Building Resiliency

Resiliency refers to the ability to withstand the stresses and strains of life and work and have a strong capacity for adaptation. Resilient people tend to display certain personality traits, but in addition, have robust daily practices that keep them mentally and physically strong.

Workers in the human services field can improve client outcomes and reduce turnover or staffing shortages by taking steps to improve their personal resiliency profile. Building resiliency is not one-size-fits-all and starts with developing a set of personal wellness strategies. Practicing resiliency skills to manage exposure to traumatic stress in the workplace promotes a trauma-informed environment. When resiliency skills are practiced regularly, workers improve their capacity to be more person-centered and culturally responsive, improving the likelihood of positive outcomes for program participants. This class explores the problem of chronic unremitting stress on our overactive and distracted brains and offers a set of different skill sets for robust mental health that can be learned and practiced by anyone.

• Explore the differences between different types of stress and stressors.

• Recognize how chronic stress shows up in your own body, thoughts, and emotions.

• Build a personal toolkit of practices that calm your stress response.