Darlene Mininni PhD MPH Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Wellness Darlene Mininni PhD MPH By Everyday Health EditorsReviewed: September 10, 2019Fact-Checked Learning and Development and Health Psychologist at the University of California in Los AngelesPhoto Courtesy of Darlene MininniA member of the Everyday Health Wellness Advisory Board, Darlene Mininni, PhD, MPH, is a health psychologist and the author of the stress-management book The Emotional Toolkit: 7 Power-Skills to Nail Your Bad Feelings. She is also the creator of Life Skills, the University of California in Los Angeles undergraduate well-being course. Dr. Mininni lectures and designs interventions that highlight three key areas related to stress: resilience, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness training. We sat down with Mininni to discuss her current work and to learn more about her perspective on wellness. What are you working on now My mission at UCLA is to inspire a campus-wide culture of well-being. In my current role, I design curricula and teach strategies to foster personal and professional resilience among staff. This includes strengthening emotional intelligence and enhancing a stress-hardy mind-set. In addition, I consult with departments to assess and promote healthy functioning within their organizations. I also participate in the chancellor's UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative and the UCLA Mindfulness Collaborative. Dr Mininni on Stress We all need to be better informed about stress What should we know to increase our stress IQ Stress resilience is a skill that we can all learn. Dr Mininni on Resilience How do you define resilience Resilience is the ability to recover from the inevitable hard times we all face. Although some people find it easier to bounce back than others, we can each learn how to be more resilient. That’s because resilience is built upon a collection of teachable skills that strengthen our mental flexibility, emotional awareness, and feelings of connection. Resilient people use these skills to navigate the ups and downs of their lives, and they benefit from a greater sense of well-being, optimism, and life satisfaction. As with learning anything new, it takes practice to become more resilient, and it’s worth the effort. We all at one time or another have a life experience that challenges our resilience Can you describe what you learned about your own resilience after such an experience I’m deeply thankful that I cultivated resilience skills before I needed them. In that way, building your resilience is similar to preparing for any disaster. You might stock food in your basement to ready yourself for a hurricane or keep a first-aid kit handy in case of an earthquake. In terms of resilience skills, I’ve practiced mindfulness over the years. So when I faced my biggest challenges, I was able to tap into a skill I had honed over time: the ability to stay centered when life’s storms arrive. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Wellness What Is Lion s Mane A Beginner s Guide to This Mushroom s Healing PropertiesBy Lauren BedoskyOctober 3, 2022 7 Potential Health Benefits of Lion s Mane MushroomsFrom theoretically protecting against heart disease and diabetes to improving brain and immune health, lion’s mane mushrooms may have wellness perks to...By Lauren BedoskyOctober 3, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Biofeedback TherapyAttention to subtle changes in body functions may boost mental health, speed recovery from surgery or stroke, treat urinary incontinence, and more. Here...By Lauren BedoskySeptember 27, 2022 What Is Biofeedback Therapy A Beginner s Guide to This Health ApproachBy Lauren BedoskySeptember 27, 2022 What Is Gua Sha A Guide to This Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness PracticeBy Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 What Is Tongue Scraping A Beginner s Guide to This Oral Health TechniqueBy Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Tongue ScrapingFrom better oral health to smoother digestion, there may be reasons to incorporate this Ayurvedic tradition into your daily routine.By Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Gua ShaThis traditional Chinese medicine technique may help relieve pain, boost circulation, and improve symptoms of some diseases. Find out how.By Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 What Is Infrared Sauna Therapy A Complete Guide for BeginnersBy Jessica MigalaJune 28, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna TherapyFrom reducing stress to soothing inflammation and boosting post-workout recovery, this therapy may help enhance your overall wellness.By Jessica MigalaJune 28, 2022 MORE IN Self-Care When You Have Vitiligo Health Maker Alex Timmons 34 Co-Owner of Mountain Trek 5 Potential Health Benefits of Biofeedback Therapy