I’ve never been a big fan of being told what to do or how to do it, and the holidays are no exception. There is a general societal expectation of holiday participation in a very specific way, and that seems to stand no matter how financially challenged or far away or introverted one might be. Gifts are the norm, travel is commonplace, and socialization (HOURS of socialization) is scheduled for days on end. To those that enjoy the holidays as they are, I tip my hat to you and wish you a fun and wonderful season. To all the rest of us, I offer a few out-of-the-box ideas to help us get all the way through to January 2nd (because, let’s face it, New Year’s counts in all this holiday-ness, too).

Make it a spend-free holiday.

So much of the headache that surrounds the holidays originates from the expectation of gifts and spending. People routinely go into credit card debt around the holidays to meet this expectation, and that’s good for no one. (Except the retailers. And the credit card companies).

Deciding as a family or friend group to make it a spend-free holiday is a great way to alleviate all the added financial stress and focus on the meaning of holidays in the first place: connectedness with loved ones. Maybe handmade gifts or cards are the new plan. Or nothing at all but the pleasure of one’s company.

Get together, but not on the traditional date.

Holiday travel is nutty. It’s snowing and icy in much of the country. The roads are clogged with cars. Planes are full and tickets cost a billion dollars. Why are we insisting that we all travel and be together on THIS ONE DAY?

I propose getting together on a date and time of your own choosing. A family vacation complete with dinner and gifts in the middle of July? Great. A weekend get-together at the beginning of December? Awesome. The date of the connecting is completely arbitrary – it’s the connecting that’s the important part.

Refuse to make it a Whole Big Thing.

The perfect table setting complete with name cards, gifts neatly stacked under the pristinely decorated tree, and a five-course meal sounds fantastic, and I’m sure there are many who pull this off without a hitch (my mother-in-law is a master at this kind of thing, and loves it). For others it can be a big ball of stress. If you fall into the ball-of-stress category, I encourage you to do one of two things:

Ask for lots of help, and accept the help that’s offered. Do a potluck, or a wine sampling and decorating party, or make a list and dole out almost everything that needs to be done.
Scrap the perfect idea in your head, and shoot for perfectly OK. Have lopsided presents, and lumpy mashed potatoes. Run out of drinks, and let your kitchen be a mess while you sit down to eat. Go for B minus work, and pat yourself on the back for just showing up.

Create your own tradition.

I recently heard about an Icelandic holiday called Jolabokaflod. Apparently, on this glorious holiday, loved ones gift one another a book and some form of chocolate, and spend the evening reading and eating the chocolate together. It sounds utterly simple and peaceful, and is clearly composed of the very best things life has to offer.

If Christmas looked like Jolabokaflod, I’d be ALL IN.

What if we took it upon ourselves to tweak the holiday traditions to look a little more like something that’s lovely and festive to us as individuals? I read on Facebook that a friend does a make-your-own-pizza every Thanksgiving, because to her, that beats turkey any day. Brilliant.

Let’s allow ourselves the space to exhale, to get creative, and to choose our own holiday adventures. How would you do the holidays differently, if you had the freedom to choose? What’s keeping you from doing it?

Originally posted on my blog, Common Humanity, at Psych Central.com. 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.

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"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.

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