De-Stress Fest

4/24: 12:00PM-3:00PM | In Person at Reitz Union North Lawn

A Geeky Gator Event: The purpose of this wellness session is to combine the power of gaming with therapeutic practices to create a supportive and fun space for students to address stress, build resilience and foster connections with peers.

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a casual player, you’ll find a place in this space where your passion for gaming can be harnessed to promote self-care and mental health within your community.

4/25: 10:00AM-2:00PM | In Person at Plaza of Americas

Join us for the CWC’s De-Stress Fest, your ultimate haven during finals! Dive into relaxation with soothing bubbles, indulge in sweet treats with cookies, and recharge with savory snacks like chips. Take a break from the grind and discover fun ways to manage stress amidst the chaos of finals. Your tranquility starts here!

What do you like to do to zone out? Coloring? Breathing? A cool cloth on the back of your neck or over your eyes? Come join us for a space for all this a more. There will be a space to hang and complete the activities on the lawn or you can grab some and take them with you to do with your friends or roommates at home later.

You've worked hard this semester and you deserve to just chill out whether it's just for a few minutes or for the rest of the summer!

4/25: 3:00-4:00PM | via Zoom (RSVP)

Breathing exercises can be effective for short- and long-term stress relief. Come learn various breath work practices to calm the nervous system and restore a sense of well-being. We’ll have a chance to practice together.

No experience is necessary!

Presented by: Julie Abrams-Bernier, PHD

1:30-3:00PM | via Zoom (RSVP)

We will talk about stress, stress management, and how to use meditation and mindfulness practices as part of a stress management strategy. Each week will focus on a different type of meditation or exercise. There will be space for open discussion included. TAKEAWAYS: - Better understand stress and its impact on our minds, emotions and bodies - Explore a variety of meditation-based techniques to assist with stress management - Discuss their experience of stress and receive feedback from counselors and other students.

Presented by: Felicia Brown, Ph.D & Jill Vella, Ph.D

9:00AM-10:30PM | via Zoom (RSVP)

Journaling is an accessible and time-friendly way of facilitating reflection, creativity, and self-expression through writing. Journaling can provide opportunities to clarify thoughts, regulate feelings, and develop insight through self-reflection. In this workshop we will guide you through a different journaling practice each week. The workshop will consist of an introduction to the activity of the day, followed by a brief journaling practice, and then a discussion period where participants will be able to share, if comfortable doing so, about their experiences of the journaling practice. We welcome you to come to one workshop or several in order to experience a variety of techniques. Takeaways: Process thoughts and emotions Develop insight into self Facilitate problem-solving Reduce stress through self-expression and creativity.

Presented by: Felicia Brown, PHD and Jill Vella, PHD

10:00-11:00AM | Peabody Hall

Looking for a creativity break? Students will receive a brief overview of the meaning of mandalas, engage in a short mindfulness session and create their own unique mandala.

1:00-2:00PM | via Zoom (RSVP)

We will discuss the neuroscience of deep breathing and play, as well as strategies on how to quickly cue the energized and joyful nature of your inner child.

Takeaways:

• Effective deep breathing
• Why accessing your inner child is good for your brain
• Strategies to quickly cue your inner child

Presented by: Rebecca Lautenschlager, MED,EDS, and Jennifer Place, PHD

9:00AM - NOON | Reitz Union - Tabling

Learn more about de-stressing and get some self-help tips

2:00-3:00PM | via Zoom (RSVP)

Tapping on acupressure points (aka Emotional Freedom Technique) is an evidence-based practice shown to help reduce anxiety/panic, PTSD, cravings, depression, self-doubt, and pain as well as to improve other physical and psychological functions. Come learn the tapping protocol and we’ll practice together with a focus on relieving stress/anxiety

TAKEAWAYS:

• Learn a new strategy for reducing anxiety/stress
• Feel more calm and present

Presented by: Julie Abrams-Bernier, PHD

9:00-4:00PM | In Person Event

"In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers." - Fred Rogers

Take a break, spin the CWC wheel for a prize and enjoy some refreshments with CWC counselors!

4/30: 3:30PM-5:00PM | In Person at CWC Radio Road

Did you know that gaming has some therapeutic components that can contribute to mental/emotional well-being and self-care? Take a break from your studies and come join us in learning how to incorporate wellness through various gaming activities. Prior experience is not needed, everyone is welcome! Why board games?

• Board games bring people together and encourage conversation and interaction while engaging in a shared activity! -You can learn new skills! Some games require strategy, problem-solving, decision-making, team-building, and communication (and it’s not always through verbal communication!).
• Board games can be a great source of stress relief and can boost the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals.
• Board games can also enhance creativity and build upon your self-confidence.

Providers: Rebecca Roberts Lautenschlager and Melissa Justis