Painful emotions or unpleasant thoughts can be extremely hard to sit with and accept. Often, our knee-jerk reaction is to avoid these experiences or try to get rid of them completely, which most of the time, only makes us feel worse. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to help people […]
School is the training ground that helps shape individuals into the people they will become. The experiences that our children and youth have in school dictate the pathway they take to facilitate future growth. Positive school experiences have been connected to positive long-term outcomes, such as being less likely to […]
Changing our behavior is hard, even if that behavior hurts us. Maybe we drink too much alcohol when we’re stressed, shout at our kids when we’re mad, or simply withdraw from loved ones when we’re feeling low. These are all unhelpful behaviors we probably know don’t get us anywhere good. […]
At some point, most parents, grandparents, teachers, and carers wonder what the small child in front of them will be like as they grow older and who they will become. Developmental psychology attempts to answer these and other questions by understanding how children develop and the impact of the environment […]
The stories we tell ourselves can be incredibly powerful. When we speak of ourselves negatively, place blame on others, or compare our past selves to our present selves, we are crafting narratives that have the potential to affect how we feel, what we do, and our relationships with others. If […]
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), employment in school counseling is expected to grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029, with 33,100 openings for school and career counselors opening each year. School counselors may have one of the most multifunctional and gratifying roles within the school setting. […]
Psychoeducational groups provide opportunities for their members to learn about a range of psychological phenomena. For instance, they can facilitate greater self-insight and interpersonal functioning. They might also help their members gain skills to understand and solve problems that affect their functioning in daily life (Brown, 2018b). Importantly, group psychoeducation […]
Contrary to popular belief, occupational therapy is not just handwriting and scissor skill work. Occupational therapy has evolved and expanded its role in children's education. Occupational therapists (OTs) may work with students with physical limitations as well as children with developmental delays and learning disorders. To provide comprehensive intervention, OTs […]
Academic failure. Noncompliance. Misbehavior. All can indicate occupational therapy needs within the school setting (Case-Smith, 2002). A student may not have the fine motor skills or hand strength to complete a writing task, and may fail the assignment. A student may focus so much on writing and copying the notes […]
School psychologists are often some of the most highly trained mental health professionals in schools. Ensuring children's mental health is critical to success in school and life. Students who receive social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health interventions from psychological professionals are stronger academically and emotionally (National Association of School Psychologists, 2021). […]
School psychologists are some of the most in-demand professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021) reported that the field for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is expected to grow by 3% between 2019 and 2029. If you are considering a career in school psychology, this article will provide you […]
New research is uncovering the power of the reflective mind to help us with lifelong learning (Fleming, 2021a). It seems that our reflective ability to think about our thinking, known as metacognition, can provide a boost in all sorts of situations, especially when acquiring knowledge and skills (Fleming, 2021a). While […]
Being socially awkward is not just a problem kids face; adults can battle with social skills too, leading to anxiety and even serious phobias. Struggles with social skills in adulthood can cause avoidance of social situations and interfere with building long-lasting relationships. Providing social skills training to clients with anxiety, […]
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by social situations at work or in your personal life? Do you ever get frustrated that other people seem to be naturally charismatic and can navigate social situations with ease, while you struggle to communicate your wants and needs? Being able to communicate effectively is […]
School is a place where children and adolescents go to become educated, academically and socially. Learning how to interact with other people, make friends, and foster cooperation are all social skills that are taught by facilitating students' interactions with each other. Even though children gain social skills through naturally interacting […]
Educational psychology is complex, challenging, and yet fascinating, requiring in-depth knowledge of multiple, interdisciplinary fields. Practitioners engage in the theory, methodology, and application of their skills to a “broad spectrum of teaching, training and learning issues” and have the ability to apply the scientific method to education (Harris, 2018). The […]
Over the last 20 years, the field of sports psychology has grown dramatically, with a significant increase in the number of practitioners globally (Cotterill & Breslin, 2017). Indeed, sports psychology has developed into a high-profile, international enterprise engaged in almost all elite sports (Kremer, Moran, & Kearney, 2019). Such growth […]
So you have decided to become a therapist. Like any good career choice, having a plan of action on how to achieve that career is vital. A first step in your plan of action is deciding which education program would be best for you to attend. To decide which qualification […]
