The holidays are a time of excitement and celebration: the music, the lights, the decorations, the hustle and bustle of shopping and preparing for family gatherings and office parties. As festive as this time of year can be for some, others may feel stressed and even suffer from the holiday blues.
Amarillo College cares for its staff and faculty and offers a number of free solutions to help with stress, holiday blues, and even those who want to seek professional help.
TAO App
Think of the Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) app as on online collection of interactive modules that can teach you life skills and assist you in overcoming personal barriers and roadblocks. The app allows you to engage with videos and increase your knowledge and self-awareness to help you reach your personal goals.
Some of the modules include:
- Calming Your Worry
- Leave Your Blues Behind
- Improving Your Mood
- Interpersonal Relationships and Communication
- And more!
All employees have access to the TAO app. Once you register for TAO and complete a brief self-screening assessment, the app will help guide you to modules that may be most helpful for you.
To sign up for the TAO app, visit the AC Counseling Center Tao page.
Carter Fitness Center
Beat the holiday blues or a bout of stress by starting or continuing an exercise program. Working out is a proven way to relieve stress and improve one’s mood. All employees have access to Carter Fitness Center for free. Carter offers group classes, court rentals, and space to enjoy a workout on your own. They also offer a relaxation room to help relieve stress during the holiday season (or any time).
Our fitness center’s holiday hours vary, so make sure to call the front desk or check online before heading up there during Christmas Break. You can contact Carter Fitness at 806.345.5515 or online at www.actx.edu/carter.
Free Counseling Services
For our benefits-eligible staff and faculty, Amarillo College provides several free sessions with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through the Professional Counseling and Biofeedback Center. This group practice includes social workers, licensed professional counselors, and clinical psychologists and has been serving the Texas Panhandle for over 20 years. Services provided include help for individuals and families, life transitions and adjustments, anxiety and depression, grief and loss, and spiritual counseling.
For more information, contact the Center at 806.356.0404 or visit them online.
More Wellness Options
If you are a benefits-eligible employee and elected health insurance through HealthSelect of Texas, you also have access to even more wellness benefits and services through ERS. They offer a HealthSelect Fitness Program as well as a Healthy Lifestyle Solutions, Well onTarget. The fitness program is a modest $25/month fee, but allows you to access a number of gyms in the area, as well as when you travel (over 9,000 nationwide). The Well onTarget program offers tools and resources to help you reach health and wellness goals through a number of self-management programs, an online health assessment, and even personalized wellness coaching.
Visit the Health and Wellness Incentives section of the ERS site for more information.
