Where to get help around emotions

While it is not expected that participating in this course will cause you to feel distress, we recognise that many people have experienced unpleasant feedback experiences.

Everyone experiences feedback differently, and what might be brushed off by one person could be deeply affecting to another. If you, or those close to you, have been impacted by feedback and are experiencing distress or need additional support, we encourage you to access the wellbeing services of publicly accessible organisations or health professionals.

You may also wish to seek support about anything to do with feedback if you would like some additional guidance, such as for tricky situations unique to your personal circumstances.

Sources of support include:

• Publicly accessible organisations like counselling helplines
• Health professionals like a trained counsellor, therapist, psychologist or medical doctor. You may find them at your local community health service
• Wellbeing and study support services at your university, college or TAFE if you are currently a student
• Confidential health and wellbeing services provided through your employer
• A trusted and supportive friend or family member.

You might like to talk to your support person(s) about a range of things, such as:

• Your experiences with seeking feedback, and strategies for making the most of feedback in your specific situation
• Your responses to feedback received and strategies for managing emotions when faced with criticism
• Setting goals, plans for working towards your goals, and ways for overcoming barriers that get in the way of your goals
• How they can support and encourage you to work on your goals of improving the way you work with feedback
• A second opinion about what the feedback you have received means, and how you might apply feedback to improve your work
• How to respond to a feedback giver effectively and professionally after receiving criticism.

Your task

Bookmark or make note of this step, and refer back to it at any time during this section (or the rest of the course) if you need support. While working through this section, this step will always be accessible directly from the side menu.