Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1471681
Dr. Bickler, can you tell us a little about yourself and your interest in health and wellness? Bonjour! My name is Aurélia. I am originally from Paris, France, and moved to the United States when I was a teenager. I married my husband Marcus in 2010, and together, we have three children, 9, 7, and 3. My PhD is in Marriage and Family Therapy, and in addition to my role at NCU, I have a part-time private practice, where I work predominantly with couples. One of my greatest passions lies in the connection between our emotional and physical health and how that translates into shaping our relationships. Though I've always been interested in the topic, it truly came to life after I gave birth to my first child in 2012. I suffered from postpartum anxiety, along with a hormonal illness called PUPPP that would not go away. This was the first time in my life that I personally experienced overwhelming mental health challenges. Simultaneously, my husband was mourning the sudden loss of his father, which prevented us from connecting to one another and being each other's support – something we had consistently made a priority up to that point. This immense chaos led me to a yoga class, which turned my life around both physically and emotionally. After my first class, I found myself hopping around like a wild rabbit in what felt like an uncontainable burst of positive energy! It was life-changing! What should students know about the new Wellness Center at NCU? The Virtual Center for Health and Wellness is here to serve multiple purposes. For one, it is here to offer support and share resources with the community. Additionally, the Center will soon serve as an internship site for students who qualify and want to contribute to our health and wellness mission. Which events have you sponsored so far? Though the Center was birthed only a few months ago, we are working hard to host meaningful events, support groups, and opportunities, and to build a sense of community around health and wellness. So far, we have hosted multiple webinars, a course on mindfulness, weekly yoga classes, and dissertation support groups. Additionally, we've launched our podcast, Advancing the Human Condition, and began posting blogs from our experts. (Keep in mind our website is still under construction, so some things might be hard to locate. Don't hesitate to email me with any questions: abickler@ncu.edu). Aurélia Bickler, PhD, LMFT, AAMFT-Approved Supervisor Director, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences Virtual Center for Health & Wellness Spotlight The Virtual Center for Health and Wellness 8 Northcentral University Psychology Bulletin