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Why Starting Therapy Before the Holidays Is One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Yourself

Posted by on in Couples Therapy, Eating Disorder Awareness, Eating Disorders, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Recovery, Teen Therapy, Young Adult Mental Health

Personal Balance Counseling – Orland Park, IL

DBT-Informed • Trauma-Informed • People Helping People

The weeks leading into the holidays can feel like a whirlwind—final work deadlines, family expectations, financial stress, disrupted routines, and the emotional pressure to be festive on top of everything else.
It’s no wonder so many people tell themselves, “I’ll start therapy in January.”

But here’s the truth:
Starting therapy before the holidays can make the entire season easier, calmer, and more manageable.

At Personal Balance Counseling in Orland Park, we encourage clients to use this time as a chance to build support before the stress hits its peak. Below are the biggest reasons beginning therapy now is a powerful step toward a healthier holiday season—and a stronger start to the new year.

1. You Get Support Before Stress Hits Its Peak

The holidays amplify emotions—joy, grief, overwhelm, loneliness, anxiety, tension, and everything in between.
Starting therapy now gives you a head start:

  • You learn skills for navigating family dynamics
  • You gain tools for managing seasonal stress
  • You have a consistent, grounding space each week
  • You aren’t pushing away emotions until January when they feel harder to untangle

Waiting until the new year often means entering therapy already burnt out.

2. You Don’t Have to “Hold It Together” Alone

Many clients share that they spend the holiday season “white-knuckling it,” only to reach out afterward.
Therapy provides support while the stress is unfolding—not weeks later.

You deserve help now, not only once things feel unmanageable.

3. You Can Start the New Year With Momentum—Not Cleanup

Most people start January feeling depleted or overwhelmed.
But starting therapy beforehand means:

  • You enter the new year with clarity
  • Your goals feel more grounded
  • You’re already practicing coping skills
  • You start January with progress, not exhaustion

Therapy becomes a catalyst—not a reaction.

4. Therapy Helps You Break Holiday Patterns That No Longer Serve You

Whether you:

  • Overcommit
  • Feel obligated to say yes
  • Struggle with boundaries
  • Experience grief
  • Deal with conflict
  • Get overwhelmed by expectations

Therapy helps you reflect on these patterns and choose differently—in real time.

5. You’re Allowed to Prioritize Yourself (Even During a Busy Season)

There is no “perfect time” to begin therapy.
Therapy creates the space you need.

At Personal Balance Counseling, our DBT-informed and trauma-informed team supports adults, teens, and families through the emotional intensity of the season.
You don’t have to earn support—you deserve it.

6. Consider Meeting With Charis Nutrition at Personal Balance Counseling Before the Holidays

The holidays can be especially challenging for anyone who struggles with:

  • Eating disorder behaviors
  • Restrictive or binge patterns
  • Emotional eating
  • Guilt or shame around food
  • Food anxiety at gatherings
  • Black-and-white thinking about “good” and “bad” foods
  • A desire to make sustainable changes without falling into diet culture traps

That’s why now is the ideal time to meet with a dietitian—before the holiday season hits full swing.

Charis Nutrition, led by CEDS RDN Dawn White, provides compassionate, evidence-based nutrition support right here at Personal Balance Counseling. Dawn specializes in:

  • Eating disorders (all diagnoses and severities)
  • Disordered eating and chronic dieting cycles
  • Relationship with food and body
  • Intuitive eating principles
  • Medical nutrition therapy
  • Nutrition support alongside DBT and therapy-based treatment

Why meet with a dietitian before the holidays?

Because holiday meals, gatherings, and food-focused traditions can intensify emotions and trigger old patterns. Working with Dawn can help you:

  • Build a healthier, more flexible relationship with food
  • Develop strategies for navigating food-related anxiety at events
  • Reduce guilt and all-or-nothing thinking
  • Learn how to manage holiday “food talk” and Diet Culture comments
  • Set supportive goals that honor both physical and emotional health
  • Practice balanced eating without restriction or shame
  • Feel more confident and grounded approaching holiday meals

You don’t have to face holiday food stress alone.
Support from a dietitian can make gatherings feel less overwhelming and help you stay connected to recovery or balanced eating—not fear or avoidance.

