Vulnerability Factors of the Holiday Season

As a neurodivergent individual, I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. I enjoy what I refer to as the *shiny factor* of this time of year – lights, decorations, presents & holiday music can all bring a smile to my face. However, without fail, by January 1st I tend to be over-socialized and on

DBT Skills for the Holidays

I originally composed this series in 2018 as an 8 week psychoeducational group to provide extra support for my clients during the stressful season. I also filmed it that year (why my introductions still label me as a therapist). It’s an opportunity to see pre-dreads Jamie 😁 The series breaks down some of the most

How About a Side of Self-Compassion for the Holidays?

This time of year can be especially overwhelming for neurodivergent individuals.  Take the demands of normal every day life, add in the million extra holiday based activities and compound that with family expectations/guilt.   By January 1, my ND crew tends to be teetering on burnout (which is so not the mood that we want

The Big Holiday Sads

The final six weeks of the year, are an emotionally charged period for many of my clients and myself. The amped up messages in advertising and media about family, connection, shared memories – can all be triggering for cycle breakers – those of us who have chosen to break against unhealthy familial patterns in the

Reflections Moving Forward

The first week in December marks the nine year anniversary since I began my journey as a DBT provider.  As I look into the new year, I’ve begun focusing on my rebrand which has been in the works since August.  I’m simplifying my marketing, and transitioning my blog back to my main site. In beginning

Accumulate Positive (Short Term)

I realized this morning, that I’ve never shared any of my Youtube videos on here. This week my clients are learning about Accumulate Positives in the Short Term. This Emotion Regulation Skill is designed to help you increase resilience by creating intentional practices of self care that reboot your emotional batteries. Also, I’m giving up

5 of Last Year’s Biggest Lessons (& how they’re changing my reality in 2022)

Last year was a tough year for me. Life brought me to my knees. I found myself in the depths of burnout I did not believe I was capable of falling into at this point in my journey. I naively though I had “skilled” & “healed” myself far enough along my journey, that I just

Resolutions Might be Crap. How About Yearly Intentions Instead?

I love the clean slate that comes with the new year. Usually during one of the earlier weeks of January, I teach my DBT group around the theme of resolutions. One of our DBT Emotion Regulation skills is Accumlate Positives in the Long Term. The skill is from the reducing vulnerability to emotion mine sub-section

Welcome 2022

Man oh man what a year 2021 was! I naively assumed at the conclusion of 2020, that the worst of the pandemic was behind us. No problem admitting I was WRONG there… The year began with a riot in our nation’s capital and ended with a surge in COVID unlike any we have yet to

DBT Skills for the Holidays ✨Free Worksheets✨

It’s that magical time of year again… No matter your beliefs or practices – we are all currently inundated with ads selling the idea of the perfect holiday season. You know the American dream where you buy, buy, buy until you’re up to your eyeballs in debt, so that you can rush to all the