The Science of Happiness: A Free Online Class

Psych Choices therapist Connie Opfell, LCSW recently completed a free online course called “The Science of Happiness.” This course began for the second time in December 2014, and it’s not too late to join.  For mental health professionals, there are even free continuing education credits available.  The course is offered by the Berkeley Greater Good Science Center.

To quote from the website’s description if the course,“’The Science of Happiness’ is a free online course that explores the roots of a happy and meaningful life. Students will engage with some of the most provocative and practical lessons from this science, discovering how cutting-edge research can be applied to their own lives. The course is divided into eight one-week segments, but students can take at their own pace.

“Created by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, the course zeroes in on a fundamental finding from positive psychology: that happiness is inextricably linked to having strong social ties and contributing to something bigger than yourself—the greater good. Students will learn about the cross-disciplinary research supporting this view, spanning the fields of psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and beyond.

“What’s more, “The Science of Happiness” will offer students practical strategies for nurturing their own happiness. Research suggests that up to 40 percent of happiness depends on our habits and activities. So each week, students will learn a new research-tested practice that fosters social and emotional well-being—and the course will help them track their progress along the way.”

If you’d like to learn more or register for the class, click this link: The Science of Happiness Class.