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We are facing another inconvenient truth. Emotional Wellness is being compromised by information overload. We are saturated with adversity on TV, radio and on our mobile devices. Interpersonal face-to-face communication, particularly during times of challenge and change, is being replaced by texting and email. The result: a rapid increase in mental health issues—now the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada.

The National Center for Emotional Wellness is committed to bringing timely, practical information and live interactive programs, to diverse groups of people who are in a position to foster Emotional Wellness.

Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.

Chairman & CEO, The National Center for Emotional Wellness

On-site group Certification in Emotional Wellness™ (CEW) programs are offered in the following areas:

Organizations & Corporations

The loss of a loved one, an illness, divorce; stressful experiences cost American businesses up to $300 billion a year, owing to healthcare claims, workers’ compensation, absenteeism, employee turnover, productivity losses, and other direct and indirect costs. Mental health issues are now the leading cause of disability in the US and Canada, and suicide is the leading cause of injury death of Americans, surpassing automobile accidents (WHO & AJPH).

The National Center’s Certification in Emotional Wellness™ informs and inspires organizations and corporations. A one day interactive training program encourages interpersonal face-to-face communication during challenges and change. Attendees learn strategies and acquire tools that will maintain emotional wellness and restore workplace productivity in the wake of challenges and change.

In the event of a sudden death, a serious illness, an accident, a threat of violence, a criminal act, a natural disaster or other tragedy, what will you do to keep people functioning?

During challenging times, people turn to trusted friends and colleagues for support. It’s easier to talk to those we know, members of the organizational family, than “strangers with name tags.” Notwithstanding caregivers’ efforts, the magnitude of traumatic events often overwhelms individuals and their families, and compromises an organization’s ability to function. The primary objectives of The National Center’s Certification in Emotional Wellness™ Program for Organizations and Corporation are to:

               • ease emotional pain

              • keep people functioning

              • mitigate ongoing suffering, and

              • restore human stability and productivity.

Educational Institutions

With the changing spirit of our time, educational institutions across our nation are charged with the responsibility of developing crisis management plans. These plans typically focus on the structure of crisis response—during and in the aftermath of a tragedy. For example, they address such issues as who will serve as members of a Crisis Response Team? What are the specific roles of team members? And, how will information be shared with the school, college or university family?

Although these structured plans have been developed and implemented by many educational institutions, little attention has been given to the process of addressing and restoring Emotional Wellness. For example, once students and/or staff have been assembled in a library conference room or other supportive/venue, what is done to help them? What is the goal of early intervention? Who is truly prepared to address emergent emotional needs?

The National Center’s Certification in Emotional Wellness™ Program for Educational Institutions addresses the structure and process for effectively managing a wide spectrum of school, college and university-based crises—from the seemingly mundane to the most severe.

By reaching our educational families early, we can reestablish a productive educational process and prevent the acute difficulties of today from becoming the chronic problems of tomorrow.

Athletics, Health Clubs & Resorts

A plethora of research supports exercise for the mind and body. Fitness professionals, coaches and staff in athletics, health clubs and resorts are regularly engaged in motivating and inspiring guests. They teach strategies to improve health and wellness through goal-setting, and offer guidelines for physical exercise and nutrition.

Many people turn to working out when faced with challenges and change. However, many professionals report feeling ill-prepared to address the intensity of their client’s thoughts and raw feelings centering around such areas as loss, divorce, weight, infidelity, chronic illness, etc.

The National Center’s Certification in Emotional Wellness™ Program for Athletics, Health Clubs & Resorts empowers professionals to raise their level of service by addressing emergent thoughts and feelings—the needs of the “whole person.”

Healthcare Systems & Emergency Services

When we are sick or injured, our physical and safety needs must be the priority. As we have learned, physical trauma can destroy lives. However, we have also learned that a “hidden trauma,” traumatic stress, can ultimately destroy many more. Traumatic stress refers to our feelings, thoughts, actions and our physical and spiritual reactions when we are exposed to, or even witness, events that overwhelm our ability to cope.

Traumatic events have direct and indirect victims. Certainly, people who are harmed by an overwhelming event may experience traumatic stress. However, we must recognize the impact on many others including, but not limited to, family and friends of victims, healthcare providers and emergency responders.

Traumatic stress disables people, causes disease, precipitates mental disorders, leads to substance abuse, and destroys relationships and families. Unfortunately, efforts to address emotional needs arrive in the weeks, months and sometimes years after a traumatic event (i.e., if they do at all)—after emotional scars have formed and after people are labeled with trauma- and stress-related disorders (DSM 5). In recent years, techniques have been developed to demobilize, defuse and debrief people after disengagement from a crisis—following a traumatic event. Notwithstanding, there is little information offering practical strategies to help people during a traumatic experience… a time when people are highly suggestible, impressionable and vulnerable.

The National Center provides an Emotional Wellness training program utilizing Acute Traumatic Stress Management™ (ATSM). The originator of ATSM and Chairman of the National Center, Dr. Mark Lerner, has raised the level of care with diverse organizations such as hospitals, specialty pharmacy, airlines, educational institutions, the US Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Nations Department of Safety & Security in Paris, France and New York, and with numerous other organizations around the world.

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