Improving the psychosocial wellbeing of international students: the relevance of mindfulness

ABSTRACT

In this study we analysed the potential of a mindfulness programme for improving psychosocial wellbeing among students at a Dutch university. Based on interviews and observations of sessions, the study demonstrated that students joined the programme to manage stress and anxiety, cultivate self-awareness, and regulate difficult emotions. They all reported positive outcomes, but students who participated in the sessions regularly and did the homework assignments reported better outcomes, including enhanced self-awareness, self-care, and positive attitudes towards others. Although students reported improved emotion regulation, many still believed that the programme was less strong in this area. The study affirms the potential of mindfulness programmes for improving the psychosocial wellbeing, and builds a case for the integration of mindfulness interventions in university counselling services.     

Draw Me Your Thoughts: The Use of Comic Strips as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention

ABSTRACT

Creating comic strips can be a viable mechanism when utilizing cognitive behavioral interventions. Generating comic strips, which involves a process of constructing sequenced panels and a story-narrative through drawing, can reveal dysfunctional cognitions that can consequently be addressed. The authors of this article discuss a qualitative case study of a 14-year-old high school boy who came for psychotherapy due to severe anxiety during math tests. Creating comic strips was found to be beneficial in externalizing problematic thinking processes, which were then utilized for cognitive restructuring and behavioral modification. The use of comic strips provided a concrete medium for analyzing maladaptive thoughts and practices, leading the way for the emotional management of anxiety with math.     

继承传统适应时代面向未来——《道风集》增订本介绍

10年前,上海道教协会编辑出版了陈莲笙道长的著述《道风集——道教的发展和道士的修养》。今天,在陈道长九秩松寿的日子里,又出版了这本书的增订本,可以说是锦上添花。增订本《道风集》与初版《道风集》相比,内容上更加充实,增加了陈道长近十年来的著述;编排上作了修正,并加入了许多珍贵的照片,使整本书显得更为生动,不仅具有阅读价值,而且增加了收藏价值。该书由上海辞书出版社出版,大32开,封面上印有陈老道长的大幅道装照片,装帧上显得大气且富有道教文化气息。