| dc.description.abstract | Excessive stress can be debilitating when it is not
under careful control. The development of a Stress
and Lifestyle Management Group Therapy Program was
designed to instruct people who have a low stress
tolerance, to deal with and control stress. Stress
management included cognitive therapy, assertiveness
training, and progressive relaxation training.
Emphasized in Lifestyle management was physical
exercise, diet control and weight loss, time
management, the effective use of leisure time,
understanding the purpose of one's social support
system, and other aspects important to a healthy
lifestyle. Clients were referred by doctors, were
male or female, and were between 18 and 65 years of
age. Clients who were accepted into the program
were not severely depressed and did not require
intensive individual counseling. These subjects
were randomly divided into an experimental group and
a waiting list control group. The program consisted
of an individual intake interview, six
one-and-a-quarter hour weekly group sessions, a
group follow-up session three weeks later, and an Individual follow-up Interview. A battery of six
tests assessed the changes In the clients* abilities
to manage stress and related problems and these
measures were taken before and after the program.
The test results indicated a decrease in the level
of depression of the subjects who were treated. The
program was evaluated as a success based on this
result. | |
