Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach that emphasizes acceptance of oneself, the importance of living a value-based life, and psychological flexibility. ACT has been used for a variety of mental health concerns, such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and chronic pain. Exploring ACT for college students as an effective intervention has ... [Read more...]
Trauma is an umbrella term for any event that is deeply distressing or disturbing to an individual. We can think of big events – like 9/11 or the SPU campus shooting, and easily see how that can be classified as traumatic. We know that interpersonal violence, both physical and emotional, and the deaths of loved ... [Read more...]
Anxiety is one of the primary reasons undergraduates visit college counseling centers. In 2017, the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors reported that 51% of students receiving services from college counseling center reported having anxiety.1 While other mental health problems, such as depression and substance use, have been the focus of targeted interventions ... [Read more...]
Mindfulness has gained popularity in recent years. Mindfulness, the skill of non-judgmentally paying attention, has been shown to be beneficial for both emotional and physical health among undergraduate populations.1,2 While it is generally well-known that mindfulness is effective in reducing stress, specifically for undergraduates, mindfulness may be useful in decreasing alcohol problems. Additionally, individualizing mindfulness ... [Read more...]
Positive psychology has gained popularity over the years, shifting attention from studying what is negatively impacting individuals to understanding the positive aspects of well-being. Introduced in 1998 by Dr. Martin Seligman, positive psychology focuses on topics such as happiness, well-being, success, and optimal human functioning.1 This relatively new branch of psychology has expanded the scope ... [Read more...]
Social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, are the norm for college students. In and out of the classroom, students are generally engaged in at least one, if not all, of these social media platforms. As use of social media increases, what are the consequences for students? How is social media impacting mental health ... [Read more...]
Stress in college is inevitable. Today, as undergraduate degrees become the norm, college students face a tremendous amount of pressure. Pressure to perform well academically, the increasing cost of undergraduate education, and developmentally still learning and growing – college students face a large amount of stress during a unique time in their lives. What are ... [Read more...]
Self-injury, also known as self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury, is deliberate self-inflicted harm to oneself. Behaviors that cause pain but are not done with the intention of ending life are considered self-injury. This includes cutting, burning, and biting – but can also include behaviors such as banging your head against a wall, hitting objects, or scratching. ... [Read more...]
Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder, pose a risk to college students’ physical and mental health. Despite eating disorders being more common among females, eating disorder prevalence in college has risen among both male and female students.1 This increase may be due to a number of triggering events, such as the stress ... [Read more...]
Marijuana use is a major concern on college campuses. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use, there are concerns that use will increase among students. Approximately one in five young adults report marijuana use1 and marijuana use among young adults has been associated with adverse consequences, such as academic impairment2, poorer health3, and risky behaviors ... [Read more...]