• Date: Webinar and Q&A – Monday 27th April 2026 at 11:45 to 12:45 BST. (NB. Relaxation Club* 12:55 to 13:30 BST)
  • Location: Virtual over Zoom
  • Speakers: Professor Stephen Palmer & Dr Siobhain O’Riordan
  • Cost: Free
  • Sign-up to Zoom webinar: Click HERE

Our webinar for Stress Awareness Month is titled ‘Stress Management in Everyday Life: Practical Strategies for Enhancing Wellbeing‘ will be of interest to anyone wishing to learn how to manage stress, become more relaxed and enhance their wellbeing. In this session, Professor Stephen Palmer and Dr Siobhain O’Riordan will explore the foundations of stress and its impact on health and wellbeing. The lecture will introduce practical techniques such as cognitive reframing, the benefits of connecting with nature, and a range of relaxation skills that can be quickly applied once a person has had sufficient practice.

Overall, attendees will learn simple, effective strategies to enhance resilience, improve wellbeing, and make sustainable positive changes in everyday life.

Once the lecture and the Q&A session is finished, there will be a short break. Then attendees may wish to stay on for the Relaxation Club* and try out the Multimodal Relaxation Method developed by Professor Palmer in 1993.

Stress Awareness Month is held annually during April. It is dedicated to raising awareness about stress, its causes, and the impact it can have on our health and wellbeing. It offers an opportunity for individuals and organisations across the UK to engage in important conversations about stress management, share resources, and encourage practices that promote mental resilience. Throughout the month, various activities are organised to highlight ways to identify stress, understand its effects, and adopt healthy coping strategies. Aims include to empower people to seek support, and foster environments where mental health is prioritised. By taking part in Stress Awareness Month, we can all help create a culture that values self-care, open dialogue, and support for those facing challenges.

Sign-up to Zoom webinar: Click HERE

The Speakers

Prof Stephen Palmer PhD CBiol CPsychol CSci CPsychol FIHPE (Hon) FISMA (Hon) is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Biologist, Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Registered Health Psychologist and APECS Accredited Executive Coach and Supervisor. He is a BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and AREBT Accredited Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapist and Coach.

He is President and Fellow of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Vice President and Honorary Fellow of the Institute for Health Promotion and Education, former President and Honorary Fellow of both the the International Stress Management Association (UK) and Association for Coaching. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and Royal Society of Biology. He is Co-Editor of International Journal of Stress Prevention and Wellbeing, former editor and now Consulting Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion & Education. He has written/edited 60 books including How to Deal with Stress (with Cooper), and Handbook of Coaching Psychology (with Whybrow). He has had a long-term interest in relaxation techniques. In 1993, he authored a book, Multimodal Techniques: Relaxation and Hypnosis and has regularly written about relaxation techniques in books and articles over 30 years.

Stephen’s university posts include being Honorary Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and currently a PhD Supervisor and Director of Studies. He is also Adjunct Professor of Coaching Psychology, Aalborg University, Denmark. Previously he has been a Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit, City University London; Honorary Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, and BABCP London Branch Co-chair.

Dr Siobhain O’Riordan PhD CSci CPsychol FISCP MAREBT (Acad) MIHPE Hon is a Chartered Scientist and Chartered Coaching Psychologist. She has full divisional membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DARTP) and is a member of the BPS Psychobiology Section. She is Course Co-Director on the stress management and coaching programmes and a trainer at the Centre for Coaching. She is an Honorary Member of the Institute for Health Promotion and Education, Fellow of the International Society for Coaching Psychology and Accredited Coaching Psychologist and Supervisor. From 2013-2015 she was Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion & Education. Currently, she is Founder Chair of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Editor of the International Journal of Coaching Psychology, Consulting Editor of The Coaching Psychologist and Editor of Coaching Psychology International. Her other roles include supervising doctorate students at the Wales Academy for Professional Practice and Research, University of Wales Trinity Saint David where she is a Research Fellow. She is also a Director of the International Academy for Professional Development Ltd. She has published research and practice papers and her latest book is Introduction to Coaching Psychology (2021, with Palmer).

Important Disclaimer
The information provided in this webinar session is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While relaxation and meditation offer significant well-being benefits, they are not a substitute for clinical care. Always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider regarding any specific medical condition or health concerns.

Professional Bodies and charities supporting the Relaxation UK webinar

The Stress Management Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping individuals and organisations recognise and reduce stress. Since our inception in 2003, our dream has been to help create a happier, healthier and more resilient world through our passionate approach to reducing stress and promoting wellbeing.

The Association for Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (AREBT) was established in 1993 by a group of Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychologists who were training as REBT practitioners in the United Kingdom.

The Association is committed to continuing professional development as evidenced with its promotion to BABCP in 2007 of developing a joint national register of REB/CBT members. Formulating in 2008 with Association jointly creating the National REB/CBT register of accredited practitioners with BABCP, thus becoming the leading bodies that represent Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. of its members and in 2008 the Association jointly created the National REB/CBT register of accredited practitioners with BABCP, thus becoming the leading bodies that represent Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK.

The International Society for Coaching Psychology is an international professional membership body and learned society established to further the discipline and profession of coaching psychology. With the growing interest in coaching psychology around the world, The International Society for Coaching Psychology hopes to encourage the development of the theory, research and practice in coaching psychology and support coaching psychologists in their work. The international aspect of the Society is reflected in our Honorary Vice Presidents who are based in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, USA, Greece, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

In order to promote excellence in the theory, research and practice of coaching psychology the ISCP runs an annual international coaching psychology research congress and supports other congresses around the world. We publish Coaching Psychology International and sponsor the peer reviewed publication, the European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology.

At Mind in Bexley, we believe that everyone deserves support on their mental health journey. Whether you’re facing challenges yourself or caring for someone who is, we are here to provide compassionate guidance, resources and/or talking therapies that empower you to take charge of your wellbeing.
East Kent Mind is part of Mind in Bexley and East Kent and was founded in 1986 and has developed into a significant provider of mental health services, assisting people in their recovery, helping them take control of their wellbeing and lead fulfilled, productive lives.