Description of Workshops

Workshop 1: A New Approach to Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Intended for health care professionals. This is a one to three hour interactive lecture/discussion. Subjects reviewed in detail include:

• Incidence and presenting symptoms of medically unexplained disease
• Initial approach to the patient with a negative diagnostic evaluation
• Diagnosis of the five types of stress capable of causing physical symptoms
• Techniques for managing each type of stress

Longer versions of this workshop include the following additional material:

• More detailed discussion of the complex process leading from childhood stress to symptoms in an adult. This information facilitates diagnosis and treatment in childhood stress survivors.
• A larger number of illustrative clinical anecdotes
• Expanded discussion of the interaction between different types of stress
• Expanded discussion of treatment techniques

 

Workshop 2: Hidden Stresses and Your Health

Intended for the general public and people without formal medical training. Most large hospitals will allow their auditorium to be used for a lecture like this and many have an education department with a mailing list for notifying the public. Local news media are usually willing to provide articles/broadcasts about this topic that will further increase attendance.

This is an interactive lecture/discussion (1.5 - 2.5 hours). Topics are reviewed in non-technical language and include:

• Definition of stress and how it causes physical symptoms
• Types of symptoms caused by stress
• Inability to diagnose stress illness with medical tests
• Review of the five types of stress capable of causing physical symptoms
• Numerous examples to help listeners uncover their own hidden stresses
• The complex process that links childhood stress to certain personal characteristics in the adult as well as to symptoms
• The interaction between different types of stress
• Treatment techniques for each type of stress