Thriving Minds: Mental Health Strategies for Work & Life
Build resilience, improve focus, and strengthen your well-being through Thriving Minds: Mental Health Strategies for Work & Life—a four-part wellness series designed for faculty and staff.
This program combines psychological research with Christian faith-centered insights to help you manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain balance in both your personal and professional life. Rooted in Pepperdine’s Christian mission, the series reflects our shared belief that caring for others begins with caring for ourselves.
Led by Robert Scholz, licensed marriage and family therapist and former adjunct faculty member in Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, each 60-minute session offers practical tools you can immediately apply to your daily routines.
Series goals
- Practical techniques to manage stress and regulate emotions
- Tools to navigate and respond effectively in challenging situations
- Evidence-based positive psychology practices infused with faith and purpose
- Strategies to integrate wellbeing practices into both work and personal life
Find details for each individual session below.
Session 1: Thinking About Your Thinking
- Learn how your thoughts shape emotions and behaviors through the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Identify unhelpful patterns like catastrophizing or impostor syndrome, and practice techniques for reframing negative self-talk through guided exercises and discussion.
- November 19, 2025, 9 - 10 AM | Register
Session 2: Understanding Stress and the Mind-Body Connection
- Explore how stress affects both the mind and body. Learn to identify personal stress signals and apply proven techniques for calming the nervous system while reflecting on the biblical concept of the body as a temple.
- February 12, 2026, 9 - 10 AM | Register
Session 3: Everyday Mindfulness and Emotional Resilience
- Integrate mindfulness practices into your daily life to stay grounded during high-pressure situations. Learn to respond rather than react, and explore the connections between mindfulness and contemplative prayer traditions.
- April 8, 2026, 9 - 10 AM | Register
Session 4: Sustaining Wellbeing with Faith, Purpose, and Practice
- Discover how faith and purpose can serve as anchors for lasting resilience. Reflect on long-term strategies to prevent burnout and maintain perspective during demanding academic seasons.
- June 9, 2026, 9 - 10 AM | Register