SHARON, Pa. – Penn State Shenango will host an interactive mindfulness workshop at 12:15 p.m. March 4 in The Forum in the Forker Laboratory building.
The program is open to all community members. Michelle Kahl, founder of Life Walk Counseling Services, will lead the workshop. She is a board-certified counselor and clinical trauma specialist with decades of experience helping people overcome mental health struggles and teaching mindfulness techniques in her clinical practice. In spring 2025, Kahl presented at Penn State Shenango on the effects of occupational trauma for those who work in first responder roles or in other industries that help people.
The American Psychological Association defines mindfulness as the practice of learning to observe one’s thoughts, emotions and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them. The benefits of mindfulness can include reduced stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, better sleep, increased mood and emotional regulation and improved focus and concentration.
“The goal of the program is to provide an understanding of what mindfulness is, how it works and to introduce some basic mindfulness exercises that attendees can try during the workshop,” said Tony Paglia, Penn State Shenango’s mental health counselor. “We are offering this program to benefit our Penn State Shenango students as well as area residents so that anyone interested can learn valuable tools for the benefit of their health and well-being.”
The program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. For more information, contact Paglia at atp11@psu.edu or 724 983 2841.