Motivational Newsletter
Mindfulness and Mentalization
Winter 2024
"THE MIND IS LIKE WATER. WHEN IT’S TURBULENT, IT’S DIFFICULT TO SEE. WHEN IT’S CALM, EVERYTHING BECOMES CLEAR.”
– PRASAD MAHES
Calmness brings Clarity
As we start the New Year we often wish others peace and joy. Wishing peace is so common this time of year and seems so easy but can be difficult to find and keep. Setting New Year’s Resolutions is an exercise most people find futile since it tends to be hard for many to maintain motivation after a few weeks. Instead of planning to change behavior, creating a personal, internal goal that can help foster change emotionally and mentally may be more of an incentive to maintain motivation.
What does finding your own inner peace mean to you? Inner peace can mean different things to different people. Maybe it means quiet alone time to read a book or sometimes after the busyness of the holiday season, it may simply mean having a minute to yourself. When we take the time to gain mental health awareness, we invest in our inner peace.
Sometimes the storm in the household can feel hard to control, especially after the busyness of the holiday season, overspending, and family gatherings. Family conflicts can happen quickly but may take a long time to heal and can evoke feelings of helplessness. Strained relationships can be heartbreaking and tear families apart. If calming the waters in your home is something that you would
welcome, then making the decision to start with yourself is the first step. Maybe it means not being right sometimes or being less defensive so that self-reflection can manifest. When we mentalize we can self-reflect on our own thoughts, feelings and behavior then make efforts to understand a loved one’s intentions and feelings behind their behavior. Controlling one’s reaction by staying calm in turbulent times can help evoke feelings of empowerment regarding making changes in family dynamics. Self-reflection and mentalizing can help de-clutter your mind and de-escalate conflicts, which can calm the storm in your home.
Stillness can bring mental clarity and awareness. Take the time to self-indulge by setting time to meditate and gain self-awareness. Invest in your mental health and strive for peace by making self-reflection and mindfulness become a part of your personal goals for the New Year. Wishing you the inner peace that mental clarity can bring and joy that follows for 2024!
Nicole Daisy, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
COPING SKILLS CORNER
Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress
Meditation can wipe away the day's stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858
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Try the Calm App
www.calm.com
Turn a bad day around by using quick meditations to get through a stressful day.
SHATTERING THE STIGMA
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), national statistics in 2019 reveal the following:
301 million people were living with an anxiety disorder, including 58 million children and adolescents, which has increased significantly post pandemic.
280 million people were living with depression, including 23 million children and adolescents, which has increased exponentially since the pandemic.
40 million people experienced bipolar disorder
14 million people experienced eating disorders, including almost 3 million children and adolescents.
Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people worldwide
Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant problems. Learn what you can do about stigma.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/mental-health/art-20046477
We at On Course Psychological Counseling wish you and your family a Healthy and Happy New Year!
From our OnCourse family to yours...
On Course Psychological Counseling, P.C. is offering
a FREE webinar to help you
reach your goals for 2024!
Learn coping strategies to manage stress and
change habits that get in your way.
DATE: Tuesday, January 30th
TIME: 6:00pm
WHERE: Online
If interested, RSVP via email: support@oncoursecounseling.com
Self-Care & Self-Esteem Group
Learn to not be a people pleaser and say no to others and yes to yourself! Emotionally abusive relationships can leave one feeling manipulated, intimidated and emotionally battered, which can evoke unfair feelings of guilt and self-doubt. Learn to break the internal cycle of abuse by setting boundaries in emotionally abusive relationships and unapologetically prioritizing your own needs. Learn to challenge negative thought patterns that can evoke feelings of fear, which can hamper self-confidence and motivation. Reflect on ways that self-care, mentally and emotionally, can help you to improve your self-esteem as you rediscover yourself.
Facilitator: Nicole Daisy, PhD
When: Mondays @ 6:30pm
Where: Telehealth
Coping with Anxiety Group
Fears Panic Hope
This support group for anxiety will focus on teaching coping skills to help reduce fears, phobias, panic attacks, social anxiety and stress. Evidence based therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, will be used to teach coping skills.
Learn relaxation skills and stress relief coping skills to manage
anxiety, worrying, fearfulness, phobias, and panic attacks.
Facilitator: Carolyn Abbott, LMHC
When: Tuesdays @ 6:00 pm
Where: via Telehealth online
For any New York State resident who is interested contact us: 516 255-4100 or email: info@oncoursecounseling.com
Complex Trauma & Resiliency Group
This group will help clients grow from challenging circumstances in which they have been victimized repeatedly and emotionally abused in relationships. Processing the complex trauma, building self-esteem and learning to trust again will be the focus of the group. Evidence-based psychodynamic treatment will be used to address perceptions of oneself and others in relationships. As you gain insight regarding patterns of your behavior and your role in relationships, assertiveness training will be taught to ensure that you learn the tools to break the pattern and cycle of victimization.
Facilitator: Nicole Daisy, PhD
When: Thursdays @ 6:30pm
Where: Telehealth
Eating Disorder Group
Gain insight regarding your relationship with food. Self-reflect on eating habits and its relationship with underlying feelings. Learn ways to cope with managing emotions that are masked by eating issues. Discuss self-perception and body image. Build your self-esteem and allow self-awareness to help empower yourself to take control of your emotions and eating habits.
Facilitator: Nicole Daisy, PhD
When: Tuesdays @ 6:30pm
Where: Telehealth
For any New York State resident who is interested in individual or group therapy for adults or youth,
contact us: 516 255-4100 or email: info@oncoursecounseling.com
For more information about the services we offer visit: www.oncoursecounseling.com