Latest News

Self-care and Juneteenth

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:39:47 +0000

June 23, 2025

Dear MDECOE Community,

Last week on June 19^th, California celebrated Juneteenth as an officially recognized federal holiday created by the US Congress to mark the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. It’s important to understand the history of Juneteenth as a critical time for not just Black Americans, but for all Americans. A resource provided by the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers important information about the origins and importance of this holiday as a way for us to engage in caring for the wellbeing of our Black community and for our own depth of understanding. To read about this history, please go to

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

For a list of other self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:

/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

As we recognize the importance of Juneteenth, we honor our Black community.

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care and coping with war

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:25:51 +0000

June 16, 2025

Dear College of Education Community,

Many in our community are experiencing much pain and sorrow in relation to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Feelings of anxiety, stress, fear, despair, and even hate, are being experienced by people everywhere, those directly in the path of the violence, those who currently have families and friends in the Middle East or Ukraine, and those concerned about the effects of war everywhere.

The impact of violent crises can be very triggering in our own lives, states Jim Kendall, LCSW, CEAP. "To cope with this requires incredible courage and resilience." If you or a colleague are having difficulty coping, here are some things you can do:

Listen to others even if their viewpoints are different from your own and continue to validate the feelings that you have.
Focus on the things you have control over.
Reflect on the fact that, at the moment, you are safe.
Prioritize your own self-care.
Seek support from friends, colleagues, or a professional if your distress begins interfering with your function, your work, or your relationships.
If you are feeling helpless, learn more about how to help in relation to the war in Middle East and in Ukraine and get involved. Donate aid to organizations who help the people who need your support the most during these crises.

For coping tips for traumatic events and disasters, go to:

/revitalize/toolkits

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disasters/coping-tips

For resources on how to talk with children about violence, please go to:

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/war-and-terrorism/helping-children-cope-with-terrorism

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at

/eisner-education/self-care

The educational and counseling communities continue our commitment to restoring peace and safeguarding human life at this time of conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Warmly,
Shari

Self-care in Pride month!

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:08:41 +0000

June 9, 2025

Dear MDECOE Community,

June is Pride month, a time for reaffirming our commitment and support for our LGBTQIA communities as a form of self-care for both ourselves and others. This is especially needed in a year with so much hatred directed at LGBTQIA communities. When we practice self-care, we hone our interactions with everyone in our world and can “bring awareness to the role we each play in ensuring everyone – no matter their identity – has access to a world where they are free to be nothing short of themselves.” (Ashley Krombach My Good Brain blog).

Advocating for and celebrating the rights and wellbeing of the diverse members of our world is a hallmark of our teaching and counseling professions. Resources to support our LBGTQIA community can be found through our professional organizations and two of these organizations with numerous resources are below.

The National Association for School Psychologists has a wonderful resource page on how to support gender inclusive schools at https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/diversity-and-social-justice/lgbtq-youth/gender-inclusive-schools-faqs

The American Counseling Association offers a very comprehensive website with LBGTQIA videos, blogs, podcasts, articles, activities and toolkits, and other resources at https://www.counseling.org/resources/topics/cultural-identities/lgbtq

For a list of other self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at: /eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

Self-care involves looking beyond ourselves to be mindful that everyone deserves love and wellbeing. May we all commit to equity, access, inclusion, and safety for our LGBTQIA communities. Happy Pride Month!

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care in a time of violence

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:54:32 +0000

May 26, 2025

Dear College of Education Community,

The psychological impact of the violence, hate, and war in our world is far reaching and deep. Last week, we witnessed the horrific and unacceptable hate crime toward an innocent young Jewish couple murdered at gunpoint while exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Every day we hear about the deaths of family members, especially children, in the wars in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in our own streets and news in America. In the face of these horrors, we must continually champion our fight against all violence and hate, and renew our commitment to reject antisemitism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Hispanic, audism, ableism, and all forms of hatred and oppression toward diverse and marginalized communities. An important but not always easy act of self-care for ourselves and others is honoring each person’s individual values and passionate perspectives while also engaging in respect, equity, inclusiveness, safety, and belongingness for all. We also need to recognize that witnessing, and even worse, experiencing violence and hate can lead to anxiety and traumatic stress and can cause long-term effects on health and well-being. This is the experience of people everywhere, those directly in the path of the violence, and those witnessing the effects of violence, hatred and death all around us in our world.

So how can we draw on our knowledge about self-care to help address and cope with this violent crisis in our world? Here are some suggestions below:

1. LIMIT TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER NEWS SITES. Whether it’s new updates of the situation, videos of the war, lists of places you can donate to help, or personal connection to the war – it can feel so overwhelming. It’s good to stay connected, but too much information can make us feel hopeless and can cause associated trauma. So be aware of not becoming overwhelmed. And it’s also good to look for solid and verified facts. If you find yourself starting to get anxious or panic, take a few breaths and take a break.

