Employee Assistance Summer Newsletter 2018
In This Issue

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What We Do



Be Well at Work - Employee Assistance provides free, confidential counseling and referral for UC Berkeley faculty and staff and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory employees.


 

Employee Assistance is confidential.

  Our counselors and administrative staff do not share information about you or your visits with anyone outside of Employee Assistance without your consent, except when required by law.


 

 

 

Elder Care
 Program

 

 

As part of Employee Assistance, the Elder Care program offers confidential, free assistance for current UC Berkeley faculty and staff and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory employees caring for or concerned about an elder.


 

The Elder Care Counselor, Maureen Kelly, is available to answer your questions, help set priorities, refer you to resources and provide support.

 

If you'd like to schedule an appointment with Maureen, please call


 

Tel: (510) 643-7754
 
 



Contact 
Employee Assistance

UHS
Tang Center
2222 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94720

510-643-7754

Hours
Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 5 PM

Schedule an appointment with an Employee Assistance Counselor by calling the above phone number.


Positive App. for Daily Use
 

 
Whether you're stressed, anxious or having trouble sleeping, Aura will find 3-minute mindfulness meditations, life coaching, stories, and music, created by the best therapists and coaches, personalized just for you.
 


As we approach the summer season, now is a perfect time to pause and do a quick personal check-in. The end of a semester can bring with it stressors and busy schedules, by reflecting on how we are responding to these pressures, we can take a moment to practice self-care. Whether you are taking a vacation or not this summer, know that a simple lunch time walk, quick meditation, or visit to the many outdoor nature spots on campus can rejuvenate our energy levels and enthusiasm. 

Remember to recognize all of your hard work over the past semester, and thank yourself for all of your achievements.

Employee Assistance is here to provide you and your dependents with support through short-term counseling, assessment, referrals, and workshops.

Take care,

Event:  Redwood Grove Summer Solstice Sound Meditation

Celebrate the longest day of the year and first day of Summer with Inner Sounds Yoga and UC Botanical Garden. This special outdoor concert of quartz crystal singing bowls and finely tuned gongs within a grove of redwoods will allow you to practice some mindful and loving self-care. Close your eyes and experience the natural meditative quality of the forest and bird song layered with serene sounds of quartz crystal singing bowls. 

When: June 21st, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Where: Redwood Grove, UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Berkeley 
Cost: $30, $25 Garden Members

 
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Mindfulness Meditation Group
Take some time out for you, and try the free meditation group led by staff members who meet during lunch hour every Tuesday at the Tang Center.

Where: Tang Center, 3rd Fl. Conference Rm (3110)
When: Every Tuesday, 12:10 - 12:50 pm
Format: Drop in - no registration necessary.


What Self-Compassion Feels Like in Your Body

Oftentimes we think of self-compassion as a mindful response to stressful situations and events, however this positive internal emotion can also be practiced and experienced in a physical way which requires us to pause, reflect, and respond. 

Kira M. Newman at the Greater Good Science Center, Berkeley, discusses the visceral power of compassion and self-compassion in her article, "What Self-Compassion Feels Like in Your Body."

Summer Series for Caregivers 2018


Caregiver Challenges: Memory Loss & Resistance
Wed. June 13th,  12.10 - 1.30 pm
This workshop will focus on specific challenges related to caring for an older adult, including caring for an elder with memory loss and caring for an elder who resists help. Strategies for self-care will be shared. Resources provided.

Caregiver Stress: Competing Demands & Finances
Tue. July 18th,  12.10 - 1.30 pm
This workshop will focus on the stressors associated with caregiving, including competing demands, such as work, family and personal, as well as finances for care. Strategies for self-care will be shared. Resources provided.
Caregiver Grief: Losses Associated with Aging
Wed. August 8th,  12.10 - 1.30 pm
In this workshop we will identify various losses associated with aging and how these changes may be experienced by an elder, the caregiver, and other family members; recognize grieving as an active and important process; and try to differentiate between grief and depression. Strategies for self-care will be shared. Resources provided.
UC Walks

On June, 15th, join your campus colleagues in celebrating Staff Appreciation Week with an energetic group walk and a fun experience. Group walks will depart at 12:10 from four campus locations to converge at Memorial Glade. All UC faculty and staff are encouraged to commit to a 30-minute walk on this day.

Participants in the UC Walks will have a chance to:

Pick-up a free UC Walks t-shirt (while supplies last.)
- Enjoy light refreshments
- Participate in a Flash mob at 12.40 
- Win great prizes

Practicing with Strong Emotions
Undeniably, strong emotions cause great stress, however these  feelings can and do present themselves often in our daily life. Join these sessions as a stand-alone or attend all four, to skillfully open yourself up to each emotion in a positive and helpful way.
June 4: Anger & Disappointment
June 11: Love & Lust
June 18: Fear & Anxiety
June 25: Grief & Loss

Where: East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland
Cost: Donation based.

Book Recommendation

Altered Traits
Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it, in their book, "Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body."

" This exquisite duet between a down-to-earth science writer and path-breaking neuroscientist is a tour-de-force, revealing how training the mind can transform the brain and our sense of self, inspiring us to create a greater sense of well-being, meaning, and connection in our world-  Bravo!"
Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of the 
New York Times best sellers, 
Mindsight and 
Brainstorm