Stress Management

Any event that requires us to make changes and put forth effort involves a certain amount of stress. Some events, such as deadlines and competitions, may produce feelings of eagerness and excitement, particularly when we think that we have a chance of succeeding. The arousal you feel when you try to meet these challenges is considered healthy. However, when you perceive a situation or event as being overwhelming, beyond your abilities to cope, and threatening to your well-being, then it is considered “stressful.” Stress can result in feelings of exhaustion, fatigue, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, and high blood pressure. Stress can also affect work performance and relationships. Stress helps us perform, but if we experience too much stress, we begin to break down. Note that it is not the events themselves that cause stress, but how a person reacts to them. In the same situation, one person may feel a healthy amount of arousal, while another person may feel “stressed out.”

Who do we see?

We have experience working with individuals of all age groups. We help pre-teens, teens, and adults who could benefit from learning more effective ways of managing stress. Individuals who are interested in learning more about treatment can either ask their provider to make a referral or contact the Behavioral Medicine Program at CARD at (617)-353-9610. Our front desk staff will connect you with a therapist who will answer all of your questions.

Our Treatment Approach:

Our program helps our clients learn techniques for managing stress that involve changing lifestyle habits, developing adaptive ways of  coping, and learning to change thinking that can contribute to stress. We specialize in working with clients who are required to work effectively in high stress situations.