Presentations and Workshops for the Community

The Bluff Clinc supports institutions and individuals into delivering workshops and presentations to the community, geared at improving the awareness and understanding of general health and medical knowledge.

2023-12-04
Resilience in Intercultural Couples, Families and Intimate Relationships

Dec. 4th 6:30PM – 8PM (Zoom)

Many people are drawn to and find joy in cross-cultural relationships At the same time, the challenges and obstacles to lasting international partnerships are great, making those that thrive all the more remarkable. What might resilient partners be doing that creates the flexibility to maintain strong relationships across differences? We will use systemic and CMM (coordinated management of meaning) theory to explore real life examples of how people navigate differences whether they’re talking about their values for raising a child or the correct way to wash dishes. We aim to equip participants with new approaches to conflict in ways that intentionally create the kinds of relationships they want to live in.

About the presenter:

Lil Wills qualified as a Counsellor/Psychotherapist in the UK in 2008 and has trained in additional approaches since, most recently studying systemic family therapy at the Institute of Family Therapy in London, qualifying as a Systemic Practitioner in summer 2023. She has worked in the voluntary sector and UK Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and runs a busy private practice in Kobe, Japan for many years. Specialities include trauma, intercultural issues and the LGBTQIA+ community.

2023-11-20
Bringing Kindness to oneself

November 20, 6:30.-8 p.m., ZOOM

Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) is a resilience-building resource that can be learned by anyone, even those amongst us who didn’t receive enough kindness in childhood or feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves.

The workshop will begin with a brief, guided meditation to welcome you , followed by a teaching on the three components of self-compassion and common misgivings people have about being self-compassionate. You’ll be invited to participate in a reflective exercise designed to reveal how you treat yourself in difficult times compared to how you treat dear friends in similar circumstances. This exercise will be followed by an opportunity to share your findings in a small group. The speaker will offer two friendly self-compassion practices you can easily integrate into your daily life. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions. Everyone is welcome – you needn’t be a meditator to join! We are all deserving of kindness.

THE SPEAKER: Presented by Jillian Mickleborough-Sugiyama, Canadian Certified Counsellor, MC, MSC Teacher-in-Training, and Certified IFS Therapist. Jillian, based in Nagoya, works with adults and adolescents seeking to live their life confidently and have healthier, more meaningful and compassionate relationships with themselves and others.

outreachteam@telljp.com with any questions

2023-06-12
Tree of Life

Monday, June 12, 2023, from 10 AM – 12 PM JST followed by teatime

Yokohama YMCA, 1 Chome-7 Tokiwacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama

The Tree of Life is a drawing and reflection exercise that helps us to consider our lives in the form of a tree. We’ll use this metaphor to identify our strengths, drawing from our own cultural and personal histories. This is an art-making exercise; art supplies will be provided, but you are free to bring your own favorite tools. We ask you to arrive on time, as the process involves creative energy that is very important not to be interrupted. Tea, snacks, and discussion to follow. The workshop is designed for adults. Presented by Akiko Ogawa, RDMP, CPP, and Tetyana Solotska

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic. In partnership with Yokohama YMCA.

Please register by emailing outreach@telljp.com.

2023-05-29
Stress Management and Self Care

May 29 10:00-12:00

Yokohama YMCA at 1-7 Tokiwacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama

Participants will learn to identify stress, learn about the body’s response, and learn some tactics about how we can help ourselves during stressful periods. We will do a few calming exercises together and provide some resources. After the workshop, we will have some time for tea, snacks, and discussion.

Presented by Tetyana Solotska and Selena Hoy, MSW

Please email outreach@telljp.com to register.

In partnership with the Yokohama YMCA. Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic.

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2023-04-27
Climate Change and Mental Health

Thursday 27th April 2023 from 6:30 PM to 8PM on Zoom

As awareness and first hand experiences of the disruption to the Earth’s climate increases, more and more people report anxiety, depression, helplessness, trauma, fear, and hopelessness about the state of our planet. In this workshop, we aim to normalize these valid and natural feelings by supporting the expression of these emotions and also move towards meaningful personal and collective action – both big and small – by (re)connecting with our values and love for the earth. This will be done by utilizing elements of an evidence-based treatment called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Thus, the skills shared in this workshop can be applied to other human challenges.

Registration required (link)

Free.

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2023-03-15
The Art of Reflection

March 15 12:30-13:30

We often get so overwhelmed by our busy schedules that we do not allocate time to process priorities, or create strategies. In this workshop, we’ll practice some techniques to put aside our busyness, even for a short time, and gain control of our lives. Participants will receive a Reflection Aid template which they can start using during the session.

