Covid-19, Videos

Live Instagram: Beating the Winter Blues

The winter blues typically create a real shift in mood for most people! And given that this is the 2020/21 winter of covid, that hits a bit differently and a bit harder now. We teamed up with Rachel Chazen, LCMFT to talk about ways to beat the winter blues. This recording took place prior to the Holiday season. However all of the content still holds value as we face the remaining winter months. Watch or Read on for tips and ideas to be "OK" during the winter months.

fork in the road with a cloudy sky
Adults, Covid-19, DBT

Turning the Mind to the New Year

As we close out the year, we are asked, if not expected, to keep looking forward. We might be asked (perhaps virtually) what our New Year’s resolutions will be? What our goals are for after the clock strikes midnight? But today, I ask you to pause. Resolutions and goals are important. AND so is acceptance of just being wherever you are. I want to ask you to consider a new, perhaps different skill to bring with you into 2021: Turning the mind towards accceptance.

man standing with arms open toward a sun setting showing acceptance
Adults, Covid-19, DBT

Acceptance Through the Pandemic

I find myself reflecting upon how different this year has been for me and for many that I know. The changes, the uncertainty, the losses experienced during the pandemic weight heavily in a way that complicates how I approach my normal year-end reflection. Understanding how difficult this year has been for so many of my loved ones and clients is part of the reason I decided to write about my own journey to acceptance through the pandemic.

cartoon of 4 snowmen showing different holiday traditions from each religion with the title "what are your unique holiday traditions?"
Adults, Covid-19

Embracing Different Holiday Traditions This Year

More than any other time of year, the month of December is filled with holiday traditions. Lighting the menorah, pouring libations, decorating a tree, and giving gifts are all part of traditions we see this month. But when is the last time you intentionally looked at your traditions? Do you mindlessly engage year after year in traditions that hold no meaning to you? What better time than now to take a look at which traditions you celebrate and why.

stressed woman with christmas tree during holidays
Covid-19

High-Strung for the Holidays

Has anyone noticed how different the holidays feel this year? On top of our normal stresses from being around family, finals, finding the perfect gifts, making the perfect menu, end of year finances, end of year reflections evaluations….we now have changes that were never expected plus the extra stresses of COVID and its implication on our traditions. I have been looking at ways I can help those around me (and myself!) with all these changes and here are a few suggestions to reduce I have been giving to help reduce holiday stress during covid-19.

cartoon of woman stressed at work
Adults, Covid-19

Changes in The Workplace: Work Stress and Ongoing Uncertainty

Work stress has always been a hot topic in therapy. To think that the place where we spend most of our waking hours doesn't impact our mental and emotional health would be silly! And with covid shining a magnifying glass on any preexisting stressors, it's no wonder that workplace changes and work stress is on the top of the list of common concerns for most people these days.