You're Not Alone in the Holiday Haze: Coping with Stress and Family Expectations
The holidays aren’t always the picture-perfect scenes we see on TV. For many, they bring a mix of stress, financial worry, family tension, and grief, and that’s okay to admit.
As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, I remind my clients (and myself) that you don’t have to chase perfection to have a meaningful holiday. It’s about setting realistic expectations, holding healthy boundaries, and giving yourself permission to rest and feel what you need to feel.
From mindful “micro-practices” like the Mindful Hand Wash to using the 80/20 Rule to simplify your schedule, this guide offers down-to-earth tools to help you reclaim peace this season, even in the middle of the chaos.
Read the full post on the Counseling in the Holler blog to learn how to manage stress, navigate family expectations, and honor your emotional needs this holiday season.
Undoing the Freeze: How to Reclaim Motivation When You Feel Stuck
Ever sat frozen in front of a task you know is important — and still couldn’t make yourself move?
That feeling of heaviness, foggy thinking, and stuckness isn’t laziness. It’s the freeze response, a biological survival mechanism that can shut down motivation and executive functioning.
In this week’s post, I explore:
Why freeze happens (especially for trauma survivors & folks with ADHD)
How to gently unstick your system using micro-steps and nervous system cues
Two guided exercises: a “Freeze Inventory” and a “First Step Finder”
Why action creates motivation — not the other way around
This isn’t about pushing through — it’s about compassionately supporting your nervous system back into motion. Read more and start practicing small, doable steps that build momentum with kindness, not shame.
Understanding the Window of Tolerance: What It Is and How to Expand Yours
Have you ever felt like your emotions take over or like you’ve completely shut down and can’t engage? This might be your nervous system signaling that you’re outside your Window of Tolerance, the zone where you can think clearly, manage emotions, and respond calmly to life’s challenges.
The good news? With practice, your window can grow. In this post, you'll learn how to recognize when you're outside your window and discover practical exercises to bring yourself back to balance.
Your body isn’t broken, it’s doing its best to protect you. Let's help it feel safe again. 💙