

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, happiness, and togetherness. However, for many individuals, stress and the holidays go hand in hand. The societal expectation to embrace merriment can paradoxically result in heightened stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Despite the common portrayal of the holidays as universally cheerful, various factors contribute to a more nuanced experience. Nevertheless, there are proactive steps we can take to support ourselves and others during this complex time.
One of the main reasons why the holidays can be challenging is the expectation of perfection. We’re bombarded with images of perfect families, perfect decorations, and perfect gifts. It’s easy to feel like we’re falling short, especially if we’re dealing with difficult family dynamics, financial problems, or simply don’t have the energy to create the perfect holiday experience. This pressure can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and a sense of inadequacy.
Another reason why holidays can be tough is the emphasis on socializing. For people who struggle with social anxiety or who don’t have a strong support system, the holiday season can feel incredibly isolating. We’re told that we should be spending time with loved ones, but what if we don’t have anyone to spend time with? This can be particularly challenging for people who coping with grief during the holidays, such as the death of a loved one or a breakup.
The financial burden of the holidays can also be a significant source of stress. We’re told that we need to buy gifts for everyone on our list, and that these gifts should be thoughtful and meaningful. For people who are struggling financially, this can be an impossible task. It’s easy to feel like we’re letting people down if we can’t afford to buy them the gifts they want or need.
So, what can we do to support ourselves and others during this difficult time, easing the burden of stress and the holidays? One of the most important things we can do is to be honest about our feelings. It’s okay to admit that we’re struggling, and to ask for help if we need it. We can also reach out to others who may be struggling and offer our support. This could mean inviting someone over for a holiday meal, volunteering at a local shelter or food bank, or simply checking in on a friend who we know is having a tough time.
It’s also important to remember that the holidays don’t have to be perfect. We can let go of the pressure to create the perfect holiday experience and instead focus on what’s truly important: spending time with the people we love. This might mean scaling back on gift-giving, simplifying our holiday traditions, or simply taking a break from the chaos and spending some quiet time alone.
Ultimately, the holidays aren’t always merry, and that’s okay. It’s important to acknowledge the challenges that come with this time of year and to offer support and compassion to ourselves and others. By focusing on what’s truly important and letting go of the pressure to be perfect, we can find moments of joy and connection even in the midst of difficulty.
Written by: Teresa Gouch, LPC. Teresa offers online therapy. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Teresa, call us at 412-856-WELL or contact us here.
Deciding to begin therapy is never an afterthought. Therapy requires a significant level of vulnerability. Add in the worry over choosing which therapist is the right one for you, makes the decision even more impactful. Imagine you’re reading a therapist bio on a therapy website and you see the word intern listed alongside a description of a provider. What would you think? Here’s why selecting a Counseling Intern could be the right choice for you:
As interns work to complete their Master’s degree, they are active in receiving education on various techniques and theories for treatment. Interns are constantly researching the best forms of treatment for their unique and specific client needs.
Interns work alongside their educators, facilities, supervisors, and coworkers to hone their skills in providing superior client care. Interns are well informed in current treatment strategies and theories. Interns spend the majority of their time learning how to harness their understanding in theoretical work to be effective counselors for all possible client situations.
Although counseling interns have less client-facing experience than licensed therapists, they are filled with up-to-date research. With interns experiencing things for the first time, there is less room for comparison to prior cases. Interns are energized by treating their clients in comparison to being burnt out from experience. Interns are willing to apply all information learned to provide consistent and complete mental health care for their clients. The energy exuded from interns is often contagious and creates an open therapeutic relationship.
With the understanding that interns are in the process of attaining a Master’s degree, they often have at minimum one supervisor at the therapy practice. Most educational programs require student interns to receive supervision through the university in addition to site supervision. This system allows for fully licensed, credentialed, and experienced counselors to assist interns with effective therapy.
Interns review and consult with their supervisors on all cases, providing thorough assessment. Essentially, having an intern is like having two counselors strive to provide the best form of treatment for you! Interns are more receptive to feedback and open to adaptation. Feedback and openness allow for interns to become the best form of professional that they strive to be.
Due to their student status, interns are not fully licensed. At an intern level, mental health providers cannot accept insurance so interns accept self-pay clientele. Mental Health Practices have a sliding fee scale or reduced cost for interns. Thus, interns can offer financial relief at a budget friendly cost.
As interns build their clientele, they often have more room for clients than established professionals. There is no need to wait for treatment when there is an available option for you. Managing fewer clients allows interns to be more focused to your case and your needs. Interns have more time to prepare and plan between sessions, making sure that your time is well spent.
With today’s challenging academic nature, modern interns are well informed, well educated, and willing to do the hard work.
Interns are also:
Written by Edisa Music, Counseling Intern. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Edisa, please call us at 412-322-2129.
If you’re here, congratulations on taking the first step and beginning therapy! Deciding to go to therapy is a major step in overcoming issues like anxiety or depression, healing trauma, getting support to cope with difficult life transitions, managing stress or working on developing healthier relationships. We asked the therapists at the Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh to share their suggestions for how to get the most out of therapy.
Call 412-322-2129 to get scheduled with a therapist or fill out the form below.
Cover Photo by Leah Kelley
Journal Photo by Alina Vilchenko
White Woman in Van in Nature Photo and Bike Photo by Alex Azabache
Black Woman Working at Desk Photo by Anna Krasnikova
According to the US National Bureau of Family and Marriage Statistics, in 2017 there were 130 million married couples living in the US. Still, not every relationship is going to make it to the altar, it is even true that not every healthy or compatible relationship will have long term potential. The issue is that everyone is looking for something a little different to inspire them to settle down, even if you and your partner might connect well from your perspective, there are other factors which influence the choice to commit deeper. For instance, your partner may not be ready for that commitment or may have a different vision for the kind of relationship that they want. You are likely feeling anxious and wanting some sign to know which direction your partner sees things headed. Here are 8 ways to tell that your partner isn’t that into you.
If you are noticing these signs, the best thing to do is to talk to your partner about them and ask what they think, a good opener is, ‘I have been thinking about you and I and its hard for me to tell where this is going, do you see long term potential between us?’ This might lead to a deep conversation about your partners perspective and take some of the guess work out of your future together. Read here for more premarital questions for couples and intimate questions and conversations.
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/families.html
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