James Keefer Pathways Counseling Services 604 Wilson Street Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401

 Domains of Wellness  1. Physical  2. Emotional  3. Social  4. Psychological  5. Spiritual

 H = S + C + V  Where, H = Happiness  C = Life circumstances of the person ◦ V = The factors under the control of the person ◦ S = The combinations of person’s genes ◦ or biological makeup ◦ Lemley (as cited in Presbury, Ectherling, & McKee).  If we pursue happiness it eludes us -  We find it in the kind of lives we live.

 Three levels of Happiness ◦ Pleasure – Sensory based, food, sex, e.g. ◦ Flow – Becoming fully absorbed in what ◦ we do. ◦ Meaning - Connecting what we do in ◦ life that is bigger than us ◦ Seligman, 2008 (cited in ◦ Presbury, Echterling, & McKee). ◦

 Counseling can cause actual physical changes in the brain that can lead to new solutions and ways to resolve issues.  Temporal lobes  Amygdala – emotional  memory  Hippocampus – Episodic  memory

 Our emotions play a critical role in the level of our performance – the things that are “magical” for us.  (Changing  Minds)

 Exercise 3x a week – minutes  Use the stairs instead of elevators  Get good sleep  Use seat belts – encourage others  Learn to recognize early signs of illness  Listen to your body  Practice safe sex  Eat breakfast  Eat a variety of foods  Stop smoking  Control meal portions

 Don’t isolate.  People with social networks do better under  stress.  20% of Americans feel lonely and isolated  during their free time.  Touching, stroking, and hugging can  improve health – due to vasopressin.  Laughter is good medicine.  Cholesterol levels ↑ as human contact ↓

 Physical activity  Good nutrition  Adequate rest and sleep  Stress reduction  Optimistic attitude, humor, creativity  Optimal medication management  Emotionally rich environment

 Get on a regular schedule  Exercise  Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol  Relax before bed  Don’t lie in bed awake  Control your room temperature

 Spirituality does not have to involve formal  religion.  Everyone has a personal definition of what  spirituality is.  Generally it is an awareness of being a part  of something much bigger, e.g. purpose,  existence, sense of unity, wholeness, life,  death, meaning.

  Presbury, J. H., Echterling, L. G., & McKee,  J. E. (2008). Beyond brief counseling and  therapy. Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson.  Yerkes-Dodson Law (nd). Retrieved from 