Even the happiest and chillest of families has their fair amount of stress around the holidays. I haven’t worked with a client yet that didn’t have a range of emotions about the upcoming gatherings, events, and family dynamics that rise to the surface during the holiday season. There’s typically a variety of personalities, planning styles, rigid versus flexible ways of operating, and then there’s crazy Aunt Sally. But there’s always a way to reframe and plan ahead to make the most out of your holiday gatherings and find joy in your wild family interactions. Check out our latest blog to learn more.
Read MoreDoes your family have set traditions, or do you change it up every year? Are you energized by thinking about the holiday gatherings you have on your calendar, or does it feel draining to decide what dish everyone is bringing to the potluck? Everyone does the holidays differently, and I enjoy sitting with clients learning how people approach it, but also reflecting back how they feel and present when discussing the upcoming events of the season. Our therapist Sky Yeater shares how she has worked with her partner to navigate family difference, traditions, and the introduction of chosen family-which may take priority if that’s what brings you joy. Read the full blog to learn more about navigating traditions while experimenting with different ways to do things around the holidays, and with the people you actually want to be with.
Read MorePreparing for the holidays can often feel like an endless to-do list, going through the motions of what your family or others expect you to do, and stressing yourself out trying to find the perfect ugly sweater for each day of the week for your kids. Taking care of yourself is more important during the holiday season than any other time of the year, and the good news is you don’t have to do anything extra! Goodness knows you have enough on your plate. Read our latest blog to learn how you can integrate intentional self care into your daily activities, and how to use these skills to help yourself feel cared for and energized during this holiday season.
Read MoreDo you feel pressured to have a perfect holiday? What’s it like to see those picture perfect food spreads and manicured lawn decor on your social media feed starting in November? Oftentimes we get wrapped up in the details, worrying what other’s will think, and making everything perfect that we lose sight of what we could actually enjoy out of the holidays. If making the perfect buffet brings you joy, by all means do that! But if any of the activities you’re engaging in is distracting from your pleasure this holiday season, check out this blog for some ideas on how to kick perfectionism to the curb and reengage in what’s important to you.
Read MoreOur series on specialization continues, but with a bit of a twist. Brynna, our amazing counseling intern, is at the point in her journey as a therapist where she gets the opportunity to explore working with a variety of clients, and this is what therapists need to do to figure out what they’re really good at and their areas of interest for future clinical work and trainings. Brynna has developed excellent skills so far in working with couples, especially using at attachment theory lens. In today’s blog, she shares her knowledge about attachment styles, how they impact your relationship, and how to figure out which style you fit in. Understanding attachment is a powerful tool in couples therapy, and can be a game changer in relationship therapy.
Read MoreI bet you do a lot of self-care…like showering? Yes, we think showing is important, but it’s not usually what we’d consider true self care and more of maintenance or basic hygiene. Important and necessary, yes, but taking good care of yourself, probably not. But you can turn even your showers, or any small moment of the day, into intentional self care in no time. Don’t get bogged down with all your holiday obligations, and instead take in a deep breathe, zoom out, and take a whole new approach to taking care of yourself this holiday season and upcoming year.
Read MoreThe holidays are a time for celebration, gatherings, and joy. But for most of us, holidays can also bring about awkwardness, stress, tension, activation of painful memories, and grief. It can be difficult to navigate through our relationships on the holidays. Sky Yeater, our Counseling Intern, shares several fun and easy strategies to bring some interaction and new communication to your gatherings this holiday season. Check out this blog post and give some of these strategies a try. What could it hurt?
Read MoreCommunication is key in relationships, and being able to talk freely and clearly will be essential as we move into the holiday season. There will be times you or your partner may need some time to take a break and calm down, or need a rescue buddy at a family gathering or holiday party. Check out this blog by couples therapist Jaimi Douthit as she describes a tool she uses with clients ALL THE TIME. It’s amazing simply yet successful in improving communication for couples in multiple settings. Give it a try!
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard so much about decluttering in relationship to minimalism that you’ve made a natural association between the two, but decluttering or letting go is actually a very small part of it. I think it’s really the first basic step, and truly embracing meaningful and simple living is much richer and deeper in context. Minimalism also doesn’t mean that you live with 12 items and that’s it. You can have as many things as you want, and I find it imperative to spend time feeling grateful for the items that matter most and contribute greatly to your mental health and wellbeing. Read on to learn what my favorite things are, with pictures!
Read MoreIn this blog post I explore aspects of anxiety in a deeper way and give you an overview of tips to help your anxious partner and yourself move through this experience just a little bit easier. There’s also a video at the end with more practical tips for communication so please check it out and share the blog and video.
Read MoreThanks to all the therapists from all over the place who contributed to this blog post. We’re exploring coping skills when both partners are out of work, specifically during the coronavirus pandemic. This was a question I received on social media and I feel grateful to have explored it in more detail.
Read More