This monthly 60–90-minute virtual series looks to help faculty, staff and retirees cultivate meaningful, healthy and authentic connections with others by strengthening their relationship skills with their partners, their co-workers, the teams they lead, their families and the children they parent.
Each presentation is given by a special guest speaker who shares their professional expertise with the UT Austin community on topics that strengthen relationships and build community.
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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 Amy Eskelsen on Oct. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
Objectives:
Distinguish between deficit-based and strength-based perspectives on neurodivergence.
Identify common workplace challenges neurodivergent employees may face and why they occur.
Apply at least one accommodation or adjustment strategy within their own team or work environment.
Identify one strategy for effective collaboration and understanding a neurodivergent colleague's perspective.
November: "The Motivation Multiplier," presented by Sarah Porter on Nov. 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
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 three 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.
If you are an employee of UT System or a retiree of UT System, 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.