Stress Management Tools

Many people have difficulty recognizing that they are experiencing stress, or fail to make the connection between their symptoms and their emotions. Education about the symptoms of stress can help therapy clients, groups, and classrooms recognize the importance of self-care. The Symptoms of Stress handout briefly defines stress, and differentiates between acute and chronic stress...

Mandalas are traditionally used in many eastern spiritual traditions as a tool to aid meditation. In western culture, mental health counselors often use mandalas as a form of stress relief, a tool for art therapy, and as a meditative exercise. We have used mandala printouts with therapy groups, during stress management presentations, and as a fun little handout to leave on waiting room tables...

Research over the past decade has taught us about the close link between mental health and exercise. Exercise has been found to help treat and prevent depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more. The goal of this worksheet is to provide a convenient source of psychoeducation for clients who might benefit from starting a basic exercise program, or increasing their level of physical activity...

Learn and practice progressive muscle relaxation with professionally recorded audio.

Explore a secluded beach in this guided imagery session.

The Stress Management Tips worksheet presents a number of valuable and easy-to-follow tips for dealing with stress. These tips encourage a healthy mindset about stress, the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, and they encourage the use of several valuable coping skills. This handout works well as a prompt for group discussion, or as a take-home reminder of what your clients have learned in session.

Stress isn't all bad. At lower levels, stress prepares our bodies for day-to-day challenges by boosting energy, improving cognitive performance, and focusing attention. It's when stress is too extreme, or lasts for too long, that it becomes problematic. Unhealthy levels of stress contribute to heart disease, anxiety, depression, relational discord, drug use, weakened immune systems, and much more...

Social support is the help provided by other people, such as family, friends, groups, and communities. The forms of assistance that are given through social support come in many forms, and have a significant impact on a person’s well-being. Benefits of social support include improved physical health, greater resilience to stress, a feeling of security, and more....

Practice mindfulness while walking with this guided audio activity.

Self-care activities are the things you do to maintain good health and improve well-being. Some self-care activities might already be part of your routine, such as eating regular meals, enjoying a hobby, or spending time with friends. However, during periods of stress, self-care sometimes takes a back seat to other responsibilities...