Basic Counseling Skills
  • Home
  • A. TECHNIQUES
  • Pattern of Sessions
  • Active Listening
  • Body Language
  • Asking Questions
  • Paraphrasing/Tone
  • Summary
  • Note Taking
  • Homework
  • Goodie Bag/Fun Stuff
  • Technique References
  • B. THEORIES
  • Client Centered
  • Holistic/Biopsychosocial
  • Strengths Based
  • Cognitive/Behavioral
  • Solution Focused
  • Existential Therapy
  • Letting Go
  • Theory References
  • C. SAMPLE SESSIONS
  • 1. Client Centered Counseling
  • 2.&3. No Show/Cancellation
  • 4. Strengths Based
  • 5. Cognitive Beh. Counseling
  • 6. Holistic Health Counseling
  • 7. Solution Focused
  • 8. Existential Counseling
  • 9. Becoming Unnecessary
  • D. SELF HELP
  • Journaling
  • Mood Mapping
  • Whole Health Check In
  • Community Resources
  • Ten Things I Like About Me
  • Common Lies We Tell
  • Goal-Setting
  • A Why to Bear a How
  • Happy People
  • Self-Help References
  • E. CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • F. SITE MAP
  • G. CONTACT ME!
  • H. READERS' CONTRIBUTIONS
    • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S
    • Alcohol Counseling - Carol G.
    • Depression and Addiction Rehab - Katherine C
    • Quit Smoking and Alcohol Rehab
    • Reducing Stigma - Patricia S.
    • Suicidal Thoughts and Alcohol Abuse - Julia W
    • Recovery Village - William B.
    • Bereavement Counseling - Sally W
    • Personality Traits - Sally W
    • 3 Solutions to Worst Fears - Paige M
    • 30 Min Reduce Anxiety - Paige M
    • Restorative Power of Arts & Crafts - Sally W
    • 3 Ways - Rid of Sunday Scaries
    • Conquer Fear of Flying - Sally W.
    • Document Anxiety through Journaling - Sally W
    • Career Options - Sally W
    • School Counselor ToolKit - Serena K.
    • Psychology Degrees - Lindsay F
    • Depression and Addiction Rehab - Katherine C
    • Diagnosing Depression - Melissa M
    • PostPartum Depression - Tracey F
    • Assisted Living Options for People with Disabilities
    • Wheelchair Home Safety - Michael M
    • Cerebral Palsy Resources
    • Counseling and Persistent Pain - Sally W
    • Mesothelioma Guide - Corine F.
    • Mesothelioma Resources
    • Finding Start Up Success - Eva B
    • Cleaning House for Better Health - Cheryl C.
    • Destress/Clean Home - Cheryl C
    • Financial Stress - Sally W.
    • Financial Debt - Sally W
    • Be Happy - Hazel G.
    • Gut Health & Mental Health - Sally W
    • How Having a Skincare Routine
    • Counseling the Impoverished - Sally W
    • Conquering Interviews - Eva B
    • Daily Journal Routine - Paige M
    • 4 Journaling Tips for Beginners - Shristi Patni
    • Drug Dangers - Rebecca P.
    • Recall Report - Laura P.
    • Living Mindfully - Mollie Wilson
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Sally W.
    • Couns. Resources - Tim C.
    • Practical Financial SKills - Johanne H
    • Nutrition to Help Anxiety - Sally W
    • Retirement Career Change - Sally W
    • Managing Phobias - Sally W
    • Healing Power of Pets - Sally W
    • Geriatric Counseling - Sally W
    • Counseling Seniors with Anxiety - Sally W
    • Senior Resources - Claire S.
    • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S
    • Better Sleep - Better Health - Cheryl C
    • Treating Insomnia - Sally W
    • Tuck Sleep - Kellen S
    • De-Fogging Brain - Sally W
    • Recovery from Sports Injury
    • Improving Mental Clarity - Sally W
    • Indoor Air Quality Can Affect Mental Health - Sally W
    • Stress on Health - Sally W.
    • Stress Management - Sally W
    • Suicidal Thoughts and Alcohol Abuse - Julia W
    • Summer Side Gigs for Teachers - Joyce W
    • Tobacco in 2017 - Mary G.
    • Take Control of Your Life - Dorothy Watson
    • No More Winter Blues - Rufus Carter
    • How I Put Anxiety Attacks on Pause
    • 8 Effective Tips for Improving Mental Health - Camille Johnson
    • Manage And Reduce Stress For Your Employees With These Tips - Rufus Carters
    • Moving Forward When Grief Intrudes in Your Life - Camille J
    • Working Remotely - Emma Grace Brown
    • Unlock Greater Confidence - Rufus Carter
    • Coping With a Mid-Life Crisis - Rufus Carter
    • 6 Self-Care Tips - Laurie Abner
    • Help a Loved One After the Loss of a Spouse - Rufus CarterNew Page
    • Relocating After a Tragic Loss - Lucille Rosetti
    • Guidelines for Teens Who Want to Thrive as Entrepreneurs - Lucille Rosetti
    • 5 Common Lifestyle Habits That Can Cause Skin Damage - Andrew Mark

Restorative Power of Arts and Crafts - Sally W.

Research this year has revealed that nearly one in four Canadians is stressed. Alongside regular counseling, art has been shown to alleviate stress. With creativity being a powerful tool for our emotional wellbeing, it is worth participating regularly in arts and/or crafts in order to look after our mental health. Doing so might be helpful when exploring triggers and solutions for particular moods. Here are a few activities to consider trying if you could do with a bit of emotional support.

Get into sewing
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A study in the Journal of Public Health showed the positive effects of quilting on participants’ mental health. Whether it be putting together a patchwork quilt or sewing someone a piece of clothing, the impact on your morale can be extremely worthwhile. The good news is that it is never too late to start learning how to quilt. There is opportunities available for all newcomers to needlework. Engaging with a creative and challenging activity, as well as learning a new skill, gave participants in the study an enhanced morale boost. The positive impact of color was also significant. Finally, seeing the fruits of your labor at the end is of course inherently rewarding.

Sing your heart out
The health benefits of music are numerous. Music lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, helping to relieve anxiety in the process and release endorphins (the ‘happy hormones’). This is particularly true in the case of singing, the deep breathing during which helps to relax the mind and make you feel more relaxed. Singing in a choir, meanwhile, is thought to naturally boost people’s sense of belonging, as well as their overall state of mind. Whether singing on your own or as part of a group, it is worth trying to make singing a regular feature of your day-to-day life; the feel-good factor is powerful to say the least.

Try the creative craft of woodwork

It may come as a surprise to hear about the morale-boosting qualities of woodwork. Like music, working with natural wood can lower blood pressure and stress levels. Scientists believe that this is due to the relative warmth of wood and its link to nature. Nature has a positive impact on our mood, as well as on things like focus and memory. In this way, woodwork brings together creativity and nature, making for a powerful combination when it comes to our emotional wellbeing. What is more, just as with quilting, woodworking offers you the chance to learn a new skill and experience the reward of creating something with your own hands.

There are lots of ways to be creative 

It is always worth considering help from a counselor or other trained professional if you are experiencing sustained levels of stress. In addition to this, though, carving out time for yourself to be creative could have a significantly positive impact. Whether it be any of the activities listed above or others that you personally feel drawn to, having that outlet in which to express yourself could give you the vital boost you need.
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