Understanding Stress

The term Stress refers to the psychological and physiological responses we experience when faced with demands or threats.  These demands or threats, real or imagined, create a heightened emotional or physical tension which can be beneficial when facing a challenge.  Once the challenge is resolved, the state of heightened tension is alleviated.  Stress becomes problematic when heightened responses become chronic, resulting in a constant state of tension which can lead to significant health problems.  Good stress, referred to as eutress, may also lead to distress over time if a person has difficulty adjusting to new changes.  An example of eutress would be a job promotion; however, over time the new job promotion might create negative tension or distress.  Dr. Hans Selye developed his theory of stress in the 1950's, defining stress as the mind and body's total response to an internal or external stimulus, called the stressor.

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Hettler's 6 Dimensions of Wellness

In 1976, Dr. Bill Hettler created a six dimensional wellness model represented by a hexagon design.  Referred to as the 6 Dimensions of Wellness, this model identifies the following dimensions:  Occupational, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social.  Dr. Hettler created the National Wellness Institute in 1977 which offers a yearly conference focused on professional development and personal growth in health and wellness.  If you are a counselor interested in adding a health and wellness component to your practice or interested in the latest news on wellness, check out the National Wellness Institute website.  You will find a link for "TestWell" which may be of interest as it is a website designed for health professionals and offers wellness assessments that can be utilized in various settings including high schools, colleges or private practice.  There are also free Holistic Lifestyle Questionnaires that can be taken online for Teens, College Students, Adults and Older Adults.

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The Wellness Wheel

The Wellness Wheel represents the various dimensions in an individual's life which promote wellness and well-being when remaining in a harmonious balance.  A recent search on Google revealed over 120,000 different images for the Wellness Wheel!  A quick review of these wheels reveal a multitude of different dimensions utilized to address wellness.  One the low end, some wheels display six dimensions; while on the high end, other wheels display twelve dimensions or more.  The Dimensions of Wellness for this blog will include physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental and occupational wellness.

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Dimensions of Wellness

Hello and welcome to my blog!  As clinicians, it can be very easy to discuss the rewards of having a career in counseling/psychotherapy with our peers and loved ones; however, it may not be so easy to discuss the hardships that can accompany this chosen career path.  Research studies have confirmed that the prevalence of burnout is increasing for therapists with one-third of practicing psychotherapists admitting that they have experienced burnout.  Symptoms of burnout syndrome include a decrease in personal accomplishments, emotional and physical exhaustion, and depersonalization of clients.  The theme for this blog is "Counselor Wellness". Along with addressing stressors that clinicians may encounter, I will also explore the dimensions of wellness that need to be evaluated on an on-going basis to help us maintain balance in our lives.  Hettler's 6 Dimensions of Wellness include physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental and occupational wellness.

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KDB