e offer a Distance Learning Course in Stress Management Training. Stress Management Training comprises a set of rehabilitative skills and techniques aimed at enabling the individual to better manage stress. It is used to help people suffering from stress and anxiety and their related disorders. It can also help people suffering from stress at work, alcohol, drug, and other addictions, depression, bereavement and from a variety of physical illnesses. Stress Management Training can be learned rapidly and is applicable in many settings. It can be used as a short course of treatment or as an on-going therapeutic activity. It is empowering to the individual, enabling them to take a greater control of their own life and health.
Introduction to the CourseThe Training Course is taught entirely by Distance enabling us to train Stress Management Trainers all over the world. The Course teaches you how to better manage stress. It does not attempt to eliminate stress altogether as we need a certain amount of stress in our lives in order to achieve our goals. The Training Course presents the theory, skills and techniques of Stress Management Training in a logical and user-friendly way, teaching beginners in Stress Management to become skilled and competent Trainers as rapidly as possible with no loss of quality. The Training Course is both a Training Package in Stress Management, which can be used immediately as it stands, and an assessed Training Course. The Training Course is designed in such a way that Trainees can speedily use it as a complete Stress Management Training Package within their current work or in private practice.
The Training Course consists of eight sessions, each having as its core an audio cassette tape, all eight of which contain both a lecture and a relaxation exercise. These can be used directly with clients. Your work is also guided by session plans; each session includes two session plans with step-by-step guides to working with individuals and with groups. We also present research notes with each session providing in-depth background information. There are treatment models for use with specific stress-related disorders, and in-depth presentations of related therapies of particular value in the treatment of stress. We also present eight case studies and include worksheets for training, together with master copies of all stress management forms, logs, questionnaires and handouts for you to photocopy for your work with clients.FundingIn the United Kingdom students may approach their local Training and Enterprise Councils for funding under the Individual Learning Account scheme. Employers frequently fund their employees for the course. Such employers include: Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, Hospitals, Housing Associations, Police Constabularies, Universities, Colleges and Counselling Services, together with private sector employers. Career Development Loans are also available from the Department of Employment. Our Methods of TeachingThe Lectures
Each of the eight sessions includes a lecture on audio cassette introducing aspects of stress and its treatment. Lectures last from five to ten minutes each and are suitable for direct use with clients. There is also a Script if you want to deliver your own Lectures.
The Relaxation Exercises
Each of the eight sessions includes a Relaxation Exercise on audio cassette. These are for direct use with clients and last from fifteen to twenty minutes each. There is a Script for each exercise, together with back-up information in the Research Notes for those who wish to develop their skills in this area. These are the exercises included in the Training: Passive Progressive Muscular Relaxation
Active Progressive Muscular Relaxation
Introducing Relaxed Breathing
Deep Physical and Mental Relaxation
The Full Breath and Square Breathing Exercise
Autogenic Relaxation Training
Anchoring to Positive Thoughts and Feelings
Inner Peace and HealthThe Session Plans
Each session includes two session plans, one for individual work and one for Group work. These give you a step-by-step guide to Stress Management Training with individuals and groups, and include suggestions for discussion, methods of assessment, methods of measuring and recording, questionnaires, handouts, and Master Copies of all these for you to photocopy for your own work.
The Research Notes
Each session includes Research Notes providing background knowledge to the skills and techniques and covering many issues relating to stress.
The Treatment Models
In-depth descriptions and treatments are introduced for the following:
Agoraphobia
Social Phobia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Alcohol/drug dependencyThese treatments can also provide models for the treatment of many other disorders.
The Related Therapies
Four additional therapeutic techniques helpful in the treatment of stress are presented in step-by-step detail:
Problem Solving Therapy
Time Management
Self Esteem Building
Assertiveness TrainingThe Case Studies
Each session has a case study, discussing treatment and outcome in eight cases.The Structure of the TrainingSession One
We introduce the nature of stress and its management and give basic information about causes and associated problems. We introduce you to stress assessment procedures, teaching you to assess the risk of stress-related illness and the nature of the stress problem. We teach you to assess and record your cases so that assessment of outcome is part of the treatment process. We introduce ‘Therapeutic information giving’ as a treatment and teach you how to use relaxation training and guided fantasy in practice. We discuss the causes and symptoms of agoraphobia and present a treatment model. There is a case study on work-related stress and relaxation exercise on passive progressive muscular relaxation.
Session Two
We introduce muscular relaxation as a treatment for stress. Muscular tension contributes to chronic stress, which is a habit built over years. We show you how to teach clients the habit of relaxation. We show you how to assess client strengths and weaknesses in coping with stress and explore the client's approach to the problem. We cover practice issues in groupwork and games for groups. We discuss the causes and symptoms of social phobia and present a treatment model. There is a case study on panic disorder and a relaxation exercise on active progressive muscular relaxation.
Session Three
We introduce relaxed breathing and focus on the particular problems of stress in the workplace. The causes and symptoms of stress are discussed and there is a further assessment of personality and the risk of illness. The major causes of work-related stress are introduced and ways of reducing work-related stress are discussed. The role stress plays in physical illness is covered. The causes and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are discussed and a treatment model presented. There is a case study on free-floating anxiety and a relaxation exercise introducing relaxed breathing.
