What did the COPE Inventory tell you about your coping strategies?
ANSWER:
To what extent were you aware that you used these coping strategies?
ANSWER:
2. What do you like about your coping strategies?
ANSWER:
3. Is there anything you would change about your coping strategies? Why?
ANSWER:
4. Using your own example:
a) identify current coping strategy/ies you use
b) what strategy/ies might be more effective or constructive, and
c) why is that strategy/ies more effective than alternatives?
E.g., let’s say I have been experiencing some distress caused by conflict between colleagues at work. I have been using denial strategies a lot to deal with these experiences, but recognise that this really is not helpful for me in the long term as it enables the problematic situations to continue… To change my response, I could try using instrumental social support to get advice and identify if there are opportunities to change the situation, then I might employ planning and active coping to implement a strategy to make positive change. I have determined that these strategies are more effective than alternatives, like reframing, venting, emotional support or acceptance because those other strategies won’t actually change the situation causing me distress – although it might help me manage my emotions. If, for example, the people involved in the work conflict are in positions of power/authority over my role, I might not feel empowered to use a more pro-active coping strategy, and so dealing with the emotions could be a more realistic response…
(NOTE: You can delete this example when writing your own answers!)