Psychology of Wellbeing

Is there a secret to a happy life? With a wealth of information promising us the answers, it can be hard to know where to look and who to trust. In this online course, renowned expert Professor Julia Rucklidge unlocks the science behind the psychological factors that influence wellbeing and how to get the best out of your brain. 

You’ll learn how it’s possible to change your mindset for the better, using practical, research-based strategies to boost wellbeing for you, your whānau and the people you work with. 

Whether you’re a health professional looking to upskill with the latest research; someone who’s struggling with burnout, anxiety or stress; or a manager looking to boost your team’s wellbeing and resilience, Psychology of Wellbeing is for you.  

Keen to learn more about wellbeing? You may also be interested in our Nutrition and Wellbeing course - learn more here.

The information in this course is intended for general education purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek advice on diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions from your doctor or other registered healthcare professional.

There are no prerequisites for this course – it is open to anyone who has confidence listening, reading and writing in English with an interest in wellbeing. 

Technology Requirements
We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. For most courses you'll need to download and populate assignments. These are usually available as Microsoft Word documents.

Course fees
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or by contacting info@uconline.ac.nz to request an invoice. Please note: fixed invoice payment dates apply, so we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to request an invoice, as this option is subject to availability.

Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to study when it suits you during the 8-week learning period (9 October – 3 December), followed by a 2-week period for marking and feedback (4 – 18 December).

We recommend completing around 6 hours of study a week during the 8-week learning period – you can view the course overview here for more details on assessment timings. 

Module 1: Introduction to wellbeing and the role of psychology
Learn about the impact of psychological factors on our wellbeing and become confident using the language of wellbeing. 

Module 2: What makes us happy?
Explore myths of happiness, whether you can trust your intuition, and the genetic dispositions that can influence wellbeing. 

Module 3: Psychological traps to wellbeing
Understand and identify the common pitfalls that hinder our wellbeing, including negative thinking traps.   

Module 4: Faulty thinking and how to beat it
Explore strategies and plans to boost wellbeing, including cognitive interventions. 

Module 5: Values, strengths and behaviour
Learn and define what factors empower ongoing wellbeing, and identify your own signature strengths. 

Assessments

• 4 Module quizzes = 20% (5% each)
• 4 Reflection activities = 40% (10% each)
• 1 Final report = 40%

Julia is in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury. She's the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab.

Over the last twenty years, Professor Rucklidge has become well known for her research investigating the interaction between nutrition and mental health and has published over a hundred empirical papers.

Julia has received numerous local and international awards and is frequently featured in the media discussing her work. Her TEDx talk, The surprisingly dramatic role of nutrition in mental health has been viewed over 4.7 million times.

She also co-authored the 2021 book, The Better Brain: Overcome Anxiety, Combat Depression, and Reduce ADHD and Stress with Nutrition.

Having seen conventional treatments fail so many, Julia is passionate about helping people find alternative treatments for their psychiatric symptoms. By translating her research into practice, she hopes to help make nutritional interventions mainstream.