Workshops and Presentations

Scheduling a Workshop

Book Release Press and Events

One of our biggest challenges in life is coping with a loss. Loss can trip you. We sometimes feel like the twelve-year-old child who anguished over the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001: “It’s too big…I can’t understand it…I’m sure it’s worse than I can imagine…" Family stories contain life and death issues, challenging everyone with worse-than-they-ever-imagined details. All of us have to embrace change in our lives, ready or not.

We were NOT ready for the COVID-19 pandemic. It has challenged nearly every extended family with loss of good health and grief for  family members or friends who died.  

Children, midlifers, and encore adults all struggle with “being here now” in the present moment, while they are trying to meet their daily energy, discipline, creativity, belonging and ability basic needs.When we see other people behave in some wayward direction, we initially may not recognize their intentions.  After all, we have needs of our own, and often, our immediate needs do not travel well with the immediate needs of another person.

Jan Johnston

Workshops, Presentations, and Book Readings

Listen to:

• CUTV News radio spotlights Dr. Janis Johnston
• Feisty Side of Fifty podcast 
• Weathering Grief
• The Self Improvement Radio Show (Voice of America Radio)
• Open to Hope TV discussion with Dr. Heidi Horsley, Dr. Gloria Horsley, and Pamela Hagens

Keynote Address, “To Turn is To Learn: Turning Points in Our Lives,” Unitarian Universalist Men’s Retreat (January, 2023), Des Plaines, IL

Workshop, “What’s It All About: Tai Chi Energy,” Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat (February, 2023), Darien, IL

Workshop, “Retirement Identity: Who Am I Now?” Forest Park Public Library (March, 2023), Forest Park, IL

Zoom Workshop, “Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy,” Illinois Mental Health Counselors’ Association (March, 2023)

Poster Session, “What Bodymind Parts Want to Retire? And What Bodymind Parts Say, ‘Never?’” American Society on Aging (March, 2023), Atlanta, GA

Panel, “Non-fiction Writing: Blogs and Books,” Illinois Women’s Press Association, South Holland Public Library (April, 2023), South Holland, IL 

Workshop, “It Takes a Child to Raise a Parent,” Green Hills Public Library (June, 2023), Palos Hills, IL

Book Reading/PowerPoint, “Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy,” Oak Park, Public Library (July, 2023), Oak Park, IL    

Book Reading/PowerPoint, “Take the Tired Out of Retired! Transform Your Retirement,” New Buffalo Public Library, (August, 2023), New Buffalo, MI

Book Signing 3 books, It Takes a Child to Raise a Parent, Midlife Maze, and Transforming Retirement, Printer’s Row Lit Fest, Illinois Women’s Press Association Tent (September, 2023), Chicago, IL

Workshop for therapists, “What Bodymind Parts Want to Retire? And What Bodymind Parts Say, ‘Never’”? Internal Family Systems (IFS) Training Retreat (October, 2023), Chimney Corners, MI

Workshop for therapists, “Transforming Ageism Legacies: Rewire with IFS Retirement Planning,” Internal Family Systems (IFS) Annual Conference (October, 2023), Denver, CO

Workshop for therapists, “The Rift of Retirement: Rewire Your Counseling for this Developmental Stage,” Illinois Counseling Association Pre-conference (November, 2023), Lisle, IL

2022

Zoom, “Radical Compassion Practice Group,” (Selected Sunday evenings, January–May, 2022)

Zoom, “Dealing with Adult Burnout and Childhood Meltdowns: Chicken or Egg?” Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium (February, 2022), Oak Park, IL 

Zoom, "Pearls of Strength,"  First Place Winner in 2021 Women's Press Association Professional Contest, (A reading from my Pearls of Peace Blog), (March, 2022)

Zoom Series, “Pandemic Time: Research, Responses, Resilience,” Arbor West Neighbors (June, 2022)

Panel, “What I Wish I Had Known: Reflecting on the Death of a Loved One,” (July, 2022), Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch, IL

Book Signing for It Takes a Child to Raise a Parent and Midlife Maze, Printer’s Row Lit Fest (September, 2022), Chicago, IL

Workshop, “Self-compassion + Mindfulness = Best Practices for Taking Care of Kids,” West Suburban Home Day Care Association (October, 2022), River Forest, IL

Zoom, “Pandemic Parenting: What We Lost and What We Gained,” First United Nursery School (December, 2022), Oak Park, IL

2021

Zoom, "Retirement Cycles: Rewire Your Identity," Carmelite Retreat Center (February, 2021), Darien, IL

Zoom, "ComPASSION for Oneself and Children through 5 Basic Needs," Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium (February, 2021), Oak Park, IL

Zoom, "Managing Fear During a Pandemic" First United Nursery School, (February, 2021), Oak Park, IL

Book Signing for It Takes a Child to Raise a Parent and Midlife Maze, Printer’s Row Lit Fest (September 11, 2021), Chicago, IL

