The impact of stress on the body is complex and multi-dimensional, with a strong impact on health behavior, disease, and longevity. Over time, chronic stress can lead to excess cortisol in the body, which impacts nearly every system, from immune function and bone density to learning and memory. A client with chronic stress may struggle with sleeping, choosing healthy foods, exercising, and substance abuse. Integrating weekly group visits into a primary care setting focused on resiliency and stress management can empower clients to choose healthier strategies for managing chronic conditions. Group visits can be designed to meet clinical and medical needs and social connection, an easily neglected pillar of lifestyle medicine. Occupational therapy practitioners can provide supportive and necessary services to lifestyle medicine clinics, including group activity visits focused on coping skills, stress management, and the integration of the pillars of lifestyle medicine in daily life. Occupational therapy practitioners have unique training on the power of daily activities or occupations, habits, roles, and routines and their impact on health. It is important for lifestyle interventions to be rooted in science and made easy to understand and integrate into daily habits and routines. The scope of occupational therapy training also includes health behavior change, health promotion, and health management. Health management includes activities focused on sustaining and supporting routines related to health and well-being. Occupational therapists can support clients with chronic conditions through health promotion techniques and coaching strategies that emphasize personal control.
During the presentation, practical tools and evidence for creating resiliency groups in various medical practice settings will be reviewed. A brief case study will emphasize the role of group work in managing chronic conditions. The relationship between social connection, resiliency, and overall health will be expanded.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the impact of primary care group virtual visits in fostering resiliency for clients with chronic health conditions.
Define opportunities for developing a multi-disciplinary team approach for a primary care setting.
Examine how stress management and other pillars of lifestyle medicine can impact chronic disease management in a virtual group setting.
