Speeches / Seminars / Workshops

Presented by
Elly Victoria Darwin, M.Ed., NCC

Speeches and Seminars

Birth Order and Family Dynamics. Are you an only child? Oldest? Middle? "The Baby" of the family? Children are born into a family’s "pecking order," which has an strong influence on how they are perceived by the family. Certain personality characteristics emerge from this dynamic that last a lifetime. In this lighthearted seminar I present an overview of typical birth-order characteristics, including exceptions and anomalies, and discuss ways in which adults carry their birth-order behavior into their relationships, careers, parenting, and virtually all areas of life. 45 to 90 minutes.

See also: Birth Order: Implications for Educators, under "Especially for Educators."

"True Colors" Personality Types. Are you a sensitive Blue? A curious Green? A practical Gold? A spontaneous Orange? Based on a massive body of personality research, True Colors is a quick, fun, and easy way to systematically determine personality types. This interactive seminar covers the color profile and applies the information to various aspects of personal interactions. 1.5 to 3 hours.

"True Colors" and Relationships. Are you in a serious relationship? Just ended one? Looking for a partner? Knowledge of True Colors can answer many questions about relationships. It explains the logic behind couplings that work well, as well as those that have fallen apart. Whether you attend alone or with a friend, whether you’re married or single, you’re bound to gain tremendous insight into the wonders of couplings at this fun and interactive workshop. 1.5 to 3 hours.

"True Colors:" Knowledge of Personality Types Can Boost Your Business. Stop wasting time on pitches your customers can’t relate to! Based on the True Colors personality types described above, this fun seminar will help you understand your own personality and work-style, as well as the buying styles of your customers and clients. With this knowledge you’ll be able to quickly "size up" a client to determine how best to present your business or product for instant appeal. Ideal for business owners, sales professionals, and anyone who stands to gain from an understanding of how people purchase goods and services. 1.5 to 2 hours.

"True Colors" for Youth. True Colors can be adapted to the needs and interests of children ages 10 and up. Knowledge of the colors can be applied to such areas as teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, etc. Great learning activity for school clubs, church camps, service organizations. 1.5 to 3 hours (can be divided into 2 or more sessions to accommodate meeting format and/or attention span).

See also: "True Colors" for School Administrators and "True Colors" in the Classroom, under "Especially for Educators."

See also: Substance Abuse and the "True Colors" Personality Types, under "Substance Abuse."

The Amazing World of Subpersonalities. When our basic emotional needs are not met, we develop roles (behavioral patterns) as a way of coping. This "inner cast of characters" constitutes our subpersonalities. While they initially seem beneficial, subpersonalities can get out of hand and become detrimental. In this fun seminar, you will explore your own subpersonalities and learn specific techniques for controlling them when they work against you. 45 to 90 minutes.

The Art of Successful Relationships. This presentation explores how the relationship with oneself affects all other relationships, particularly intimate ones. We attract and bond with others at our own level of emotional well-being. When one has a high-functioning inner relationship–in other words, has high self-esteem and is comfortable with oneself–it opens the door for attracting high-functioning partners. This concept is then applied to male-female perspectives. 1 to 2 hours.

Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Miracle. In this talk I briefly present the Essene concept of forgiveness as canceling the expectations held of another. I describe misconceptions about forgiveness and the benefits of forgiving. Note: Although this is designed to be a stand-alone topic, it makes an ideal pre-event to my weekend forgiveness workshop. For more information, click on the Forgiveness InfoLetter. For information on the weekend workshop, click on Workshop FAQs.) 20 to 60 minutes.

How to (Instantly!) De-Stress. Stress seems to be a byproduct of everyday life, but there are many tools we can use to manage it. I present a brief overview of how stress affects us and give practical tips for alleviating stress as it comes up. 45 to 90 minutes.

Power Words: How Word Choice Affects Personal Power. The words we commonly use have a subtle way of shaping our attitudes and behaviors. This fun talk offers dozens of specific substitutions in our everyday vocabulary that relieve stress and promote a healthier outlook on life. 20 to 30 minutes.

Psychosynthesis: Psychology With a Soul. Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, a contemporary of Freud, believed that there is more to psychiatry than exploring one's primitive drives. He developed a psychology based on the premise that well-being is a synthesis of all levels of the human condition: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This informative talk is recommended for human development professionals or anyone who has felt that traditional therapy is limited. 45 to 90 minutes.

