Creating Joy in the Dark Winter Months

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Creating Joy in the Dark Winter Months

January and February can feel like they stretch on forever, especially if you’re navigating constant sickness, a string of canceled plans and disrupted New Year’s Resolutions, icy weather forecasts that keep you stuck inside, or post-holiday blues. Many people find this to be one of the toughest times of the year, which is why the third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as “Blue Monday.” For parents with young kids, this time of year can feel especially isolating, increasing the parenting load.

Cultivating joy and resiliency in the midst of these challenging months can be essential for getting through them without seeing a decline in your mental health. There are several mental shifts that you can make to increase joy in the midst of the struggle of these months. I’m going to share with you four mental strategies to support yourself and create joy.

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Breaking the Cycle of Negative Self-Talk

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Breaking the Cycle of Negative Self-Talk

We all have an inner voice — that little narrator that tends to make comments on our appearance, behaviors, skills, and overall worth. At times, that voice can be positive and uplifting. Other times, it can be judgmental and cruel.

This is what we consider to be negative self-talk. That critical inner conscious that focuses on what we are doing wrong rather than what we are doing right. It can cause guilt and shame. Although it may seem like “just thoughts,” it has the power to influence the way we act, feel, and connect to society.

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5 Therapy Myths Debunked

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5 Therapy Myths Debunked

“I don’t need therapy, I’m not broken.”

Sound familiar? As counselors, we hear this often, along with many other myths that may discourage individuals from taking that courageous first step toward starting their therapeutic journey.

The truth is, therapy is a strong tool for anyone seeking support, self-growth, rehabilitation, as well as to deepen their understanding of self. This can occur in various stages of one’s life, as the counselor’s goal is to meet the client where they are at.

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The Truth About Boundaries: They’re Not About Changing Others 

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The Truth About Boundaries: They’re Not About Changing Others 

You are probably no stranger to the concept of “setting boundaries”. When we talk about boundaries in relationships, many people think or hope that boundaries will get someone else to change or act differently so that we can feel better.  

But boundaries aren’t about influencing or changing other people. They are about taking care of ourselves, mentally and emotionally, even if the others don’t or won’t change. Boundaries are really about choosing ourselves and what we are or aren’t willing to tolerate. 

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The Power of the Therapeutic Relationship

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The Power of the Therapeutic Relationship

Therapy is often described as a space to process emotions, build insight, and develop tools for managing life’s challenges. And while that’s absolutely true, one of the most powerful elements of therapy isn’t a technique or worksheet, but the relationship itself.

The connection between therapist and client, often called the therapeutic relationship or therapeutic alliance, plays a central role in the healing process. In fact, research consistently shows that the quality of this relationship is one of the strongest pillars of therapeutic success. When the connection feels solid and trusting, therapy tends to be more effective, regardless of the reason someone came to therapy in the first place.

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