Time Required: 80 minutes
I. Wait for Late-Comers - 5 min
II. Preliminaries - 4 min
A. Introduction of Presenter; Distribute term workshop list
B. Distribute workshop title sheet with presenter information
C. Put up overhead: How to Handle Stress (a joke list to get everyone relaxed)
III. Reflecting on Experience - 10 min
A. Group Discussion- What is Stress (list on board)
1. Physical symptoms?
2. Feelings?
3. Actions?
4. Thoughts?
5. Add to list from Indicators of Stress; distribute; let them look over briefly for review
IV. Assimilating & Conceptualizing
A. Why do we have stress? - 5 min
1. Ask participants
2. Discussion of evolutionary purpose (fight or flight)
B. Times when stress is good in modern times - 2 min
1. The Inverted U curve (want amount of stress for max performance, not little or too much)
C. Sources of Stress
1. Ask class to list - 1 min
2. The five stressors for college students - 5 min
a. Mention each (from handout); participants say what can be stressful about each.
b. Handout: Five Stress Producing Situations for College Students (let them look over quickly as a review)
V. Reflecting on Experience
A. Quiz: How Vulnerable are You to Stress? - 7 min
1. Have them complete and briefly discuss if believe it is accurate
VI. Assimilating & Conceptualizing
A. Review: We now know 1) what stress looks like, 2) why we have it, and 3) what causes it. Next; What to do about it!
B. Get suggestions from participants-list on board - 5 min
C. Add to list from Handling Your Stress handout; distribute; review - 14 min
VII. Experimenting and Practicing
A. Do a relaxation exercise - 10 min
VIII. Planning for Application
A. Each writes at least three ways they will change their lifestyle to reduce stress - 4 min
B. Questions & Comments - 3 min
IX. Evaluation - 5 min
Bert H. Epstein, Psy.D. is a psychologist at Oregon State University's Counseling and Psychological Services