🔔 If You’ve Been Thinking About Therapy, This Is Your Sign to Start Before the Holidays

PBC is currently accepting new clients with therapists offering a range of approaches including:

  • DBT-informed therapy
  • CBT-based and goal-focused work
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Teen & adult therapy options
  • Eating disorder & disordered eating support
  • Integrated services with Charis Nutrition

We accept major insurance plans.
You can register online at: personalbalancecounseling.com

Don’t wait until the new year to start feeling better.
Give yourself support—before you need it.

Why December Is a Slow Month for Therapists — and How to Stay Steady

Posted by on in Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Recovery, therapist for the therapist, Young Adult Mental Health

written by Michelle Conrad, LCPC, for Personal Balance Counselng and our community of clinicans

December brings joy, connection, and celebration—but for therapists, it often brings something else: a sudden slowdown. Fewer intakes, more cancellations, and inconsistent billing can make the month feel unstable and unpredictable.

The good news? December’s dip is normal, expected, and completely manageable with the right strategy. When therapists understand why this pattern happens—and prepare accordingly—they can keep their caseloads strong, help clients maintain momentum, and enter January (the busiest month of the year) feeling organized, refreshed, and financially stable.

Why December Slows Down in Mental Health Practices

1. Routines collapse during the holidays

Kids are off school. Work hours shift. Clients travel or host family. Therapy becomes harder to fit in.

2. Spending increases—and therapy gets bumped down the list

Gifts, travel, childcare, and events stretch budgets thin. Many clients pause therapy thinking, “I’ll come back in January.”

3. Insurance deductibles reset soon

Clients with high deductibles often delay starting therapy until the new plan year.

4. Emotional avoidance intensifies

Holiday stress is full of triggers:

  • returning to difficult family environments
  • grief resurfacing
  • pressure to “hold it together”

Avoidance makes therapy feel “too heavy” for this season.

5. Illness, weather, and childcare disruptions spike

Winter in the Midwest means more last-minute cancellations.

How Therapists Can Keep Their Caseload Steady in December

✔ 1. Get ahead of cancellations

Use the first week of December to check in with clients:

  • “Are you traveling this month?”
  • “Do we need to adjust your schedule for the holidays?”
  • “Would telehealth help you stay consistent?”

Proactive planning prevents sudden gaps.

✔ 2. Reframe therapy as an anchor, not an obligation

Clients often underestimate how supportive therapy can be during the holidays. Gently encourage:

  • stress-management sessions
  • prep before seeing family
  • boundary-setting work
  • grounding skills for emotional overwhelm

Remind them: this is not the month to put their mental health on the back burner.

✔ 3. Offer flexible formats

A 45–52 minute session is not the only option:

  • Telehealth when traveling
  • Shorter check-ins when the schedule is tight
  • Pre-holiday “tune-ups”

Clients are more likely to stay engaged when therapy feels accessible.

✔ 4. Reinforce policies to stabilize billing

Even in a warm and compassionate practice like PBC, structure protects both the client and the clinician.

  • Send reminders about the cancellation policy
  • Encourage updated cards on file
  • Verify benefits for January now with the client
  • Remind clients of insurance changes or deductible resets

Clear expectations = fewer billing surprises.

✔ 5. Keep intake flow alive—with visibility

December can still bring new clients if you stay active:

  • Post more frequently on social media
  • Email referral partners
  • Include openings in your email signature
  • Highlight January start dates for groups
  • Re-share blog posts and group flyers

Sometimes people simply need to be reminded that therapy is available—even in December.

✔ 6. Use downtime intentionally

If your schedule softens:

  • catch up on charting and treatment plans
  • complete CEUs
  • refresh your specialty pages on the PBC website
  • prepare January social media content
  • build skills binders or session worksheets

Everything you organize now will make January easier.

✔ 7. Reach out to “quiet” clients

Lower engagement doesn’t always mean they’re gone. A simple:
“Hey, thinking of you—would you like to find time to meet this month?”
can re-engage someone who is struggling silently.

Helpful Resources

Practice & Professional Development

  • ZynnyMe: Therapist business strategy
  • TherapyNotes & SimplePractice Blogs: Scheduling, billing, and retention tips
  • American Counseling Association: Holiday-season best practices

Client Support Tools

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Call or Text)
  • Illinois Warm Line: 866-359-7953
  • NAMI Holiday Stress Guide
  • Mental Health America Holiday Toolkit
  • SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP

At PBC, we also encourage clinicians to refer clients to our groups or weekend openings—which often fill more easily in December.

