Workshop on Interconnected Practices for Mental Health

When we live in such unsettling times, prioritizing our mental health can be more important than ever! It’s good to have a safe space to ask questions and learn practical tools and grounding techniques to stay present.

Lija Shah, MSW and ASW, will lead us through a 30-minute interactive workshop, followed by an optional art activity to honor and express the feelings we’re holding in a creative, life-giving way.

Lija has especially designed this to be accessible to anyone—of any background or belief system. This doesn’t have to feel super heavy—this isn’t group therapy—and at the same time, it can be encouraging to know that we are not alone in wanting to be intentional about adopting some new-to-us practices to help our mental health.

We’ll provide coffee (travelers from Voyager!) and a fresh berry fruit salad. We will meet in our coworking space.

#### Lija’s Areas of Focus

Lija focuses in the areas of grief and loss, life and career transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, caregiver burnout, identity issues, family matters, setting healthy boundaries, and navigating spiritual/religious pain from your past. She works with individuals, couples, and families.
You can learn more about Lija through her page on the Christian Counseling Collective of San Jose here.

#### Lija’s Background

Lija is an Associate Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Houston. She moved to the Bay Area from Houston after living there for 20 years. For 10 years, she served as the Director of Caring Ministry at a large church, caring for the emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of the congregation. Working in a faith-based community gave her the privilege of empathizing with members and helping them process the mental and emotional effects of difficult relationships, divorce, grief, loss, caregiver burnout, dementia care, depression, anxiety, addiction, and spiritual/religious trauma.

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