Tolerating uncertainty: the exploration of a 10-week stress management course which supports a process of recovery, personal change and educational development for people experiencing stress and anxiety

Abstract

An exploration of a 10-week stress management and relaxation course which aims to support stressed and anxious learners. As students develop physical relaxation skills for the reduction in symptoms of stress and anxiety, they gain knowledge of stress management theory in relation to their own difficult life experiences and go on to self-select strategies for the management of personal stress and anxiety. The course itself encourages students to explore the notion of uncertainty and discontinuity in relation to their own lives and weaves in a variety of education learning theories, along with Hutton’s model for ‘Learning in Action’. Within this structured, yet experiential learning environment, the underlying aim of the curriculum is the promotion of personal autonomy and the development of metacognition.