Stress is the disease of the 21st Century and it has become far more than a buzz word.

We all know what it’s like to feel under pressure, exhausted and out of control, but do we truly know what is causing our individual problems, what we can do to tackle them and improve our health & happiness?

We all need a little bit of stress to motivate us into action and boost our energy, however too much or prolonged stress can cause physical and emotional symptoms and affect those around you. The aim therefore is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and lead fuller, healthier lives.

Because stress comes from so many sources and affects us all differently it cannot be generalised or defined with one easy word and it cannot be approached and dealt with one easy solution. Stress is different for every one of us and what is terrifying for one person can be pleasurable for another.

The key is learning to understand what is causing your own stress, recognising your response and behaviours and getting to know what works best for you, and sometimes you may need outside help to do this. With someone to help you can learn to react to and deal with stress differently, giving you a fresh approach to life.

So, how stressed are you?

Do you currently experience any of the symptoms listed below?

And there are plenty more. If you can say yes to 4 or more of these, now’s the time to look at the cause and do something about it.

Have you thought about how stress could be affecting your?:

• Relationships at work and at home
• Career
• Belief in your self and your abilities
• Physical and emotional health
• Day to day happiness
• Social Life

What does it do?

Holistic Stress Management is about getting to know yourself, the whole person - what makes you tick, why you think and behave the way you do and most importantly finding out what works for you on a day to day basis to help you cope and move forward.

We can help you:

• Identify what’s causing your stress and how it’s holding you back
• Understand the impact it’s having on your health, relationships & happiness
• Find a workable solution to help you move on and gain control of your life

Holistic Stress Management is not psychotherapy or counselling, but a holistic and complementary therapeutic process. In order to make positive changes in your life a level of commitment is required from you and should we feel you require support in a specialised area we will discuss this with you in an open and honest way.

There are a number of ways to tackle stress and as our approach is holistic we use and suggest different tools and techniques to suit you, these may range from;

Relaxation treatments like Reiki.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) : CBT can help you look at and tackle overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller pieces by changing the way you think, feel and behave. CBT focuses on the here and now, not how you felt in the past and looks for ways to improve your state of mind.

Journaling : Journaling is a technique for reducing stress and considering patterns of negative thoughts and behaviours by writing about stressful events in your life.

Time management : Effective time management helps you better manage your time and achieve the things you want to do, it helps you identify and focus on what are your real priorities and to plan effectively to maximize your time and minimize your effort.

Assertiveness Training : Can help you learn to express yourself, assert your rights, how to ask for what you want and how to say NO.

Boosting self esteem and confidence : Self esteem is the opinion you have of yourself and having a high self esteem is a very important aspect of your healthy and happy life. By learning to recognise your positive qualities and uniqueness you can boost your confidence and self belief.

We can help you gain a better understanding of who you are and enable you to make life or career choices that will reduce your levels of stress and improve your health and happiness.

How many sessions are recommended?

It is difficult to say how many sessions you will need as everyone is different, however on average most people benefit from 6 consecutive weekly sessions with further follow up sessions as and when required.

Alternatively, some people benefit greatly from being able to focus on one particular area or challenge in-depth and so we also offer an intensive 3 hour session at £75.

Cost of sessions?

The first session will take 1 ½ hours and covers an initial in-depth assessment, health questionnaire and allows you to ask any questions you have. This session is charged at £45; subsequent sessions are either 1 hour at £30 or 2 hours at £60 depending on your needs.

Also available, why not blend a Holistic Stress Management session with a Reiki treatment and really feel the benefits. This would be a 2.5 hour session at £65.

What to do next?

To book an appointment please call me on 01273 299537 or e-mail info@changeworksunlimited.co.uk

Professional Membership

Clair Wavell is a fully accredited Holistic Stress Management therapist by the National Council of Psychotherapists. www.natcouncilofpsychotherapists.org.uk

Want to learn HSM techniques for yourself?

See our page on Self Development Workshops for more details.

Testimonies

“My expectations were far exceeded and I feel I have benefited greatly from these sessions.” C.K Hangleton

“I got more than I expected out of the sessions, it has made a big impact on how I see myself.” E.M. Portslade

"Clair was excellent from the minute I met her. Being a man who has always found it difficult to express his feelings to even those very close to him talking to Clair for the first time was daunting but she put me completely at ease and let me explain my problems in my own time and own way. I didn’t know what to expect having never been in this situation before but after the first session I knew I had made the right decision. I felt positive that she would help me back onto my feet. My expectations were not only realised but surpassed! I dealt with my past and it’s bearing on me now. I have dealt with my current problems and moved on. I feel much more able to cope with the future and am looking at things in a completely different way. After talking to Clair for the first time I did actually feel physically and mentally lighter. A lot of the turmoil had gone and this feeling got stronger as time went on. I am facing the future with more energy and drive and don’t feel as if the worlds against me anymore. My future is in my hands and the sessions made me realise this. Having been someone that before therapy would have laughed if someone had suggested it to me now I see the benefits that therapy can bring to a person. I now believe that everybody needs some form of therapy at some time, even if it’s just to talk to someone that can offer an unbiased view of a situation or problem." Mike, Portslade

"Booking an intensive day with Clair brought about positive results on every level in a way that I could not have achieved on my own.
Very quickly Clair helped me to see what the key issues really were in the muddle of problems that I brought to the table. We then worked practically on strategies for addressing and resolving them, breaking down the larger areas into stages and key actions. During this process she was practical, warm and supportive, providing me with space and understanding to let go of any anxieties and emotions that were clouding my judgement.
I left the session feeling as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders; a lot calmer and clearer and with a mangeable action plan which I was looking forward to implementing.
A massive turnaround for one days work. True value for money and positive results."
S.E Brighton

"Whenever I am stuck with something I book a session with Clair. She has an incredible ability to help me find a solution that works for me. She really "sees" and understands what does and doesn't work well for me and so her ideas and help are tailor-made for me and therefore extremely effective. She transforms seemingly impossible challenges into really manageable projects for me - I always feel much calmer and in control of everything afterwards. Her ideas and motivation have enabled me to make some wonderful changes and improvements in my life. Thank you so much Clair!" Leisa Brown, Brighton

”The sessions gave me more confidence in myself and helped me think through my problems and make them seem smaller and manageable. It was just what I needed without being intrusive”. S.C Hassocks

”I now have a better quality of life and am able to reason with myself. I am better able to rationalise and sort out my problems. If I had not had my sessions I don’t know how I would have managed to get through a very difficult time of my life”. C.E Shoreham.