The Importance of Routine in Mental Health

Posted by on in Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Recovery, Teen Therapy, Young Adult Mental Health

by Sam Pagana, LPC, Personal Balance Counseling

In our fast-paced and unpredictable world, maintaining a daily routine might seem boring or overly structured, but in reality, routines can be one of the most powerful tools for supporting mental health and emotional stability. Whether you’re managing anxiety, depression, or simply trying to bring more balance into your day, a consistent routine helps create a sense of predictability and control that the mind and body crave. 

Routines are essential for our mental health for a variety of reasons. Not only do they provide structure, but they are vital for our physical health, stress, motivation, and recovery.  

1. Routines Provide Structure and Stability 

When life feels uncertain or stressful, routines offer a reliable framework. Knowing what to expect, like when you’ll wake up, eat, move, and rest, helps reduce anxiety and decision fatigue. Structure creates safety, especially when everything else feels unpredictable. 

2. They Support Better Sleep and Physical Health 

Regular sleep and mealtimes help regulate your body’s internal clock. When your body knows when to expect nourishment and rest, it can function more efficiently, leading to improved energy, focus, and emotional balance. A routine that includes movement, hydration, and balanced meals supports overall well-being. 

3. Routines Help Manage Stress and Emotions 

Having consistent habits can prevent overwhelm by breaking the day into manageable parts. Small rituals, like morning stretching, journaling, or enjoying tea before bed, can become anchors for calm, giving you moments of control even during chaos. 

4. They Strengthen Self-Discipline and Motivation 

Following a routine teaches your brain to follow through, even when motivation dips. Over time, habits become automatic, reducing the need to rely on willpower alone. This consistency can increase confidence and reinforce a sense of accomplishment. 

5. Routines Can Support Recovery and Healing 

For those navigating mental health challenges, routines can be grounding and therapeutic. They remind us that small, daily actions, like taking medication, attending therapy, or going outside for fresh air, build momentum toward long-term healing and stability. 

Routines aren’t meant to confine you; they’re meant to support you. The steadiness they provide allows your mind the freedom to focus, create, and rest, leading to a stronger foundation for emotional wellness. 

To schedule with a clinical therapist who can help you create a routine, visit us at http://www.personalbalancecounseling.com!

When the Holidays Collide with Eating Disorders: Navigating Challenges for Eating Disorder Recovery

Posted by on in Eating Disorder Awareness, Eating Disorders, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Recovery, Teen Therapy, Young Adult Mental Health

By Personal Balance Counseling, Orland Park, IL 

The Holiday Season Isn’t Easy for Everyone 

The holidays are often portrayed as joyful and full of togetherness — but for individuals recovering from eating disorders, this season can be one of the hardest times of the year. For many people, the holidays mean warmth, tradition, and food. For someone living with an eating disorder—or supporting a loved one who is—this stretch of the year can also bring a sharp spike in anxiety. Between food-centered gatherings, body-image talk, and disrupted routines, even small changes can feel overwhelming. 

At Personal Balance Counseling (PBC), we understand that maintaining recovery through the holidays takes support, planning, and compassion. That’s why we’re offering a five-week virtual support group beginning Monday, November 17th at 4 PM, open to individuals across Illinois who want a structured and understanding space to navigate this time of year. 
👉 Register here on our website 

Why Holiday Gatherings Can Be So Triggering for Eating Disorders 

  • Food becomes the main event. Abundant, highly visible food and cultural expectations to “indulge” can heighten distress for people with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED, and other eating disorders (UCLA Health, 2023). 
  • Routines are disrupted. Travel, later nights, and unpredictable schedules can make it difficult to follow meal plans and coping routines many people rely to regulate eating and mood. (NEDA, 2022). 
  • Body talk increases. Casual comments about weight, appearance, “being good/bad,” or New Year dieting can land like a gut punch. Comments like “I’ve been so bad this week” or “I’m starting a diet Monday” are common—and can feel invalidating or shaming (Columbia Psychiatry, 2021). 
  • Family stress resurfaces. Family dynamics tend to get louder. The holidays concentrate social stressors—conflict, loneliness, or feeling scrutinized—that can influence short-term eating behaviors. Holiday gatherings often bring emotional triggers or scrutiny that can worsen disordered eating urges (APA, 2020). 

Big picture: Eating disorders are serious, treatable illnesses. With structured therapy, medical and dietetic care, and compassionate support, recovery remains possible—even during the most challenging seasons. Evidence-based care (CBT-ED, FBT, medication when indicated) remains the foundation—holiday coping strategies are meant to support, not replace, clinical treatment. 

