This monthly 60–90-minute virtual Strengthening Relationships presentation series was created to have speakers share their professional expertise with the UT Austin community on ways to strengthen relationships and build community. This year, the presentations will run from November 2025 - June 2026.
We are thinking broadly in terms of topics that could help faculty, staff and retirees cultivate meaningful, healthy, and authentic connection with others by strengthening their relationship skills with their partners, their co-workers, the teams they lead, their families, and the children they parent.
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June: "From Friction to Flow: Working With Generational Difference, Not Against It," presented by Dr. Binta Brown, LPC, CCC on Tuesday, June 16th from noon to 1 p.m.
Five generations are currently active in today's workforce — each shaped by a different era, a different relationship with work, and a different set of assumptions about how teams should function. That difference produces real friction. And while most of us have been trained to treat friction as a problem, it is often something more useful: a signal that expectations, communication styles, or assumptions have never been made explicit.
This session takes an honest look at what generational difference actually looks like on teams — where it shows up, where it gets misread, and where it may hold people back. We'll also examine what the research does and doesn't tell us about generational identity, including why birth year alone doesn't always tell the full story. Participants will leave with the BRIDGE Framework — six practical, low-lift strategies for working across generational lines that don't require slowing down, a budget, or anyone's approval to begin using.
Designed for anyone navigating a multigenerational workplace — whether you lead a team or work on one.
"Running Away from home: the phenomenon of parent/adult child estrangement and repair possibilities" presented by Dr. Emily Mohr on June 26, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m. This presentation will discuss the increasingly visible phenomenon of estrangement between adult children and parents. We will talk about the what, who, and why of family estrangement, as well as the repair experience and evidence-based strategies to support a healthier path back together. We will use attachment theory to frame the discussion through a science-driven lens and leave plenty of time for Q&A.
October: "See It Differently: A Practical Guide to Neurodiversity in the Workplace," presented by Dr. Amy Eskelsen on October 15, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m. This session will help participants understand how chronic stress impacts the body and nervous system in a burned-out world and why slowing down is essential for health and resilience.
November: "The Motivation Multiplier," presented by Dr. Sarah Porter on November 19, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m. More details to come. If you've ever wondered why some teams seem energized, engaged, and eager to contribute while others struggle to gain traction, this session is for you. Grounded in psychological science, this presentation explores how workplace interactions shape motivation and performance, with a particular focus on the role people leaders play in creating the right conditions. Participants will learn to cultivate what Dr. Porter calls the 3 Cs of motivation – choice, competence, and connection – using practical strategies that help people feel valued and inspired to bring their best selves to work. While the principles apply to any workplace relationship, this session is especially relevant for managers, supervisors, and anyone responsible for team performance.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
● Articulate the three core drivers of intrinsic motivation that shape employee engagement.
● Apply research-backed skills that spark motivation from within and support employee well-being.
● Generate at least two strategies to boost motivation on their own team.
If you are an employee of UT System or a retiree of UT, please email eap@austin.utexas.edu to receive the Zoom link.
The EAP is committed to reducing barriers to accessing our services. Please contact us if you need live captioning to access this training.