Stress continues to be a persistent issue that might lead to some serious problems. It plays a significant role in the development of physical and mental illnesses, and it can also lead to alcohol or drug abuse. People are especially vulnerable to high stress levels in the workplace environment, and counseling is necessary for those who might have a problem with coping with stress. Another problem is a generally unhealthy lifestyle associated with the workplace, such as irregular diet habits and sedentary behavior. It is possible to combat those issues with wellness and prevention interventions.
Wellness counseling can consist of promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about unhealthy habits and substance abuse. It can either be general, or target the employees with higher risk factors, such as those with chronic illnesses or particularly unhealthy habits, and those working in most stressful occupations. Studies show that wellness programs can reduce risk factors and lead to significant improvements in exercise frequency, smoking behavior, and weight control (Mattke et al., 2012). Different counseling techniques can be utilized to achieve a desirable result, such as individual counseling or group therapy.
References
Mattke, S., Liu, H., Caloyeras, J., Huang, C. Y., Van Busum, K. R., Khodyakov, D., & Shier, V. (2013). Workplace wellness programs study. Rand Health Quarterly, 3(2).