Catching Dreams: Applying Gestalt Dream Work to Canadian Aboriginal Peoples

Gestalt therapy is similar to an Aboriginal worldview in that they both involve a holistic approach and focus on health and wellness strategies. The Aboriginal worldview is best portrayed as holistic in nature, where the circle of wellness symbolizes unity, wholeness, completeness, and balance. Dream work is a therapeutic technique utilized in Gestalt therapy that could be very useful for Aboriginal peoples given their spiritual and narrative way of being. This article demonstrates the cultural acceptability for utilization of dream work in Gestalt with Aboriginal clients. Furthermore, it discusses both strengths and limitations of this modality of therapy. Implications for use are also discussed.

Holistic Approach in Building a Corporate Wellness Strategy

This article analyses the tendency of implementing the holistic approach to corporate wellness strategies. Based on the guidelines of Corporate Health and Wellness Association and combined with observation and practical cases in companies the following article presents literature overview, trends, challenges and good practices in building a corporate wellness strategy and programs in Bulgarian companies.

Wellness Approaches I

Some patients and their support systems may interpret an attempt at deprescribing as a withdrawal of treatment or care. The prescriber must work to counter this perception by acknowledging the problem and by bolstering existing strategies or introducing and developing, along with the patient, new strategies for maintaining wellness. Deprescribing prompts an excellent opportunity for an individual to expand supports and wellness strategies. This chapter discusses those strategies initiated by the person in order to maintain wellness and manage any symptoms that emerge during the process. These include using a preplanning tool such as a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or others to develop and articulate needed supports and preferences in case of crisis. Exercise, family support, and finding meaning and purpose are also discussed in this chapter.

Working towards wellness: Lessons from 9/11 paramedics and emergency medical technicians for Australian ambulance services

IntroductionThe September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, otherwise known as 9/11, on the World Trade Center in New York City killed 2753 people, including approximately 413 first responders. Some 7000 responders are currently enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program with illnesses related to their exposure to 9/11, and over 2000 have had to retire on 9/11-related disability. The impact of 9/11 is extensive and ongoing.MethodsThis research used qualitative methods to interview a cohort of 54 paramedics and emergency medical technicians who responded to 9/11. These interviews occurred around the 15-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The objective of the research was to explore the long-term physical and mental health impact on the responding paramedics and emergency medical technicians and to investigate key influences on wellness. Information pertaining to ongoing impact, wellness and ideas for effective ambulance wellness programs were extrapolated through thematic analysis.ResultsSeven key lessons for paramedic wellness were identified. These included: the need to understand the paramedic workforce and the key influences on their health and wellbeing; the importance of engaging staff in the development-phase of wellness strategies; avoiding silo-approaches to physical and mental health; providing ongoing professional development opportunities; providing tools for effective peer-to-peer communication; including family members in wellness initiatives; and not forgetting the retiring workforce.ConclusionThis research makes an important new contribution to the existing knowledge base at a time when Australian ambulance services are currently developing wellness strategies to improve the physical and psychosocial wellness of the pre-hospital workforce.

Workplace wellness strategies for small businesses

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify strategies used within small- to mid-size organizations that run effective workplace wellness programs, and remedy a current research gap that exists in the available academic literature regarding this topic. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from four organizations in the form of case studies. Similarities, differences and patterns between different cases were explored, and thematic analysis was used to identify and explain meaningful commonalities between the programs studied. Findings The analysis revealed five overarching common concepts: innovation, company culture, employee-centric, environment, and altruism. Under these five concepts, 19 common themes were identified that represent common workplace wellness strategies. Research limitations/implications A relatively small number of participants were included in the study, which could be viewed as a limitation of the qualitative approach. Practical implications This study identified several strategies used by small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with effective and viable workplace wellness programs and could help inform the practices of other small businesses. The study’s findings could also be applied to broader theory in organizational and social psychology. Social implications Strategies from this study potentially could be used to help improve the well-being of employees in SMBs. Originality/value The study challenges some of the established views on workplace wellness and provides a better understanding of the unique attributes of successful SMB programs, especially when compared to the attributes of workplace wellness programs operating in larger enterprises.