Episode Description
In this episode of Vanier Ed Talks, psychologist and Vanier Psychology teacher Karen White challenges the common belief that stress is always harmful. She explains that moderate stress can enhance focus and performance, especially when students understand and manage it well. Karen encourages us to reframe stress as a sign of engagement, share personal experiences to normalize it, and teach strategies like spaced practice to help students build resilience. She also discusses how we can recognize when students' stress is excessive, especially for those suffering from anxiety disorders, and stresses the need for recovery periods to maintain well-being. By learning to work with stress rather than against it, students can build confidence, sharpen their skills, and take greater ownership of their learning.
About our Guest
Karen White did her undergraduate studies at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, then her graduate studies at the University of Manitoba. She has been teaching at Vanier for over 20 years and is a practicing clinical psychologist as well. She is particularly interested in understanding the counter-intuitive and counter-productive ways people behave.