Psychology of Caring

What would you do?
 
Your Mom and Dad tell you that your godmother has cancer and is in the hospital for treatment and an operation. 
A friend confides in you tearfully that her parents are talking about a divorce. 
Your classmate sends you a message that you are invited to his grandfather's memorial service. 
 
What do you do?  What do you say?
 
This is a class about sharpening your skills as a caring person and learning specific ways to communicate with and give help to a friend or relative going through a crisis.  One of those skills is knowing your own limitations and when a troubled person needs adult help and maybe a professional expert.  But most of the skills are practical and helpful for enriching your relationships with the friends and relatives you care about.
 
Dr. Richards is currently rewriting a book that he previously published on this topic. He also taught this class to high schoolers in Southern California.  Dr. Richard’s experience includes serving as a pastor and chaplain to people in crisis in hospitals, churches, schools, and law enforcement agencies. 
 
Recommended for: Ages 13+ / Grades 8-9
Instructor: Dr. Greg Richards
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:45-1:45 PM ET
Duration: 6 classes
Dates: February 8 - March 7 (2024)
 
Dr. Greg is the founder and director of the Middle Grades Ethics Project, helping middle schools, parents, and law enforcement foster positive values and development for students and their communities. He studies and teaches on the character development and ethics education of young teens, including the influence of adolescent brain biology on moral judgment and risk-taking. ​
 
Greg’s interdisciplinary doctoral program examined the role of parents and other significant adults in nurturing core values and risk aversion. His doctoral dissertation, Measuring the Effect of Parent Involvement in a Middle School Ethics Curriculum on Parent-Adolescent Communication, was based on his research in developmental psychology, brain biology, and ethics education. 
 
Earlier, as a school chaplain, Greg developed academic programs in ethics for junior high and high school students and related education for parents. As a pastor in Beverly Hills, he founded a parent education and early childhood center.
 
He is the author of Ethics for Young Adults: A Workbook (Kazanjian Foundation) and When Someone You Know Is Hurting: What You Can Do to Help (Zondervan/Harper Paperbacks).  Greg considers the experience of raising two sons with his wife Debbie the foundational preparation for his work with young people, parents, and educators. 
 
Teaching style: lecture, current events, group discussion, student sharing, engagement with subject material
 
Student Reviews for Dr. Greg:
Dr. Greg is the best teacher I’ve ever had. He was prepared and organized and he presented the subject and story really well. He made it real and pertained to things that exist today and was very relatable. I really really enjoyed his teaching style, and I’m looking forward to next week. EJ, student
Dr. Greg is an awesome teacher. In every class, he thoughtfully listened to my questions, comments, and opinions. He cares about his students and shows it. His knowledge of psychology always amazed me, and my interest in the subject has grown significantly since taking his classes. I’m excited to sign up for another class with Dr. Greg! —Esther, student
I enjoy Dr. Greg’s classes because he is such a passionate teacher. I can tell he really loves his students and cares about them. He also has lots of knowledge of his subjects and can give very helpful and good advice. I loved how students used his Ethic’s workbook for classes and homework. —Abigail, student
 
See more thinking series classes: thethinkingkid.org/the-thinking-series
See more classes for ages 13+ / grades 8-9: thethinkingkid.org/grades-8-9

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