APHD's Mental Health Week 2025
Join us this May for APHD's Mental Health Week!
The Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development presents:
APHD's Mental Health Week!
May 5-8, 2025
Back for it's fourth year, we are thrilled to host a number of exciting events the week of May 6-10, 2024 to celebrate Mental Health Week!
Presented by the department of Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD), we invite you to join us for one or all of the events listed below.
There is no cost to attend any of these events, but in lieu of a registration fee we do encourage all attendees to please consider .
Please note, space is limited for each event, so RSVP now!
These events are all FREE of charge and are open to all UofT students, faculty, alumni and staff!
MONDAY, MAY 5
SOMATIC FACE THERAPY with Sophia Ha
12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Online via Zoom
You may notice you鈥檙e looking and feeling haggard, stressed, unhappy, or downright miserable. You might see it in the stress lines on your forehead, or the lines at the corners of your lips that turn down into a sad frown.
Trauma and long term stress store themselves in our body and show up in an array of expressions we see imprinted on our face. From anger and sadness, to frustration, desperation and worry.
In this workshop, the focus is on 鈥渦nsticking鈥 stuck emotions through exploring the various areas of your face that hold stress or trauma. Here you'll spend time in each region releasing "stuck" emotions through a combination of tapping, acupressure, and self massage.
This session is about healing through somatic self touch. The practice is woven into a guided meditation, helping you reconnect with yourself while you rest, relax, and regulate your nervous system.
Somatic self-touch is a powerful and fast-working tool to move through cycles of negative emotion, and finally release yourself from their grips.
Join us in this safe space to unwind together, smooth away the signs of distress on your face, and leave with a sense of deep relaxation and inner calm.
TUESDAY, MAY 6
SOUND BATH FOR MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING with Nicole Manes Sounds Therapy
12:00pm- 1:00pm EST
Online via Zoom
Experience the calming, clarifying and restorative power of sound from the comfort of home! Join Nicole Manes, MACP, Certified Sound Therapy Practitioner & Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), for an online 鈥渄eep listening鈥 experience featuring a therapeutic combination of quartz crystal singing bowls, voice, metal singing bowls, tuning forks and chimes designed to help you naturally relax and reduce stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sound Therapy?
Sound therapy harnesses the powerful effects sound can have on our emotions and the physical body to promote healing, balance and a sense of well-being.鈥
What is a Sound Bath?
A sound bath is a simple exercise in mindful listening that requires no prior experience to benefit from. Nicole intentionally combines vibrations from her voice with instruments and objects that resonate including quartz crystal singing bowls, metal singing bowls, drums, tuning forks, gongs, shakers, bells and chimes to administer therapeutic soundscapes that naturally relax the mind and body. Nicole鈥檚 sound therapy practice is informed by various schools of knowledge includingTraditional Chinese Medicine, the Chakra System, Ayurveda, Mindfulness, Neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory and her own intuitive guidance.
What to Expect at a Sound Bath?
Simply lie down or sit down and allow yourself to be immersed in healing sounds and vibration. During a sound bath, you may experience physical sensations or emotional release. You may journey into a state of deep self-inquiry. You may fall asleep, or you may not. All is welcome.
Online Sound Bathing Tips:
- Find a place where you won鈥檛 be disturbed
- Sit or lie down in a comfortable position
- Use props like pillows, an eye mask and blankets for maximum comfort
- Use headphones or ear buds if you have them and feel comfortable doing so. Adjust volume accordingly.
For the best live-stream quality, you can optimize your internet connection by:
- closing all running applications on your device/computer鈥
- asking those in your household to avoid live-streaming anything during the sound bath session
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
COME GRAB A FREE COOKIE IN HONOUR OF APHD MENTAL HEALTH WEEK!
10:00am - 12:00pm EST
In-Person in the 萌妹社区 Lobby (252 Bloor St West, Toronto, ON)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
ART THERAPY: DE-STRESS WITH STAINED GLASS PAINTING
1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
In-Person at 萌妹社区
Join us to paint your very own vase with any design you like. All supplies and stencils will be provided but if you wish to paint a specific item (vase or wine glass, please bring it with you!). Dream up a creative stained glass design and you can replicate it on your glass piece!
A limited number of clear vases will be available to paint.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
SPIRITUALITY & MENTAL HEALTH with Dr. Meetu Khosla
1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Online via Zoom
Spirituality is a globally acknowledged concept. It encompasses a broader conceptualization of a meaning and purpose in life,with a sense of connectedness with the universe.There are various psycho-social and behavioral benefits associated with it. Spirituality awakens the inner self to critical thinking and rebuilds life with a motivation to live life fruitfully. Engaging in spiritual practices opens doors for transcendental awareness, expanding consciousness, fostering adaptive coping and positive reframing. It facilitates emotional modulation, self realiztion and inner healing hence enhancing mental health.
