Mind Over Monsters Reading Group

This reading group will focus on:

Cavanagh, S. R. (2023). Mind over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge. Beacon Press.

Each set of readings will be discussed at 3 different time slots to accomodate diverse schedules. 

The Zoom url for all meetings is: https://oswego-edu.zoom.us/j/7268304117?pwd=dThKWFo5N1MxeUJoVnAxMXFoeGlUdz09

The meeting schedule will be:

Week #1 - Crisis, Compassion, Challenge

  • Preface - "Monster Night"
  • Chapter 1 - "Crisis and Complexities"
  • Chapter 2 - "Our Youth Need Compassionate Challenge"

Meeting times

  1. Tuesday, September 12, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  2. Wednesday, September 13, 1-2 p.m.
  3. Thursday, September 14, 4-5 p.m.


Week #2 - Bodies

  • Chapter 3: "Infused with Eros - Embodied Mental Health"
  • Chapter 4: "Unruly Bodies in an Unpredictable World"

Meeting times

  1. Tuesday, September 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  2. Wednesday, September 27, 1-2 p.m.
  3. Thursday, September 28, 4-5 p.m.


Week #3 - Beliefs

  • Chapter 5: "Seeking Oneself - Energy and Value"
  • Chapter 6: "Determining Oneself - Direction and Expectancy"

Meeting times

  1. Tuesday, October 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  2. Wednesday, October 11, 1-2 p.m.
  3. Thursday, October 12, 4-5 p.m. (fall break)

Week #4 - Behaviors

  • Chapter 7: "Arousal, Action, and Uncertainty"
  • Chapter 8: "Play and Improvisational Learning"
  • Conclusion - "The Monster at the End of This Book"

Meeting times

  1. Tuesday, October 24, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  2. Wednesday, October 25, 1-2 p.m.
  3. Thursday, October 26, 4-5 p.m.