Bending Beyond Grief: The Healing Power of Cognitive Flexibility

The overwhelming sorrow of the grief state can only be healed by traversing a dark and painful tunnel…but how do we get through the tunnel? And once we emerge, what do we do when we encounter the tunnel again? Cognitive flexibility, a critical mechanism for creativity, may play an important role in grief management and psychological healing. In this talk, I will weave theoretical perspectives, research, and personal experiences to tell a story of thriving in the face of traumatic loss.

Speaker

• DESIREE I. SHARPE Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, Program Coordinator

Desiree Sharpe is the Program Coordinator for the UGA Torrance Center. Dr. Sharpe received her Psychology Ph.D. from UGA, specializing in primate behavioral neuroendocrinology and cognitive neuroscience. During summer sessions while in grad school, Dr. Sharpe taught gifted high school students for the Duke Talent Identification Program. Through this work, Dr. Sharpe discovered her love for integrating creativity into education curriculum and the importance of creativity research.