A Time for Mindfulness Meditation

by Dr. Kristen Gray, Licensed Psychologist, Associate Dean for Health and Counseling, Director of CAPS It seems as though mindfulness meditation is mentioned in almost all recommendations for coping with COVID-19. But just exactly what is mindfulness meditation? Is it right for you? Are you willing to give it a try? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, …

Try “Distant Socializing” vs. Social Distancing: Honor our human nature of connection while physically apart

Review by Bonnie VanderWal, Ph.D., LLP, CAPS Staff Counselor –Article by Melissa DeWitt:  https://news.stanford.edu/2020/03/19/try-distant-socializing-instead/ This short article (linked above) lists strategies for staying connected, a basic human need, while we stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki suggests changing our language about being together while remaining apart, and ways to combat loneliness …

The Pain of Loss (Guest Blog with Tim Koberna)

Tim Koberna is the Head Athletic Trainer and an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Hope College. He is passionate about student resiliency and grit, and approached CAPS about ways to collaborate to support all Hope students–in particular, the approximately 600 student-athletes–during this time. In that spirit, he writes the following to the Hope community in …

DISCUSSIONS WITH DASH (Coping Skills during COVID-19 Response)

KJ Boyd, staff counselor in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), shares a TIPP for remembering four skills to regulate yourself in times when you are feeling overwhelmed. Dash is her canine co-worker and scene stealer.

How Busy Is Too Busy?

A recap of September’s An Honest Conversation about doing too much. How important is a double (or triple) major? What is a healthy level of involvement on campus? How much do I need to have on my resume for employers or grad schools to select me? How does all of this busyness affect my soul? …