Village Of New Lenox: RELAX – 5 Tips To Master Anxiety

NEW LENOX, IL — The Village of New Lenox and its Safe Community Coalition are scheduled to host a free presentation called "RELAX – 5 Tips To Master Anxiety" that will be given by Dr. Michael Mecozzi — a licensed clinical psychologist, author and speaker — from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall.

In an effort to track attendance, registration is being handled through Eventbrite via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/relax-5-tips-to-master-anxiety-tickets-397384416487.

Program Overview

Stress and anxiety are on the rise. Every day we are inundated with more information detailing the endless problems around us. Efforts to calm and relax ourselves seemingly cause more stress and worry. In RELAX, participants learn five strategies to master anxiety and stress. The goal of this session is to help participants develop a new relationship with worries and fears, so that they can engage in their values and thrive.

• Reengage Relationships
• Embrace anxiety
• Limit information intake
• Acknowledge thoughts
• eXecute action

All five principles are steeped in the fundamentals of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidenced-based psychotherapy approach.

ACT has been described as a third-wave cognitive behavior therapy model. ACT derives from Relational Frame Theory (RFT), a theory of language that helps us understand the function and context of language, thinking and feeling.

Specifically, ACT, in contrast to most other models of psychology, understands psychological distress as arising from normal psychological processes, namely our language. Rather than viewing anxiety, stress, depression, painful memories, etc. as indicators of brokenness or weakness, ACT understands these experiences as normal and expected given our capacity for thinking, feeling and remembering.

As a result, efforts to suppress, change, and solve internal experiences are viewed not only as unnecessary, but also as unhelpful. In contrast, ACT views well-being arising from six core processes: willingness, noticing thoughts (diffusion), present moment, flexible self (self-as-context), valued living and committed actions.

In Dr. Mecozzi’s presentation, he distills these processes into the above-mentioned RELAX, offering participants exercises and metaphors that can help them apply these principles into their life.

Ample research supports the effectiveness of ACT in improving well-being, satisfaction and relationships, and Dr. Mecozzi hopes that participants can reap these benefits.

The three learning objectives of RELAX are:

1. Participants will develop strategies for responding to anxious thoughts.
2. Participants will identify at least one specific skill they can practice every day to increase well-being.
3. Participants will learn skills for building supportive relationships.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Michael Mecozzi is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and speaker. He and his wife own a private psychology practice, Hope with ME, in New Lenox. His areas of specialty include treating young adults and adults experiencing anxiety and stress.

Dr. Mecozzi graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2008 with his Doctorate in clinical psychology.

His book, “The Other Side of Pain: Discovering Meaning When Life Hurts,” teaches readers how to use life’s painful moments to discover what matters most to them. It is Dr. Mecozzi’s mission to help people master anxiety so that they can live lives of purpose and vitality.

For additional information regarding this event, contact Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator, Village of New Lenox, via email dmartin@newlenox.net or by phone (815) 462-6493.

This press release was produced by the Village of New Lenox. The views expressed here are the author’s own.