Accessing Support at Work
Hello and welcome back to the Center Street Psychology blog! I hope everyone is gearing up for the colder weather. This week we will be concluding our series on mental health in the workplace by talking about accessing supports at work. Make sure to check out the rest of the series if you haven’t yet!
So far, we have covered a lot about how to address workplace conflict (or bullying), boundaries, and work-life balance. These might be some of the more common problems we encounter in a work environment, but how do we get support for other situations that could occur? To start with, if you have a great team that you work with, your direct supervisor or boss might be one of the first people you reach out to. This could mean having a one-off conversation when you feel like you need the extra support, or maybe scheduling a recurring meeting so that you know you have a consistent place to debrief and discuss challenging work situations. There may also be a human resources department that can support with getting you help you might need at work or in your personal life. However, not every workplace has an HR department or a supportive management team.
Dealing with everyday stress at work can also be managed by building camaraderie with your co-workers. When we don’t have our main supports with us, whether it be family or friends, we can build relationships with those around us who are experiencing similar stresses and challenges. This might mean having regular debriefs with co-workers, going out for lunch or coffee, or making plans after work. Team building activities can also help develop these supportive relationships, so if think your boss or supervisor would be receptive, maybe suggest getting the group together and building some shared experiences.
Also, use your benefits (if you have them)! Too often, group benefits are not used up every year. Look through what you have a spending allowance for, you might be surprised. Maybe you will treat yourself to a massage, get some physio for that achy knee, or you book yourself a counselling session. Even if you don’t think you need it, it feels good to treat yourself to something that feels nice, especially if it is (mostly) covered. Also, engaging in consistent self-care activities helps reduce the likelihood of stressors building up into something that can feel unmanageable and overwhelming.
And remember, utilize your supports outside of work to make sure you are going into work as your best self! We can never stress enough how important it is to invest in your own well-being and be your own biggest advocate.
Please reach out to us at Center Street Psychology if you would like to discuss more about our services. We provide support to a variety of populations and are able to support those experiencing difficulties in the workplace. We provide a collaborative approach and are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to help potential “fit” with one of our counsellors. We are an inclusive clinic, located in Calgary, Alberta, providing in-person, virtual or hybrid services within Alberta and across Canada. Please call 403-399-5120 to speak with our Director of Client Care, Amy, who will gently guide you through the counselling process.