A Survival Guide for the Person in Recovery and Tips for Maintaining Recovery During the Holidays 

1. Plan with your treatment team. 

Before events, align with your therapist/RD on a specific meal/snack plan, plate structure, and a definition of “enough.” Put it in writing on a coping card you can check privately.  

At PBC, our therapists and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Dietitian Dawn White, RDN, CEDS, of Charis Nutrition at Personal Balance Counseling, help clients build realistic, flexible plans that protect recovery. 

2. Stick to your eating schedule.

Avoid skipping meals to “save up” for holiday food. This behavior commonly backfires and can trigger binge/restrict cycles. Regular eating maintains energy and reduces binge-restrict cycles (NEDA, 2022). 

3. Set boundaries around triggering conversations. 

Prepare simple scripts like: 

“I’m focusing on enjoying time with everyone, not talking about diets today.” 

Rehearsing this beforehand can make it easier to speak up in the moment. 

4. Practice grounding skills and use in-the-moment-skills. 

Grounding (5-4-3-2-1), paced breathing, mindful bites, and pre-planned “opposite actions” (e.g., sitting with the group for dessert even if anxiety is high) can lower arousal enough to follow your plan. (Skills adjuncts support—but don’t replace—ED care.) Using deep breathing, mindful awareness, or the 5-4-3-2-1 technique if anxiety rise can help. If you’ve practiced DBT skills, this is a great time to use mindfulness and distress tolerance strategies. 

5. Create safe exits. 

Scope out a quiet room or a short outdoors walk; agree with your support person on a brief, non-dramatic step-away if anxiety spikes. ANAD 

6. Debrief kindly, not critically. 

After the event, review what helped, what hurt, and one small skill to carry forward. Self-compassion—not perfection—moves recovery. Small insights build long-term resilience — perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. National Alliance for Eating Disorders 

How Families and Friends Can Offer Support, Actually Help (and what to avoid!) 

Do: focus on connection over consumption. 
Plan non-food-centered activities (games, crafts, music, lights drive, shared photos) and keep conversation oriented to relationships, memories, or plans—not bodies or plates. Center for Change 

Do: follow the treatment plan. 
If your loved one has a clinician-approved plate or seating plan, support it without commentary. For youth, remember that Family-Based Treatment (FBT) positions caregivers to take an active, directive role in meals early in recovery. PMC 

Do: offer specific support. 
Try: “Would you like me to sit next to you?” “Want to plate together?” “Break outside for five minutes?” Concrete offers beat vague reassurance. ANAD 

Don’t: comment on bodies, portions, or weight—at all. 
Even “You look healthy!” can be misheard as “You gained weight.” Skip all appearance talk and “Should you eat that?” policing. National Eating Disorders Association 

Don’t: run diet talk at the table. 
Nix the calorie counts, “being good/bad,” and New Year’s cleanse chatter. If relatives persist, redirect: “We’re keeping food/weight talk off the table today—tell us about your trip!” National Eating Disorders Association 

Do: create an environment that lowers threat. 
Seat your loved one away from triggering people or the buffet, keep serving dishes off the table if helpful, and stick to agreed-upon timelines so meals don’t stretch endlessly. ANAD 

Sample scripts families can borrow 

  • Offering support during the meal: 
    “Want to plate together?” / “Ready for our fresh-air minute?” / “I’ll sit with you until you feel settled.” ANAD 

Make space for joy (yes, really) 

Holiday foods can be part of flexible, balanced eating—no single dish “makes or breaks” health. Let favorite cultural foods be included intentionally and enjoyed mindfully; when guilt fades, binge-urge pressure often drops, too. National Eating Disorders Association+1 

Join Our Virtual Holiday Support Group 

Personal Balance Counseling’s Virtual Holiday Eating Disorder Support Group 

  • 🗓 Start Date: Monday, November 24th 
  • 🕓 Time: 4 PM CST 
  • 💻 Format: Virtual, 5 weeks only 
  • 🧭 Focus: Navigating food and family stress, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and DBT skills 
  • 👥 Led by: DBT-informed therapists from Personal Balance Counseling 

This group helps individuals develop tools to stay grounded and maintain recovery through the season’s social and emotional challenges. 

Clinicians, physicians, and referring providers are invited to collaborate with our team and with Dawn White, RDN, CEDS of Charis Nutrition at Personal Balance Counseling to ensure a comprehensive, connected approach to care. 

