Work-related stress

Many people come for help because they feel their work is contributing to feelings of stress. I have worked with men and women from all sorts of work backgrounds including;

• NHS - GP’s, Doctors, nurses, clinical staff, therapists.
• Business settings - managers, owners, administrative staff.
• Education -teachers, teaching Assistants.
• Artists, writers, alternative health practioners.
• Public sector workers.
• Self-employed people.
• Academic staff.
• Builders.
• Retail employees.
• Voluntary sector employees and volunteers.
• Professionals, e.g.engineers, lawyers etc. 

It can be helpful to talk confidentially to someone outside of your work situation, to explore what is happening. It can be important to consider the emotional and physical impact on you.

By reflecting on your work role, relationships with colleagues, pace of activities at work and frequency of breaks, it can be possible to understand how you are affected more clearly.

Psycho-educational ideas about stress, are combined with a collaborative approach to help you manage things differently. Time spent understanding what 'resources' you e.g. allows you to relax, feel more grounded and in control, can shape a new approach to work. This can then enable you to make changes in your working style and behaviour, that bring change and relief from stress in the work place. Weekly session give time for new stress reducing strategies to be evaluated and fine-tuned.

Of course, our work life doesn’t exist in a bubble from the rest of our life. There may be tensions and issues in your private life that are impacting on how you feel when you are at work.

Sometimes our personal lives go through difficult times, and we can find it hard to be at work. If there are problems at home, such as a relationship breakdown, family illness, becoming a carer for someone, or being a single parent, then extra psychological support can help you to keep working and to cope better.

Are you are considering making a big change in your work life? maybe in the form of changing career, becoming self-employed, taking on a new role, entering retirement, or returning to education for new qualifications?. Counselling sessions can provide time for you to reflect, plan and digest such change.