Welcome to Whole Health Check In
This site is an adjunct to www.basic-counseling-skills.com
In a whole health check-in we take into account that we have physical, intellectual, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual needs - the neglect of which reduces the ability of one to withstand the effects of stress. And we live in socio-economic conditions that can enhance or demean our long-term well-being.
What follows on the next two pages are two inventories – Personal Well Being (PWB) and Socio-economic Well Being (SWB). Items in PWB are things that can be addressed almost immediately – but situations in SWB take a very long time. Both are essential components of the whole health check in.
In a whole health check-in we take into account that we have physical, intellectual, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual needs - the neglect of which reduces the ability of one to withstand the effects of stress. And we live in socio-economic conditions that can enhance or demean our long-term well-being.
What follows on the next two pages are two inventories – Personal Well Being (PWB) and Socio-economic Well Being (SWB). Items in PWB are things that can be addressed almost immediately – but situations in SWB take a very long time. Both are essential components of the whole health check in.
Regular Acts of Kindness
When all is said and done, however, people who feel the happiest and the healthiest are those who practice "regular acts of kindness." A national survey of 3,000 Americans who regularly volunteer hows that more than 95 percent said they experienced heightened physical sensations--a "helper's high"--which for many led to an improvement in overall health, reduced stress, relief from depression and a decreased awareness of pain.
The research also shows that there's a particular kind of altruism that, over time, boosts your health and happiness the most - one-on-one contact with a stranger. Empathy is the key to experiencing the lasting euphoria and youthful energy that altruism brings, says Allan Luks, an attorney who heads New York City's Big Brother/Big Sister organization and who led the national volunteer survey, described in his book The Healing Power of Doing Good.
Problems and pain don't vanish completely when you volunteer, Luks says, but they can be alleviated to a great degree when you focus outside yourself. Helping someone else helps you leave your worries behind.
When all is said and done, however, people who feel the happiest and the healthiest are those who practice "regular acts of kindness." A national survey of 3,000 Americans who regularly volunteer hows that more than 95 percent said they experienced heightened physical sensations--a "helper's high"--which for many led to an improvement in overall health, reduced stress, relief from depression and a decreased awareness of pain.
The research also shows that there's a particular kind of altruism that, over time, boosts your health and happiness the most - one-on-one contact with a stranger. Empathy is the key to experiencing the lasting euphoria and youthful energy that altruism brings, says Allan Luks, an attorney who heads New York City's Big Brother/Big Sister organization and who led the national volunteer survey, described in his book The Healing Power of Doing Good.
Problems and pain don't vanish completely when you volunteer, Luks says, but they can be alleviated to a great degree when you focus outside yourself. Helping someone else helps you leave your worries behind.
I have an entire website dedicated to counseling. Section D is all about Self Help and provides you lots of information and exercises. See http://www.basic-counseling-skills.net/d-self-help.html
- Jan Carrie Steven, MA, RSW
- Jan Carrie Steven, MA, RSW
The first thing a kindness deserves is acceptance, the second, transmission.
- George MacDonald
- George MacDonald