Once there was a therapist in West Palm Beach who was conducting a family therapy session during the holiday season. Every member of this unusual family was quite upset with a unique issue that was holding them back from having a jolly good time. When prompted by the therapist to sound out their individual issues one at a time, this is the response he got.
Santa – “I no longer believe in myself!”
Snowman – “I think I’m Bi – Polar!”
Rudolf – “All the other Reindeer make fun of me by calling me mean names”
An Elf – “I am trapped in a dead – end job.”
Mrs. Santa – “I’m under – appreciated by the whole wide world, even though it is I who keeps things running smoothly up at the North Pole all year round!”
This is the kind of thing that therapists face while dealing with dysfunctional families all year round, but specially during the holidays. However, jokes apart, there are a number of ways to help clients cope during the festival season, that can be used by counsellors, therapists and social workers all year long. Some of these methods are –
- Start at the intake. While talking to the clients during intake, gauge their feelings about holidays so as to be able to understand their mindset and plan a treatment. Helping them identify stressors beforehand will go a long way to develop helpful coping mechanisms.
- Check in during Holidays. Most of the clients who struggle during holidays are likely to miss appointments during the holiday season. Make sure to be mindful and reach out to them to ask them how they are doing and to make sure that they get the required extra support during these testing times.
- Address Homecoming Concerns. People who stay away from home for large stretches of time find it extremely difficult to navigate their emotions around travelling back home. Make sure that they are realistic about their expectations during these holiday visits to home and that they take time out for self – care.
- Help clients navigate family friction. Holidays are a time for togetherness and many families host get – togethers for extended families and relatives. However, this also means that feuding family members might come face – to face after a long time in a closed space. Encourage clients to host separate events for such members or to take a step back and not get involved in case friction arises during the party.
- Provide extra support for clients grieving a loss. For many people, the season might mark the anniversary of the death of a loved one or any other trauma. In such cases, the holidays tend to bring regret rather than cheer and the therapists need to be mindful of this fact and check in with clients and make sure they know how to cope with the potential triggers brought in by the season.
- Help clients manage loneliness. Every depression therapist in Palm Beach knows that the clients who are living far from home or those having no proper place to call home, feel an overwhelming wave of grief during the holidays that are meant to be spent around family. Such clients should be encouraged to take part in community events or to plan an outing in order to bring on a feeling of belongingness.
Talking about the holidays all year long will help you identify the clients that might need extra support during the festive season. Make sure that the festive season does not become gloomy for anyone.