Holiday Stress: Dealing with Family

Image
Family sitting at dinner table in background of a Christmas tree
Holidays are synonymous with family gatherings. Whether that excites you or causes a knot to form in your stomach, there are always family members you might not want to deal with. Help alleviate some of your holiday stress with these tips on dealing with difficult situations during family holidays. Questions to Ask When Handling Conflict Is this my battle? Asking yourself, "Is this my battle?" can help you decide if this should land on your shoulders. If you are concerned with how your children are parenting their kids or with how your sister is being treated by her husband, consider if the [...]

Self-Care Gifts that Promote Mental Health

Image
Couple sitting by Christmas tree exchanging a gift
It's the holiday season! During this time of year, one form of celebration is giving to others. For some, this is their time to shine (shoutout to those who have gifts as their top love language ?), and for others, it can cause more stress than necessary. This season, make your giving easier by choosing a theme, like mental health, to focus your gifts around. Show your loved ones that you want them to prioritize their well-being with presents that promote mental health and encourage acts of mindfulness. Here are a few suggestions for self-care gifts: Daily Inspiration Journals Keep the self [...]

Halloween: A Tricky Situation

Image
Child in costume holding a pumpkin basket with parents sitting on couch in background
Among the goblins, ghouls, and other ghastly beings that emerge during the month of October is something else truly haunting: a child who’s been traumatized by something they've seen during Halloween. Children may react negatively to costumes, decorations, or movies that are unfamiliar or too scary to process. Bad dreams, stomachaches, and headaches can indicate that the child has more fright than delight. They may become more clingy or nervous, suddenly be afraid of the dark, or not want to go trick-or-treating. How To Tell When Halloween Is Too Scary & What To Do Parents should watch their [...]

12 Fun Ways to Regulate Big Emotions

Image
Playful regulation blog header image
Little bodies can be stressed with big emotions. Frustration, anger, and anxiety can bubble up quickly and be hard to rein in without the right tools. Learning how to regulate these feelings can be fun! Lots of regulation strategies for kids can actually look just like play. Children can experience a variety of mental health issues, including: Anxiety and Depression Attachment Disorder ADHD/ADD Autism Spectrum Disorders Early Childhood Mental Health Issues Behavior Issues Childhood Trauma Sensory Processing Disorders/Difficulties And More Many Village counselors are specially trained to [...]

Should you take a mental health day?

Image
Illustration of worker taking a break next to large alarm clock
Do you need a mental health day? Sometimes the stresses of life spill over into our work, or workplace pressure can begin to affect our mental well-being. During times like these, a mental health day can be a useful tool to care for ourselves. Village Therapist Signe Miller shares information about how mental health days can be beneficial and how workplaces can support their staff. What is a mental health day? We all have mental health. Along with our physical, spiritual, social, and financial wellness, it is one component that contributes to overall well-being. Just like we might have [...]