EastWest Psychology: Cultivating Mental Well-being

Mental well-being consists of an awakened mind, psychological stability, and flexibility in unpleasant, pleasant and neutral life events. In this course, students will explore how our thoughts and perceptions function as an important source of overall wellness, how they influence our physical health and emotional well-being, and how to cultivate and maintain mental well-being in our personal and collective lives. Students will identify core concepts and skills from multiple current models of mental well-being, and will then engage in empirical practices drawn from East-West contemplative practices to actualize these states and qualities of mental well-being. Finally, students will apply their readings and experiential learning about different East-West psychological approaches to develop a 5-week mental well-being program that will function as a foundation for personal growth, as well as professional and prosocial activities.