Humor: The Antidote to Professional and Personal Stress- Course HR1239

From: Training and Development

College counselors are advised through their ethical guidelines to "be aware of the possible effects of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work." Self-care, including the ability to handle life stressors that might impact on our health or effectiveness, is equally important for any student affairs professional working on behalf of today's college student. It is proposed here that humor is one well-documented way of helping professionals handle their stress reactions to negative life events.

Cognitive therapists have taught us much about how to reduce our tendency to catastrophize. This talk, however, will also draw from Robert Fulghum's notion that life might be easier if we developed more of an "UH OH" rather than an "Oh MY God!" philosophy of life.

The presentation will attempt to show, in a lighthearted way, how we can use "Uh Oh" experiences and other forms of humor, to reduce stress, improve our effectiveness, and stay a little more balanced in our professional and personal lives.

Presented by Dr. Robert Gallagher
Biographical Information

Monday, March 31, 2008
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Festival Student and Conference Center, Highlands Room