2. REMEMBER TO PRACTICE SELF CARE. It can be easy to think that you don’t deserve to focus on you when there are people suffering during war or when you are actively engaged in fighting oppression. But it’s very important that you focus on you while you also care about what is happening in the world at the same time. Otherwise, you will burnout.

3. FIND POSITIVES IN THE EVERYDAY. If you feel like your anxiety is spiking, look for the positives around you. Although there is violence and hatred, and it can feel scary – write a list of people you care about and what you love most about them. Looking back at that list, you’ll be so surprised as to how amazing your friends and family are. And for another positive in your life, donate aid to organizations who help the people who need your support the most during this crisis.

4. TALK TO A LOVED ONE. With anxiety and negative thoughts, you can sometimes feel really isolated and that you are the only person thinking about the war. Trust us, you’re not alone! Find someone who you feel comfortable being vulnerable with and share how you are feeling. And seek out a professional counseling source if this feels like the right to do.

5. TAKE ACTION. Find appropriate outlets to engage in supporting the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all people.

And for resources on how to talk with children about violence, please go to:

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/war-and-terrorism/helping-children-cope-with-terrorism

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at

/eisner-education/self-care

The educational, counseling, and Deaf Studies communities are committed to restoring peace, safeguarding human life, and championing a safe and respectful world for everyone. We must continue to hold onto this commitment as a part of self-care for ourselves and each other.

Warmly,
Shari

Self-care and thank you!

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:51:28 +0000

May 19, 2025

Dear MDECOE Community,

It is with much gratitude that I recognize the extraordinary work of faculty, staff, administrators, community partners, and students during the past academic year. As we come to this ending, my wish is for all of you to always take good care of yourselves. It may help to reflect on what self-care really means for each of us. In a blog in Psychology Today, Dr. Ilene Strauss Cohen Ph.D. suggests, “Taking care of yourself means compassionately accepting yourself for who you are instead of burning yourself out trying to be everything to everyone all the time. It’s living your life in a way that doesn’t leave you needing to check out..” Below are a few other suggestions:

Self-care is allowing yourself to be normal and average, instead of always pushing yourself to be perfect or exceptional.
Taking care of yourself means compassionately accepting yourself for who you are instead of burning yourself out trying to be everything to everyone all the time.
Self-care is not about believing that being super busy is a badge of honor and making yourself so exhausted that you self-sabotage in ways that aren’t actually good for you. It’s about taking time to take care of yourself because you truly know that you aren’t broken and don’t need fixing.
When you take care of yourself, you become the author, not the victim, of your life. You create a life you truly enjoy, instead of one you might need recovery, or even therapy, from. It’s not creating a life that looks good on paper, but one that fits well with who you are.
It’s not looking to others to meet your needs; it’s meeting your own needs.
Self-care means doing things you initially don’t want to do and making the choice to do what’s uncomfortable. It’s facing your problems and unresolved issues head-on, instead of avoiding them and then trying to distract or soothe yourself later.
Self-care is living a life that’s meaningful and being true to yourself.

To read more, please go to

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-emotional-meter/202104/what-it-really-means-take-care-yourself

For a list of other self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:

/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

Congratulations to all and thank you for another extraordinary academic year in the College of Education! Let’s always find time to give ourselves the care we deserve.

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care and remaining true to oneself

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Wed, 14 May 2025 19:57:40 +0000

May 12, 2025

This week we joyously celebrate with our students who will be graduating and/or receiving their credentials! This is also an important time to remind our students to take care of themselves so they can take care of others and not burnout in their careers. One way to do this is to engage in remaining true to oneself. As discussed in a 2023 Psychology Today article, Psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin states “that the heart of true self-care is this: Real self-care brings you closer to yourself.” This includes behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that support “the degree to which you feel true to yourself.” Dr. Lakshmin cites a meta-analysis from 2020 that found that “feeling true to yourself is associated with greater well-being and greater work engagement.” There are 4 principles necessary to achieve real self-care that we can share with our students:

Setting boundaries helps you protect your time and self-esteem and is, therefore, a prerequisite for finding your authentic self.
Self-compassion helps you set boundaries with yourself, for example, when your inner voice becomes self-critical, guilt-ridden, or perfectionistic.
Knowing your core values is the keystone of the authentic self.
Asserting power helps you create community standards that enable true self-care for all.
Self-knowledge—an awareness of your most vital interests, strengths, temperament, abilities, goals, and values—is essential for decision-making that reinforces your authentic self.

