Healing Hours

Healing Hours is a virtual program, that provides a supportive and enriching space for individuals in higher education to focus on personal growth and well-being. This initiative fosters meaningful connections, promotes holistic mental health, and equips participants with strategies to manage workplace and life stressors. FWCA introduced Healing Hours in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of widespread challenges that underscored the need for supportive spaces in higher education. The program was created to provide opportunities for connection, reflection, and healing.

Healing Hours continue to serve as a cornerstone of professional development initiatives in higher education, offering regular sessions throughout the academic year. Each session is designed to inspire, uplift, and strengthen participants, helping them thrive in both their personal and professional lives.

What to Expect:

The Healing Hour is free virtual experience -  dedicated to offering a welcoming environment for open discussions on stress management, self-care, and personal development. Regular sessions, led by experienced facilitators, aim to enhance resilience, mental health, and overall well-being.

In its early stages, the Healing Hour sessions varied in approach to meet participants' diverse needs. Activities included yoga and movement for stress relief, as well as mindfulness, journaling, and self-reflection exercises to support emotional and mental health.
Over time, the sessions evolved into an essential platform for building community and fostering resilience. The program refined its approach to include activities designed to:

• Build Connections: Create opportunities for meaningful networking and support.
• Empower Growth: Equip participants with tools and strategies for personal and professional development.
• Holistic Well-Being: Address mental, emotional, and physical health through comprehensive support.

The program remains committed to adapting to evolving needs while maintaining its focus on transformative, holistic support.

Spring 2024 Healing Hours

• February 22, 2025 - FWCA Healing Hours #3: Cultivating Curiosity and Connection: Collaborating with Nature for Neuroregulation – REGISTER HERE
• March 26, 2025 - FWCA Healing Hour #4 | Rituals for Getting Free and Staying Free: Forgetting||Remembering  - REGISTER HERE

All Healing Hours are held virtual, and free and open to the public. All attendees must register to attend.

If you are interested in serving as a speaker for Healing Hours, please contact FWCA Executive Director, Dr. Crasha Townsend – fwca@vt.edu.

Fall 2024 Healing Hours

• December 4, 2024 – Special Edition**
  • Theme: Come into Community for Healing and Finding Joy
  • Facilitator: Dr. Menah Pratt, VT Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity
• November 6, 2024
  • Theme: Campus or Community: Navigating Identity, Skepticism, and Conversations 
  • Facilitator: Jazmin, Jurkiewicz, VT Mental Health Initiatives Coordinator, Hokie Wellness
• September 25, 2024
  • Theme: Thriving not Just Surviving in the Academy: A Soulful Journey to Emotional Wellness
  • Facilitator: Dr. Deneen Evans, CEO of Mosaic Counseling Services