Self-Talk That Lifts You Up

โ€œBe mindful of your self-talk. It's your conversation with the universe.โ€ As humans, we canโ€™t help but look to the next rung on the ladder. Forgetting the 100 rungs we have already climbed. https://youtu.be/1ALCrzw_1Xo Todayโ€™s Psychology Challenge Take note of the trail behind you. The hard work. The success. The heartbreak. The soul awakenings. The... Continue Reading →

Positive Psychology in Education โ€ข Mental Health โ€ข School Board Speech

https://youtu.be/I08EUaQ8g9Y I had the opportunity to give a psychology speech on cultivating mental health daily at the Greater Essex County District School Board in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Audience Members The audience was comprised of education support staff and front line workers, including Education Assistants, Child and Youth Care Workers, Developmental Services Workers, Teachers, Social Workers,... Continue Reading →

New Virtual Experiences

Staying Hopeful I wanted to share how I have been keeping hope alive in my heart and soul during 2020. Specifically, by expanding my reach with new virtual experiences. Beginning in the spring with my first "live" recorded internet event with Sam Piercell, a fitness entrepreneur, from Windsor, Ontario. 1. F45 Live Event: Community Resilience... Continue Reading →

Energizing Self-Talk

How we talk to ourselves matters. Especially at the start of a brand new day. The way I see it, our thoughts are the lyrics to the daily soundtrack of our lives. A topic I discuss with love and laughter during my Women With Drive Speech. Video below โฌ‡๏ธ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ALCrzw_1Xo Try This One Day at... Continue Reading →

Celebrating Moms Everywhere

Let's not wait until Mother's Day to celebrate moms everywhere. Letโ€™s celebrate moms today. Including my own. Moms of every age. Moms of every country. Moms of every kind. Cat moms. Dog moms. Aunt moms. Friend moms. Professor moms. Neighbour moms. The only thing that matters is love. Sharing Mom Memories And since Mother's Day... Continue Reading →

What has COVID-19 awakened in you?

How is everyone doing? How are you coping with our universal global event? How has your perception of yourself and the world evolved? How has COVID-19 transformed you? What is the higher purpose in all of this? I Am Waking Up After socially distancing and working full-time from home as a psychology professor (now online),... Continue Reading →

Breathe

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zRSQw-LjU8k Every time we take a long deep breath, we are telling our bodies that we are safe. Each breath connecting our mind, body, and heart. Bringing us back to present time. 5 Breathing Techniques: Follow Your Breath Become aware of each inhalation and exhalation. Focus on the sensations you feel as air passes through... Continue Reading →

Ambitious Mama Podcast: Thriving Under Pressure & Posttraumatic Growth

Podcast Details & Show Notes I was recently interviewed by wellness entrepreneur Christa Realba for her Ambitious Mama Podcast Series. During the podcast, Christa and I discussed how posttraumatic growth and thriving under pressure are possible for all of us. In different gradients, and at different times for sure. Depending on where you are on... Continue Reading →

Posttraumatic Growth: Can Adversity Be Good for You?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlkaArLVg28 Psychology Keynote In this video you will hear the remarkable stories of teachers, social workers, and principals who suffered greatly through illness, injuries, and difficult pregnancies. Eventually rising up with time and support to greater heights in their current lives. Personal Experience In this video I share examples of how my parents coped with dark times... Continue Reading →

Improve Mental Health with Positive Psychology

https://youtu.be/I08EUaQ8g9Y Reevaluate Your Approach to Mental Health Instead of thinking of mental health as a burden you must shoulder, imagine it as an opportunity to experience peace and joy. In the same way that we make time for our physical needs, we must devote equal attention to our psychological needs. Original Source โ€” The Drive... Continue Reading →

How does a psychologist make a clinical diagnosis?

Psychology in Your Life The intention for this post is to introduce you to one aspect of the diagnostic process โ€” specifically: differential diagnosis. And ultimately to help you understand that psychological assessmentย is a complex, worthwhile process. Whatโ€™s normal ๐Ÿ†šย clinical? To answer that question, I would like to invite you into my clinical psychology class.ย ... Continue Reading →

CULTIVATING MENTAL HEALTH DAILY

In Celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, I wrote a psychology article and did a series of videos and training on community mental health. I hope you enjoy! The Drive Magazine Psych Drive Article Video One Professional Development & Training This is a video of professional development for educational assistants and mental health support staff... Continue Reading →

Optimism Bootcamp Workshop and Article

OPTIMISM BOOTCAMP: Overcoming Learned Helplessness is a dynamic, interactive psychology workshop based on an article I wrote for The Drive Magazine https://youtu.be/z_DNIWYh6vE 1/ Optimism Article https://thedrivemagazine.com/posts/optimism-bootcamp 2/ Optimism Bootcamp - April 2019 https://youtu.be/z_DNIWYh6vE 3/ Optimism Bootcamp - August 2019 https://youtu.be/LgACYyFv2YQ