Workshop, "Create a Mindful Space for Learning in a Pandemic," West Suburban Home DayCare Association, (October, 2021), River Forest, IL

Workshop for Therapists, "Compassion Starts at Home! Self-compassion Wires for Client Healing," Illinois Counseling Association (October, 2021), Lisle, IL

2020

Workshop, "Mind the Stress Mess of Infants & Toddlers? Mend Your Mind!" Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium (February, 2020), Oak Park, IL

Workshop, "Good Grief! What Do I Tell the Kids About Death?" First United Preschool (March, 2020), Oak Park, IL

Workshop, "Who Needs a Growth-and-Grit Mindset More— Parents or Kids?" New Moms Parent Group (March, 2020), Chicago, IL

Workshop, "“The Oxygen of Love: From Self-criticism to Self-love,”  Carmelite Retreat Center (February, 2020), Darien, IL

Zoom, “Who Needs a Growth-and-Grit Mindset More—Parents or Kids?”  New Moms (April, 2020), Chicago, IL, 2020

Zoom, “Breathe! Breathing and Meditation Practice,” Quarantine Life Wellness Project (May, 2020), Chicago, IL, 2020

Zoom, “Passion for Retirement Possibilities!” 3-week series, Arbor West Neighbors (October, 2020), Oak Park, IL, 2020

2019

Keynote Address, Unitarian Universalist Women's Retreat, "The Fourth Response: Tend-and-Befriend" (February 15, 2019), Darien, IL

Workshop, "Discipline is Not a Problem! Create a MINDFUL Space for Learning," Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium (February  23, 2019), Oak Park, IL

Workshop, "Retirement or Rewirement? Make Your Senior Years Electric!" Arbor West Neighbors (February  24, 2019), Oak Park, IL 

Workshop, "Discipline is Not a Problem!" Jewish Child and Family Services (May 21, 2019), Chicago, IL

Workshop for Therapists, "Retirement or Rewirement? IFS Personality Maps Uncover Inner Wiring," Internal Family Systems Annual Conference (September 27, 2019), Denver, CO

Library Book Talk, "It Takes a Child to Raise a Parent," Edgewater Library (October 26, 2019), Chicago, IL

Workshop for Therapists, "Retirement vs. Rewirement: Shared Transactions Across Life Uncover Inner Wiring," Illinois Counseling Association (November 9, 2019), Skokie, IL

2018

Staff Development, Team Building for Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Ministry (January 20 & February 4, 2018), Lisle, IL

Book Reading/Signing, Midlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery after Loss (February 9, 2018), Tuscan, AZ

TV Cable Taping for "Open to Hope," Midlife Maze: A Map to Recovery & Rediscovery after Loss (February 10, 2018), Tucson, AZ

Teacher Workshop, Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium, “Sow the Seeds of Grit for a Growth Mindset for Preschoolers” (February 24, 2018), Oak Park, IL

Workshop for School Counselors, “Name It to Tame It! Interventions with Grieving Children and Adolescents,” Illinois School Counselor Association (April 20, 2018), Rosemont, IL

Radio Interview: “Let’s Talk About Grief,” Voice America Empowerment Channel (July 30, 2018), 2018

Preschool Teacher Workshop, "Part Art: Creative Teaching of Emotions to Equip Every Child in Learning Anything!" Concordia University Early Childhood Conference (August 3, 2018), River Forest, IL

IFS Psychotherapists Training Retreat, "Parts' Creative Stories: Re-authoring the Stories We Tell Ourselves (September 27-30, 2018), Chimney Corners, MI

Book Reading/Signing, Midlife Maze, Satin Gloves Book Group (November 5, 2018), Oak Park, IL

Workshop for Psychotherapists, "CHANGE...DON'T CHANGE! Counseling Opposite Personality Roles," Illinois Counseling Association Conference (November 9, 2018), Itasca, IL

CUTV News Talk Radio Interview (December 7, 2018)

2017

Teacher Workshop, Collaboration for Early Childhood Symposium, (AM) "Problem Solvers in Early Childhood" and (PM) "Mindfulness for Caregiver/Teacher Problem Solving" (February 25, 2017), Oak Park, IL

Book Reading/Signing, Midlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery after Loss, Oak Park Main Library (March 8, 2017), Oak Park, IL

Book Reading/Signing, Midlife Maze, Francie & Finch Bookshop (March 17, 2017), Lincoln, NE

Radio and Online Interviews: Boomer Talk Radio, WGVU Morning Show, Fab Over Fifty, Feisty Side of Fifty, WGN Steve Cochran Show, A Touch of Grey, From Grief to Grace Unity Radio (March-April, 2017)

Book Signing for Midlife Maze, Printer's Row Lit Fest (June 10, 2017), Chicago

Teacher Workshop, NAIL IT! 5 Things that Children Wish their Teachers Knew, Vernon Area Library (August 3, 2017), Lincolnshire, IL

See Resume for presentations from 1979 to 2016.

Life can only be understood backwards,
but it must be lived forwards.

Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard