EPISODE 20: Dana Fulwiler; The Science of Well-being and Resilience

Have you ever considered how “micro-moments” of connection can change someone’s life and their ability to be resilient in a challenge? Research is proving that “high-quality connections” are what’s helping buffer and bolster mental health during the pandemic. 

In this episode, Dana Fulwiler, wellbeing educator and consultant, joins the podcast to discuss resiliency and strategies we can use to “bounce forward” in the face of adversity and trials and help our students do the same.

About our Guest

Dana Fulwiler is a well-being educator and consultant, supporting proactive approaches to well-being and mental health in education. Her experiences over the past 15 years span public education, non-profit, and post-secondary, including classroom teacher, system leader, and instructor at the University of Calgary. Dana earned her Master of Education focused on whole-school well-being from the University of Saskatchewan, and her Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania, where she now serves as an instructor in the MAPP program.

Resources

• Penn Resilience Program is offering a free online course right now: Resilience Skills in a Time of Uncertainty
• viacharacter.org - free character survey + research and activities
• characterlab.org - several free resources for students, teachers, and parents
• High Quality Connection ideas; specific article: Seeding HQCs in the Classroom
• Six daily wellbeing questions
• Appreciative Inquiry model 
• Emotional Agility - book by Susan David

Papers: 

• Positive psychology in a pandemic: buffering, bolstering, and building mental health
• Searching for Wellbeing in Schools
• SEARCH: A Meta-Framework and Review