Saturday, January 29, 2011

Looking for a Solution?

We all have problems and we all dream of finding a solution that takes our pain away. Often, when something goes awry, we search for relief from friends, spirituality, health, and our families. These are all good things and are necessary if we are to lead a "good" life. But where do you turn when your friends and family don't want to listen anymore and exercising does not ease the depression?

Counseling is an option that some may or may not consider. Unfortunately there is a bit of a stigma attached to seeing a counselor implying that there is something "wrong" with the individual. People do not want their friends to see their car parked in front to the clinic.

Counseling is what you do when the wheels fall completely off your marriage. Counselors are there when your children turn down the wrong path.

Counselors are indeed available and help with the above scenarios. But what if counseling was perceived as a "wellness" activity? That is, what if we sought counseling to improve our relationships, to stop problem behavior before it got out of control, and to learn to be better parents?

Wellness is a popular buzz word in health care. Bryan LGH in Lincoln, NE offers a complete program that focuses on healthy activities for all age groups. They even have a healthy cafe on site. Healthcare is seemingly focusing on teaching people to live better lives so that they do not have serious health problems later.

Therapists are also focusing on how to teach people to live the best life that they can. Many offer workshops, webinars, books, and other such things.

I believe that more of us counselors and therapists need to promote our business as helping people live betters lives now so that they can live the best life in the future. Perhaps this would be a way to remove some of the stigma surrounding our craft.

If you are searching for ways to improve your relationships and your life perhaps it may be good time to consider finding a counselor to walk with you on this journey. Call your human resources department and find out if your company offers an Employee Assistance Program. Many do and EAPs are free to employees. Ask a friend. Search online directories for a counselor, such as Psychology Today's.

Seeking help from a counselor does not mean that there is something wrong with you. It means that you are seeking to live your life in the best possible way.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Bridging the Gap: Texting at Work

Texting is ubiquitous. It has become the perferred mode of communication amongst the younger generation. Some consider it less intrusive than a phone call, while others (usually the older generation) find it less efficient and rude.

Over the last few weeks I have met a few people that have shared with me their struggles with younger coworkers texting or using their cell phones while at work. Texting while at work is seen as disrespectful to clients and coworkers. Also, the texters are not as focused on their work, which may lead to safety issues in some workplaces.

Yet, on the other end of the spectrum younger workers may view texting as socially acceptable and not disruptive to their work duties. Some may even argue that it is better than spending an inordinate amount of time actually talking on the phone.

Conflict can arise in the work place because the generations do not understand each other. As more people are retiring many workplaces have seen an influx of younger workers. Sometimes the younger crowd are able to take on supervisory or management roles. In such cases people closer to retirement may have a hard time adjusting to a new supervisor who appears to not be working as hard as he or she should.

Many companies have adopted policies that define cell phone use during work hours. Yet, policies are not likely to ease tensions, especially if they are not enforced. How are we then to get along? I am a big fan of helping people take responsibility for their actions and choices. On the other side of that coin is the fact that we cannot let the behaviors of others to unduly upset us at work. The caveat is that we must allow our supervisors handle the issue and concentrate on our own work.

I am in my 30's and feel a bit caught between the two different worlds. A woman in her 40's commented that she saw using cell phones at work as the equivalent of reading a magazine. What a great insight! We all use down time differently. Perhaps it is just an issue of perspective. The same woman also said that the use of cellphones cut down on the number of phone calls to the workplace from family members.

How should we bridge the gap? By appreciating that we all have our distractions and that they tend to change over time.