The Kennesaw State Department of Foreign Languages partnered with the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services to create a Poetry as Self-Care Workshop, presented Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
The collaboration between Staff Psychologist Alesha Harris, Ph.D. and Chair of Department of Foreign Languages Olaf Berwald, gives students an additional outlet by providing a safe space to express their poetry and creativity.
“Staff and faculty are committed to being involved with students,” Harris said.
She further displayed her knowledge of the resources the department offers at KSU for students who suffer from different stressors.
The workshops are designed for students to engage in the art of poetry as a form of self-care, according to KSU’S Owl Lifepage.
“Poetry is a way for us to face our challenges, think and work through our stressors,” Berwald said.
Poetry also provides comfort, safety and community.
The KSU Department of Counseling and Psychology Services’ mission is to provide a variety of services, including workshops aimed to assist students in developing skills to manage the stress of college, emotions, mental wellness and relationships, according to the department’s Owl Lifepage.
In the workshop, the hosts Harris and Berwald offered useful tips for self-care, being physically active, sleep improvement, social engagement and social support.
Everyone in attendance was able to take a moment to write out a few lines of poetry. This virtual space became a blanket of security for attendees to uncover their emotions and stressors of daily life and college experiences with deep, creative words and expressions. Both Harris and Berwald showed patience and provided knowledge all while encouraging each student to continue to write expressively.
The workshops are hosted the first week of each month. The next workshop will take place Nov. 10 on Microsoft Teams. It will be the final Poetry as Self-Care Workshop provided for the Fall Semester.
For more information on attending this event, visit Owl Life. To learn more about the Department of Counseling and Psychology visit their website. For more information on the Department of Foreign Languages, reach out to Chair of the Department by email at oberwald@kennesaw.edu.
