The Department of Psychology at CSU Long Beach invited Dr. Heidi Zetzer of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School to present as part of its fall 2019 colloquium on November 13. Zetzer gave the talk “The Role of Purpose, Mattering & Coherence in Cultivating a Meaningful Life.”
Meaning in life is associated with subjective well-being, physical health, quality of life, work adjustment, and social attractiveness. A lack of meaning is associated with psychological distress and depression. The purpose of Dr. Zetzer’s presentation was to describe the research on three important facets of a meaningful life, specifically purpose/goals, mattering, and coherence (making sense of life events) and to offer strategies for increasing a “felt sense” of meaning in your life.
Dr. Heidi A. Zetzer is the Director of the Hosford Counseling and Psychological Services Clinic and a Teaching Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Zetzer teaches Theories of Supervision & Consultation, Supervision Practicum, supervises student clinicians and student supervisors, and coordinates externships. Dr. Zetzer is the President of the Association of Psychology Training Clinics, Chair of the Section for Supervision and Training in the Society of Counseling Psychology (Div 17) of the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Zetzer is a former president of the Santa Barbara County Psychological Association (SBCPA).