the MIND less FULL

Humans are complicated. They also do not come with an instruction book. In the words of Bjork, there is “no map” to human behaviour. The study of Psychology goes some way to providing us with answers.

Based in the North East of England, I have been teaching Psychology for 24 years. Every year my students say to me “everyone should know this stuff” and I agree. It mystifies me why Psychology is not studied by everyone in the land.

My students’ words inspired me and The MIND less FULL was born. Not everyone wants to study Psychology in depth or as a qualification - but everyone can benefit from understanding human behaviour. The MIND less FULL aims to bring psychological knowledge and practical applications into the community and workplace.

Psychology has much to tell us about human behaviour. My work as a teacher has seen me draw frequently on research into memory and application to learning. As well as working with 100’s of teenagers over the years, I am a mother of two. As such, I have found that having an understanding of the brain’s reconstruction during the teenage years has helped increase compassion towards the behaviours that accompany these massive psychological changes.

Understanding stress is also favourite area of teaching. Stress has been dubbed the “Health Epidemic of the 21st Century” by the World Health Organization – and not many of us are immune. By understanding what is happening when we experience stress we can learn how to manage it and at times even use it beneficially.

Over the last few years I have been studying and teaching the discipline of Positive Psychology. Positive Psychology isn't about “being positive”, rather it is the scientific study that identifies the positive traits that allow individuals, communities and organisations to thrive. I have undertaken training with the British Institute of Mindfulness and it is the applications of mindfulness that form the basis for many of the Stress Management workshop sessions.

I love teaching and in my workshops I combine my knowledge and enthusiasm for psychology along with my own superpower - being human.

Julie