University of Connecticut alumnus James Geisler, Ph.D., NCC, LPC recently released his new workbook, titled “Thrive Year One: The Essential Mental Health Workbook for First-Year College Students.” According to a press release, “The workbook aims to bridge the gap between high school and university life” and is “tailored specifically for young adults” who are making that change. According to the book’s website, ‘Thrive Year One’ is a self-paced workbook with 75+ exercises to help build resilience for incoming college students.”
Geisler graduated from UConn in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. According to his website, he is “currently serving as an Executive Director of Wellness Services,” and secured a Ph.D. in counseling from the University of Oregon in 2021.
“When it comes to mental health, we must look for opportunities to engage in early intervention efforts, as the alternative is responding and reacting to the suffering taking place,” noted Geisler in the press release. ‘Thrive Year One’ equips students with essential mental health exercises to help them succeed in their first year. It’s designed by someone who has witnessed these challenges firsthand and is motivated to address this gap.”
When asked about his experience as a UConn student and how it informed “Thrive Year One,” Geisler said, “I recognize myself in the challenges they face, and hope to provide them with a resource I wish I had in my early years at college.” Reflecting on his experiences as a student allowed him to “connect with today’s students and understand their unique needs.”
“Thrive Year One” is filled with various exercises, each tackling a specific problem that new college students experience. In a statement to the Daily Campus, Geisler listed developing better communication skills, designing a wellness plan and coping with fears of failure as a few of the exercises found in the book.
“Many exercises include scenarios students may encounter in their first year of college,” explained Geisler. “They are designed to create opportunities for students to reflect on their current skills and areas they may need to improve on…These are all issues that students often struggle with as they adjust to their first year at college.”
In a CNN article, assistant professor Sarah K. Lipson at Boston University and a principal investigator for the Healthy Minds Network noted, “[F]or many adolescents and young adults, the transition to college comes with newfound autonomy. They may be experiencing the first signs and symptoms of mental health problems while now in this new level of independence that also includes new independence over their decision-making as it relates to mental health.”
Geisler described the research for “Thrive Year One” as “extensive,” as he pulled from both his experiences and the experiences of others. “I spent a lot of time studying the national data on college mental health over the years,” said Geisler. “Additionally, studying the data within college counseling centers nationwide. It also went through a thorough review process with mental health professionals working in college counseling.”
Geisler also noted that while “Thrive Year One” is specifically designed for students transitioning into college, young people can begin using it and find benefit from it “as early as their Junior Year and Early Senior Year of High School.”
While “Thrive Year One” wasn’t oriented around the needs of students who have already been in college for more than a year, Geisler said that the college juniors and seniors he spoke with said that “they believe these skills are still needed and relevant even as they think about their mental health now and transition towards graduation.”
Geisler hopes that his book will ultimately find a place at UConn as a resource for new students.
“I would love for this book to be used to support the First Year Experience of incoming first-year students at UConn,” he said, although adding that he had yet to discuss it with the university. “Often, First Year Experience courses require a text to complement the curriculum, and this text would be just that, a perfect way for students to begin thinking about, and developing a foundation for their own well-being.”