Programme launched to tackle stress for Stockton residents

Stress Less, Live More: A Six-Week Journey to Resilience is a free, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based course launching across Stockton, designed to help people better cope with anxiety, overwhelm, and other pressures in a supportive community setting.

Delivered by cognitive behavioural coach Jo Fawell of JoVivi Consultancy and Coaching, the programme is being run in partnership with the Stockton Wellbeing Hub and Catalyst Stockton.

Sarah Jones, project manager at the Stockton Wellbeing Hub, said: “Supporting community wellbeing through accessible programmes is a priority for us at the Wellbeing Hub.

“We know that early support can make a real difference, and this programme offers exactly that.”

Each weekly session lasts 90 minutes, offering practical tools to understand and manage stress, reframe unhelpful patterns of thinking, improve emotional regulation, and boost resilience.

The course also addresses the impact of stress on sleep and physical health, helping participants make sustainable changes before difficulties become overwhelming.

Ms Fawell, founder of JoVivi Consultancy and Coaching and an accredited CBT coach with the Association for Coaching, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with the Wellbeing Hub and Catalyst to deliver this course free to the local community.

“Many people are struggling with stress and the impact it has on their daily lives.

“We may not always be able to change what’s causing our stress, but we can learn how to understand it and respond in a healthier way.

“This programme is about giving people practical tools, space, and support to feel calmer, think more clearly, and take back control, with the aim of living happier lives.

“We all deserve that.”

Feedback from previous participants highlights the programme’s impact.

Outcomes data shows:

• 78 per cent reported feeling happier and more content
• 63 per cent saw a reduction in stress-related sleep issues
• 56 per cent felt less anxious about the future

All participants said they felt more confident managing stress and would recommend the course to others.

One participant said: “I can now recognise the signs early and handle triggering situations in a calmer, more balanced way.

“I feel more in control and at peace with myself.”

Another added: “I really wish this type of course had been taught at school.

“It would help people throughout their lives.”

To maintain a supportive environment, each group is limited to 10 participants.

Sessions are held outside standard working hours to accommodate working adults, carers, and those with other commitments.

The first programmes are taking place in Billingham and Thornaby, with more locations expected to launch across the borough.

Courses include IB Leisure in Thornaby from May 30 to July 4, 2025, with sessions on Saturdays from 10.30am to 12pm, and at Billingham Forum from June 2 to July 7, 2025, running Tuesdays from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Open to Stockton residents aged 18 and over, the programme requires a six-week commitment and includes a brief screening process to ensure suitability.

Register at: www.jovivi.co.uk/event-list.