Presented by Mete Yazici, MBA, MSc

Email outreachteam@telljp.com with any questions

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2022-11-26
Recharge with Nature… in the city

Join us on a mindful walk in Yokohama.

Saturday November 26, 2-330 p.m.

Yokohama Park, adjacent to Yokohama Stadium near Kannai Station

Have you ever tried applying mindfulness to walking? We’ll take the opportunity to stroll around beautiful Yokohama while incorporating various mindfulness techniques. This walk will be an easy, focused activity with a mixture of city and green or natural spaces.

The walk will be led by James Nixon, LPC. James has experience working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, bi-polar, trauma, interpersonal issues, and more. James’ training focus has been in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Person Centered Therapy.

Free, but please RSVP to outreach@telljp.com

A light snack will be provided

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2022-10-27 Parts Work

Learning how to listen to, and understand our inner selves.

In this seminar we will take a new perspective on your emotions and practice listening to the different ‘parts’ of you, including thoughts, sensations, and feelings. This seminar utilizes Internal Family Therapy techniques, includes mindfulness, and aims to help participants work towards acceptance of self and emotions. Presented by Kelly Edens, LCMHCA, NCC, TELL Psychotherapist. Kelly works with clients of all ages on issues such as mood disorders, anxiety, grief, PTSD, clients who have experienced abuse, and family/relationship issues.

Email outreachteam@telljp.com with any questions

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2022-09-13 Slowing Down: Easy Steps Towards More Daily Mindfulness

Join us for an experiential and informative presentation on how to fold more calm and balance in your life without forcing it. Michelle will inspire you to seek moments to slow down and provide practical ways you can use approachable mindful tools even in the most busy and chaotic times of your life. Michelle has taught yoga and mindfulness for 18 years to those living with chronic disease, spinal cord injury, brain injury and traumatic loss. She is a somatically-trained psychotherapist who specializes in working with trauma in both couples and individuals.

Presented by Michelle Pietrzek-Wegner, somatic-based LMHC, internationally certified yoga therapist

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

Contact outreach@telljp.com with questions.

2022-07-12 Attachment-centered Parenting Techniques

TELL Psychotherapist Kari Fager will introduce parents to effective techniques for connecting with and calming big emotions in their children. Parents will gain a basic understanding of what is happening in a child’s brain and walk away with practical strategies they can begin trying immediately. This 90 minute session will be a hybrid of teaching and hands-on activities.

Presented by TELL Psychotherapist Kari Fager

Tuesday July 12, 2022, 7 p.m. Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2022-06-15 Digital Well-being

Digitalization has been defining our lifestyle. Do we know about its impact on our well-being?
In this short webinar, we will talk about “digital well-being.”
We will ask the participants to come up with their ideal state of digital well-being.
We will discover where the boundaries can be for each person and we will talk about micro-habits.
Participants will leave the webinar with their actions for attaining sustainable digital living.

Presented by Mete Yazici, MSc, MBA, instructor at TUJ and Rikkyo University

Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2021-12-11 The Power of Positive Psychology

Using the Power of Positive Psychology to Set the Aspirations in 2022

In the workshop, you will learn the main pillars of Positive Psychology as a way to guide us in living more balanced lives.

You will learn how to translate those pillars to your lives.

You will understand how well-being is defined in Positive Psychology and choose the dimensions of holistic well-being for yourself.

You will also discuss the possibilities with others.

At the end of the workshop, you will leave with a set of aspirations you will have in 2022 so that even unexpected things happen you can steer back.

Some aspirations people work on these days are,

– Taking steps in work-life balance or integration,
– Building a career direction
– Becoming a mentor-like parent or a role-model
– Taking control of one aspect that could work better in their lives, e.g. relations, money, self-development.

Presented by Mete Yazici, M.Sc., MBA

Sat Dec 11, 2021, 5 p.m. Sponsored by The Bluff Clinic

2021-12-08 Healthy Cooking Course

The Bluff Clinic is supporting the foreign community with cooking lessons towards a healthy diet and healthy life. Please register to this seasonal themed lesson on December 08, 2021, at the Honmoku Chiku Center. Seats are limited to 10 people in a 24 seat room, to limit the risks. Since it is sponsored by the Bluff Clinic, the fee is only 500 yen and all the ingredients are provided. Usually cooking group lessons start from 3,300 yen.

