Terror raids spur small operators to ask for help

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Last month's terrorist attacks in the United States have led to an increase in local small-business owners seeking help for stress-related problems, says psychologist and business coach John Groom.

People tend to evaluate their lives after such a catastrophe, he says, and seek help for the problems they uncover.

As a result, Mr Groom's North Shore practice has experienced a 10 to 20 per cent increase in clients.

For small-business owners these problems are usually the result of an unbalanced lifestyle, a common cause of stress.

"This often shows through secondary symptoms such as alcohol abuse, gambling and social withdrawal," he says.

Mr Groom first became aware of the stresses small-business owners face when he started his own psychology business seven years ago.

He found there was no specific help for the problems he encountered.

Realising the potential for a business that helped people deal with these pressures, he set up a coaching service to complement his psychology work.

Now more than half of his clients are self-employed or run small companies.

The common symptoms of stress in small-business owners are fatigue, lack of a sense of purpose and direction, lack of support, feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Mr Groom helps his clients deal with these problems by making them examine their lifestyles.

He usually finds that small-business owners have let their businesses take over their lives because they lack clear boundaries about where their work starts and finishes.

This leaves them little time to spend with their families, relax and get enough sleep.

To help his clients overcome stress he makes them plan their year around their holidays, instead of around their businesses.

Ideally, people should have a one-week break every three months, he says.

It is also important for people to set limits around their work to prevent it taking over their lives.

Time must be set aside for relationships and for relaxation.

On average, it takes between five and seven sessions to reduce a client's stress level, he says, but the quicker the client comes in after he or she first experiences stress, the easier it is to stop.

Mr Groom says most small-business owners believe stress goes with the territory and are not aware help is available.

"Sadly, most people only realise they have a problem when it becomes a problem for someone else, such as a family member."

Over 80 per cent of his clients are male, because he has targeted his services at men.

Traditionally, men have been seen as being strong and independent, he says, and there has been a stigma attached to their asking for help.

But attitudes change.

"Now men are more open about their feelings and they are better at asking for help."

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John Groom Executive Mentoring