11/27/2025
To those who are gathering tomorrow, we wish you all the best. We hope you find yourself surrounded by love and support. We are grateful to be a part of your community this year. However, we also want to acknowledge the struggles some of us are carrying as we enter this season. While we hope and plan for the joy of the season, we want to prepare for the potential tension, grief, and sometimes trauma this time can bring too.
Our very own Daniel Sieber, PhD, LCSW, is leading a group offering to help support this very need this holiday season. He reminds us that it’s ok to be of two minds about this time - happy about the togetherness AND maybe some trepidation about dealing with difficult family members too. It’s ok to set clear boundaries about topics of conversations to keep the peace. And when a subject can’t be avoided - it’s important to remember minds don’t have to be changed - stay curious. WHY have people come to these thoughts and opinions through their life experiences. It may not bridge differences, but it might build empathy. You also may be feeling joy with those around you but equally juggling the grief from those not at the table this year.
It can be a complex terrain of emotions, but you are not alone. Surround yourself with your support network, check-in before to prepare and after to debrief.
If you are looking for additional professional support and more tools to navigate these mixed emotions and challenging family dynamics, check out our next group offering on 12/11 with Daniel (check link in bio for more information).
