FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        CONTACT:  Kelsey Archer, 402-552-6209             archerkelsey@clarksoncollege.edu

 

CLARKSON COLLEGE CENTER FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT RECEIVES COMMUNITY BENEFIT TRUST JOINT GRANT

 

Omaha, Neb., August 1, 2006:  The Center for Stress Management at Clarkson College was recently awarded a $144,000 joint grant with Alegent Health Systems to provide therapy, stress management and test anxiety programs to Wakonda, Indian Hills, and Kellom in the Omaha Public School District and Holy Name, a parochial school in the Omaha area. The grant is renewable for up to three years.

The object of this grant is to provide and pilot an integrated approach of implementing mental health services within the four elementary schools. The schools were chosen based upon the diverse needs of their students, at risk schools due to students served, and the volume of students needing mental health services. The principals of these schools report a large volume of children that need mental health services and insufficient staff to provide it to them.      

Recently opened, the Center for Stress Management uses a coaching model to help individuals manage and reverse the stress they encounter in their daily lives. The Center for Stress Management utilizes the HeartMath® tools and techniques. This system is a researched-based model that is currently being used by Shell, Hewlett-Packard, Liz Claiborne, Cisco Systems, British Petroleum, Boeing, Sony, BART (Bay Area Transit), Unilever, numerous hospitals, academic settings, as well as federal and state agencies and the U.S. military.

Khan became passionate about the impact of stress on individuals after ten years in executive management leadership in health care. During this time, he observed how the failure to

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manage stress affected lives, including his own, both personally and professionally.  

Khan is the only licensed provider in the Omaha metro area. He received certification through HeartMath® LLC in Boulder Creek, Calif.  The research supports that these tools are effective with ages nine and older.  Khan is also completing his Life Coach Certification with The Academy for Coaching Excellence in Sacramento, Calif.

The Center for Stress Management at Clarkson College has two focuses to address stress management. There is an internal focus to aid the students at Clarkson College to improve their test outcomes and clinical decision making skills. The other focus is to bring this system to the community. Khan explains that the body's response to stress and anxiety through the autonomic nervous system and the hormonal system as measured through the heart rate variability. It looks the same whether you are a child experiencing test anxiety, a college student, a homemaker or a

business professional. Using the HeartMath® Software, clients are able to observe in real time what those signals look like. It is the tools and techniques that create a change toward the stress response.  There are several programs available: the basic stress relief program is six sessions.                                                                                                                              

             "These tools and techniques are very practical and can be mastered by individuals. It is important to point out that success with any practice is not a function of time but of sincere effort," Khan said.

            For more information about the Center for Stress Management at Clarkson College, or to sign up, call 402.552.6179 or e-mail khanbrent@clarksoncollege.edu.

 

The Clarkson College core programs include associates, bachelors, masters, post-masters and certificates in the Divisions of Nursing; Division of Allied Health, including Medical Imaging, Radiologic Technology and Physical Therapist Assistant; Division of Health Care Business; Institute of Health Ministry and Division of Professional Development.  The College is nationally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).  The Mission of Clarkson College is to prepare students to provide high quality, ethical and compassionate health care to patients, their families and their communities. Clarkson College is an Educational Partner with The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information about Clarkson College, contact Kelsey Archer at 402.552.6209; toll free at 800.647.5500; or visit the College on the Web at www.clarksoncollege.edu.