If You or Someone You Love Needs Immediate Support 

Please reach out for help — you are not alone. 

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (24/7) 
  • Illinois Warm Line — Emotional support and mental-health resource navigation: 866-359-7953 
  • National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline — Call 1-800-931-2237 or text NEDA to 741741 
  • ANAD: Peer support + holiday coping tips. ANAD 

You Can Protect Your Peace This Season 

Recovery and connection can coexist, even during the holidays. With preparation, boundaries, and professional guidance, it’s possible to enjoy what matters most — the people and moments, not the plates. 

At Personal Balance Counseling, we’re here to help you stay steady and supported through every season. 

👉 Join our 5-week Virtual Holiday Eating Disorder Support Group beginning November 24th at 4 PM and surround yourself with others who understand. 

Register today or contact us to collaborate on coordinated care. 

How to Cope with Holiday Triggers and Emotions

Posted by on in Uncategorized

As the fall and winter holidays approach, many people anticipate cozy gatherings, comfort foods, and time off from routine. But for others, this season can bring increased stress, loneliness, or emotional triggers. Between family dynamics, financial strain, disrupted schedules, and shorter daylight hours, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Practicing “coping ahead” can make a big difference in staying grounded and emotionally balanced throughout the season. 

What Does “Coping Ahead” Mean? 

 Coping ahead is a skill rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It means preparing in advance for situations that might be stressful or emotionally challenging. Instead of reacting in the moment, you plan and practice how you’ll manage your emotions, boundaries, and needs before the stressor happens. 

This is accomplished by identifying triggers that are related to seasonal changes and holidays. When you have a plan on how to handle your emotions, it can instill a sense of security, safety, and comfort. Being proactive rather than reactive is the key to healthier emotional regulation.  

1. Identify Your Triggers 

 Take a few minutes to reflect on what tends to feel difficult during this season. Maybe it’s family conflict, travel stress, or feeling isolated. Naming your triggers helps you anticipate them rather than being caught off guard. 

2. Create a Support Plan 

 Think about who and what helps you feel supported. That might include scheduling time with a trusted friend, checking in with your therapist, or having calming tools ready. 

It is important to create a cope ahead list of people you can talk to, places you feel safe, and activities you can do to get through an emotion or situation. Create a cope ahead emotional management plan by listing five people you can contact, five activities to help you distract yourself, five therapeutic coping skills, and five safe places to regulate.  

3. Practice Boundaries and Self-Advocacy 

 You are allowed to set limits around your time, energy, and emotional space. It’s okay to say no to certain gatherings or conversations. Practice ahead of time how you’ll respond if someone pushes your limits so you can feel confident and calm in the moment. 

4. Maintain Routines and Self-Care 

 During the holidays, regular sleep, meals, and movement often get disrupted, but consistency is what helps our bodies and minds regulate stress. Try to maintain parts of your usual routine, like taking a morning walk or winding down at night with a calming ritual. 

Preparing doesn’t mean expecting the worst. It means giving yourself the gift of readiness to help regulate your emotions so you can focus on your wellbeing. The more you plan and practice ahead, the more likely you’ll navigate the holidays with balance, self-compassion, and resilience. 

The Role of Lived Experience in Recovery

Posted by on in Eating Disorder Awareness, Eating Disorders, Individual Therapy, Recovery, Teen Therapy, Young Adult Mental Health

Dawn White, RDN, CEDS

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to review the use of evidence practice with lived experience in working as a dietitian.

Recovery and the work toward recovery can be a very nuanced journey with no one determined definition or end goal of what recovery looks like for everyone. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders broadens our lens on recovery with this definition:

Recovery is a unique and personal journey. Every person working towards recovery starts in a different place, takes a different path, and navigates the twists and turns that take them there. Recovery is the process, and is part of the journey. It is not a perfect end goal.

There are many definitions of recovery, and it means different things to everyone seeking it. However, many people agree that recovery involves working to take control of their lives, and work towards accomplishing goals and dreams (Copeland 2006). ANAD believes that recovery is possible, at any age and at any stage.

Working toward taking control of their lives and accomplishing goals and dreams begins with taking the first step into seeking support and help in the recovery journey. A team who supports you will use their knowledge of evidence based practice and understanding of lived experience to provide effective care.

Lived experience is defined as “knowledge based on someone’s perspective, personal identities, and history, beyond their professional or educational experience”. In mental health care, lived experiences is valued to help provide better care and outcomes, trusting relationships, encourage more individual engagement, better understanding by providers of the challenges faced, and more.