The 17 Qualities of an Empowered Person. Drawn from my book manuscript, Living from the Inside Out, this presentation describes the attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of an empowered person and gives useful tips for elevating one’s own personal empowerment. 45 to 90 minutes.

What Does Your Heart Say? This is the best question to ask yourself when faced with any personal dilemma! In this empowering talk I discuss how to cut through the "head stuff" and get to the "heart" of the matter–and how to recognize which is which. (This talk is also available with a spiritual slant, if desired. See "Your Heart's Messages," listed in the Practical Spirituality section below.) 20 to 60 minutes.

Your Personal "Vote". When we vote for a political candidate we vote for the one who best represents our own issues and values. In this seminar I explore the concept of applying our values to our everyday life and exploring the inconsistencies we may discover. (For a more spiritual application of this topic, see Your Spiritual "Vote", below.) 45 to 90 minutes.

Especially for Educators:

Active Assistance for Administrators. A fun and rejuvenating professional development getaway for school leaders. Specific topics vary according to your particular needs, but typically include such areas as: the administrator's personality and leadership style (and why that's significant); creating a positive school environment; effective planning and goal-setting; time management; effective parental and community involvement; dealing with difficult people; stress management; how to remain sharp by "taking care of the caretaker"-- and more! Ideal for new and seasoned principals, assistant principals, project coordinators, and administrators-in-training. 1 to 8 hours. This material can be offered as a workshop/retreat, a series of smaller seminars, or as isolated topics.

Birth Order: Implications for Educators. Based on my seminar, "Birth Order and Family Dynamics" (above), this presentation covers the basic birth-order characteristics. Additionally, I discuss one’s birth-order-related teaching style and then delve into implications for the classroom: how children learn, socialize, and respond to adults according to their birth-order traits. Valuable information for those who want to become more effective educators. 1 to 2 hours.

Substitute Teacher Training. An under-trained sub can, at the very least, cause educational productivity to suffer. At worst, he or she can unknowingly cause harm to students-- and a load of grief for administrators! "How to Navigate as a Sub-- Without Getting Sunk!" offers top-notch professional training especially for substitute teachers. Topics include: laws, rules, policies, procedures and routines; professional appearance and conduct; classroom management; student behavior and discipline; and academics. Absolutely essential for first-timers, and a vital refresher for your more experienced subs. 2 to 3 hours.

"True Colors" for School Administrators. Part of your job as an administrator is to deal with the various personalities among your faculty, support staff, students, parents, and community leaders. "True Colors" provides an outstanding management tool for quickly sizing up personality strengths and challenges, and for using personality combinations to best advantage. This lively interactive workshop will help you develop teamwork and cohesion within your school. It will provide easy strategies for dealing with conflicts. And it will help you understand and define your own management style. 3 to 6 hours.

"True Colors" in the Classroom. By the time children reach school age, their True Colors tendencies are already evident. This fun presentation for teachers covers the True Colors basics (see "True Colors" Personality Types, above) and then applies them to the classroom environment, including classroom management, conflict resolution, teaching and learning styles, parent-teacher conferences, and more. 1.5 to 3 hours.

Practical Spirituality:

Do It With Love. Mother Teresa said we can do no great things; only small things with great love. I expand on that concept in this talk, with emphasis on applying the principle of unconditional love to virtually every aspect of our everyday lives. 20 to 30 minutes.

Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Miracle. In this talk I briefly present the Essene concept of forgiveness as canceling the expectations held of another. I describe misconceptions about forgiveness and the benefits of forgiving. Note: Although this is designed to be a stand-alone topic, it makes an ideal pre-event to my weekend forgiveness workshops. For more information, click on the Forgiveness InfoLetter. For information on the weekend workshop, click on Workshop FAQs. 20 to 60 minutes.

The Universal Laws of Attraction. What do you want to attract? The perfect job? The perfect mate? The perfect house? The Universe is eager to cooperate with our fondest desires, but we need to know how to ask and how to accept what the Universe offers. This enlightening talk offers specific suggestions for putting this often-untapped resource to work. 20 to 60 minutes.

