A continuing education seminar dealing with the immune system, the mind, and inflammation. LEARN HOW THE MIND CAN ALTER YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Addiction and Stress Management: The Solution

A unique, experiential program for attorneys providing cutting edge, practical information in a beautiful golf and spa setting. To see the location, click Saddlebrook Resort

Approved by the Florida Bar for CLER in the following categories:

Addiction 2.5 credits

Stress Management 2.5 credits

Ethics 2 credits

AGENDA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

Description: 4:00-6:00PM: Introductions and overview of the program. Next, the group will participate in an exercise designed to foster camaraderie and an awareness of how social support can counter the adverse effects of stress. The assigned task will require participants to negotiate an obstacle course using only the provided resources. Success will require trust of each other as well as of their own judgment. Often, stress occurs due to the inability to predict an outcome or due to a feeling of helplessness. These topics will be emphasized during and following this exercise. In addition, the role beliefs  play in shaping our responses to events will be emphasized.

Learning Objectives: Describe the three primary drivers of chronic stress and how to recognize them.Describe four categories of beliefs and the manner by which they influence a person’s responses.

 Description: 6:00-9:00PM: Dinner reception followed by a discussion of specific challenges being confronted by members of the group. Techniques for reframing challenges and transforming pessimism into optimism will be described. Role playing sessions and demonstrations based upon scenarios described by the participants will be employed during this session. The session will also include a review of common coping strategies and how stress and personality influence the choices we make. This will include a description of the addictive personality.

Learning Objectives:Understand and use reframing as an intervention when dealing with adversity.Describe the role of personality and its impact upon stress.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

Description: 7:00-8:00AM: Breakfast and review personality types.

Learning Objectives:Identify your typeDescribe the main characteristics of the most common personalities.

 Description: 8:00-12PM: Group initiatives at the Executive Challenge Course. The climbing wall will serve as a metaphor for the various challenges described the previous evening. Each handhold will represent a challenge as they overcome it and ascend to the top. A discussion of active stress and how, if unabated by recovery, it can impact judgment, reaction time, memory and health will be described. Heart rate monitors will be used to illustrate the speed with which even the anticipation of adversity can impact the mind and body. Ways to detect stress-induced changes in clients and others will be described.

A technique for training the body to recover almost immediately following a stressful event will be demonstrated and practiced by the participants. It will employ aerobic exercise, the monitoring of heart-rate, and the principals of Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning.

Passive stress and it’s relationship to lack of control (helplessness) will be experienced during the trust-fall and leap-of-faith activities. Similarities with events determined by others (surprise statements from witnesses, undesirable jury outcomes, decisions by judges) will be discussed along with cognitive and behavioral based strategies for adapting to such outcomes.

Inappropriate responses to stress with an emphasis upon substance abuse will be described. This will be presented in the context of the Polyvagal Theory of Emotions and the progression from reason, to fight-flight, and eventually withdrawal as pressure escalates. The impact emotions have upon client and personal relationships will be discussed along with proven methods to immediately reduce the level of conflict. Role playing activities and vignettes will be used to convey the information.

Learning Objectives:Describe the differences between active and passive stressDescribe 5 recognizable symptoms of stressUnderstand and practice a technique for stress-recovery.Describe the role played by ‘control’ in modulating the impact of stress upon health and performance.Describe and provide examples of the three levels of stress and how to avoid those that are inappropriate.

Description: 12:00-1:00PM: Lunch with a presentation focusing upon how specific ratios of carbohydrates, protein and fat can impact the chemistry of stress, and how stress can trigger the consumption of comfort foods, possible leading to food addiction.

Learning Objective:Describe the ways food can influence mood and how mood can impact food choices.

Description: 1:00-5:00PM: An 18 hole round of golf will be used as an example of active recovery for stress management. Strategies to better deal with adversity and change will be presented in a unique manner to improve ones golf score. However, the same methods will prove successful when transforming almost any form of stress into success. Techniques will include personality transformation, mindfulness meditation, and relaxation techniques.

Learning Objectives:Describe how cognitive and behavioral based recovery can result in improved performance and health.Describe a technique for transforming an unhealthy personality into a healthy one.Understand and practice two stress management techniques capable of countering the effects of stress upon the body.

Description: 5:00-8:00 PM: Optional spa treatments will be available as a form of passive recovery. A brief description of ways massage, the sauna, and sessions in a hot tub can offset the adverse consequences of stress will be included.

Learning Objective:Describe three forms of passive recovery and the mechanism by which they counter stress.

 8:00-9:30 PM: Dinner on own

 
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22.
 
7:00-8:00AM: Breakfast and program wrap-up.

8:00-12:00PM: Optional golf or spa treatments. In addition, the instructors will be available for private coaching or to answer questions.

12:00PM: Check out and departure.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTRATION AND THE PROGRAM, PLEASE CALL 813 907-4830 OR 800 729-8383 AND ASK FOR DR. NICK HALL AT EXTENSION 4830.