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There are two major schools of thought when it comes to stress. Some people view it as a question of the availability of resources, or lack of them, that can lead to feeling stressed out. Other people follow the health-realisation model, which places a greater focus on the idea that stress is somehow innate. Either way, there are numerous techniques available which will help to manage stress more effectively. Of course, no two individuals are the same, so the various techniques you can try may or may not succeed. That said, any good stress management counselling session should expose you to a number of different techniques so you can see which ones will work for you. If you book an appointment, what might you expect to learn about?

Cognitive Therapy

One of the key tools that professionals in stress management counselling will use is cognitive therapy. This is a type of psychotherapy that was first developed in the 1960s. It essentially divides the mind into three different levels: automatic thought, intermediate beliefs and so-called core beliefs. In short, it aims to alter the cognitive processes that surround stress by breaking them down so that you are less susceptible to mental strain.

Autogenic Training

In some cases, stress management counselling will involve autogenic training. This is a deep relaxation technique which was originally developed by a German psychiatrist named Schultz. The idea is to induce a state of relaxation that is based on passive concentration. When the body is more relaxed, biofeedback is created which helps to calm the mind. This approach is sometimes proposed by anxiety therapists to help deal with feelings of nervousness as well as stress.

Mindfulness Meditation

Another common technique used in stress management counselling is meditation and mindfulness. These are drawn mainly from Asian philosophies but have often been adapted to suit Western audiences. Mindfulness effectively means living in the moment without prejudging situations. People who practice mindfulness meditation techniques have been scientifically shown to have lower levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol.

Physical Exercise

Finally, it is worth mentioning that physical exercise is well known to have a good impact on people who are suffering from too much stress. A workout session is obviously good for building muscle tone as well as heart and lung health, but it also has a demonstrable effect on mental well-being, including reduction of stress.

To learn more, contact a facility that offers stress management counselling services.