Increased demands. Living with roommates. Exploring independence. New romantic relationships. Tons of opportunity. Academic life is full of new stressors—but stress doesn’t have to be a bad thing! 

A Student’s Guide to Stress Management provides you with strategies to not only manage stress, but transform stress into an asset that will help you succeed in your academic career. This guide will help you develop a deeper understanding of what stress is, it’s positive and negative effects on physical and emotional health, and how it’s a natural, and at times, helpful, part of the college experience. 

Accessible yet comprehensive, this guide will prepare you to navigate the stressors of academic life like a pro, transforming stressful situations into opportunities for growth and success. 

A Student’s Guide to Stress Management is part of the Cognella Series on Student Success, a collection of books designed to help students develop the essential life and learning skills needed to support a happy, healthy, and productive higher education experience.

Richard Parsons is a professor of counselor education at West Chester University and has over 37 years of experience in teaching counselor preparation programs. He has authored or co-authored over 80 professional articles and book chapters, and serves as the editor for the Cognella Series on Student Success. Dr. Parsons earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Temple University.

Karen Dickinson is an associate professor of counselor education at West Chester University. She is a certified school counselor with more than 20 years of experience serving as a counselor and elementary and special education instructor. Dr. Dickinson earned her master’s degree in elementary school counseling from West Chester University and her doctorate degree in individual and family studies from the University of Delaware.