Trainings I have Used to Make Me Better at My Business

Seven years ago, I needed a way to decrease the stress I experienced. Life overwhelmed me. Our daughters were young. We kept them active in Girl Scouts, sports, and educational events. This meant that we were always on the go. My father had just passed due to complications from a chronic medical condition. His body finally gave out. My father-in-law passed a few months prior. His heart quit working. Our 28-year-old niece succumbed to complications of cancer treatment shortly after that.

What Caused My Stress

My parents lived five hours away in another state. My mother remained undecided about whether to sell the house and move where we lived. We tried to convince her that moving would be the best scenario given her age. Seven years later, she still lives in their home.

Financially, my husband and I were like other working families. We lived paycheck to paycheck. Things were tight, having young children, aging parents, and our own household to manage. Having to juggle just to stay afloat was stressful. I felt overwhelmed by family responsibilities, pressures of full-time work, and struggles related to a new side hustle business. To survive the pressures, I knew I had to make changes in how I responded to life.

What I Needed

My quest for stress relief led me to a course of study in stress management. Initially, I wanted to experience relief for myself. As I spoke with clients and others, I quickly realized that my struggles were not isolated. Complaints of anxiety or depression brought women to my office for brief therapy sessions.

During the assessment most complained of feeling tired and run down due to lack of sleep. They shared how they often woke up 3 – 4 hours earlier than expected. Once awake, they could not go back to sleep. Others expressed that they had trouble falling asleep. Worries became more pronounced, making it feel as if their minds would not shut down.

The course of study I completed in stress management included 8 continuing education classes. The curriculum was designed for independent study. Each course required passage of an exam and submission of an evaluation before the certificate of completion was awarded. Each course offered a minimum of 20 contact hours. A contact hour represents an hour of scheduled instruction. The complete course of study provided 210 contact hours.

What I Learned

My studies began with an introduction to stress management. Among other things, the course taught contemporary theories around stress management. I also learned the physiology of the stress response. The course presented common types of situations that lead to stress related reactions and chronic stress. The next course was in clinical stress management. This course provided theories regarding the effects of stress on mind, body, and spirit. It emphasized a holistic approach to treating distress. The course focused on evidenced based therapeutic interventions.

I also completed an intermediate level course in relaxation strategies. The course provided theories, methods, and strategies for teaching relaxation methods. This included breath work, guided imagery, and meditation. The course that followed focused exclusively on meditation. It covered various traditions, including the following practices, Zen theory, Buddhist meditation and Christian meditation.

The alternative therapies course taught strategies that effect calm on the mind, body, and spirit. I learned to incorporate aromatherapy, nutrition and food, and natural care interventions to a comprehensive stress management plan. I also completed a course on post traumatic stress disorder. This course covered facets of the disorder as well as stress management interventions.

The next course provided an overview of self-hypnosis and the use of thoughts, affirmations, and visualizations. While I do not teach or use self-hypnosis with clients, the course provided an understanding of the science and use. The final course, stress management therapy and interventions, provided practical exercises and experiential learning across therapeutic modalities.

Is stress overwhelming you?

“I want to be happy, whole, satisfied and successful. What about you?”

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