The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) will offer a series of lunchtime workshops for employees this winter and spring.

The schedule includes:

"Maintaining Resiliency in Times of Stress" will meet from noon to 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, in 130 General Services Building, facilitated by Patricia Porter, Cecily Sawyer-Harmon and Donna Tuites, all of the FSAP Office. This workshop allows participants to express their emotions and thoughts during these particularly stressful times since the tragedies of Sept. 11. Participants will learn to identify the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Further, the workshop will address coping strategies and resources to maintain resiliency during these difficult times.

"Working from the Inside Out: Self-Esteem Enhancement for Women” will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, in 130 General Services Building, facilitated by Cherie Weiss, psychologist with the Brandywine Center. This workshop provides a framework for understanding self-esteem and exercises that assess how participants relate to themselves. It also outlines specific strategies for “growing” self-esteem over time.

"Children Come Without Instructions" is a six-week parent education course, scheduled from noon to 1 p.m., every Monday, Feb. 25 through April 8, in Room 261 at 413 Academy St. This course, facilitated by Yvonne Nass of Child, Inc., is intended to help parents and caretakers develop and maintain a respectful relationship with children 12 years old and under. It will cover the “how tos” of listening, inviting cooperation, problem-solving and decision-making, building self-esteem, understanding and redirecting misbehavior and teaching responsibility with effective discipline.

“Self-Esteem Support Group for Women,” facilitated by Porter and Tuites, will be held for six sessions from noon-1:30 p.m., every other Tuesday, March 12 and March 26; April 9 and April 23; May 7 and May 21, in Room 256 at 413 Academy St. This support group examines the components of self-esteem: self-knowledge, self-acceptance and self-nurturance and further helps participants define who they are as women. Time will be spent using exercises and strategies for increasing self-awareness, empowerment and rebuilding the inner self.

“Balancing Work and Family: Contemporary Mid-life Stressors and Opportunities” will meet from noon to 1:15 p.m., Thursday, March 14, in 130 General Services Building, facilitated by Bahira Sherif, assistant professor and Rob Palkovitz, professor, both of individual and family studies at UD. This workshop focuses on the issues facing working women and men as they reach their “middle” years. In particular, participants will investigate the tension between work, societal pressures and individual desires. Further, issues such as role overload, aging, setting priorities and determining life goals will be discussed.

“I’m So Angry I Can See Red,” scheduled from noon to 1:15 p.m., Friday, April 19, in 130 General Services Building, will be facilitated by Porter and Tuites. This workshop will help participants learn what triggers their anger buttons, identify new coping strategies to help them handle their own and other people's anger and learn to use anger in an effective, nondestructive way.

“The Bored and The Restless: ADD and the Workplace” will be presented from noon to 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, in 130 General Services Building, facilitated by Priscilla Putnam, psychologist with the Brandywine Center. Do you find your mind wandering while you are trying to do work? Do tedious tasks drive you to distraction? Do people accuse you of not paying attention, interrupting or not following directions? These are some of the characteristics of persons with attention deficit disorder (ADD), a problem that affects adults as well as children. The workplace environment, where the demands for planning, memory, organization and teamwork are great, can be difficult for those with ADD. This workshop addresses these issues and gives strategies for dealing with the resulting challenges.

To register for any of these workshops or for more information, contact Julie Skeen at 831-2414 or by e-mail at [jskeen@udel.edu]. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches; beverages and dessert are provided.

In addition to these workshops, FSAP is offering the following ongoing support groups.

“Relapse Prevention,” facilitated by Tuites and Porter, is an educational support group for those recovering from alcohol and drug abuse. The group meets weekly from noon-1 p.m., Wednesdays, in Room 110 of the General Services Building. Drop-ins are welcome.