Arleen Bradley Career Coaching

Remember in grade school when you were daydreaming because you weren’t interested in what things a country imported or exported.  Or in high school when the teacher was talking about just about anything and your daydreams were on the cute boy/girl who was the focus of your attention that week.   In college, instead of listening to the professor you were thinking about spring break.  As an adult, the last business meeting was a blur because your mind was on nothing even close to the matter at hand.  Now, that you are unemployed your thoughts are where you are going to find another job and when because you can’t take the stress anymore.

I don’t think I have to go into detail about the connection between job loss and suffering it causes.  There are many reports, articles and the like talking about the negative effects.  The people I know are highly discouraged; some have gained weight; some are in treatment for sleep disorders; while others are on various medications; and they all want to go back to work.  Many have lost self-confidence and self-esteem.  They fear their skills are eroding and/or no one will ever hire them again.  The ones who are most affected are the ones who have only had one job their entire adult life.  The skills they have are not up-to-date by today’s standards and they don’t know how to look for a job.

The Job Loss Recovery Program by Lynn Joseph, Ph.D. tackles the problem most people are only reporting.  Dr. Joseph uses guided imagery to reduce the distress from job loss trauma.  She uses the technique to get you to relax.  Once relaxed, you are able to access your imagination in order to put the past behind you and start focusing on what is ahead.  An important part of the program is guided imagery.  Belleruth Naperstek, LISW, BCD, calls guided imagery “deliberate daydreaming.”  That title describes the protocol accurately.  Guided imagery is daydreaming with a purpose.  Studies show that it is used successfully to speed up healing various ailments, stop smoking, reduce pain, and many uses.  For the job searcher, it can do three things.  One, reduce the amount of stress that is felt, two, resolve feelings of anger, and resentment toward your former employer, and three, prepare for interviews.

I think the most remarkable feature of the program is that it moves you past the anger and resentment you feel toward your past employer.  This is critical to your job search.  You no longer have negative and resentful feelings that are evident in interviews and networking.  Looking for a job before you have resolved these issues is more complex and frustrating.  Your attitude must be positive and your mind focused for a successful search.

In the coming weeks, I will talk more about how guided imagery in the Job Loss Recovery Program can reduce the stress found in job loss and how it can help you get a job much quicker.  In the meantime, start daydreaming about the job you want.

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach and certified job loss recovery coach.  She assists clients in moving beyond job loss grief in order to land dream jobs.  To learn more about the Job Loss Recovery Program and how you can benefit from it, log on to   www.arleenbradley.com.