Wellspring EAP Offers Back-to-School Resources for ALLtech Members

Another school year has begun and many of us are still holding uncertainty, anxiety, and fear for our children (or the children in our lives) and for our families.

While there is much outside of our control, there are things we can do, and strategies or approaches we can embrace to help support our well-being and the well-being of our families.

Wellspring EAP, which provides the employee assistance program for ALLtech members, is offering two webinars in October to help families and individuals cope with the continuing uncertainty.

On October 7, 2021, ALLtech members are invited to join Wellspring EAP and Emily Cherkin, MA, Ed, for the webinar Parent and Family Mental Wellbeing in a Still-COVID, Still-uncertain School Year, from noon to 1 p.m.

Emily Cherkin, MA Ed, is an internationally recognized consultant who has worked with families and schools over the last fifteen years. In addition to navigating the challenges of parenting in a distracted digital age, Emily also facilitates parent workshops, professional development training, and school presentations that take a “tech-intentional” approach. Emily is also mom to 13-year-old Max and 9-year-old Sylvie, who present daily thrills and challenges. Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Education (with a focus on Conflict Resolution and Peaceable Schools) from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She has taught Middle School Humanities, English, and a curriculum based on screentime, media literacy, and bullying for ten years at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS). She has also worked as an academic coach for children and adults with executive function challenges, including ADHD. Emily has appeared in the New York Times, on Good Morning America, and on The Today Show (twice!). She is also working on a book about parenting and screentime.

Also in October, Wellspring EAP is offering the webinar Understanding Suicide: A Learning Conversation, which will explore questions such as: What makes someone at risk of suicide? How has COVID-19 impacted mental and emotional wellbeing? What kind of support is proven to help reduce risk? What are some good resources I can turn to help support myself or someone in my family or community?

The webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on October 13, 2021, will start with a brief learning session from Dr. Jeffrey Sung, who will then be joined by Teresa Lupinacci, LMHC, CDP from the Wellspring EAP team as they respond to attendee questions.

Jeffrey Sung, M.D. is an acting instructor with the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Since 2002, his clinical responsibilities have included direct service and consultation in the care of individuals facing homelessness, medical illness, substance use and psychiatric conditions. He has taught psychodynamic theory, suicide risk assessment, and managing response to patient suicide to psychiatrists, general physicians and mental health clinicians. In addition to work with the university, Dr. Sung also maintains a private practice.

Teresa Lupinacci, LMHC, CDP is the Clinical Manager for Wellspring EAP, and has worked in Employee Assistance Programs for 19 years. She started her career working in the substance abuse treatment field and local school districts, upon finishing her graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bastyr University, she was the treatment director of a dual diagnosis treatment program, then opened a private practice. She also has training in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Mental Health First Aid, Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention, DOT reasonable suspicion for substance use, and Motivational Interviewing. Teresa is the President for the Pacific Northwest chapter of Employee Assistance Professionals Association.