Your Heart's Messages. Your heart is your link to spirit, and therefore, to all that is good. In this empowering talk I discuss how to cut through the "head stuff" and get to the "heart" of the matter–and how to recognize which is which. (This talk has a more spiritual slant than "What Does Your Heart Say?, listed in the Personal Empowerment and Effective Living section above.) 20 to 60 minutes.

Your Spiritual "Vote". When we vote for a political candidate we vote for the one who best represents our own issues and values. In this seminar I explore the concept of applying our values to our everyday life and exploring the inconsistencies we may discover. (Similar to Your Personal Vote, listed above, but with more emphasis on spiritual aspects.) 20 to 60 minutes.

Substance Abuse:

Addiction and Family Dynamics. When an adult has an addictive disorder (or other chronic severe dysfunction) it affects the entire family. The family unit becomes an adaptive system, with individual family members taking on "roles" (patterns of behavior) as a way of coping. These behavior patterns become entrenched and can last a lifetime. In this presentation I briefly describe the stages of addiction and then explain the dynamics of a family unit as it attempts to adapt to the dysfunction. This information is valuable for educators, managers, parents, or anyone who wishes to understand how individuals relate to groups. 45 to 90 minutes.

"Adult Children" in the Workplace. Children reared in an environment overshadowed by a parent’s alcoholism or other addiction have developed adaptive coping behaviors which usually last a lifetime. In this talk I outline the Adult Child of Alcoholic (ACA) syndrome and how these coping behaviors play out in the workplace. Valuable information for administrators, managers, or anyone who desires an understanding of adults in the workplace. 45 to 90 minutes.

Substance Abuse and the "True Colors" Personality Types. "True Colors" is a simple way of representing personality traits as colors. (See "True Colors" Personality Types, above.) There is no color or color profile that is guaranteed to be at risk for, or protected from, substance abuse. This fascinating workshop delves into how the tendencies toward various addictive substances are expressed in terms of "True Colors" personality types. Perfect for staff development, parent education, or anyone interested in the dynamics of personality and at-risk behavior. 1.5 to 3 hours.

Successful Relationships for Recovering Addicts. People naturally attract others who have common interests. For addicts in recovery, the issue of relating to people whose lives are consumed by addiction becomes particularly important. In this uplifting seminar I discuss the importance building a healthy relationship with oneself, since the quality of relationship with oneself dictates the quality of relationship with others. I then move to the "whole life" dynamic with and without the addictive substance(s). This has proven to be a powerfully motivating model for maintaining sobriety. As time allows, I relate this dynamic to the search for high quality friends and mates. 1.5 to 3 hours.

What Can I Do to Prevent Substance Abuse? When we look at the overwhelming issue of drugs in our schools and communities, we often feel helpless. In this talk I present suggestions for lowering kids’ attraction to drugs without "harping" or lecturing. Useful information for anyone who deals with young people. 20 to 60 minutes.

Workshops and Courses

People Skills at Work. In the workplace you need two things: job skills and people skills. This course presents the vital fundamentals of how to communicate effectively to get a job, keep a job, and get promoted. Emphasizing the utmost in professionalism, personal integrity, and above-and-beyond attitudes and behavior, highlights include: making a great first impression (priceless in an interview!); body language (posture, gestures, clothing); dealing with the public; telephone technique; getting along in the office; dealing with difficult people; handling stress; how to boost your self-esteem; and how to get promoted. Ideal for job seekers or employed persons who want to improve their communication skills and put their best foot forward. 5 to 12 hours total instruction time (divided into smaller class segments). 

Unconditional Love and Forgiveness: Pathway to Peace. There is no situation or person– including you!– that cannot be forgiven, once you know how. In a comfortable, supportive environment, this weekend retreat offers the opportunity to release old feelings of resentment or bitterness and to actually experience the heartfelt joy and peace that comes from forgiving. Weekend. For more information, click on "Forgiveness" in the column at left.

Your Authentic Self. This half- or full-day workshop shows how to cut through the various roles you play in your life and identify your Authentic Self. By connecting with your Authentic Self you can then better define your outer roles to be in alignment with your true purpose in life. Involves interactive activities as well as individual reflection. 3 to 6 hours.

Elly V. Darwin, M.Ed., NCC
Clearheart Communications, LLC
P.O. Box 2276
Hammond, LA 70404
E-mail: Elly@ClearheartCommunications.com