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Employee Wellness Programs

Employee Wellness Programs

Our Employee Wellness Program supports people in managing stress to reduce health related problems, improve productivity at work, improve employee satisfaction, and support overall wellness.  Our programs are customized to fit the needs of the individual business.  We are more than an EAP program.  We are a holistic solution to improving workplace culture and helping your employees find the right home/workplace balance for sustained success!

 

WHAT IS STRESS AND ITS IMPACT

Stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge or to a demand.  This reaction is actually essential to our survival.  It is a biological mechanism that allows humans to be more adaptive and able to meet future challenges.  When stress is managed and mechanisms are used to cope, stress can bring focus or concentration to task as a way to accomplish a goal.  When stress becomes chronic, coping mechanisms are not in place, or the person lacks the internal or external resources to meet the challenge, then stress becomes a problem.

No one is immune to the burdens of stress. Statistics demonstrate the widespread prevalence of stress.  According to The American Institute of Stress:

  • About 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress
  • 77 percent of people experience stress that affects their physical health
  • 73 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health
  • 48 percent of people have trouble sleeping because of stress

There are many triggers for stress, many of which are  different for each person.  Some of the common sources of stress are money, work, the economy, family responsibilities, relationships, health issues, housing, and job stability.  No matter what the trigger of stress there are very common symptoms that you may have experienced.  A few of these symptoms include:

  • Irritability and anger
  • Fatigue or low energy
  • Lack of motivation or interest in things
  • Anxiety, nervousness or worry
  • Headaches
  • Feeling sad or depressed
  • Indigestion, acid reflux or upset stomach
  • Muscle tension
  • Appetite changes
  • Forgetfulness and lack of attention

There is also correlation between chronic stress and health related issues including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

Every day, people stay home from work, miss school, go to the doctor or even die because of the effects of stress. It’s estimated that American employers spend $300 billion every year on health care and lost work days linked to stress. Up to 80 percent of workplace accidents come from stress or stress-related problems, like being too distracted or tired.

 

DETAILS ABOUT PROGRAM

 

Each employee wellness program is customized to the needs, size, and level of support needed for each individual business.  Things we are able to provide and support include:

 

Confidential, one-on-one coaching and/or counseling

Counseling sessions are utilized confidentially anytime an employee is experiencing impact to workplace performance, job satisfaction, or an inability to function outside of work (i.e. sleep problems, disordered eating schedules, not being able to stop thinking about work/cases, etc.).  These counseling sessions are designed for assessment, referral to care needed, and short-term counseling/coaching in order to help employee find resolution.  Some topics covered in short-term counseling include problem solving work related conflicts, skills for managing stress, improving communication skills with colleagues/supervisors, improved time management skills, establishing a work-life balance, or helping in an adjustment to a new work role.  These sessions are not intended to be formal therapy or treatment services; but, instead, they are a place for employees to outline needs and get referrals to professionals, groups, and services.  However, ongoing counseling may be indicated after the initial sessions.

 

Group mindfulness and meditation classes

A large body of research indicates that meditation has optimizing effects on the brain to reduce physical pain, improve sleep, increase working memory, improve emotional regulation, and reduce the effects of stress. These classes can be delivered on a web-based platform at a mutually agreed upon time, so that all employees have availability during the workday to participate or delivered in person.  The intention of these classes would be to provide a space for the physical practice of meditation, a new skill to be practiced each week, and a short prompt for ongoing self-care throughout the week that will keep employees motivated for their self-care and wellness daily.

 

Group or private yoga

Stress stimulates our body’s nervous system in a way that can be dysregulating, especially if we have risk factors including a personal history of trauma, prolonged exposure, being overworked, and limited experience in the field.  Yoga and other mindfulness movement classes have the ability to help us transform from difficulty and promote resiliency in the presence of chronic stress.  The integrated system of yoga that includes postures, breath work, meditation, and concentration on a personal value system promotes balance in the nervous system, self-regulation, and enhances quality of life (Villemure, et al, 2015).  In our Employee Wellness Program, yoga and mindful movement is encouraged as a form of self-care and essential to finding resiliency in the presence of chronic stress.  Classes can be taken with participating providers and studios.  Stillpoint partners with studios and teachers that take a holistic, inclusive, and diverse perspective.  While our belief is that the holistic practice of yoga is a powerful tool, we know that not all individuals may be interested.  We are also incorporating providers who take a mindful approach to health including Pilates instructors, Zumba, Tai Chi, and other movement programs.

 

Trainings and psycho education for your team on stress and strategies for self-care

We believe that when you know better, you do better.  We will come to your place of business several times throughout the year to provide psychoeducational workshops that include topics related to chronic stress, vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, self-care, resiliency, and other topics of interest to the company.  We can collaborate with supervisor to make sure we are bringing relevant and interesting topics to support staff.

 

Ongoing education and information delivered via newsletters and email

A newsletter will be sent with tips for mindfulness, self-care, wellness routines, and other topics.  This newsletter will also include dates for scheduled meditation sessions, new community partners/studios included in program, passes for yoga classes for the month, and reminders for use of counseling sessions if needed.

 

Connection with community partners and robust referral network of wellness advocates

In addition to the classes and workshops offered through Stillpoint, we are in continued communication and network with other small businesses, clinicians, and practitioners to increase accessibility, variability, and choices for health and wellness in the community.

 

Data Collection and Progress Tracking

Data can be collected confidentially to track progress.  This data will inform ongoing programs, workshops, meditations, and individual services offered in the program.  This data will be confidentially analyzed and reports on effectiveness of programs and implementation will be discussed with supervisors.  Ongoing assessment and collaboration is essential to improving the overall health of staff and productivity for workplace.

 

 

To explore an employee wellness program that would fit your business needs, please connect with practice owner, Jessica King , by email at jessica@stillpointcounselingandwellness.com or fill out our contact form.