Continuing Education for Social Workers at Wayne State University

In addition to acting as president of Health Mate, Inc., Dr. Sandra Schiff serves as a part-time faculty member at Wayne State University School of Social Work. Dr. Sandra Schiff is one of the many distinguished faculty at Wayne State, a nationally respected university with a main campus in Detroit, Michigan, and six extension centers in the southeast part of the state.

Part of the mission of the Wayne State School of Social Work is to advance the social work profession. One way that the school does this is to offer continuing education programs for practicing social workers.

Continuing education through the Wayne State University School of Social Work is notable in a number of ways. Wayne State works closely with many social service agencies in the Greater Detroit area to make education opportunities available within actual workplaces. Instructors are highly experienced; in fact, some have been practicing social workers for over 30 years. Both workshops and longer, ongoing educational opportunities are offered, and topics reflect the latest trends, developments, and research within the social work profession.

These classes and workshops give practicing social workers a chance to interact with their peers, learn new skills, and get new perspectives on their profession. All continuing education through the School of Social Work at Wayne State is part of the larger commitment of the department to serving the Detroit metropolitan area.

Being Present for Your Grandchildren

Trained through the Institute for Life Coaching, Dr. Sandra Schiff advises and guides individuals and organizations in her coaching practice throughout southeast Michigan as well as nationally.

Dr. Sandra Schiff recently wrote an article on the subject of having grandchildren. She advocates being present for grandchildren at all times so that they feel heard and understood.

She notes that being present can be a difficult task in the face of the many digital distractions that exist in the form of smartphones and other ways to access the Internet. This interferes with one-to-one, face-to-face interactions.

She gives examples of the many ways to be available in the here-and-now with children. Playing outdoors, exploring nature, maintaining eye contact, and even engaging in a card game all are creative suggestions. She also suggests shutting off the phones.

Dr. Schiff concludes that parents and grandparents should take advantage of both older and newer means of communication and recreation. She believes that research will show advantages of both ways.

How a Life Transitions Coach Helps a Person Overcome Challenges

The president of Health Mate, Inc., Sandra Schiff, PhD, offers consulting and training services in Southeastern Michigan. In addition, Dr. Sandra Schiff possesses substantial experience in coaching individuals through life transitions.

From changing careers to getting a divorce, a person will face many challenges throughout his or her lifetime. However, such transitions can often be life altering and less devastating with proper coaching. A life transitions coach helps people carry out a more purposeful life by teaching methods for coping with and adapting to change. He or she analyzes a client’s passions, interests, strengths, and beliefs to develop solutions that move them closer toward achieving his or her goals.

In order for coaching to be effective, a person must commit to change and take deliberate steps toward improving his or her situation. This is part of the co-creative process of coaching which includes acknowledging personal patterns and obstacles that have potentially sabotaged growth over time. In addition, a client has to be willing to make decisions outside of his or her comfort zone, knowing that change can be positive. This not only aids in handling current life transitions but also prepares a person to tackle future scenarios with greater preparation.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit’s I Rise Family Empowerment Program

For more than 15 years, Dr. Sandra Schiff has leveraged her experience as a consultant and life coach in her role as president of Health Mate, Inc. Dr. Sandra Schiff concurrently holds a part-time position as a life and career coach for the I Rise Family Empowerment Program (I Rise) with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.

Established in partnership with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, the YMCA’s I Rise program supports employed parents by giving them the tools they need to accomplish their personal goals. Participating parents receive child care services while attending the YMCA’s numerous forums and life coaching sessions.

At the start of the program, personal and career coaches conduct an initial phone call with participants to identify their overall objectives. The coaches then follow up with bi-weekly phone calls to monitor each person’s progress. Complementing these sessions, the YMCA offers monthly forums that cover informational and inspirational topics such as resume building and career growth. I Rise also provides needs-based child care subsidies to help parents move closer to their goals

Tips for Active Listening

Sandra Schiff, PhD, has extensive experience in career, leadership, and life-transition coaching, helping clients to reach their personal and professional goals. Among the skills Dr. Sandra Schiff emphasizes is active listening.

With so many distractions and responsibilities, many people have trouble staying involved and in the present moment. For instance, leaders in business settings might find it difficult to give a co-worker’s viewpoint their full and undivided attention. As a result, misunderstandings can take place and leaders’ effectiveness decreases. However, by implementing several techniques, individuals can improve their active-listening skills.

For instance, when in conversation, the listener should look interested in what the speaker is saying. Some ways to do this include making eye contact and turning one’s body toward the speaker. The listener should set cell phones, reports, and other distractions aside so as to better focus on the speaker’s message.

Another key part of active listening is to focus on the speaker’s ideas without leaping to judgment or allowing one’s biases to get in the way. A person’s feelings toward a topic often act as distractions, to the point where listeners can miss ideas the speaker wants to communicate. Similarly, the listener should avoid interrupting, instead allowing the speaker to continue while saving relevant questions for pauses in the conversation.