As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend the daily lives of individuals around
the world, many people are experiencing feelings of stress and a loss of control.
In response to this, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (PCOM) Ashley
Poole (PsyD ’20), predoctoral intern at PCOM’s Center for Brief Therapy, and Brad Rosenfield, PsyD, associate professor and practicum coordinator, clinical psychology, recently hosted a webinar titled, “How to Build Resilience and a Happy, Productive
Life in the Time of COVID-19.” The webinar was open to the entire PCOM community and
addressed some of the current issues many people are facing and how they can work
to regain a sense of control in their lives. The program also discussed how to increase
happiness and resilience in times of uncertainty.
“The purpose of this webinar was to encourage and remind people that even though things have changed, there are things that we still have control over,” said Ms. Poole. “Focusing on what you have control over can add to happiness. The media often reminds us of what we can’t do, but this webinar was focused on what we can do.”
Keeping the webinar interactive was a primary focus for Ms. Poole and Dr. Rosenfield.
In addition to a live presentation, the webinar featured a real-time comment section
for audience participation. Attendees were able to ask questions as the presentation
progressed, as well as answer questions posed to them by the moderators.
“We wanted to build on the concept of stress reduction to show people how they can actually improve their happiness during these difficult times,” said Ms. Poole. “Showing people the resources available to them can be the inspiration they need to pursue happiness further.” One example focused on pursuing happiness through education. Participants were encouraged to explore new skills and topics through resources such as free online courses offered by higher ed institutions.
Though the program was only available to the PCOM community, Ms. Poole plans to make a recording available for those who wish to watch and learn more.
Learn more about PCOM's response to COVID-19.
Learn more about PCOM's Center for Brief Therapy.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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