Gift Ideas to Help Avoid the Holiday Shopping Frenzy

December is often a season of gift-giving, as many families celebrate holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and New Year’s Eve. Most of us probably enjoy giving someone a gift they really love, or being gifted something that makes us smile, but do you ever feel uncomfortable about the frenzy associated with buying gifts during the holidays? Holiday shopping can turn into an expensive, competitive activity that sometimes feels more stressful than meaningful. There can also be a lot of disappointment that results from spending a lot of money on a gift that will go unused or unappreciated by the recipient. 

As with most things that make us feel stressed, we can slow down by bringing some mindfulness and awareness to our gift-giving practices, which will hopefully lead to us feeling more satisfied and intentional with the way we exchange gifts during the holidays. Here are a few ideas of ways to bring more joy into your holiday shopping and gift-giving traditions:

• Give an Experience. For people who don’t need more stuff (which is probably many of us), think about giving them an experience instead of a material object. This could be a cooking class, a gift card to a rock-climbing gym, tickets to a concert or the symphony, or even a membership to something like the MKE Film Festival. Not only will the person enjoy their new experience, they will think of you while doing it. For a budget-friendly route, make your own gift card for items you can provide, like a 30-minute back rub, a hike together at a local park, or a home cooked meal on a date of their choosing. 

• Go the DIY route. If you are a crafty person, by all means share your talents with loved ones by knitting them a hat, making them a piece of art, building them a side table, welding them a piece of jewelry, etc. Let your creativity run wild! For others who don’t identify as artists, don’t underestimate your cooking skills. Gifts like a fresh loaf of bread, a tin of cookies, or a jar of homemade jam or pickles will be greatly appreciated!

• Buy Practical Items. Ask the person what they may need. Is this person going off to college soon or moving into a new apartment in the spring? You could help them buy some of the necessities they would otherwise purchase on their own. A cool pair of socks or a cozy scarf will likely get utilized and appreciated. If the person spends a lot of time in the kitchen, see if they are in need of any cooking utensils or tools. 

• Donate to others in need. In place of gift exchanges, some families spend time together during the holidays doing volunteer work. While serving a meal to families in your community, you will give the gift of service and compassion. Maybe there are opportunities to volunteer an afternoon reading to children or the elderly in various hospitals or local organizations. You could also consider donating gifts to a church or agency who then gives them to families in challenging financial situations. 

However you decide to give gifts this season, be mindful of your purpose in doing so. Gift-giving is a way to show others we care and are thinking of them, and often we can convey this through small gestures. For many of us, simply being around friends and loved ones feels like a gift. Remember to stay grounded in the weeks ahead and try to avoid getting swept up in the holiday shopping frenzy. 

References

Acaroglu, L. (2017). 5 Ways to Disrupt Holiday Consumerism. Retrieved from https://medium.com/disruptive-design/5-ways-to-disrupt-holiday-consumerism-33fae672311f

Sarah Philipp Talks About Mental Health + Nutrition

Our wonderful nutritionist, Sarah Philipp, was interviewed by MKE Lifestyle Mag to talk about the links between nutrition and mental health. Follow this link to read the article:

http://www.mkelifestyle.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=GoodWill%26GoodChoices&category=Milwaukee+Resources&utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-abundelicious&utm_content=later-4365541&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

Welcome to Therapy

Written by Dr. Joanna Love, Licensed Psychologist

What is therapy?

You’re reading this because you are seeking healing for yourself or someone you love, and you think therapy could be a source of that healing. Whether you have been thinking about therapy for a while or are just considering it for the first time, seeking information – reading this post – is an important step on your healing journey. 

However, as you may already have found, some of the language and ideas connected to therapy can be overwhelming and confusing. The goal of this post is to demystify the therapy experience, and equip you with some basic information to move forward.

There are many ways to experience healing. Why therapy?

It’s true: there are a range of things that can contribute to positive growth and healing in your life. 

For example, the mind and body are connected, so taking care of your body is one way to feel better inside and out. Physical movement is great for stress reduction. A healthy diet helps your body to function better. 

Spiritual approaches have helped people for millennia. You may find healing through faith, prayer, beauty, nature, and music.

Living a balanced life, caring for your mind, body, and spirit, and paying attention to your whole self can both heal and maintain health. However, it is very common to need additional support from outside yourself to achieve the full health you are seeking. Research has taught us that going to therapy can be a strong source of healing for most people.

What’s the difference between therapy and counseling?

Therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling are different words that generally mean the same thing. That said, there are many different types of therapy. 

A few examples:

• Psychodynamic therapy uses techniques focused more on understanding emotions and gaining insight into yourself

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) tends to focus on understanding thoughts and belief that affect feelings, and changing behaviors through action-oriented strategies

• Other approaches focus on your context within a family or community, cultural influences, or existential concepts like identity and purpose

Your therapist may lean toward a specific school of thought, area of research, or focus. Therapists may also integrate multiple techniques and approaches in their work, depending on your specific needs. 

These differences can sometimes be explained by the type of training your therapist received. Your therapist may have a masters degree in counseling, clinical social work, or a doctoral degree in psychology. All therapists are licensed by the state to provide mental health services.

Why does therapy work?

Therapy is more than a list of strategies and helpful recommendations. Therapy works because it is based in a relationship. Relationship is a powerful context for healing that can’t be found through something like a self-help book, or an individual practice like meditation. 

However, therapy is unlike any other relationship that you may experience, because it is at once intimate while also being transactional. It is intimate because your therapist keeps your true thoughts safe, and creates space that contains your deeper feelings. But it is transactional, because you pay a fee for a service that your therapist provides.

The unique attributes of the therapist + client relationship are why therapy is successful for many people. 

You’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.

There is nothing wrong with seeking help through therapy. In the same way someone may work with a personal trainer, physical therapist, or doctor to improve their physical health, seeking therapy is an investment in your personal wellness.

Many human experiences can feel crazy. Things like panic attacks or flashbacks to traumatic events might make you feel crazy; as if you’re going out of your mind or leaving your body. Unwanted thoughts that keep popping into your mind or behaviors you feel you can’t control might seem to make no sense. Some people feel sad or anxious for so long, it starts to feel as if it is part of who they are. 

Regardless of the nature of your struggle, there is good news: Our behaviors and feelings can be explained, and healing is possible. There is always hope for healing. Therapy can help.