DATES:
Option 1: October 5, 2022 to November 9, 2022 (10:00am PST/12:00pm CST)
Option 2: October 5, 2022 to November 9, 2022 (11:00am PST/1:00pm CST)
Option 3: October 3, 2022 to November 14, 2022 (9:00am PST/11:00am CST)
Option 4: November 2, 2022, to December 14, 2022 (10:00am PST/12:00pm CST)
Option 5: November 2, 2022 to December 14, 2022 (11:00am PST/1:00pm CST)
Option 6: January 4, 2022 to February 8, 2022 (10:00am PST/12:00pm CST)
Option 7: January 4, 2022 to February 8, 2022 (11:00am PST/1:00pm CST)
Group Therapy Curriculum:
The symptoms of occupational depression and anxiety are the result of individuals who experience emotional distress over their current work situation. In the absence of a supportive occupational environment with equitable standards for employees, many individuals may find that they are quietly quitting their current work environment. These individuals may find that their ambivalence is high and confidence low, with feelings that they are stuck in their present circumstances with severe doubt about the ability to see the desired change in their circumstances or environment. Motivation and morale are low for many of these individuals, which negatively impacts their productivity level on the job. They lack knowledge of the benefits of change with a limited understanding of the impact of their perspectives on the disadvantages of their work life compared to other work environments.
In this group therapy experience, employees gain the opportunity to experience a supportive virtual therapeutic environment that promotes positive social engagement to:
- Promote the language of positive change through an artful exchange of information, promoting positive experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
- Explore realistic standards for interdependent professional relationships.
- Expand upon a professional social support network through engagement with others who have experienced similar challenges.
- Educate to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues in the work environment.
Week 1: Introduction - Defining the problem
Group discussion of the concept of 'Quietly Quitting' with unique perspectives on the impact on mental health. General discussion on the implications of 'collectivism' and 'individualism' on mental health in the employment environment.
Week 2: Conducting an Employment Emotional Health Check.
Participants receive the results of their assessments and discuss their perspectives on the impact of their work environment on their mental health. Participants explore healthy and unhealthy perspectives promoting symptoms of depression or anxiety through a review of workplace mental health perspectives—exploring critical elements necessary for individual and organizational change.
Week 3: Employment Cognitive Fusion and Defusion
Participants explore the critical nature of mental health in regulating thoughts and behavior in their occupations. Participants evaluate how they have allowed their ideas about their employment to dominate the regulation of their behavior and work productivity as they became less sensitive to the direct consequences in their work environment.
Week 4: Self-Care through Self-Advocacy in the Employment Environment
Participants explore the emotional implications of repressed negative emotions. Participants learn how to overcome the fear of self-advocacy by exploring the build-up of suppressed anger, resentment, and various kinds of negative emotionality resulting from suppressing the expression of needs, wants, or desires in their work environment. Participants learn how low levels of assertiveness are associated with low self-esteem and overall relationship satisfaction. Those who fear confrontation gain skills that will promote confidence, while those with problems with aggression learn how to tailor their verbal and non-verbal communication to become assertive. Participants learn how to overcome the negative consequences of unassertive behavior through understanding the difference between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles. Group work will provide opportunities to practice essential communication to promote confidence in the work environment.
Week 5: Defining the Motivation to Change
Participants work towards becoming "Change Agents" in their work environments by exploring how to "...engage, focus, evoke, and plan..." productive working relationships that resolve internal or external issues experienced in the work environment.
Week 6: Acknowledge, Accept, and Take Action
Participants learn how to reduce their emotional distress by applying the "Triple A's" of their occupational conflict resolution. Participants utilize lessons learned to acknowledge the facts of their experiences at work and the impact on their mental health. They work through the acceptance process to determine what the facts about the work issues tell them by practicing being objective in their perspectives about their work situation. Participants explore ways they can appropriately take action in addressing their occupational stressors by using effective strategies to promote change.
Presenter: Dr. Donetta Quinones,Ph.D,LMHC, LPC
Dr. Donetta Quinones, the CEO of Academic Research Solutions, provides her clients with 20 years of customer service experience and over a decade of research and training experience. Through her commitment to utilize the knowledge and skills she acquired through her educational and professional pursuits, she strives to provide her clients with the means to be successful and flourish in their pursuits. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and specializing in English Literature and International Relations, Dr. Quinones went on to work as a licensed commercial property and casualty insurance agent for several small businesses. Her desire to study the relationship between the legal system and psychology led her to pursue a Master of Arts program in Forensic Psychology at Argosy University. Her educational journey sparked further interest in the affairs of the mental health community as she saw the need for patient advocacy and multicultural awareness in the mental health community. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in General Psychology at Walden University and became certified as a Human Behavior Consultant from the Christian Coach Institute. Dr. Quinones studied Clinical Psychology and graduated from Walden University with her doctoral degree. Her exposure to the military community as a military spouse reinforces her commitment to bridging the interpersonal gap between the behavioral health sector and the potential clientele who needs assistance from these professionals. Her experience working within the law enforcement and correctional setting has provided her with the opportunity to support members of the forensic population as well as victim advocacy. She has published several personal and spiritual development journals to assist clients and the public in making positive changes in their lives. Dr. Quinones is currently in private practice serving individuals in the states of Washington and Texas.