"Think..." is a series of educational sessions for the NDSU community "to reflect on or ponder" a variety of health and well-being topics.
This program is designed by Student Health Service Health Promotion and supported by the Presidents Council for Campus Well-being.
Past Think Topics and Recordings
Guided imagery, also called guided visualization, is a relaxation technique in which you visualize a positive setting or experience, immersing your 5 senses, which allows you to reduce stress, tension, anxiety, or other negative feeling or mental states. With guided imagery, you intentionally focus your mind and senses on a specific peaceful, pleasant, or calm experience or image in order to promote mental and physical relaxation.
Presented by Jaryn Allen who is the Assistant Director for Training and Supervision at the NDSU Counseling Center.
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/gAC_hrOVwvw
Yoga Nidra, also known as the yoga of sleep, allows the body to enter a deep state of rest and relaxation, which gives your nervous system space to relax and heal. It is a form of meditation that combines modern neuroscience and Western psychology, with ancient yogic wisdom, and allows the body to rest, reconnect, and heal. Practicing Yoga Nidra allows you to explore body sensations and emotions in a way that creates new, meaningful connections in your brain. The best part of all, a 20-minute Yoga Nidra practice is the equivalent of a 3-hour nap in terms of brain rest and benefit!
Presented by Jaryn Allen who is the Assistant Director for Training and Supervision at the NDSU Counseling Center.
YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/3ZZchXNKrrM
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a body relaxation technique in which you tense and then relax each major muscle group in the body. PMR helps you release the physical tension that often gets stored in your muscles as a result of day-to-day stress, even if you don’t notice it or experience aches and pains.
Presented by Jaryn Allen who is the Assistant Director for Training and Supervision at the NDSU Counseling Center.
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/AmAyAF7dSgk
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts. This seasonal depression gets worse in the late fall or early winter before ending in the sunnier days of spring. Join us for an informational session that would provide an overview of the resources we have on campus and learn about coping mechanisms during this time.
Presented by Amber Bach-Gorman, Assistant Director & Coordinator of Clinical Services at the NDSU Counseling Center.
Link to YouTube https://youtu.be/EvKJD4q0PRQ
This event covers how to sleep well while exploring the dangers of sleep deprivation, the importance of adequate sleep quantity and quality, the “how” of better sleep, and the red flags of when to seek help.
Presented by: Dr. Heidi Saarinen, Assistant Professor of Practice / School of Nursing
Link to YouTube https://youtu.be/VRoHSt61ulY
Experiencing anxiety as a college student or as a professional in academia is an unfortunate reality. Being in the midst of a global pandemic can make managing anxiety even more difficult. We'll explore strategies for coping with anxious emotions to build your sense of resiliency.
Presented by: Courtney Quist and Jenika Rufer, NDSU Counseling Center interns
Link to YouTube https://youtu.be/dawilR30Sgw
Vaping; cessation product, harmless fun, or addiction wrapped in a candy-coated package? What is the big deal about vaping? This presentation will guide you through a brief history of vaping, current research around tobacco products, and showcase some of the popular products on the market.
Presented by: Jason McCoy, Clay County Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
Link to YouTube https://youtu.be/ZkZG2H8ekqw
Now more than ever, we are finding ourselves stuck in our office chair with never-ending Zoom meetings and reading countless emails. Allison Grippe, a highly praised local yoga instructor will be leading short mindfulness and stretching sessions to help alleviate the pains of sitting at a desk without breaking a sweat.
Instructed by: Allison Grippe, local yoga instructor (https://www.facebook.com/allisongfargosyogi)
Link to YouTube
Series 1 - https://youtu.be/g45SXOtSrno
Series 2 - https://youtu.be/06mr9LONTMY
Series 3 – https://youtu.be/qJXcZ3hXdus
Series 4 - https://youtu.be/TY-BMhFr4I8
This self-massage class is an hour-long and geared toward connecting deeply with our physical bodies through touch. We’ll target different muscle groups in creative ways that allow more mobility with less pain. The goal here is to simply unwind and connect in a new way.
Instructed by: Autumn Meyer, Owner of Sacred Beings
Click here to watch on YouTube
Learn how to navigate the challenging conversations that will ultimately come up over the dinner table this holiday season! This talk will address the hot buttons that get pushed when we are altogether with family/friends, and how to stay balanced vs. reactive. After all, it is the holidays and these relationships are important to us!
Presented by: Kristine Paranica, NDSU Ombudsperson
Click here to watch on YouTube
Click here to access the presentation slides
Click here to access crisis resource list