About Stress Busters
This community course is for everyone who wishes to learn more about stress (tho those very depressed or at risk will be better suited to 1-1 CBT support). Stress is an umbrella term for many challenges and feelings states incl ongoing family/work/life stressors, specific stress, anxiety, low mood, worry and/or panic. Yet there is no assumption that anyone attending the course is stressed, as it is quite fine to attend for information and prevention, if not support. Attendees will be men and women of any and all ages, backgrounds, faiths and cultures.
The course is independent and stands alone. However, attendees can also use Stress Busters II to access a range of follow-up supports. Indeed, Stress Busters II may also be a foundation for further learning or support, e.g. for OCD, social anxiety, or worry.
Additionally:
- attendees must be able to benefit from the course, and be open to learning. In the event of anyone being disrespectful to others, or disruptive, he/she will be asked to leave and no refund will be given, and
- attendees must be able to respect this confidential and private space i.e. under no circumstances is recording of any kind allowed. (Any breach of this rule is treated very seriously and followed-up.)
Stress Busters is usually undertaken over one day, or weekly over 5-6 sessions. Day courses happen online or in person. Weekly sessions typically are in two parts (of around 90 mins in total):
- the first or main part of each session is the seminar delivered by an experienced course leader. During this seminar, there is no group work or sharing so that the privacy of attendees is protected.
- after a short break the last half hour or so is more interactive or practical, e.g. a gentle meditation, or having a question and answer session
Attendees can contribute as much or as little as they wish on courses, e.g. by posting written questions into a mailbox, or by listening rather than speaking in any discussions. This course is educational rather than counselling, so at no point will attendees ever be asked in front of others to answer a question directly, or to talk about how they are feeling. Instead, all information will be on slides and in handouts. Additionally, at all times it is quite fine simply to say “Ill pass on that” or "no comment" if you do not wish to speak with fellow-attendees.