Work/Life Connections-EAP offers a number of workshops that are available for departmental functions using power point plus video clips. Other topics can be tailor-made to the needs of your department and the target population.

To arrange a presentation for your department or group (or to discuss a topic request), contact Jim Kendall by e-mail or by calling (615) 936-1327.

Stress Resilience: 50-60 minutes
Since life surprises us with ups and downs, we need to main a lifestyle that allows us to bounce back from these stresses. This talk helps the participant understanding the etiology and formulating a life plan for creating balance.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Encountering Distressed Patients and Families, 60 minutes
Healthcare settings deal with all kinds of people often at their most vulnerable time. Some are kind and appreciative; others are abusive and hostile. They may dealing with fear, pain, grief, guilt or depression. Some may just be downright rude people. This workshop is designed to help the healthcare worker understand the possible etiology for such behavior and receive support for their rights as employees.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Communication Stress: Multi-generations in the workplace 50-60 minutes
Differences in communication styles can cause stress, discomfort, conflict, and frustration and they can be a source for creativity and productivity. The etiology of these differences is in the historical context and rearing of each generation. Increased understanding can reduce the stress created by this diversity.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Dealing with Change, 50-60 minutes
This talk presents organizational and personal change as an inevitable life stressor requiring the individual to adopt an open attitude concerning the opportunities that change presents. Using the framework of Spencer Johnson, MD's book Who Moved My Cheese, change as a stressor is reframed with the responsibility for adaptations placed on the individual. Healthcare examples are used to illustrate the concepts.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

The Stress of Dealing with Death, Dying and Bereavement: 50-60 minutes
The goal of this presentation is to provide tools to staff who are dealing with the death of patients and the bereavement of their families. The healthcare professional is asked to consider his/her own beliefs on death. Focusing on loss as a critical incident, two models of grieving are explored.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Cultural Diversity and Workplace Stress: 50-60 minutes
Explore how cultural diversity in the workforce creates opportunities and potential complications. Review how differences in language and the meaning of words and pHealth Risk Assessmentses complicate communication. Identify potential stressors for the International employee. Define potential stressors for the supervisors and colleagues. Offer suggestions for creating an International friendly work environment.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Understanding Depression: Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up 50-60 minutes
Depression can interfere with functioning, productivity and family life. It impacts nearly 10% of the population in given year. This talk gives an overview of the symptoms and treatment available. It outlines what you can do to help someone who is impacted by this treatable illness. Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Critical Incident Stress and Strain: The Psychological Effects of Traumatic Events, Overview, 1-1 1/2 hours
An overview of the concepts of critical incident stress/traumatic event stress are covered as it relates to emergency and healthcare workers. Understanding the need to take care of the caretaker can help reduce burnout and allow workers to deal with the emotional impact of their profession.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

Critical Incident Stress Management - Basic Course, 8 hours
The concepts of critical incident stress/traumatic event stress are defined with multimedia examples. Techniques of defusing, debriefing and demobilization are covered. Issues concerning the proper way to set up an intervention are covered with examples from emergency services, businesses and schools. This day long training uses the Jeffrey Mitchell debriefing model and can be augmented with a mock debriefings and additional training in a second day module.
Instructor: Jim Kendall, LCSW

HELPFUL LINKS

• Vanderbilt University's training locator
• A list of books available from the library in Adobe Acrobat form.