Dr. Andrea Dinardo, Psychology Professor
BELOW THE SURFACE PSYCHOLOGY In psychology class this week we are talking about stigma and drug addiction and why it’s important to lean in, listen, and get curious about why people do what they do. End the stigma. Change lives. https://youtu.be/5BAu7RaMxQA COMMUNICATION CLEAR AND CONCISE The second topic of discussion in psychology class is clarity... Continue Reading →
Time and Energy Management When I was a kid, my mom set a timer for almost everything we did. Whether it was how long we spent doing our homework, weeding the garden, watching television, or complaining about life’s challenges. 1. Passing versus Permanent Difficulties Setting time limits helped us understand that nothing lasts forever, good... Continue Reading →
Lockdowns have us spending a lot of extra time with the ones we love. Especially during the holidays. And if you’re anything like our household, it requires a whole new level of relationship skills. A deeper level of empathy and compassion for the pressures of the people we are living with. Helpful Tips: Psychology Today... Continue Reading →
Individuals are often looking for healthier ways to express their emotions. For Example: Anger That said, it's not as simple as becoming "more calm" or "less explosive". The first step in transformation and lasting change is looking below the surface. The Kübler-Ross Model provides insight: The goal is to discover if angry thoughts, actions, or... Continue Reading →
Even as a psychologist, I often don’t know what to say. Especially now with so many people experiencing pain and trauma in escalating ways. So rather than assume what someone needs, I have learned over the years to ask one simple question: How Can I Support You? In doing so, I create a safe space... Continue Reading →
PUBLIC SPEAKING TIP How to Turn Fear into Excitement Neuroscience Solutions & Insights Did you know that fear and excitement share the same set of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. Opposite emotions. Identical neurotransmitters. Same neural activity. Different Cognitive Appraisal. And the best way to shift from performance anxiety to excitement is to say... Continue Reading →
Stop saying “Um,” or “Ah,” during speeches with this one simple tip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpr9HR-Ur2I&feature=youtu.be The next time you have a speech to give, try taking a pause between thoughts. In doing so, you allow your message to sink in. Giving yourself and the audience a much needed break. Allowing time for everyone to digest the information.... Continue Reading →
In today's psychology class, we discussed how important it is to empower friends, family, and clients going through difficult times. HONOUR THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU And how even if we are an expert in psychology, nursing, or business - it does not make us the master of someone else's life. Together we explored... Continue Reading →
Don’t give up. Great things take time. Sometimes we have to go through the worst. To get to the best. Fall down 7 times. Stand up 8. Today is your day. Your time to rise up! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sw_igZkhv3c Trust and Believe in 2019 This blog post and classroom video above are dedicated to all the students around the... Continue Reading →
I want to give the world the best of me. This is my hope every time we meet. And every time I teach. No matter how brief or long our interaction. I want to leave you feeling brighter, lighter, more confident. The bonus is — when your energy rises, so does mine. A boomerang effect of... Continue Reading →
I wrote this on the blackboard for my nursing students today. This is their final week of classes. Which means one final opportunity for me to encourage their success. This is my favourite part of teaching psychology. Every time I face a challenge, I imagine how I can translate it into a motivating lesson for my... Continue Reading →
Smile like you're changing the world. Because you are. 🌸 We often think of changing of the world as some great big, grand gesture. Performed on stage with millions of people watching. When in fact it's just you and me (and 7 billion others). Smiling, connecting, caring, and loving. Every moment. Every encounter. We are... Continue Reading →
I have the pleasure of starting each day with my husband John. Each morning begins at 6am with an hour of coffee talk weekends included. No alarm clock necessary. Having something as wonderful as hot coffee and good conversation to look forward to each day is its own wake up call. This morning I asked John... Continue Reading →
Smile like you're changing the world. Because you are. 🌸 We often think of changing of the world as some great big, grand gesture. Performed on stage with millions of people watching. When in fact it's just you and me (and 7 billion others). Smiling, connecting, caring, and loving. Every moment. Every encounter. We are... Continue Reading →
Thriving Under Pressure 