Dr. Cori Costello

Mental Health First Responder Reflects on Supporting Houston Communities After Hurricane Harvey

Core faculty member Cori Costello responded to the Red Cross’ national call for rapid deployment of mental health counselors to support with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. In her personal reflection, Professor Costello shares her experience providing disaster mental health aid to those devastated by the natural disaster, while also helping disaster volunteers process what they were seeing and experiencing in the midst of a highly stressful situation.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a Buddhist concept that is described as waking up and “living in harmony with oneself and with the world.” It is a term that has been discussed with great frequency in various fields of study including, well-being, mental wellness, and positive psychology. But how does one think or act in a mindful way? How is it that mindfulness can decrease depressive symptoms or increase wellness approaches?