The holidays are something that many people look forward to, but for others, the holidays are dreaded. There’s a lot of added stress, extra things to do, potentially overwhelming visits with loved ones, and reminders of loneliness, past mistakes, and loss. In short, the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn to the most difficult time of the year. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the benefits of keeping your therapy sessions on the holiday to-do list or adding a few sessions back into your calendar at the holidays to check in.
Benefits of Continuing Therapy During the Holidays
At the holidays, many of us have to-do lists longer than we have time in our days, and we end up burning the candle at both ends as the old adage goes. So, adding one more thing onto that list may sound next to impossible. In most cases, the first things that get nudged off our calendars are those things that involve self-care. Suddenly, we’re not going for our daily workouts or keeping our weekly lunch dates with our best friends. Instead, we’re focusing on getting through all the stuff that goes with the holiday season, and we’ve neglected our own needs for months. January rolls around, and we’re exhausted. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to prioritize self-care this holiday season. Whether you’re a busy parent trying to make the holidays magical for your kids, you’re single and dreading being reminded of this fact by your loved ones at every family gathering, or you just have a tough time maintaining emotional health during the season, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to muddle through the holidays on your own either. If you’re already in therapy, don’t cancel your holiday season therapy sessions. This can be a good opportunity to vent, make time for yourself, or just take a few deep breaths amid the holiday bustle.
Benefits of Restarting Therapy During the Holidays
Again, the holidays are busy, but therapy can help make them a little (or a lot) more enjoyable. If you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, or other emotional and cognitive health concerns that can be heightened during the holiday season, it might make sense to schedule a session or two just to touch base and check in with yourself. Additionally, therapy sessions give you a set time and place where you know you can safely talk about emotions and issues that arise. This can make it easier to set boundaries and walk away from conflict with loved ones or other concerns that come up during holiday gatherings. It can also give you some time for yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed by taking care of or worrying about children and other loved ones during the holidays. Self-care is important, and therapy may be an essential part of your self-care during the holidays.
Schedule a Therapy Session at Gerdin Psychological Services
If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you achieve therapy goals this holiday season and throughout the year, I hope you’ll consider working with me, Dr. Tyler Gerdin, in my Spokane practice, Gerdin Psychological Services. Get started today by taking a few minutes to contact me over the phone or via email. I look forward to hearing from you.
