Winter is not a stretchy season. It’s cold all of the time, and we’re indoors alot, and things can start to feel a little cramped.

With all this time to huddle up, it’s a very good season for some intentional emotional work and self-reflection. How about considering how to take a leap and put yourself out there a bit more?

Here are four ways to stretch out and give yourself the space you deserve, emotionally speaking.

Pursue the things you love.

When we’re young, we do all of the classes. We try swimming and soccer and gymnastics and Art Club and Debate Team and Drama. We are not possibly good at all of these things. But that’s okay because we are discovering who we are, what we like, and where our natural skills and talents lie.

When we get older, we seem to get a little more insecure about trying new things. We figure that we won’t meet whatever the minimum requirements are to try this new thing, or that we are too out of shape, or too rusty, etcetera. We let intimidation keep us from possibly discovering new passions. But why shouldn’t we find new passion in every developmental stage of life? Why does that stop at 18 years old?

We should give ourselves license to pursue the things we love, regardless of if it’s cool, or if we are the “right” size or shape or level of skill. Who decided on those rules, anyway? Likely, we won’t regret it if we do it. But we might regret it if we don’t.

Speak up on behalf of your Parts.

Richard Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems Therapy, encourages us to listen to our various Parts (our Anxious Part, our Fearful Part, our Depressed Part, our Angry Part, etc.), and to practice speaking FOR the Parts, rather than FROM the Parts. Basically, we can learn to tune in to our Parts from a place of curiosity and compassion, hear what they need or want from us, and decide from our center (our “Self”) whether or how to act or speak for them. In this way, we can honor the wants and needs of our Parts without acting directly FROM them.

For instance, we might feel our Angry Part wanting to yell at our partner for leaving oil splattered on the oven. For the fortieth time. After we’ve talked about it like sixteen times. This is just a hypotherical, I swear.

Underneath that Anger, there might be a Part of us that feels unheard or unappreciated, that would like us to speak up on it’s behalf. If we can tune in to ourselves with compassion and give our Parts the respect and kindness they deserve, we can intentionally address what we really need in that moment with our partner, from our calm and capable center. This type of work takes practice, but it helps our Parts feel safe and heard and respected.

Take up the space that you deserve.

If you are at a dinner party with five other individuals, you are “entitled” to one-sixth of conversational airtime. If you aren’t a big talker and prefer to listen, that’s entirely valid. But, if you have things you want to say, but fear being perceived as too loud, or too opinionated, or too talk-y, I gently recommend that you give your voice it’s due. You are at the party for a reason, and people want to know you and hear you. Give yourself permission to take up space.

If you have an issue, consider going straight to the source.

Boy do I struggle mightily with this one. I would much rather pontificate about the negative aspects of a situation with a friend that validates all my points, than with the person on the other side of the situation, who disagrees with me and might not like what I have to say. What if there is conflict? What if it creates tension? What if I lose my job or my friend, or just lose the argument? What if?

So uncomfortable. I’m with you.

But, what if indeed? At the risk of being reductive, I might suggest that a place of employment that cannot confront difficult issues thoughtfully and directly is likely to fail, anyway. A relationship in which conflict cannot be discussed and worked through honestly doesn’t have a chance of becoming initmate or authentic. And, losing an argument is really just an opportunity to consider the perspective of another. Be direct.

Let’s make something of this cold and grey month and take time for becoming more of ourselves – our big, bright, emotional selves!

Originally posted on my blog, Common Humanity, at Psych Central.com. To read more, visit https://blogs.psychcentral.com/common-humanity/

faq's

Useful Information

Some frequently asked questions and useful answers.

What is online therapy?

Online therapy works in the same way as in-office therapy, but is done online, similar to a Skype or FaceTime conversation. Clients are able to have sessions from home, work, or any other convenient location. We meet with clients using a HIPAA-compliant secure platform.

What are the advantages of online therapy?

Online therapy allows you to work with us from the comfort of home, or any private location of your choosing. For some, the screen provides an added layer of comfort that makes the challenging work of being vulnerable in therapy a little easier.

Online therapy also creates the unique opportunity for you to work with us without the constraints of proximity! The practice was born in Keene, New Hampshire, but has since grown to service clients anywhere in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Florida, and New Hampshire.

Who benefits from online therapy?

Online therapy is a great option for clients that travel for work, for college students that go home during the summertime and do not want a break in their sessions, and for anyone with a challenging or inconsistent day-to-day schedule. It is an excellent choice for clients seeking a therapist with a particular specialty that they are unable to find support for locally. Some of our clients report that online therapy makes the vulnerability element of therapy a bit less intimidating.

Is online therapy for everybody?

No. For some clients with more complex symptoms or safety concerns, having a local therapist that is readily available is important in case of crisis or the need for a higher level of care. Online therapy is also a challenge for clients that do not have access to a private, quiet space to be “in session” for the hour, or for those that do not have adequate internet connectivity.

Why don’t you accept insurance?

There are several reasons why we don’t accept insurance. The most important are:

Confidentiality. Insurance companies require that your information be shared with them in order to pay for services. We prefer that clients’ information is kept as confidential as possible.

The pressure to diagnose. Insurance companies require that clients are given a mental health diagnosis in order to pay for therapy. We have found that many clients benefit from therapy, but do not meet criteria for a diagnosis. Not using insurance allows clients to access therapy without being given a mental health diagnosis.

Flexibility and freedom. Insurance companies dictate the length and number of sessions they will authorize, as well as when a client is no longer eligible for the benefits of therapy. Because we do not work with insurance panels, you and we can collaborate to determine your individual needs regarding session length, frequency of sessions, and when to terminate therapy.

While we do not accept insurance, many clients choose to submit receipts to their insurance companies to receive reimbursement via out-of-network benefits. We are happy to provide these receipts for you! Please check with your insurance company for details on your benefits.

testimonials

Feedback

Read some of our latest testimonials to see why others put their trust in us.

"Dana’s warm, empathetic approach allows people to break down walls. She has a way of creating a safe space that gives people permission to share openly. Her clients have often searched long and hard for a therapist to connect with, and are grateful to have found her."

"Kasey was compassionate, empathetic and supportive of the clients we served in our work together. She demonstrated excellent professional boundaries, and was a natural in making her clients feel comfortable and safe to open up and express themselves.”

“Kasey has been there for me through hardships that I could not have trusted with anyone else. Kasey is warm and empathetic, she has been a cheerleader for my successes, has listened to me when I needed an ear, and has given me sage advice when I needed it most. I would refer my clients to Kasey without hesitation.”

"Sky approaches every client with respect and openness. She takes an integrated approach to the therapeutic interventions she applies. When you work with Skyler you invest in your emotional health."

“Dana is a highly skilled and compassionate therapist. Her curiosity and dedication to continual growth and learning make her stand out. I couldn’t endorse her more as a clinician.”

Sky exudes professionalism in every aspect of her job from working with patients, staff and advocating on behalf of her clients. She develops strong rapport with her clients and their families which allows for most effective client care while maintaining professional boundaries.

Ready To Get Started?

Get the support you need from anywhere with online therapy.

Enter your email address for special offers, new services, resources and the latest blog posts right to your inbox.