Effective Communication

Ways to Avoid Conflicts:
Do’s and Don’ts

Do…

• Show that you are interested.
• Make eye contact with the other person in a way they seem comfortable with.
• Repeat what was said in your own words.
• Ask if that was meant.
• Remain patient.
• If the other person is having a hard time communicating, encourage them by asking them to repeat with a phrase, like, “Help me, I am having a hard time understanding….”
• Assume you have something to learn from everybody you come into contact with.
  
  Don’t…
• Do something else when someone is speaking to you.
• Guess, make assumptions, or jump to conclusions.
• Give advice, unless the person asks for it.
• Interrupt
• Criticize
• Rehearse your answer mentally, while the other person is still talking.
• Tune someone out, just because you think you are not going to agree with them. Professional Toolbox Consultants

Women's Workshops

Hi, everyone. We are down to 6 weeks before the first Women's Power Building Workshop. We cannot wait to begin this innovative set of workshops. These are a compilation of workshops we have created and presented to small & large groups/companies in the past. We have put together these set of workshops to assist women in the South Florida community to receive these tools and skills to master life. Please let us know if there are additional ways to enhance the workshops. Check out our Professional Toolbox website (Women's seminar section) for times, topics, costs, place, and how to enroll. PTC

Tips for Personal Growth

Engaging in behaviors and activities that promote growth or change in our personal or professional lives is the best way to enhance an overall sense of emotional well being. The following are some tips on how to make some healthy changes in your life:

* Identify an area of your life you would like to improve.
* Focus on what you can do, instead of what you can’t.
* Identify specific behaviors that will promote the changes you would like to make.
*Write down your goal on a piece of paper and look at it regularly.
*Tell others what you want to do in order to obtain help and support.
*Utilize positive affirmations to overcome growth inhibiting beliefs.
*Realize that change is often challenging or uncomfortable but always possible

Remember that progress in a new direction is more important than perfection.

Jeffrey Jabick, LMHC, Professional Toolbox Consultant

Breathing Technique

Here's a great breathing technique to decrease stress and increase relaxation.
1. Inhale slowly through your nose as you count to 5 (silently in your head)
2. Hold your inhalation for the count of 3 (silently)
3. Exhale out your mouth for the count of 5
4. Silently in your head say “Relax now!"
5. Repeat 10 times
6. Enjoy

Stress Management Tips

Common Stress Management Tips

1. Utilize a good emotional support system
2. Exercise regularly. Activities, which are aerobic in nature, are best for reducing stress.
3. Getting adequate sleep. It is recommended that the average person get between 6-9 hours of sleep per night.
4. Establish and maintain a healthy nutrition. Healthy Nutrition tips include; eat foods that are low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables; cut back on caffeine and sugar; drink plenty of water; avoid skipping meals whenever possible, especially breakfast.
5. Take time to relax and/or meditate
6. Utilize positive self-talk (example: affirmation: I am relaxed). Write one that fits you.
7. Journaling thoughts and feelings
8. Reward yourself
9. Practice assertiveness, especially when it comes to asking for help or saying “NO”
10. Look for reasons to laugh or smile

Newest Project

Hi,

We at Professional Toolbox Consultants (PTC) are starting a new adventure. We are branching out to a new service. We have created Women's Power Building Seminars in Plantation, Florida. We are routinely asked to provide individuals & organizations with the tools and skills to decrease stress, learn to deal with emotional clutter in their life, learn assertiveness/communication skills, and tools to care for themselves. So after many years of practice as private practice psychotherapists and consultants in the community, we decided to start our newest endeavor by creating workshops solely for women. These workshops have a variety of topics, times, dates, and prices to assist women in building their toolbox of skills to master their personal and professional lives. To see specific information on the workshops, visit our website at http://www.professionaltoolbox.org/. Lisa Friedman, LCSW (PTC)