Schedule
The live virtual sessions are on Wednesdays from 12:15-1:15pm.
11/4/2020
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND THE SCIENCE OF THRIVING
Smaranda Ioana Lawrie
Positive Psychology is the science of thriving, and is for anyone looking to become happier, more
resilient, build a better life, or improve their organization and community. We’ll cover both the
science and practice of Positive Psychology. Empirical work in neuroscience will be provided to
explain that change is possible for anyone at any point in their lives, and you’ll learn about the tools
that you can use to thrive in good times and bad. The second half of the talk will transition away from
the individual towards the community, and how it’s been applied in schools and organizations with
tremendous results.
11/18/2020
STAYING STEADY AMIDST THE STORM: THE HOW AND WHY BEHIND MINDFUL ATTENTION TRAINING
Dr. Alissa Mrazek
We are living in what is arguably the most distracting time in history amid alarming rates of stress and mental illness. Research indicates that mindfulness-based attention training can be a useful tool for addressing these challenges. In this talk, Dr. Mrazek will discuss why training attention is helpful and provide practical tips for how you can cultivate it in your own life.
12/2/2020
CONDITIONING FOR RESILIENCE
Dr. Maryam Kia Keating
In our ever-changing, uncertain, and stressful world, the pressure to assess whether we are “resilient or not,” forces a dichotomous choice on a phenomenon that is much more complex. This talk will draw from the psychological science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, and resilience, to inform how we might cultivate resilience in our own lives.
12/9/2020
OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME
Dr. Adia Gooden
Imposter syndrome is something that many students experience, and it can lead to stress and impede students from reaching their full potential. This experiential workshop will provide a supportive space for students to reflect on their experiences related to imposter syndrome and learn strategies to overcome imposter syndrome.
1/13/2021
FINDING YOUR INNER HERO
Angelo Santinelli
The Hero's Journey is a classic story structure that is shared by authors worldwide. It refers to a wide-ranging category of tales in which a character ventures out to get what they need, faces conflict, and ultimately triumphs over adversity. It gives us a sense that real, meaningful transformation is possible and shows us that we can become stronger, overcome obstacles, and thrive in an increasingly competitive world. In this session we will explore a character's continuing journey through the development of principles and collected quotes that inform their thoughts and actions.
1/20/2021
MONITORING CALIFORNIA STUDENTS COMPLETE MENTAL WELLNESS
Dr. Mike Furlong
The importance of monitoring adolescents’ mental wellness is now as apparent as ever. This talk will describe a field-tested approach for assessing and monitoring students’ social-emotional wellness based on a study of more than 100,000 California secondary school students. Professor Furlong will provide information about how schools integrate screening/monitoring within a comprehensive mental wellness program that seeks to foster their thriving, life-long well-being.
1/27/2021
REDEMPTION: FINDING THE SILVER LINING IN LIFE’S NEGATIVE EVENTS
Dr. Nicole Alea Albada
Themes of redemption, or instances where negative life events are reinterpreted positively, are commonplace in people’s life stories. This talk will review what we know about who is more likely to find redemption in negative life experiences and the link with psychological well-being outcomes.
2/3/2021
SUPPORTING AT-PROMISE STUDENTS
Dr. Rebeca Mireles-Rios and Dr. Victor Rios
For the past 20 year, the Rios’s have collaborated on working with at-promise students. In this talk, they will share about their journeys, their research and give a call for action. This inspiring lecture from such a renowned pair of individuals about overcoming adversity is sure to help many who find themselves in difficult situations.
2/10/2021
LET'S TALK ABOUT POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH
Natalia Jaramillo
Posttraumatic growth is the phenomenon of self-reported positive change that can result from highly challenging life crises or a traumatic event. Obtaining a clear understanding about the construct of posttraumatic growth and the research in this area can be useful to understand the range of reactions that people can encounter following difficult life events.
2/17/2021
DOCUMENTARY: MY YEAR OF LIVING MINDFULLY
Shannon Harvey
This is a two-part series! On February 17, there will be a screening of Shannon’s incredible and wildly popular new film about mindfulness, and on February 24th, Shannon will be talking to us live.
2/24/2021
MY YEAR OF LIVING MINDFULLY: A HEALTH JOURNALIST’S DEEP DIVE INTO THE SCIENCE OF MINDFULNESS AND THE ROLE IT COULD PLAY IN THE MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC
Shannon Harvey
Since Shannon Harvey released her latest film and book, My Year of Living Mindfully, there are two questions she’s always asked – Was meditating every day really worth it? And how does the full-time working mother actually find the time? In this talk, Shannon will share behind the scenes insights from her year-long self-experiment and reveal how she used the latest behaviour change science to make a healthy goal and actually stick to it.
3/3/2021
BREAKING THE BIAS HABIT: HOW TO DISRUPT THE EFFECTS OF IMPLICIT BIAS ON BEHAVIOR AND OUTCOMES
Dr. Carmel Saad
Current events call on us to examine hidden prejudices we hold toward those in various social groups. Our implicit biases can affect how we treat others without us knowing it, and they can undermine our best intentions to enact social justice. In this talk, I will present research on the nature of implicit bias, how it affects behavior across a wide variety of sectors, and evidence-based strategies to disrupt the impact of bias on behavior.
3/10/2021
STRONGER TOGETHER: HOW RELATIONSHIPS HELP US THRIVE DURING GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES
Dr. Nancy Collins
Close relationships are essential to health and happiness for people of all ages. They can help us savor the good times, and provide a safe haven of comfort and support during difficult times. But maintaining happy relationships is not always easy, especially during times of stress and adversity. Drawing from relationship science, this talk will review the key components of successful relationships and provide practical tips for how you can cultivate secure and resilient relationships in good times as well as in bad times.