PSY 220 Health Psychology/Stress Management

I teach this course every fall. There are three basic areas to Health Psychology: 1. The study of stress and coping; 2. Research and interventions on behaviors that affect your physical health; 3. psychological research and interventions dealing with the medical profession.

We have done Applied Learning projects the past two years. In 2006, our class studied work stress in MWSU employees who worked at a local prison, and we made recommendations for lowering their work stress. In 2007, our class worked with Professor Cosette Hardwick and the MWSU Wellness committee to create the Relaxation Station at the MWSU employee wellness fair. We created a stress management brochure, and offered those to MWSU faculty and staff, along with biodots. We instructed individuals how to monitor their stress level through the biodots, and we also provided a relaxation exercise to those who were interested. We hope to continue our Relaxation Station in future years as an applied learning activity in PSY 220!

Click here to see an example syllabus for PSY 220.

The Relaxation Station at the MWSU Wellness Fair. An applied learning activity in PSY 220.

Students and I taking a break from setting up the Relaxation Station.

Our partners in the relaxation station - Dr. Cosette Hardwick and physical therapy assistants providing massages during the Wellness Fair.