Tips That Might Help You Out During This Holiday Season

If you're enjoying yourself this holiday season, I wish you continued enjoyment!  

For those finding it difficult to navigate through the season that's upon us, here are a few ideas: 

• "Temper your expectations. The notion of the “perfect” reunion can set you up for frustration and depression.
• Call a friend if the family setting becomes unpleasant.
• Take heed of alcohol consumption. It may seem relaxing in the short term, but its physiological effect can compound stress and depression.
• Set comfortable limits. Determine how involved and accommodating your plans should be well in advance, and make your limits known to others involved.
• Reach out to those with whom you have healthy, nurturing relationships. Get together with friends if a family setting is not feasible...

There is no quick cure here, nor an easy method you can use to ward off holiday depression, stress or overeating. However, I hope that some of these things may be helpful to you during this [often] stressful and possibly upsetting time of the year".

Source link: http://psychcentral.com/lib/helpful-hints-for-navigating-the-holidays/

Mindfulness and Meditation

Research is piling up that backs meditation and mindfulness....even with a younger population in a school setting.  Seems like this is something to pay attention to.

Meditation in school:
http://www.upworthy.com/this-school-replaced-detention-with-meditation-the-results-are-stunning?c=apstream

Science backs it up:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810016300058

Some reasons to meditate:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/feeling-it/201309/20-scientific-reasons-start-meditating-today

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR may seem like a strange technique, but it is an interesting therapy option that can help people move past the debilitating effects of trauma (Trauma is "a deeply distressing or disturbing experience" as defined by "Oxford Dictionary").  Some people have likened it to the eye movement processing we do while we're dreaming (during REM [Rapid Eye Movement] sleep).

From client reports and from my own experience, I have noticed shifts as a result of using/doing EMDR. If you're curious about it, the links below will help define EMDR and hopefully give you a sense of what it's all about: 

https://emdrcanada.org/emdr-defined/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-eye-movements-treat-trauma/?page=1

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Take care.

Attachment and Disorders

Years ago psychologists therorized that earlier attachments could affect us later in life.  Over the decades evidence has been piling up that this is not only true, but that attachment issues could be the root of some disorders.  Take addictions, for example - do you think it's possible that an attachment style in childhood could result in engaging in addictions later in life?  Philip J. Flores advocates for exactly this. He states that addiction is an attachment disorder. In my work I have seen this connection come to light many times over. For more clarification, please take a look at his book preview to see for yourself.  https://books.google.ca/books?id=we9VqAYovdoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Social Anxiety Group

My colleague Jessica Zormann and I are offering new groups this summer and fall.  We are currently in the midst of the intake process and still have space for a couple of group memebers.  If you know of anyone who might benefit from this service, please let us know.  Please see our website (Confidence Building for Social Anxiety) for further information, or contact me directly.  Thanks and I hope you're having a lovely fall!

Nicole