Help for Job and Work Stress in Halifax
Psychologists can help reduce work-related stress
Struggling with work stress in Halifax? Help is available in Nova Scotia.
For a moment, think about your current job, place of work, or career path. Are you stressed just thinking about it? When you wake up on Monday morning do you look forward to getting out of bed and starting the day, or do you dread another week at your current place of employment?
If you feel unhappy, bored, directionless, or unappreciated at work, you are (unfortunately) not alone. Sadly, millions of Canadians (including many right here in Halifax) experience significant work-related stress, find themselves in positions they can hardly call “fulfilling” or “meaningful”, and believe that they have no control over their work activities.
Of course, knowing this is probably not very comforting. However, your job does not have feel as meaningless or be as stressful as it currently is.
For a moment, think about your current job, place of work, or career path. Are you stressed just thinking about it? When you wake up on Monday morning do you look forward to getting out of bed and starting the day, or do you dread another week at your current place of employment?
If you feel unhappy, bored, directionless, or unappreciated at work, you are (unfortunately) not alone. Sadly, millions of Canadians (including many right here in Halifax) experience significant work-related stress, find themselves in positions they can hardly call “fulfilling” or “meaningful”, and believe that they have no control over their work activities.
Of course, knowing this is probably not very comforting. However, your job does not have feel as meaningless or be as stressful as it currently is.
Why do people experience work and occupational stress?
Every job has some negative or less than enjoyable activities which the employee must adjust to. Challenges on the job alone do not lead to burnout or dissatisfaction. Rather it is usually the perceived lack of control over the job that leaves you feeling frustrated, demoralized, or pessimistic about your future at your current position.
Does job stress affect home life?
Occasionally, people try to convince themselves that “a job is just a job…I may hate it but I’ll just do what I need to do and leave it at work when I go home at the end of the day”.
Unfortunately, this is almost impossible to do. Occupational stress and dissatisfaction with your job inevitably follow you home and can definitely impact the quality of your relationships, your family time, and your mood even when you are not working.
Your work satisfaction (or lack of) cannot be isolated from the rest of your life. Today, Canadian adults spend more than half of waking hours at work. If you are unhappy at work, this is almost certainly contributing to stress and unhappiness at home.
Unfortunately, this is almost impossible to do. Occupational stress and dissatisfaction with your job inevitably follow you home and can definitely impact the quality of your relationships, your family time, and your mood even when you are not working.
Your work satisfaction (or lack of) cannot be isolated from the rest of your life. Today, Canadian adults spend more than half of waking hours at work. If you are unhappy at work, this is almost certainly contributing to stress and unhappiness at home.
Counselling and help for work stress
Therapy for job and career stress usually focuses on helping you regain the control you may have lost in your current position and how you can improve your working environment. Occasionally, therapy may involve the consideration of other job possibilities or career changes.
The structure of therapy, while variable, often involves:
● Identifying symptoms of job stress
● Identifying sources of job stress
● Evaluating how you respond to job stress
● Setting goals to react more appropriately to job stress
● Creating motivation to reach work-related goals
● Developing more productive thinking patterns about your job and the control you actually have
● Creating balance in other areas of your life (e.g., relationships, family, physical health)
● Learning negotiation and conflict resolution skills
● Identifying ways you can change your current working environment and recognizing obstacles you will need to overcome
● If necessary, considering other work or career paths and taking steps to follow them
The structure of therapy, while variable, often involves:
● Identifying symptoms of job stress
● Identifying sources of job stress
● Evaluating how you respond to job stress
● Setting goals to react more appropriately to job stress
● Creating motivation to reach work-related goals
● Developing more productive thinking patterns about your job and the control you actually have
● Creating balance in other areas of your life (e.g., relationships, family, physical health)
● Learning negotiation and conflict resolution skills
● Identifying ways you can change your current working environment and recognizing obstacles you will need to overcome
● If necessary, considering other work or career paths and taking steps to follow them
Getting Help for Job and Work Stress in Halifax, Nova Scotia
If you would like to receive help for work stress (and live in the areas of Halifax, Bedford, or Dartmouth) please read more about therapy and counselling, my treatment approach, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all, or if you would like to set up an initial consultation.
|