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 ...

Only just a few years ago the idea of adults taking a nap gave the  insinuation of being lazy or unproductive. Luckily there have been increased studies showing the the positive effects of taking a short nap everyday. Due to these studies, more companies are installing "Nap Rooms" for employees to take a break and recharge. Yet there still seems to be some push back on the idea of napping during a break at work.  This stereotype that only lazy people nap during work can cause further distress and anxiety to someone who actually becomes more productive after a 30 minute nap than the person who overworks themselves because they are programmed with the idea that they don't need a nap. Naps are good for our brain, much like exercise is good for our heart, and yet I see no one scoffing at the idea of  their co-worker taking a 30 minute walk on their lunch break. I have always been someone who needed a nap during the day, regardless of how much I slept the night before and...