206: A Skill-based Approach for Building Resiliency to Promote Wellness

Summary 

Due to the high number of Americans overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, prevention and training programs are needed to mitigate stress and resist anxiety. Just as we physically train for fitness, the brain can also be trained to resist anxiety and manage stress. This workshop will present the design, data, and results of a program developed to build resiliency skills for medical students. Since resiliency can be learned, the program aimed to provide practical skills to manage stress and assist coping through teaching a series of skills. Finally, a discussion on how psychologists and licensed mental health professionals could adapt this type of program for various clinical populations and lay groups will be given. 

Learning Objectives 

Participants will: 

1. Discuss how to use a wellness survey and develop a skills-based training curriculum to enhance stress management, coping skills and build resiliency 

1. Design a multi-part series of skill-based training aimed at improving stress and anxiety 

1. Analyze skill-based learning via pre-post survey data 

1. Utilize survey feedback to inform quality improvement of psychologists and licensed mental health professional’s training program