To read more, see below:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/202312/what-is-the-essence-of-true-self-care

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188691930577X

Lakshmin, P. (2023). Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness . NY: Penguin Life. pp. 37, 197, 226.

Selig, M. (2009). Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success. NY: Routledge, pp. 48-52.

For a list of other self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:

/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

Congratulation to our graduates and credential students, and much gratitude to our college faculty and staff who are instrumental for their success! And may you all remain true to yourselves!

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care and Cinco de Mayo

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Tue, 06 May 2025 07:15:36 +0000

May 6, 2025

Dear College of Education Community,

Happy Cinco de Mayo, a day to celebrate with family and friends and honor Mexican culture. But this holiday means much more than simply going to parties. It is also a time which recognizes self-care through acts of self-determination and resistance to oppression. Please see this excellent explanation of Cinco de Mayo offered from by Zaretta Hammond at Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain.

“Cinco de Mayo commemorates when the Mexican army under General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The uninvited French army decided to invade Mexico. They arrived with almost 7,000 troops marching toward Mexico City. But once they got to the small town of Puebla, a 3,000 man Mexican army made up of farmers and soldiers beat back the bigger French army. While the French managed to get a foothold in Mexico and occupied the country for almost six years, that battle was a turning point for the resistance to French domination.

Sharing this story isn’t just about racial pride; it’s also about cultivating a growth mindset. Imagine what would have happened if those Mexican soldiers had looked at the size of the French army and said it was impossible to defeat them. They exhibited the ultimate growth mindset.

Every year, as culturally responsive educators, we have an opportunity to get it right and not just do the superficial heroes and holidays thing. We can change the message and the method of how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by focusing on these three things:

Get the history right. Make this an opportunity for a teach-in. The U.S. had a role in the French invasion of Mexico. Help people connect the dots. Even young children need to hear the correct versions of our history. That’s how culture is passed from generation to generation.

Focus on the anti-oppression message. Celebrating has its place but highlight the reason we celebrate. Teaching marginalized (and all) students about self-determination is critical for helping them embrace their own initiative around learning and excelling. It’s one of those noncognitive skills everyone is talking about these days.”

Focus on deep cultural values versus surface culture like food and dance. Too often, especially in elementary schools, we like to “dumb it down” and think young children aren’t ready for the socio-political aspects of major historical events like Cinco de Mayo so we focus on the fun parts — the celebration. We do them a disservice. Events like the Battle of Puebla highlight a culture’s deep values in action. It is our obligation as educators to help them see how we live out our values in everyday life.

To read more, go to

https://crtandthebrain.com/three-ways-to-reclaim-cinco-de-mayo/

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at

/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

Have a meaningful and wonderful Cinco de Mayo!

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care and appreciation and kindness for others

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:53:01 +0000

April 28, 2025

Dear College of Education Community,

Self-care typically involves focusing on ourselves and our wellbeing. But appreciation and kindness for others in our lives can also contribute to improving our own mental health. Just as we feel warm, appreciated, and seen when others express kindness to us, we can benefit when we share these same feelings toward others. “On a scientific level, it’s been shown that performing acts of kindness produces a rush of endorphins. This is the same chemical that floods our brains after exercise. Much like there’s a “runner’s high,” there is a The Helper's High, too,” states Natalie Buchwald, LMHC. “Showing up for others helps us feel at one with others. We feel part of something. We get out of our own heads. We feel our world and our heart expand a little. When we show up for others we transcend our little egoic selves. The act of service aligns us with the universal flow of energy and allows us to experience the interconnectedness of all things. We experience a sense of unity and oneness that transcends the individual self. This can bring us closer to our true nature. Doing something outside ourselves feels really good perhaps because we tap into a deeper truth that lies at the center of our being. Showing up for others is how we reclaim our future and change the world.”

For more information, see

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at /eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

As we roll into the final weeks of the academic year, it’s our time to share our appreciation for our students, and for each other, our hard working and caring staff and our inspiring, talented, and committed colleagues, especially those who will be honored this week at our transitions and spring college celebration this Wednesday 12-2PM in 1214/1216.

Enjoy the high of appreciating others in the coming weeks!

Warmly,

Shari

Self-care and Earth Day

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:59:41 +0000

April 22, 2025

Dear College of Education Community,

Tuesday, April 22nd, is Earth Day, a time to be mindful that we are caring for ourselves when we care for the earth! The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970 and activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life. Those peaceful demonstrations across the country are widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Today, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities each year. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet - everyone around the globe is invited to unite behind renewable energy and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. Take action to help achieve this goal by educating, advocating and mobilizing.

