Life Informed Therapy

It seems like the theme of therapy every week before a major holiday is self care. How do you not undo all the progress you have made because of other people's issues? The holidays can bring out the best in people and it can bring out the worst. Expectations are usually high that this will be the perfect gathering and while most are on their best behavior, there is always one in the group that will bring up an issue that is like nails on a chalkboard. Our family is our family and our family can also be homophobic, transphobic, sexist, racist, aggressive, unstable, unsafe, unloving, and ill-informed. While we are all affected by these people on a macro level, when it's your family, it becomes a lot more real and more difficult to ignore, like getting shot in the head, just ask Ron Swanson! So how do you maintain all the work you have done when grandma questions the legitimacy of the #metoo movement? Well first, remind your self that "Grandma got run over by a Toyota ...

Finding your joy may be difficult this time of year, but it's important to identify at least one or two things in your life that make you smile, no matter how "trivial" or small they may be. While the past can be difficult to think about, it's crucial to give yourself credit for getting through it. Grief, job loss, financial stress, lost relationships and trauma all leave scars, some visible, some not. Those scars may be painful, but they make us who we are and are evidence of our strength to press on in search of peace and happiness. I think most of us would agree that we would rather show our strength in other ways and forgo the scars! Finding joy could be as simple as: Looking at funny cat/dog memes. Laying down for 20 minutes. Enjoying your favorite beverage in silence. Watching old movies or TV shows. Coloring (don't knock it till you try it again as an adult!) Going for a walk. Playing with your furry or feathered family member.  Cooking a new re...