Educational psychology is one of the oldest branches in the field, with roots dating back at least to Plato. Plato believed that learning is based on the mind’s innate capacity to receive information and judge its intellectual and moral value. Plato’s foremost pupil, Aristotle, emphasized how learning involves building associations […]
Educational psychology is a problem-solving profession that aims to apply knowledge and theory from psychology to education (Burnham & Phillips, 2019). Optimal outcomes typically involve compromise rather than consensus, reached through open inquiry and recognizing everyone’s input, including teachers, parents, policymakers, and students. Its value is profound. The educational psychologist’s […]
We all have a teacher in mind when we think of being inspired. They found a way to connect, encourage, and motivate us to be our very best. Being intrinsically motivated – rather than driven by fear of punishment or external reward – and doing something because it is fascinating, […]
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by almost 200 countries, states that every child has the right to a good education. Education should develop each child’s personality, talents, and abilities to the fullest while respecting their culture, family, and environment, the Convention continues. School psychologists, […]
Change is known to be a gradual and often difficult process for teachers. When asked what teachers hope to gain from professional development, they prefer specific, concrete, and practical ideas, directly relating to their classroom’s day-to-day operation (Guskey, 2002). Instructional coaching, specifically educational coaching in the classroom, aims to enhance […]
The professional world of coaching has exploded in the last few years. Now more than ever, people are seeing the benefits of seeking out the right levels of support to help them fulfill their personal and professional goals. Coaches are a big part of that, and no matter what your […]
All parents want the best for their children. They want their children to be happy and to flourish. They want them to live out their dreams and reach their innate potential. The challenge, however, is finding the right education model. One that doesn't stifle their potential nor produce cookie-cutter pupils. […]
Being a child in today's world is in some respects far more challenging than years before. Many children find themselves having to navigate an ever-increasing and demanding education system. This combined with 24/7 news cycles and keeping up with social media can contribute to feelings of anxiety and unhappiness. Teachers […]
Our world is in a communication crisis. Kids spend astounding amounts of time on their electronic devices and with this shift, they are losing their skills in how to communicate their needs—with their own voices. Picture the kids you know having no access to wi-fi. There might be a revolt […]
It is with great pleasure that we share a comprehensive list of online positive psychology courses, workshops, training, webinars, graduate programs, audiotapes, and MOOCs. We also include the renowned Master of Applied Positive Psychology course brought to you by many universities, organizations, and professionals from around the globe. We appreciate […]
Lately, we've been getting an increasing number of questions from people who want to pursue a Ph.D. program in positive psychology (mostly after having finished a MAPP program or one of the other courses in positive psychology) and are looking for a university or institution with specific positive psychology graduate programs […]
Interested in pursuing your love of positive psychology further? Good news—in recent years, we’ve seen more and more opportunities arise for developing that interest academically. On this page, we’ve listed MAPP (or relevant related) opportunities from a wide range of institutions across the world. For those who can’t find something […]
It wasn’t too long ago that school-rooms were places of stern words and plentiful discipline. It was commonplace for teachers to favor harsh punishment over positive punishment, including using the cane. Now, however, it is recognized that there are more effective ways to teach and to manage classrooms. Techniques such […]
If you read our earlier piece on positive punishment, you know that there are different methods of teaching and instilling good habits and behaviors. One of the most powerful and effective methods is one that you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with: positive reinforcement. Before you read on, we thought […]
"Teachers and researchers in positive psychology are natural allies. At its core, education is about nurturing strengths, about growth and learning. Furthermore, psychological and social well-being are key concerns for teachers and other educators and for people working in the field of positive psychology" (Shankland & Rosset, 2017). This quote […]
“What do you want to do after school?” More than a decade later, and this simple question still makes my stomach turn. I remember the feelings of confusion and frustration. Internalizing my indecision to mean that there was something wrong with me. Not to mention my misinformed belief that everyone […]
Education has benefited from positive psychology since the field began. There is no standard for implementing the research findings of positive psychology into the classroom; however, there are many practices that can change the fabric of schools and their students for the better. Before you continue, we thought you might […]
Harvard's Positive Psychology 1504, taught by professor Tal Ben-Shahar Ph.D., will enter the books as the most popular course in the history of Harvard University. In the spring of 2006, over 1400 Harvard students enrolled in both Positive Psychology 1504 and Ben-Shahar's Psychology of Leadership course. Positive Psychology 1504 consists of 22 lectures […]
