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The American Counseling Association (ACA), the professional and educational organization representing professional counselors across diverse practice settings, held its 65th annual conference from March 16-18th in San Francisco, CA. The event provides counselors with an opportunity to network and learn from practitioners conducting critical research within the field.
Mindfulness is a Buddhist concept that is described as waking up and “living in harmony with oneself and with the world.” It is a term that has been discussed with great frequency in various fields of study including, well-being, mental wellness, and positive psychology. But how does one think or act in a mindful way? How is it that mindfulness can decrease depressive symptoms or increase wellness approaches?
Everyone is excited to attend the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference and Expo External link in San Francisco March 16 to March 19. Whether you are an experienced conference-goer or a first-time attendee, these tips will help you get the best out of your conference experience. This list will be especially helpful as you prepare for San Francisco but can also be applied to other conferences.
Valentine’s Day can evoke a variety of reactions. The typical image of Valentine’s Day is one of romance with a perfect setting, a perfect meal, and maybe a perfect conversation on the beach, but reality tells us that the perfect experience is rare. However, some may find that Valentine’s Day ushers in a time of disappointment. With all the benefits and exciting possibilities of the holiday, many people find themselves disillusioned and unsatisfied with their experience. This dissatisfaction may even lead to anxiety, depression, or diminished self-esteem.
Red hearts, red roses, and red candy boxes everywhere; not to mention mushy couples lost in each other’s eyes and the endless advertisements for greeting cards and other tokens of affection. The overload, in-your-face obsession with Valentine’s Day is enough to make single people cringe during the weeks leading up to February 14. Instead of cringing, consider another perspective. The following ideas can help you celebrate connections in ways that are different from the usual couple-focused Valentine’s Day traditions.
Counseling and martial arts have a lot in common: counseling works through the mind, hoping that insight and resolve take root and lead to change, while martial arts begin with action, so that through practiced movement the mind may find peace. Counseling and martial arts are two sides of the same coin and the goal of both is empowerment.
It seems we have an innate hunger for connection with others, and that connection requires effective communication; however, we often struggle to make that happen. In this post, Counseling@Northwestern Assistant Clinical Director and Core Faculty member, James Ruby, offers three tenets for effective and more rewarding communication that yield healthier connections.
Many people enjoy attending holiday and New Year’s parties and mingling with old and new friends, but some people dread these kinds of social interactions. Some believe that they are the only ones suffering with social anxiety, when in fact, about 7 percent of the population External link suffers. The good news is that there are effective treatments to help people reduce their anxiety and regain a sense of control over their lives.
Seasonal transitions can be difficult for many reasons and can have an impact on your mind and body, often referred to as stress. If you live in a cold climate, the shift from fall to winter means fewer daylight hours and more cold days. It also means shifting into the holidays, a brand-new year, and flu season. The following tips can help you focus on your mind and body during stressful seasonal transitions.
Parents have varying goals when they go to parent-teacher conferences. They may want to advocate for their child, understand the teacher’s expectations, or learn about their child’s progress. Some parents may not receive the information they need because of the short amount of time scheduled for the conference, which is often only about 10 minutes. This can cause frustration and a disconnect between parent and teacher. To help you make the most of this time, here are fives things you can do to prepare for an effective parent-teacher conference.