Events are available all week all over the world. If you are looking for a local event, go to The Guide to Earth Day Events in Los Angeles https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/the-guide-to-earth-day-events-in-los-angeles. As just one example one of LA's most popular botanical gardens, Descanso Gardens is hosting its annual celebration of native plants as part of its weeklong observation of Earth Day. View displays created by Descanso horticulture staff, including majestic oaks. Free with admission, no registration required.

if you are interested in viewing an Earth Day toolkit please go to

Individual Action Toolkit

This toolkit is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about EARTHDAY.ORG's campaigns and actions you can take to make a difference in the world.

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at /eisner-education/self-care

Let’s commit to caring for both ourselves and the earth!

Warmly,
Shari

Self-care and sheltering from pain

ian.carroll@csun.edu — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 23:59:18 +0000

April 14, 2025

Dear College of Education community,

So much of what is occurring in our world is causing feelings of trauma and is leading to emotional pain. “Emotional pain is a universal human experience. We all feel sadness, anxiety, and anger from time to time. Sometimes, emotional pain can linger subtly in the background. But at other times, it can feel dominant, overshadowing your day-to-day life. Anxiety, for example, can often thread itself into our routines as a constant worry about the future or a lingering fear about our circumstances,” as described by the CALM app. Signs of severe emotional pain may include social withdrawal, emotional fatigue and negative thoughts, and engaging in harmful behaviors. Emotional pain can also affect us physically and could affect sleep, digestion, physical tension, cardiovascular issues, and skin conditions. This is the time to be especially caring and compassionate toward ourselves and find ways to shelter from pain when it adversely affects physical and emotional wellbeing. The CALM app offers the following ways to engage in self-care as well as resources available on this app free to all CSUN employees:

1. Move your body

Regular exercise offers benefits for both your body and emotional health. Physical activities like running, cycling, and brisk walking can release feel-good hormones. Exercise also provides a constructive outlet for negative emotions.

If you’re in immense emotional pain, it might be hard to motivate yourself to exercise. Try gentle, mindful movement instead like this Nurture Yourself practice from the Daily Move.

2. Try mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness practices can be a cornerstone in managing and understanding emotional pain. Engaging in mindfulness meditation, for instance, can allow you to observe your painful emotions without becoming entwined with them. It presents a non-judgmental space where you can observe your emotional distress without being overwhelmed. To manage anxiety-related emotional pain, our Anxiety Release Meditation can help soothe and guide you.

3. Feel your feelings

Suppressing emotions can make emotional pain worse. Identifying your underlying feelings is a mindfulness technique that might come in particularly helpful with emotional pain. Exploring feelings can be tough. If you need some guidance, check out Calm’s Feelings Journal and Feelings Wheel for starters.

4. Create a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits

A balanced lifestyle, including nutritious eating and adequate sleep, can lay the foundation for managing emotional pain more effectively. Proper nutrition fortifies the body, while deep sleep ensures you’re well-rested, so you’re equipped with the energy to navigate your feelings in a healthy and constructive manner. Sometimes emotional pain can be soothed by a good night’s rest. If you’re having trouble relaxing in the evening, try Unwind into Sleep.

5. Reach out to your support network

Whether through family members, loved ones, or professionals like a psychiatrist or therapist, establishing a network of support is important in managing emotional pain. Feeling safe to express painful feelings can relieve isolation and provide practical and emotional care during difficult times.

6. Find a creative outlet to express your emotional pain

Creative activities like writing, painting, or playing music can become outlets for emotional pain, providing a space for expression and reflection. Immersing yourself in a creative pursuit offers a diversion from emotional distress, allowing for exploring painful emotions in a safe and constructive environment.

Tap into your creative potential with our Calm Masterclass with Elizabeth Gilbert.

7. Explore grounding techniques

Grounding techniques are practical tools you can use when emotional pain feels overwhelming. These strategies focus on bringing your attention back to the present moment, helping you feel more grounded in distressing emotions.

By focusing on the immediate surroundings or your own bodily sensations, you give yourself a breather from the intensity of the pain, making it easier to navigate those challenging moments. Check out the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique to bring your awareness away from emotional pain and back to your senses.

8. Seek professional advice

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that can help you understand and alter detrimental patterns of thought and behavior. In some instances, a mental health professional might recommend medications such as antidepressants to manage emotional pain, especially when it becomes debilitating or persistent. This approach, often combined with other forms of therapy, can provide additional support in managing, and eventually healing, emotional pain.

To read more about these resources, go to https://www.calm.com/blog/emotional-pain

TO ACCESS THE CALM APP FREE TO ALL CSUN EMPLOYEES, GO TO: /benefits/worklife-balance-resources/calm

For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at /eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care

May we all find ways to care for ourselves, especially ways to shelter from serious emotional pain.

Warmly,

Shari