Session Four
We introduce Cognitive Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy which argue that stress may be caused by negative thinking. If we distort a situation in our minds, our emotional response is in line with the distortion, not the facts. We introduce a method for uncovering negative thinking and show you how to assess depression. We introduce Problem Solving Therapy as a treatment and provide a model for its use. There is a case study on a psychosis masked by the symptoms of stress and a relaxation exercise on deep physical and mental relaxation.
Session Five
We continue the issue of breathing, which is the one important function of our bodies, closely connected with our emotions, which we can consciously control. We look at hyperventilation and introduce breath control techniques. We discuss the use of 'triggers' and explore the social costs and causes of stress. We introduce Time Management as a treatment and provide a model for its use. There is a case study on stress-related illness and a relaxation exercise teaching deep breathing and breath control.
Session Six
We explore further the social causes of stress. We introduce a method to challenge both negative thinking and negative behaviour patterns and we explore the possibilities of replacing them with more positive thoughts and behaviours. We teach you how to build the client's self-esteem, and provide a model for the treatment of low client self-esteem. There is a case study on agoraphobia and a relaxation exercise based on autogenic training.
Session Seven
We introduce Positive Thinking and the development of positive behaviour, based on higher self-esteem and we also look at the role that bereavement can play in the development of stress disorders. The role of the caring professions in their work with stress is discussed and Anchoring techniques are introduced. We discuss the relationship between stress and addictions and a model for the treatment of addictions is presented. There is a case study on phobia and a relaxation exercise on anchoring to positive thoughts and feelings.
Session Eight
We introduce issues of diet and exercise and the role that stress plays in the development of eating disorders and the use of dietary supplements in treating stress. We look at the different models of counselling in relation to stress management. We discuss private practice, professional ethics and our code of ethics. We introduce Assertiveness Training as a treatment and provide a model for its use. We teach you how to assess the measures of stress used in the Training Course, and show you how to assess changes in client attitude, behaviour and goals for the future. Evaluation of Training for both clients and Trainees is covered. There is a case study on social phobia and a relaxation exercise on inner peace and health.
Options within the TrainingThe Training Course is designed to be flexible, allowing Trainees to choose from a range of options those which best suit their individual and professional needs. All of the following five options are available within this Training Course.
1. The Course can be used as a Training Package
The Course may easily be used, as it stands, as a Training Package for individual and groupwork in Stress Management Training. We provide an audio cassette with each session, containing a lecture and a relaxation exercise, together with Session Plans and master copies of all our Stress Management Forms for you to photocopy for your own work with clients. Thus the skills we teach can rapidly be put to use in your current work or in private practice. Training Departments, Personnel and Occupational Health and Safety Departments in many organisations use the Course as a Training Package.
2. The Certificate in Stress Management Training
The Certificate in Stress Management Training is an award made by The Stress Consultancy to Trainees who have completed the Course and submitted three set essays of 1,000 words each within 18 months of enrolment. Essays to be to the required standard, demonstrating a sound knowledge of course material. In the event of failure, resubmission under tutorial advice is possible. Holders of the Certificate may use the form Cert. Stress Management Tr. after their names.
3. The Diploma in Stress Management Training
The Diploma in Stress Management Training is an award made by The Stress Consultancy. It is awarded to those who have completed the Training to Certificate standard, on the submission of one long essay (3,000 words) on a relevant topic, chosen by the Trainee and agreed with The Stress Consultancy. The essay to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the chosen subject. Essays to be submitted within 18 months of enrolment and to be to the required standard. In the event of failure resubmission under tutorial advice is possible. Holders of the Diploma may use the form Dip. Stress Management Tr. after their names.
Conditions of TrainingDuration of Training
You may begin the course at any time and work at your own pace. You have 18 months to complete the Certificate and Diploma but may complete in less time. Trainees registering for Accredited awards have two years from the date of that registration to complete, but may complete in one year.
Recommended Study Methods
We recommend that Trainees initially undertake the Course as though they were both Client and Trainer, i.e. work through the sessions, practice the relaxation exercises, and fill in the questionnaires, logs and Stress Management forms. This, together with the study of the research notes, treatment models, related therapies and case studies will give you a good understanding of the theory, skills and techniques of Stress Management Training, together with an insight into the experience of the client.
Entry Qualifications for Applicants
Applicants should be over 23 and have experience in one of the following fields: Social work, probation work, community work, medical practice, nursing, other relevant health work, counselling/pastoral care, psychotherapy, psychology, qualified alternative health care, teaching, training, welfare/advice work, personnel, management, staff supervision. Applicants for Accredited Awards should have two years experience in a relevant field and should be able to demonstrate their ability to undertake work at the required academic and professional level.
Code of Ethics
The Stress Consultancy abides by a code of ethical principles in order to protect clients and establish a professional code of practice. We ask Trainees to agree, in writing, to abide by this code.
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