Discovering your Unique Strengths with Dr. Caren Carney

This workshop is part of the Emotional Fitness Studio, a year-round mental health initiative offering free monthly in-person wellness workshops and experiences. Partnering with local wellness providers, we provide tips and tools to help you navigate the twists and turns of life, build resilience, and create meaningful connections.

Join us in strengthening your emotional fitness and fostering community!

*ATTENTION: Tickets for this event are free as part of our mission to support mental and emotional health in our community. However, spots are limited, so we kindly ask that you PLEASE only register if you plan to attend. This ensures we can reserve spaces for those who are eager to participate. Your understanding helps us make the most of this initiative—thank you!

In this workshop:

What if you could fully embrace what makes you you? In this interactive workshop, we’ll dive deep into understanding your personal strengths and how they shape the way you interact with the world. Using the U Penn VIA Character Strengths Survey, you’ll uncover your top strengths, and together, we’ll explore how to put them into action to enhance your life.

Here’s how we’ll do it:

1. Before the workshop, you’ll take the VIA Character Strengths Survey and send me your top 5 strengths. I'll compile the results into a visual graphic so we can see the diversity of strengths within the group. Before the event, you will receive an email with the link and steps to follow.
2. We’ll kick things off with a brief introduction to the survey, its values, and how these strengths were developed.
3. You’ll then break into small groups where you’ll share your top strengths, gain new insights from others, and ask any questions you have.
4. After that, we’ll come back together as a group to discuss our collective strengths and highlight the diversity in our results.
5. I’ll introduce the concept of "shadow strengths"—those strengths we may not always be aware of or use wisely—and how to manage them effectively.
6. You’ll have a chance to reflect on where you’ve seen these strengths in action and how you can recognize them in yourself.
7. Finally, we’ll focus on how to build and practice your top strengths and spend less energy on those areas that don’t come as naturally.
8. The workshop will close with a reflection on what you’ve learned about yourself and practical ways to integrate your strengths into your daily life.

By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of your unique strengths, a clear plan to focus on developing them, and a greater sense of self-awareness—ready to use what you already have to achieve more and live more authentically.

20 spots available.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Carney is a positive and health psychologist dedicated to helping people and communities thrive, especially in Anne Arundel County. She obtained her Master and Doctorate degrees at The George Washington University and has received certifications in Executive Coaching, Organization Development, Positive Psychology, Psychological First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid. She volunteered for several years as the Co-Chair/Chair of the Behavioral and Mental Team as part of Anne Arundel Connecting Together. The team conducted a major awareness effort on mental health stigma. She was also an active contributor to the county’s Immigrant Affairs Commission.

Dr. Carney has her own consulting company (C.OD-E Advisors) and is a member of the PAR Foundation (Preparation, Assessment, Response) which provides crisis support to individuals in the U.S. and abroad (most recently Ukraine). She has co-taught Psychological First Aid/Applied Positive Psychology (with Drs. George Everly and Monica Neel) to many groups in Maryland and Delaware. She is passionate about helping apply the practical insights of positive psychology research so that we can improve our quality of life, strengthen our families, and build cohesive communities. She is also an avid fan of Irish Wolfhounds and Martin Guitars!

The Organizer:

These wellness events are brought to you by Maria Winters, licensed therapist and creator of the Emotional Fitness Studio, an initiative built on the belief that everyone deserves access to tools that can help us feel better and improve our mental and emotional health. This work is made possible thanks to the support of amazing sponsors like Thrive Gym and Klean – Cleaning Service.

Questions? Contact Maria at (703)338-0017 or bXdpbnRlcnMgISBsY3BjIHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20=. For the list of all events with The Emotional Fitness Studio, visit: https://thecoachingtherapist.com/emotional-fitness-studio/ and follow our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/share/g3mXNQheqCKu8vdD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Disclaimer: This workshop is intended for informational and personal wellness and development purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy, Medic*tion, or mental health or medical treatment. If you need mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist or medical professional.

Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Annapolis, Workshops in Annapolis.