Thriving Through Change
A 10-week research-based resilience program for individuals. Learn how your brain works, why change is hard, and how to flourish through it.
Artwork: Cecelia Denegre, Woods Pond
Who this is for
Mid-life people moving through big change, whether by choice or circumstance, who need help navigating the journey. It could be a shift in work, relationships, or in your sense of who you are and how you want to show up in the world. Perhaps a child has left home, a parent needs care, or retirement is on the horizon. Sometimes the change is harder to name: you’re questioning who you are, what matters now, or how you want to show up in the next chapter of your life.
Grounded in research
This program draws on published research, translated into plain language with practices you can use every day. You’ll learn how the brain builds emotion from neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett. You’ll explore what helps a life go well through Martin Seligman’s positive psychology and Barbara Fredrickson’s work on positive emotions. And you’ll practise self-compassion as Kristin Neff teaches it, alongside tools from cognitive behavioural therapy and mind-body medicine.
Why 10 weeks?
Change takes more than insight. New ways of thinking and responding need time, repetition, and practice to become part of how we live.
That’s why the program runs for 10 weeks. Each week combines learning with practical exercises, followed by a check-in a few days later to reflect on what happened when you tried them in real life. You have time to experiment, learn from what works—and adjust what doesn’t.
The support continues after the final class. You receive two private coaching sessions with me, and the group meets one month after the program ends to reflect on where they are, what’s working, and which areas need more focus. Research demonstrates that it takes an average of 66 days of practice for new habits to stick. The goal isn’t to learn resilience. It’s to build it through practice.
The curriculum
The 10 weeks are designed as a journey—from understanding what happens inside us during change, to building practical tools, to making sense of the story we want to carry forward.
Week 1 – Welcome
We meet, get to know one another, and create the foundation for the weeks ahead. We establish our group agreements and familiarize ourselves with the resources, practices, and support available throughout the program.
Weeks 2 to 9 – Eight learning modules
The first modules explore how your brain predicts what comes next and constructs your emotional experience. From there, we turn to the conditions that support a life that feels meaningful, connected, and fulfilling.
The later modules bring these ideas together through the stories we tell about ourselves — helping you notice the patterns that shape how you see your life and consider what you want to carry forward, change, or leave behind.
Week 10 – Closing and looking ahead
We step back and look at what has shifted, what you’ve learned about yourself, and which practices you want to keep. We also consider how to carry that learning into the next chapter.
Throughout the program, the emphasis is on learning, trying, reflecting, and trying again — because meaningful change happens through practice, not simply through understanding.
Artwork: Cecelia Denegre, Lake Quarry
How each week works
Each week follows a simple rhythm: learn, practice, reflect, and apply.
- Live Class, 90 minutes. Live on Zoom. Theory, ideas, stories, and practice.
- Practice between classes. Daily activities to help you apply the knowledge you learn in class.
- Workbook. Resource materials and pages where you build your own notes and plans.
- Check-in, 60 minutes. About four days after each class, we meet again to talk about what you tried, what you noticed, what worked, and what you want to explore further.
After the Program
The support doens’t stop when the classes end.
- Two private coaching sessions with me to use within six months of completing the program
- A class reunion one month after final class to reconnect, reflect on what has changed, and to share what you’re continuing to work on.
What you take with you
- A clear picture of how your own responses work.
- Practices you have tried and chosen to keep.
- A workbook that documents your journey.
- Support from me and your classmates.
Is this for you?
It’s for you if you can attend the live classes most weeks, are willing to be honest about where you are, and are committed to trying new tools. This program is coaching and education. If you work with a therapist, the program can complement that work.
The pilot group
The January program, compiled over many years of my own practice, study, and learning, will be the first cohort. Your feedback will shape the program, and the discounted launch price reflects that. Inaugural tuition: US $1,800 for U.S. residents, or CA $1,800+ HST for Canadian participants. Standard tuition after the pilot will be $2,900. The fee includes the ten weeks of classes and check-ins, the workbook, two private coaching sessions, and the reunion.
How to enroll
- Join the waitlist. I will contact you when the applications open in November.
- Complete the application. This helps me understand what you’re looking for from the program
- Have a short Zoom conversation with me. We connect to see if the course supports your needs.
- Confirm your place. If it feels like a good fit, I’ll send you a payment link.
Your guide
I’m Sylvia Halligan. I empower individuals to grow and transform into their most thriving, authentic selves, and help organizations lead and navigate change in a way that truly sticks.
Questions?
Join the waitlist
The first small class begins early January 2027. Add your name, and I will reach out when applications open.