impact of Technology and Social Media on Family Relationships. See flyer with details here.
Title: Being Online: A Harm Reduction Approach to Technology & Social Media Use in Families
Our presenter Nicole Rea, LCSW, is a practicing clinical social worker and psychotherapist and the current Practice Manager for the Chicago Center for Psychotherapy with special expertise in developmental psychology, neuropsychology, and neurodivergence. Nicole will share research on the developmental impact of technology and media on children at various age levels. This talk will help parents feel more confident, hopeful, and informed about how to minimize the harm and maximize the benefits of technology and media on their families.
September 29th, 7:00 pm at the Oak Park Public LibraryTopic: Feeling Safe in an Unsafe World: How to talk to Children and Adolescents about Traumatic World Events. See flyer with details here.
Our speaker is Laura Vecchiolla, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Sandstone Psychology Group, a private practice in Chicago who brings extensive experience working with children who have suffered trauma. Laura will provide practical tips for parents, teachers, counselors, and others interested in learning how to best talk to children and adolescents about traumatic events. Given ongoing incidents of gun violence, images of war, and news of climate-related natural disaster, this talk is especially timely.