HOLIDAYS, GRIEF Carey Gauzens, LCSW Center for Pastoral Counseling of Virginia Alexandria Office As a therapist, I work with a lot of people who are grieving: The loss may be the death of a loved one, a divorce, the breakup of a relationship or the loss of a career, a goal or a dream. There are many more things to [...]
As a therapist, I work with a lot of people who are grieving: The loss may be the death of a loved one, a divorce, the breakup of a relationship or the loss of a career, a goal or a dream. There are many more things to grieve in our world than only a death, and working through [...]
We often do not know what other people are experiencing. And I do not mean just what they are thinking cognitively, or feeling emotionally, I mean, we literally do not know what they see, what they hear, how fast their body reacts to stimuli, how they experience color, sound, sensation, pain. We tend to think just because we have a [...]
Every year in some churches, during Lent, many pray a form of prayer called “The Stations of the Cross.” The Stations of the Cross are usually a walking journey to 14 different “stations,” representing the steps Jesus took on his journey to crucifixion, death and ultimately resurrection. Those who have grown up Catholic may recognize this prayer as the “Via Dolorosa” a commemoration [...]
Having worked in the mental health field for more than 30 years now, I have seen a great many people, who have come in seeking help for a variety of different issues. I have been privileged to listen to the stories of those who have lost a loved one, I have worked to create a safe space for those [...]
As fall gets into full swing and school begins again, we gear up for leaving summer behind and getting into the pace of the academic year. Summer clothes are put away, fall weather is prepared for and kids either grumble or celebrate the beginning of a new year at school (depending on how they feel about school!) Grownups and kids alike can feel the quickened pace as the last days of summer fade, and we launch into fall. At the same time, fall, and the prospect of the winter that will follow, can bring its own set of stressors. Parents and kids alike often take on more stress, as they try to manage tighter schedules, and more demands on their time. Those who love the fall colors and the cooler weather rejoice, while those who are not fans of the cold weather bid a mournful goodbye to the warmth of the summer sun. As fall schedules get into full swing and winter waits close behind, it is a good time to talk a bit about mental health. Just as our physical health can sometimes fluctuate with the seasons (more colds or flu as the weather gets colder, sunburns when the summer sun is high) so can our feelings fluctuate with the seasons. Here are just a few mental health issues to be aware of, as fall rolls around: […]
