[social_warfare]The holiday season should be joyful, at least according to the ads, Christmas carols, and Instagram reels. But for many, this time of year can feel far from celebratory, especially if you have suffered a significant loss. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or none of the above, the holidays are associated with family, togetherness, and tradition.
If you’ve lost a loved one, the holidays might trigger feelings of grief, which can include sadness, loneliness, or even anger. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with these emotions that don’t require canceling the season all together. Here are 8 ways to cope with grief and loss this holiday season.
Anything goes
Give yourself permission to experience the full range of emotions that might arise this time of year. Grief often comes in waves. One minute you may feel fine, then something triggers a memory, and you are overcome. Allow it all. If you tend to avoid or suppress your feelings, try journaling or practicing a mindfulness meditation for grief.
Give yourself grace
Because you may feel differently from moment-to-moment, you may have to soften the expectations you have for yourself. Maybe you don’t RSVP “yes” to every holiday invite. Maybe instead of traditional gifts, …
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] Setting your rates as a therapist is a bit of a balancing act. You want to provide affordable care to your clients while ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] Ask a room of therapists whether it’s better to generalize or find a niche, and you will likely find opinions on both ends ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] Imagine being a patient who has made the difficult and courageous decision to start therapy. You open up your browser and type in ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] How would you feel if your sessions with patients were recorded, your words and exchanges then analyzed by AI to assess efficacy? The ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] The correlation between patient experience and clinical outcomes is well-documented in medical settings. Research has shown that when patients feel understood, listened to, ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] With the advent of telehealth, patients seeking mental health services no longer have to limit their searches to therapists within driving distance. However, ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] The use of AI in mental health care has inspired its share of controversy, but if you refuse to use anything bot-related, you ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] A metaphor in child psychology compares children to dandelions and orchids. Dandelions can thrive in almost any environment, while orchids require particular ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] How to empty your waitlist while growing your business. Waitlists are a terrible client experience). Imagine showing up at your local emergency room ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] Ah, social media! It seems people either love it, hate it, or a mix of both. But regardless of how you feel ...
[belongly_member_story]
[social_warfare] In the Apple TV series Shrinking, Jimmy Laird is a psychologist who has recently lost his wife. Unfortunately, Laird’s personal struggles affect ...
[belongly_member_story]
