‘In order to understand and maybe alleviate stress symptoms for students, a York College faculty member is offering stress-reduction workshops as part of her research on how people can control their stress levels.
“Some people have worries that are incessant, pervasive, intrusive, unproductive — and difficult to turn off,” said Dr. Kathariya Mokrue, a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at York College. “Their worries are present from the moment they wake up until the last minute of their day.”
At York College Mokrue conducts a stress-reduction workshop called “stress-less” as part of her ongoing research. The workshop teaches students effective ways to reduce the effects of stress, regulate emotions, and to feel more in control of their lives.
Stress is caused by several things such as school, work, family and relationships. In some cases stress can be induced by events that we have no control over, like an unexpected death in the family or being laid off from work. But one thing stays constant: everyone stresses differently. The source of one’s stress may come from the need to worry, especially if this need to worry occurs on a consistent basis.
Mokrue’s research involves evidence-based interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapies and mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, which prove to be effective in reducing common problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. She focuses on modifying these interventions for use among underserved and overlooked populations, addressing barriers, and improving access to these therapies and programs.
“Changing the way you think about stress can reduce the negative impact it has on your physiology,” Mokrue wrote in a Huffington Post article. “In fact, feeling stressed can be an indication that we are challenging ourselves. Challenge is good: It allows us to develop a sense of competence, boost our self-esteem, and feelings of mastery.”
This is the fourth year that the stress-less workshop is being offered to York College students. There will be two series, involving four consecutive meetings, that will be offered during the month of March. One series will be offered on Tuesdays (March 3, 11, 18 and 25) and the other series will be offered on Thursdays (March 6, 13, 20 and 27), both during club hours. Space is limited to 10-14 students each series.
Students interested in participating in these workshops are urged to contact the Stress-less team by email at stresslessatyork@gmail.com or by phone at 718-262-2277. Be sure to leave your name and number and they will get back to you to arrange a time to fill out a pre-workshop questionnaire that will determine if you qualify.
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