stress management Archives - Heather Edwards Mental Health Counseling

Making Magic Out of Holiday Stress

November 26, 2025

Managing the Holidays, Stress Management

The holiday season. Making magic out of holiday stress is the dream. It's a time for joy, connection, and celebration. Yet for many people, it becomes a perfect storm of work deadlines, family obligations, financial pressures, and social commitments that leaves you feeling more drained than delighted. If you're nodding along, you're not alone. The gap between the "magic" we're told the holidays should bring and the reality of what we actually experience can be particularly challenging for those of us juggling demanding careers, relationships, and the countless expectations that come with this time of year. Strategies for Managing Holiday Stress 1. Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Moments Mindfulness isn't about achieving a zen-like state or meditating for hours. It's simply about being present with what is, without judgment. During the...

Difficult Relationships 101: Want to scream into the void?

March 27, 2025

Relationships

As a therapist, I spend my days helping clients develop essential skills for healthy relationships—setting boundaries, practicing assertiveness, managing emotions, and communicating effectively. But like everyone else, I’m human, and lately, I’ve found myself challenged in all of these areas. It’s particularly difficult when someone close to you struggles with the fundamental qualities that make relationships work. It's as if they're treating basic emotional intelligence like an optional upgrade they refused at checkout. So, if you’ve ever found yourself clenching your jaw, contemplating a dramatic life change, or Googling “how to remain unbothered when people test your patience,” welcome to the club. Here’s how to handle difficult relationships with grace, integrity, and just enough sass to keep your sanity intact. 1. Feel Your Feelings (But Don’t...

#relationships heather edwards mindfulness psychology self esteem stress management

How Setting Boundaries is a Love Language

January 22, 2025

Anxiety, Relationships, Stress Management

Blurry Boundaries: There’s a quiet tension in undefined spaces. Seeing clear boundaries as a love language is counterintuitive. Let’s be real: we’ve all been there. You don’t want to say “no” because it feels mean or harsh, so you give a half-hearted “sure” or just leave things up in the air. And what happens? Everyone’s confused, tensions rise, and you end up feeling drained. Spoiler alert: trying to “soften the blow” by avoiding clear boundaries doesn’t work—it just makes things worse for everyone. Here’s the hard truth: blurry boundaries are messy. They tap into three of life’s biggest stressors—lack of information, uncertainty, and lack of control. If you’re avoiding the “no” because you think it’s kinder, you’re actually creating a situation where nobody knows what’s happening, and...

boundaries communication heather edwards mental health psychology relationships stress management wellness

Can Your Curiosity Heal the World?

December 11, 2024

Anxiety

Discover how curiosity can calm your mind, ease stress, and foster deeper connections. It could even transform growth and heal the world....

heather edwards mindfulness psychology Psychotherapy self esteem self improvement stress management

Oh, it’s on! Your holiday survival guide

November 28, 2024

Anxiety, Lifestyle, Managing the Holidays, Stress Management

Okay, let’s be real for a second—this year feels weird. Autumn in the Northeast is giving us summer vibes, and Thanksgiving is super late. Is it just me, or does it feel like the holiday season popped up out of nowhere? One second we’re sipping iced lattes in October, and the next, we’re defrosting turkeys and hunting for Black Friday deals. Whiplash anyone? Holiday survival guide, please. And now it’s time to head to Aunt Sally’s for the annual family extravaganza. You know the one: the same casserole dishes, the same arguments, and somehow, the same side-eye from Cousin Linda about your “life choices.” Family, am I right? But don’t worry—I got you. Whether it’s navigating surprise political debates, fielding awkward comments about your love life...

heather edwards holiday survival guide mindfulness psychology relationships stress management

Empathy: Your Greatest Superpower That You Rarely Use

June 4, 2024

Relationships

Grab Your Cape. Let's heal the world. In a world where scrolling through memes and cat videos consumes more time than meaningful conversations, it’s easy to overlook a superpower that we all possess. No, it's not flying or invisibility—though that would be cool. I'm talking about empathy. Empathy is like Wi-Fi for the soul: it connects us to the inner networks of other people's experiences and emotions. When working properly, it can create understanding, compassion, and, dare I say, world peace. Yet, much like Wi-Fi, it can sometimes be frustratingly unreliable. Picture this: You're at a party. You don't know many people, and you're nervously clutching your drink like it’s a life preserver. Suddenly, someone approaches and strikes up a conversation. Instead of the usual small talk, they...

empathy heather edwards mindfulness psychology Psychotherapy self esteem self improvement stress management wellness

EMDR: The Self Doubt Slayer

May 14, 2024

Self Esteem

Imagine standing at the edge of a vast ocean, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face and the gentle breeze whispering words of encouragement. This is where your journey towards improved self-confidence begins—a journey guided by the transformative power of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. 1. Unlocking the Treasure Within: Picture yourself as a treasure hunter, with your therapist as your trusted guide. Together, you embark on an epic quest to unearth the hidden gems of your inner strength and resilience. Navigate the depths of your subconscious. Discover the treasure of self-confidence that's been buried beneath layers of doubt and fear. 2. Riding the EMDR Waves of Transformation: Just as a surfer rides the waves with grace and determination, you navigate the waves...

confidence emdr therapy inner landscape journey mindfulness psychology Psychotherapy self confidence self doubt self improvement stress management

How to Flip Holiday Madness into Mindfulness

November 21, 2023

Stress Management

The magic of the holidays is upon us and behold, it can speed toward madness or mindfulness. Some call it the holiday bustle. Others call it pandemonium. Try these 7 tips. ...

anxiety breathe depression heather edwards holidays mentalhealth mindfulness nyctherapy psychology relationships stress management

Holiday Magic: Mindful strategies

November 13, 2019

Anxiety, Managing the Holidays, Stress Management

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right? Well, sometimes. If you take a mindful look at the way you approach the holidays, you'll find that you actually have a mixture of feelings - like joy and sorrow, pleasure and stress, boredom and excitement, for instance. The holidays can be bittersweet, especially for those who have lost someone they love. They are stressful for those forced to mingle with family members they don’t admire. And they are lonely for those who are alone. It’s a time ripe with celebration, gratitude, and giving. And it’s a time of wishing and grieving. So whatever your circumstances, how do you surf the waves of emotion that arise during the holidays? Mindful practices can keep you rooted in your truth, feeling ground, and present,...

holidays meditation mindfulness stress management wellness

8 Tips for Combatting SAD – Preserve your energy and spirit

November 4, 2015

Articles

Welcome to daylight savings time! It’s that time of year when days get shorter, darkness grows longer, and your energy and spirit can be eclipsed. SAD abounds. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, “About 4 to 6 percent of people may have winter depression. Another 10 to 20 percent may have mild SAD. SAD is four times more common in women than in men. Although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn't start in people younger than age 20.” That equals a whopping up to 63,780,000 people in the U.S.A. with SAD and/or mild depression in the winter! In case you’re wondering if you have S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) here are a few symptoms: decreased energy increased appetite (for sweets & starches) weight gain reduced socialization increased sleep lower productivity less...

heather edwards inspired life coaching Life Coaching mindfulness mood problem solving psychology SAD self esteem self improvement stress management unstuck

stress management Tag