Calpe is offering people living with serious mental health difficulties practical tools to manage stress, improve emotional wellbeing and build greater independence through a new series of therapeutic workshops running until December.

The town council has launched the programme through its municipal Service for the Care and Monitoring of People with Serious Mental Health Problems (SASEM). The initiative is designed to help participants cope with everyday challenges that can trigger stress and potentially worsen existing mental health conditions.

The sessions begin on Wednesday, October 14, and will run until December 16, with activities taking place at the Spanish Red Cross premises in Calpe.

Freeing people from the pressure of everyday stress

The programme, called Control of Stress, aims to equip participants with personal skills they can use to respond more effectively to difficult situations in their daily lives.

Rather than focusing on a single technique, the workshops will explore several aspects of stress management, giving participants a range of approaches to help them recognise and respond to emotional pressure.

The sessions will be led by the psychologist working with Calpe council’s SASEM service and hosted at the Red Cross facilities at Calle María Jorro, number 1.

Five modules covering practical techniques

The programme consists of ten sessions divided into five modules, each addressing a different aspect of stress management.

The first session will introduce the concept of stress, helping participants understand what it is and how it can affect their lives.

Two further sessions will focus on deactivation techniques, intended to help people reduce tension and manage their responses to stressful situations.

The largest section of the programme will consist of four sessions dedicated to cognitive techniques. These will be followed by two sessions exploring assertiveness, which can help people communicate their needs and respond to challenging interactions.

The final session will concentrate on time management, offering another practical approach to reducing the pressures associated with everyday responsibilities.

Together, the five modules are intended to strengthen participants’ personal resources while supporting their autonomy and social inclusion.

When and where will the workshops take place?

All ten sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays between October 14 and December 16, running from 10.30am to 11.30am.

The workshops will be held at the Red Cross premises on Calle María Jorro, number 1, in Calpe.

The programme forms part of the town council’s wider support for people experiencing serious mental health difficulties, combining therapeutic guidance with practical skills that can be applied outside the sessions.

By focusing on stress management, cognitive strategies, assertiveness and time organisation, the initiative aims to help participants navigate everyday challenges with greater confidence and support their emotional wellbeing.