Coping Ahead for the HolidaysBy Niamh Smithers, M.A.
Whether you get along with your family, have difficult family relationships, celebrate holidays with friends, or don’t celebrate certain holidays at all, this time of year can bring up a lot of mixed emotions for people. Not only are there often added stressors around finances, relationships, and social obligations, but the time change and colder weather can impact each individual differently. And while each person is unique in how they navigate the stressors involved with this time of year, it can be helpful to prepare a plan ahead of time for how to handle difficult emotions or situations to feel more confident going into these experiences. I often find myself struggling during this time of year due to the lack of sunlight, the colder weather, and the overstimulation involved with holiday shopping, socializing, etc. My family typically hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, which can make it even more difficult to set limits around how much time I’m spending with family. I find myself wanting to escape to charge my “social battery” when it’s running low more regularly, too. Whether you’re the house hosting, traveling for the holidays, or having a solo stay-cation this winter season, here are some helpful tips to prepare yourself: 1. Manage physical vulnerabilities
2. Check-in with your emotions
3. Make a list of enjoyable activities
4. Make your “escape” plan:
5. Be kind to yourself!
Navigating Mental Health Support During a Crisis: What You Need to Know By Kerrie Toole, LICSW, Executive Director
As September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, it’s a meaningful time to reflect on the resources available when we or someone we care about faces a mental health crisis. While many people are familiar with emergency numbers like 911, 988, or the Samaritans hotline, there are also other, often more accessible, options for getting help right in your community. Today, I want to walk through what you can expect when seeking emergency mental health services, so that if the time comes, you feel informed and supported. Resources You Can Turn to in a Crisis For those in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line offers real-time support 24/7. Whether you prefer to call or text, help is just a moment away at 833-773-2445. Additionally, Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) provide 24/7 walk-in services, as well as mobile services, meaning they can come to your home or another location if that’s where you feel safest. You can find more details about these services here. If you're local to the Metrowest area of Massachusetts, there are several Emergency Service Provider (ESP) agencies that can conduct emergency assessments and provide care without needing to go to the emergency room. In some cases, these agencies are also the ones conducting evaluations if you do go to the ER. Here's a quick guide to some of these providers:
What Happens During an Emergency Mental Health Evaluation Whether you’re evaluated in an emergency room, at a CBHC, or through an ESP agency, the process is quite similar and designed with care and thoroughness in mind. A trained clinician will meet with you—and any supportive person you have with you—to assess the situation. They’ll look at both risk and safety factors and, with your permission, may gather additional information from any mental health providers you’re currently seeing. Once the clinician has all the necessary information, they’ll consult with a team of professionals to determine the most appropriate level of care for you. This could be anything from a referral for outpatient services to inpatient hospitalization. If you're in an emergency room, there will be an added step of a medical evaluation to ensure there are no underlying physical issues that need attention. Understanding Your Care Options After an evaluation, the agency will help you access the right level of care. Here’s a breakdown of what that could look like:
You May Not Need to Go to the Emergency Room In many cases, you can access these services without stepping foot in an emergency room. By reaching out directly to your local ESP or CBHC, you can get the help you need in a more familiar, less overwhelming environment. Navigating a mental health crisis can be a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience, but knowing what to expect and who to call can make all the difference. Whether it's through a quick text, a phone call, or a walk-in appointment, support is available—and it’s closer than you might think. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. There’s help, hope, and people ready to stand by your side. The Art of Art TherapyBy Niamh Smithers, M.A.
This spring I had the pleasure of attending a webinar called “Nurturing the “Art” in the Art of Therapy” hosted by Victor Yalom, PhD and Judy Rubin, PhD, ATR-BC. Dr. Yalom facilitated a discussion with Dr. Rubin about her experience as a Registered Art Therapist with over 50 years of experience; reviewing some of her favorite moments as an art therapist, showing recorded demonstrations of art therapy sessions, and exploring how she views the use of art in the therapeutic process. As someone who has always aspired to incorporate art into counseling sessions, this webinar gave me so much insight, inspiration, and motivation to offer more art-therapy based interventions to my clients. One of my favorite parts of the webinar was seeing Dr. Judy Rubin on an episode of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, a classic show that aired beginning in the late 1960’s. In the episode, Dr. Rubin showcased how children engaged in art, creativity, and exploration of ideas. She appeared authentically inspired by each child’s artwork and how their perspectives informed how and what they created with materials she provided. Dr. Rubin emphasized the importance of “play” and “choice” when using art as a tool for exploring oneself and one’s experiences, while also highlighting there is no age limit for this type of intervention. Dr. Rubin discussed how many of her clients who had been resistant to incorporating art into their therapy sessions were often artists themselves who were focused on the “final product” or were individuals who struggled to engage in “play.” As an artist myself, this idea resonated with me due to often having my art evaluated or critiqued in classes or by people close to me. The idea that someone would be interpreting or making judgements about the art that I was creating made it much harder to focus on the process and having fun. This webinar reminded me of one of my favorite phrases when it comes to art and therapy alike: “Process over product.” Dr. Rubin also introduced the idea of approaching art as another language and stated, “By only using words we are limiting the information.” Story-telling and use of imagery are important components of many cultures across the world, and this quote really validated what I have felt for many years, even before becoming a therapist: Art is a universal experience and can be a powerful change agent when used in the therapeutic process. Dr. Rubin shared, “You don’t have to be an artist to do art therapy. It’s not about being an artist, it’s about expressing yourself in a different language.” Similar to how words can be lost in translation between languages, Dr. Rubin noted the imperativeness of maintaining the client as the expert and asking questions about a client’s art or artistic process, rather than making interpretations, translations, observations, or judgements. She explored how art therapists may sometimes offer premature responses to a client’s art and reiterated the importance of getting to know oneself as a provider in an effort to prevent our own experiences from blending into the client’s: “Get to know yourself to prevent your own interpretations clouding message of the client.” My hope is that, by giving clients more choice in how they use their time in sessions and having various art supplies available, utilizing art in therapy may lead to deeper connection, understanding, and exploration, or, at the very least, lead to a client trying something they’ve never tried before! |
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Castlebrook Counseling Services, Inc. is a group of private practice clinicians with a shared goal of strengthening our community by providing therapy and clinical support designed for children, adults, and families to successfully meet life’s challenges.