CRISTAL COOK, LCSW
Speaker, Author, Therapist
I help educators and students embrace storytelling to master social emotional skills in the classroom… and in life.
Let's talk about it.
Social-emotional lessons focused on the “dos and don’ts” aren’t fun or interesting… they simply don't stick. Engaging discussions rooted in storytelling and quality children’s literature create positive behavioral change.
I’m here to bring H+O+P=E:
Human connection + Openhearted emotion + Play = Embedded empathy
The feel-good neurotransmitters of oxytocin (activated by connection) and dopamine (activated by pleasure) cause a positive feedback loop, allowing lessons to become “sticky.” These emotional memories get stored in the brain’s amygdala, supporting prosocial interactions and ultimately leading to positive behavior change!
Masterful storytelling produces powerful mind-movies, binding visual imagery, emotion, and memory. This is an explosive combination (in a good way!😳). It does more than affect positive behavior change; it aids students in learning and retaining knowledge in a variety of academic subjects. Our brains are neurologically hardwired for stories.
While anyone can learn the art of storytelling, I believe in keeping things simple. You can use high-quality children’s literature as your foundation, your anchor text. Let me tell you more…
Speaking Topics / Themes
Cristal Cook, LCSW
Speaker ● Author ● Therapist
"Cristal’s delightful stories take the reader on a journey with endearing and relatable characters imparting valuable life lessons and skills along the way."
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Richard Paul Evans
Keynotes for Educators & Other Grownups Caring About Children
The stressors faced by educators have risen to a critical level. Veteran teachers are leaving the profession, and new teaching candidates are choosing an alternate career path, resulting in a shortage of teachers. Many teachers choosing to remain are experiencing burnout and exhaustion.
More than ever, our society needs greater compassion, acceptance, empathy, respectful communication, and improved life skills. The solution is teaching children valuable life lessons through playful and artful storytelling.
During my keynote address, I will take the audience on a journey, reminding them of the power of great stories. The magic of high-quality children’s literature is that it can take you anywhere and everywhere you need to be. The audience will learn how neuroscience supports this concept and ways to best integrate this information into the classroom and other learning environments.
You may be thinking, does storytelling really motivate change in our students? Well… let me tell you a story, or two…
Workshop for Educators, Administrators and Parents:
I provide customized workshops to address specific needs of the organization, school, and community with “easy lifts” that I refer to as Simple Strategies to Navigate a Complex World. These include, but are not limited to:
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Ways to use quality children’s literature as an anchor text for social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons, as well as how to weave in a variety of other academic subjects.
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Understanding the role that neurobiology plays in creating a positive feedback loop which anchors the lessons in the amygdala area of the brain, making them sticky and leading to prosocial behavior changes.
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Strategies for staff retention, burnout avoidance, self-care, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.
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Tips, tricks and tools for parents to manage negative behavior, regulate emotions, and how to help littles calm their nervous systems.
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How to navigate difficult conversations so that all parties feel seen and heard.
Have a need for a workshop not listed? Let’s talk!
HOPE in the Classroom
H + O + P = E…
Honest emotion + Openness to connect + Playful experiences = Embedded empathy
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Throughout my 20 years of experience as a mental health therapist, I discovered universal issues and challenges that all humans experience. Based upon that knowledge, I created a children’s book series that addresses these commonalities and provides simple strategies to navigate a complex world.
I incorporate neuroscience research and masterful storytelling, utilizing high-quality children’s literature to address struggles all humans experience. This provides students with tools to master social-emotional lessons (SEL) and life skills to motivate positive changes in the classroom… and in life.
What to expect when I visit your school:
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A uniquely fun and interactive storytelling experience to teach students SEL and other life skills.
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Playful large-group interactions, guiding students to uncover the SEL components and holding their attention so that they understand and can implement the lessons.
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Opportunities for children to have heart-centered, thought-provoking conversations that create positive changes.
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLS
ANXIETY – A rapidly growing concern amongst our adolescents, and the statistics are alarming:
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1 in 3 adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 will experience an anxiety disorder.
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A rising trend – between 2016 and 2023 diagnosed anxiety increased by 61%.
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Sources of anxiety include cyber bullying, social media, world events, academic pressure, and other social stressors. During my talk, the audience will learn about:
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Why humans are hard-wired for anxiety.
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What is biologically happening in the body and brain when experiencing anxiety and the impact of fight, flight or freeze.
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Specific strategies that can reset the individual’s nervous system.
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The science behind why these strategies work.
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My presentation uses the power of story, metaphor, and humor which allows the lessons to be understood at a deeper level and become sticky.
Testimonials
Ms. Cook shared captivating stories that students continued to reference long after her time in our class ended. For the rest of the school year, students referred to Hope, Charlie, and Gracie as they deepened their understanding of powerful lessons of friendship, perseverance, and acceptance that she shared. Cristal’s books are an important part of our classroom library, and her teachings are an important part of our classroom community."
- Peige Rosales | Early Childhood Educator
Let's Raise the Vibration Together
Invite me to speak at your event!