PDAREM Awareness Days Held
As part of the PDAREM Awareness Days organized at Cyprus International University, a series of seminars were held focusing on psychological well-being, self-compassion, technology-assisted psychological interventions, and emotion regulation skills. The events featured expert speakers and provided students with the opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into contemporary approaches in psychology.
On the first day of the event, Specialist Psychologist Gözde Pehlivan delivered a presentation on the concepts of self-compassion and mindfulness. Pehlivan highlighted the impact of individuals’ inner dialogue on psychological health, emphasizing that self-compassion is an important skill that strengthens emotional resilience. During her presentation, she discussed the concepts of mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness, stressing the importance of treating oneself with greater understanding when coping with challenging emotions.
Pehlivan also conducted various mindfulness exercises with the participants, explaining that short mindfulness practices integrated into daily life can contribute to effective stress management. She noted that self-compassion not only enhances individual well-being but also positively influences interpersonal relationships, adding that these skills play a significant role in developing psychological resilience.
On the second day of the PDAREM Awareness Days, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Çıvgın presented information on technology-assisted psychological interventions and emotion regulation processes. Çıvgın shared examples from recent studies examining the use of smartwatches and digital monitoring systems in psychological support services.
Referring to a study conducted with university students, Çıvgın explained that digital tracking systems can monitor physiological data such as sleep patterns, physical activity levels, and heart rate. He stated that these applications can contribute to the development of self-regulation skills and technology can serve as a complementary tool in psychological support processes.
As part of his presentation, Çıvgın also discussed a case study, drawing attention to how motivation for healthy living can gradually evolve into controlling behaviors in some individuals. He noted that technological monitoring systems may increase anxiety, particularly among individuals prone to obsessive thought patterns. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of tailoring psychological interventions to individual needs.
The events held within the framework of PDAREM Awareness Days attracted strong interest from students. While current approaches to supporting psychological well-being were explored, participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical insights.
In addition, students who completed the Emotional Intelligence Training program received their certificates during the event. The certificates were presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eliz Volkan, Director of CIU PDAREM.