Steppingstone Therapeutic

05/28/2025

Laugh for the day! Good medicine.

01/01/2024

I have been hacked

03/22/2022

Techniques to calm and contain feelings

Get the latest strategies on treating trauma in The Advanced Master Program on the Treatment of Trauma – https://www.nicabm.com/program/master-program-on-tre...

01/05/2022

Are you in need of new windows?

12/09/2021

Many people are grieving this holiday season.

Holiday host etiquette: If you’re inviting someone to your home and they’re grieving, be sure you’re inviting their grief to attend, too. It will be there, anyway.

Don’t invite someone with the goal of cheering them up for the holidays. Don’t expect them to put on a happy face in your home. Don’t demand they fake it til they make it or do something they don’t want to do, either.

Invite them with the loving intention of offering cheer and companionship and unconditional care during the holidays. To do this, you will need to honor and be responsive to their needs and emotions.

You can do this by privately acknowledging their grief when you make the invitation:

“I know this season is extra hard and your heart is hurting. You and your grief are welcome in our home. Come as you are, we’d be honored to have you with us.”

It’s also incredibly loving to honor the reality that it’s often hard for grieving folks to know what they will want, need, be up for, or able to tolerate at the holidays.

Giving them an invite without the need for commitment and permission to change their mind is extra loving:

“You don’t have to decide right now. If it feels good to be with us, we will have plenty of food and love for you-just show up! I’ll check in again the day before to see if you’re feeling up to coming over and if there’s anything you’d like me to know about how we can support you.”

Your grieving friends and fam need attentive care and responsiveness at the holidays, not plans to keep them busy, distracted, and happy.

If they’re laughing, laugh with them.

If they’re weeping, ask if they’d like your company or your help finding a quiet place to snuggle up alone for awhile.

If they’re laughing while weeping, and this is more common than you’d think, stay with them - this is a precious moment of the human experience that is truly sacred.

We don’t need to protect ourselves or each other from grief at the holidays. In fact, the more we embrace grief as an honored holiday guest, the more healthy, happy, and whole our holidays will be. 🙏

In solidarity,
Sarah Nannen

11/19/2020

Make sure your body is detoxed so it is strong to meet todays challenges... We have on hand at SteppingStone. We care about your health...

Learn more about Spanish Black Radish from Standard Process, a leader in whole food nutritional supplements.

10/20/2020

Free PACER workshop for parents of children and youth with mental health needs. Webinar format, first class is tonight (Tuesday October 20, 2020) at 6:30 PM. To register: PACER.org/workshops.

10/16/2020

And how to nip them in the bud before they start.

07/23/2020

Play is the language of children — which is why play therapy can help kids speak the unspeakable.