Please register by simply sending an email to administration@bluffclinic.com

2021-11-24 Healthy Cooking Course

The Bluff Clinic is supporting the foreign community with cooking lessons towards a healthy diet and healthy life. Please register to this session focusing on keeping low cholesterol on November 26, 2021, at the Honmoku Chiku Center. Seats are limited to 12 people in a 24 seat room, to limit the risks. Since it is sponsored by the Bluff Clinic, the fee is only 500 yen and all the ingredients are provided. Usually cooking group lessons start from 3,300 yen.

Please register by simply sending an email to administration@bluffclinic.com

2021-10-26 Healthy Cooking Course

The Bluff Clinic is supporting the foreign community with cooking lessons towards a healthy diet and healthy life. Please register to this seasonal themed lesson on October 26, 2021, at the Honmoku Chiku Center. Seats are limited to 10 people in a 24 seat room, to limit the risks. Since it is sponsored by the Bluff Clinic, the fee is only 500 yen and all the ingredients are provided. Usually cooking group lessons start from 3,300 yen.

Please register by simply sending an email to administration@bluffclinic.com

2021-07-31 Managing Anxiety

In this workshop, we’ll learn coping skills for anxiety and panic attacks, based on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

This workshop will be an introduction to managing anxiety. For those interested, TELL will be running a support group on this topic beginning in September 2021.

Saturday July 31, 10-1130 a.m.

Presented by Jono Lee, MSW, LISCW, LMHC, TELL Psychotherapist. Jono is a multilingual, multicultural therapist who has worked in hospital, school, and private practice settings. His main therapeutic approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a modality proven to be highly effective in coping with unpleasant thoughts and feelings such as anxiety and panic attacks, with which he has lived experience.

To register click here. Contact outreach@telljp.com for more information.

2021-06-23 Healthy Cooking Course

The Bluff Clinic is supporting the foreign community with cooking lessons towards a healthy diet and healthy life. After a successful first lesson in May with 10 participants we are planning another lesson on June 23, 2021, at the Honmoku Chiku Center. Seats are limited to 10 people in a 24 seat room, to limit the risks. Since it is sponsored by the Bluff Clinic, the fee is only 500 yen and all the ingredients are provided. Usually cooking group lessons start from 3,300 yen.

Please register by simply sending an email to administration@bluffclinic.com

2021-06-04 Exploring Sex Education

Bio: June Low is an award-winning sex educator currently based at Kyoto University. She teaches comprehensive sex education to young people aged between 8 and 18. Find out more about June at www.goodsexeducation.com

Description of the workshop: Sex education has been scientifically proven to help chidren grow up safer and make better decisions in life. However, many people do not understand sex education and think it is all about sex and reproduction. Parents are often at a loss as to how to begin talking about sex, and many teachers don’t feel confident teaching the subject. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn more about the world of comprehensive sex education, and how it works to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of young people.

June 4, 2021 at 7:00pm – 8:30pm JST on Zoom

Check out the TELL website for details and registration

2021-05-25 Raising Bilingual Children

How can parents plan for success in bi-lingual language development? We will share information on bi-lingual language development and strategies for helping kids learn two or more languages.
Online presentation!

2021-05-12 Healthy Cooking

Vegetable Sushi & Gluten Free Tempura

The Bluff Clinic is supporting the foreign community with cooking lessons towards a healthy diet and healthy life. This is their first attempt, scheduled for 12th May 2021 at the Honmoku Chiku Center and the seats are limited to 10 people in a 24 seat room, to limit the risks. Since it is sponsored by the Bluff Clinic, the fee is only 500 yen and all the ingredients are provided. Usually cooking group lessons start from 3,300 yen.

Please register by simply sending an email to administration@bluffclinic.com

2020-04-04 Presentation on The Skill of Speech & Language

Tools for Impactful collaboration, communication & creative problem solving

Learn how to : Understand the intricacies of language
development given current cognitive linguistic research.
Create more effective treatment. Communicate these complicated concepts
to parents.
Use your passions & interests to creatively problem solve and prevent burnout.

For signups, please register HERE

At the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club

2020-02-29 Presentation on Empowering your family in the digital world

With the internet firmly rooted in our daily lives, the ubiquity of social media, and growing prominence of AI, children and adults alike have had to quickly develop new skills to adapt to online personal and professional worlds. This workshop will focus on empowering families to manage their digital lives at home, school, and work. The discussion will explore strategies to cope with online issues such as safety, privacy, relationships, conflict, screen time, and more. Helping adults to be digital mentors and tech positive parents will have an emphasis.

Contact outreach@telljp.com to register or for more information

At Horizon International School Yokohama