Here a few things from we have learned from people’s lived experiences:

· Guidance and Structure can be helpful

For example, meal planning is helpful for some and not for others. Some individuals will thrive with the structure provided in meal planning. I often refer to a meal as a cast for a broken leg. A meal plan can provide support and structure while the relationship with food heals.

For others however, more gentle guidance with smaller steps are often helpful. This may look like exploring challenges around eating and setting a small intention or goal each session.

· A multidisciplinary front can help navigate the fears, thoughts, and feelings that arise in disordered eating. Evidence based care for eating disorders defines the importance of a team consisting of a therapist, dietitian, physician, and often a psychiatrist or other specialist. A team working together will overlap and communicate in providing consistent care.

· There can be challenges in care. At times, this can come from the conflict of recognizing the need for nourishment and recovery while also struggling with the desire for recovery and fear of “giving up” behaviors. Approaching this with gentle curiosity and compassion can help move through these challenges and provide a safe and supportive environment for continued healing.

· Building a trusting person-centered therapeutic relationship facilitates healing and recovery. Mutual respect, integrity, communication, and more can help to build this sense of trust.

Recovery is possible at every stage and every age of disordered eating. Each person’s journey will look different but lead to recovery, meaningful life, and hope! To read more on recovery, go to https://anad.org/get-informed/what-is-recovery/

Resources:

Yang Y, Conti J, McMaster CM, Piya MK, Hay P. “I Need Someone to Help Me Build Up My Strength”: A Meta-Synthesis of Lived Experience Perspectives on the Role and Value of a Dietitian in Eating Disorder Treatment. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Nov 17;13(11):944. doi: 10.3390/bs13110944. PMID: 37998690; PMCID: PMC10669240

https://anad.org/get-informed/what-is-recovery/

Navigating Summer Stress: Therapy Tips and Insights

Posted by on in Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Teen Therapy, Uncategorized, Young Adult Mental Health

As the warm weather rolls in and school lets out, many people look forward to the joys of summer: longer days, vacations, and the freedom from the academic grind. But for some, the shift in routines can bring unexpected challenges to mental health. While the summer season is often marketed as a time for relaxation, it’s also a time when certain stressors and mental health concerns can intensify. Let’s explore how summertime can negatively impact mental health and why it’s crucial to maintain therapy during this time, even when school is off.

Read More “Navigating Summer Stress: Therapy Tips and Insights”

Spring Semester Success: Staying Organized, Motivated, and Balanced

Posted by on in Individual Therapy, Teen Therapy, Young Adult Mental Health

Returning to school after winter break can feel more like a challenge than a motivator. After the winter holidays are over, there are typically no other events to look forward to, and the amount of sunlight drastically decreases. This impacts our ability to be attentive and motivated at school. Spring is viewed as a time of renewal and decluttering. Getting back on track does not have to be a challenge or feel like an immense hurdle. Small changes in organization and our routine can lead to a successful semester. Staying organized during the spring semester is crucial to balancing coursework, extracurriculars, and personal life, leading to less stress and greater academic success. 

Read More “Spring Semester Success: Staying Organized, Motivated, and Balanced”

Embracing a Word for the Year: A Therapeutic Approach to Personal Growth

Posted by on in Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Teen Therapy, therapist for the therapist, Young Adult Mental Health

As we approach the end of the year, many of us start to reflect on our experiences and think about the changes we want to make in the coming year. Traditionally, this reflection often leads to the setting of New Year’s resolutions—specific goals that aim to improve some aspect of our lives.

Read More “Embracing a Word for the Year: A Therapeutic Approach to Personal Growth”

Managing Your Well-Being and Anxiety During Family Gatherings 

Posted by on in Eating Disorder Awareness, Family Therapy, Individual TherapyLeave a comment

From the constant stream of holiday invitations to the endless gift shopping, the pressures of the season can affect almost anyone. Whether it’s managing family expectations, handling financial strain, or simply finding time for oneself, holiday stress is something most people will experience at some point. 

When there are all these stressors during the holidays or family gatherings, it can be easy to forget to meet your needs. Although this is a time of excitement and celebration, feelings of dread, anxiety, stress, and frustration are common.  

Managing your well-being, especially during stressful times like the holidays, requires intentional practices that focus on your mental, emotional, physical, and social health. Here are some strategies that can help: 

Read More “Managing Your Well-Being and Anxiety During Family Gatherings “