Lemon Soul Podcast: Thriving Under Pressure

The Psychology of Wellness I had the opportunity to be interviewed on the Lemon Soul Podcast by an engaging and bright young woman named Sierra Parr. It was one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on and I hope you find the same value in listening to the podcast as I had co-creating it... Continue Reading →

The Shadow Effect

Psychology Class The Shadow Effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aECfb8QNp0 One of the things I love to do is share whatโ€™s happening on campus in my psychology class. Todayโ€™s Topic: The Shadow Effect Watch this short video and consider the following questions: What is your shadow?How does it serve you?Where does it come from?How do I bring it into... Continue Reading →

International Womenโ€™s Day: Who Inspires You?

#internationalwomensday #rolemodel Growing up my Mom, my mentor, and the first psychologist in our family, didnโ€™t talk a lot about womenโ€™s empowerment. โ€” She lived it. Gracefully. Quietly. Courageously. Today, and all days, I am grateful for a role model who began her journey from challenge to strength with incredible will and a heart of... Continue Reading →

Failure as Feedback – The Drive Magazine

There are two ways of looking at failure. Failure as FEEDBACK. Failure as PUNISHMENT. โŠ•โŠ•โŠ•โŠ•โŠ• One energizes. The other paralyzes. WHY FAILURE IS NECESSARY I believe that failure is essential for success, at work and in our personal lives. Failure lights our way to what weโ€™re ultimately meant to do. Especially when we embrace it... Continue Reading →

Psychology 101: Ask Dr. D.

Getting to know my students is one of my favourite parts being a professor. ย Accordingly, I ask students a lot of questions. So itโ€™s only fair that students get to ask me questions too! Why did you become a psychologist? ๐ŸŽฅ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GSJDKR07hDw Whatโ€™s most interesting about being a college professor? ๐ŸŽฅ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NieGvwEkkEI I would love... Continue Reading →

I believe in you.

As a psychology professor and former school psychologist, I talk about mental health issues with students every single day. My classroom is a safe place for students to be themselves. Which is critical when working with youth (18-24) who represent the highest proportion of individuals with mental illness. Education helps bridge the gap between fear... Continue Reading →

1000 views on the official TEDx site!

I am so excited to share that myย TEDx video hit 1000 views today! ๐ŸŽฅ A BIG thank you for watching and sharing my TEDx talk with your friends and family.ย We are stronger than our stress. This I know for sure.ย Together we will thrive under pressure. ๐Ÿ’ฅ Click on TEDx Video โ†’ Thriving Under Pressure

See the light in others and treat them as if thatโ€™s all you see.

The field ofย positive psychology has been a blessing for me, both personally andย professionally. By focusing on strengths first, I bufferย myself against the ย vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue often associated with the practice of psychology. And in turn, my positive approach heightens the resilience and stressย hardiness in others. (Boomerang effect!) Everywhere I go, I'm on the... Continue Reading →

PODCAST Respecting the Process

Do you trust the process / evolution of your life? Do you stir the pot before it boils? Do you open the oven before it bakes? Or do you relax on the sofa trusting the recipe and the time it takes? Not long ago, I was interviewed by Adam Rochon on the topic of transformational... Continue Reading →

CBC-TV Interview โ€” Embracing Change

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rUWGr_GwzhM Need help embracing change but donโ€™t know where to start? Video In my interview on CBC-TV I share 5 positive ways to embrace change using the principles of positive psychology. Article I also... Continue Reading →

Celebrating Female Mentors and Visionaries.

  โ€ชHappy International Women's Day! I am grateful for all the women in the world who paved the way.ย Including my mom. The first psychologist in the family.ย A role model, mentor, and encourager. Today & Always. Who are grateful for today?

Teaching Psychology with Enthusiasm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J4oL093oU0 I love teaching about psychology as much as I love writing about psychology. And that's a lot! Psychology is my passionย  Students First Is My Philosophy Which is why Iย take every opportunity I have to support and encourage student success and development. Whether it be as a reference for college scholarships. Helping stressed out... Continue Reading →

Your strengths light my way

https://youtu.be/spqoJGxn61A The field ofย positive psychology has been a blessing for me, both personally andย professionally. By focusing on strengths first, I buffer myself against the  vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue often associated with the practice of psychology. And in turn, my positive approach heightens the resilience and stress hardiness in others. (Boomerang effect!) Everywhere I go, I'm on... Continue Reading →

Positive psychology is my passion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjPZM2eDDhE  Positive Psychology is My Passion I love everything about positive psychology. The research, the content, the discoveries, the real-life stories, and most importantly, the promise of a better life. The opportunity to write psychology textbooks for McGraw-Hill Ryerson and share my enthusiasm for psychology is a childhood dream come true! What's Your Passion? What Moves You? Motivates You?... Continue Reading →

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