Overview
The Wellness Exchange Program was developed in 2016 by Alberta Health Services. It was created to help individuals build a resilience toolkit and modelled after Skills for Psychological Recovery group format. The Wellness Exchange Program can be used in both disaster response recovery and also in non-disaster settings to help manage life’s stressors. The Modules delivered in these trainings are in a series of 5 one-hour workshops which are delivered once per week. The Workshop topics cover these areas:
- Problem- Solving
- Positive Activities
- Managing Reactions
- Helpful Thinking
- Healthy Connections
Why Take the Wellness Exchange Program
The Wellness Exchange Program is designed for professionals in the Community Social Services sector who want to strengthen their resilience and enhance their mental health toolkit. The program offers both open group sessions, available to all Community Social Services employees, and closed group sessions for specific organizations. These sessions provide opportunities to learn, share best practices, and develop strategies for improved mental well-being.
Learning Objectives
- Develop practical problem-solving strategies for everyday challenges.
- Increase positive emotions through engagement in enjoyable, meaningful activities.
- Learn techniques to manage strong emotional reactions and build emotional regulation skills.
- Shift unhelpful thinking patterns toward more helpful, realistic perspectives.
- Strengthen interpersonal skills and increase awareness of how supportive relationships contribute to mental well-being.
Target Audience
For any worker within the Community Social Services Sector looking to cope better with life’s daily stressors or stressful events.
Course Structure
The course is structured into 5 modules. Each module is delivered virtually in one-hour sessions and focuses on a specific mental wellness skill. The modules are stand-alone, meaning participants can attend one or all, based on their needs. The course offers easy-to-apply tools for building resilience, managing stress, and improving overall well-being in the workplace and beyond.
Module 1: Problem Solving (1 hour)
- Overview: Teaches participants how to break down and manage overwhelming problems using structured steps.
- Objective: To build confidence in tackling real-life challenges through a clear problem-solving process.
- Pre-requisite: None
Module 2: Positive Activities (1 hour)
- Overview: Explores how scheduling positive activities can improve mood and overall mental health.
- Objective: To help participants identify and incorporate enjoyable activities into daily routines.
- Pre-requisite: None
Module 3: Managing Reactions (1 hour)
- Overview: Provides strategies for recognizing and managing strong emotional responses to stress.
- Objective: To equip participants with tools to calm the body and mind during stressful moments.
- Pre-requisite: None
Module 4: Helpful Thinking (1 hour)
- Overview: Focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and shifting toward more constructive thinking.
- Objective: To strengthen self-awareness and promote more balanced and helpful thinking habits.
- Pre-requisite: None
Module 5: Healthy Connections (1 hour)
- Overview: Highlights the importance of building and maintaining supportive relationships in improving mental health.
- Objective: To encourage participants to foster meaningful connections that support emotional well-being.
- Pre-requisite: None