Lupe Rodriguez, M.A., MFT - Psychologist

12/29/2025

Salud mental y Año Nuevo

El Año Nuevo no exige perfección, solo intención.
Cuidar tu salud mental también es una meta.

Este año permítete:
• Avanzar a tu propio ritmo
• Descansar cuando lo necesites
• Sentir sin juzgarte
• Poner límites que te cuiden
• Pedir apoyo sin culpa

Que este nuevo año sea un espacio para sanar, crecer y vivir con más calma.
Tu bienestar importa. 🤍

12/29/2025

A new year doesn’t mean you have to become a new person.
Healing is not a race, and growth doesn’t follow a calendar.

This year, choose:
• Progress over perfection
• Rest without guilt
• Boundaries that protect your peace
• Asking for help when you need it
• Honoring how far you’ve already come

If last year was heavy, it’s okay to carry that truth with compassion.
If you’re still healing, you are not behind.
Every small step counts.

May this new year bring clarity, emotional safety, and moments of peace—one day at a time. 🌱

12/24/2025

A gentle reminder this season: be kind to your heart

12/17/2025

Las fiestas navideñas pueden despertar alegría, pero también tristeza, ansiedad o duelo, y todo eso es válido. Aquí tienes una guía clara y compasiva sobre salud mental en Navidad:

⸻

🎄 ¿Por qué la Navidad puede ser difícil?
• Duelo y ausencias (personas que ya no están)
• Expectativas sociales de “estar feliz”
• Conflictos familiares
• Presión económica
• Soledad, incluso estando acompañados

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💛 Señales de alerta emocional
• Tristeza persistente o llanto frecuente
• Ansiedad, insomnio o irritabilidad
• Sensación de vacío o desconexión
• Culpa por no “disfrutar” las fiestas

Si te identificas con esto, no estás fallando, estás reaccionando humanamente.

⸻

🌱 Estrategias para cuidarte
• Permítete sentir sin juzgarte
• Reduce expectativas: no todo tiene que ser perfecto
• Pon límites a reuniones o conversaciones difíciles
• Crea rituales propios (una vela, una oración, escribir, caminar)
• Conecta con alguien seguro, aunque sea un mensaje
• Cuida lo básico: dormir, comer, moverte un poco

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🕊️ Si hay duelo
• Honra a quien falta de la manera que tú necesites
• Hablar de esa persona está bien
• La tristeza no arruina la Navidad: convive con ella

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🆘 Cuándo buscar ayuda

Si los pensamientos se vuelven abrumadores, hay desesperanza o ideas de hacerte daño:
• En EE. UU. puedes llamar o escribir al 988 (Línea de Crisis)
• O acudir a un profesional de salud mental

12/17/2025

The holidays can be especially hard when mental health struggles and grief are present. You’re not weak or “behind” for feeling this way — this season often amplifies loss, loneliness, anxiety, and pressure to feel joyful when your heart isn’t there.

Here are some gentle truths and tools that may help 🤍

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Why the holidays feel heavier
• Empty chair syndrome – missing someone who should be there
• Memory overload – traditions trigger grief
• Pressure to perform happiness
• Disrupted routines → sleep issues, anxiety, emotional swings
• Comparison – everyone else looks okay, even if they aren’t

All of this is normal, especially if you’ve experienced loss, relationship stress, or ongoing anxiety (which you’ve mentioned before).

⸻

What helps (without forcing cheerfulness)

1. Give yourself permission to feel
You can grieve and participate — or opt out entirely.
There is no rule that says you must celebrate fully.

2. Redefine the holidays
Ask yourself:
• “What feels tolerable this year?”
• Maybe it’s one event instead of five
• Maybe it’s a quiet night, a candle, or a walk

3. Protect your energy
It’s okay to say:
• “I’m keeping things low-key this year”
• “I may leave early”
Boundaries are not rude — they are self-respect.

4. Create a small ritual for grief
• Light a candle for who you miss
• Write them a letter
• Say their name out loud
Grief wants acknowledgment, not suppression.

5. Ground your nervous system
Especially if anxiety and sleep are off:
• Slow breathing (4 seconds in, 6 out)
• Warm showers or blankets
• Limit alcohol (it worsens grief + anxiety)

12/14/2025

The office will be closed from December 21st to January 10th.
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.)
• Call or text 988
• Chat at 988lifeline.org
• Available 24/7, free and confidential

If you’re in immediate danger, please call 911.

11/29/2025

La salud mental durante la Navidad puede verse afectada por el estrés, la ansiedad y la tristeza, debido a presiones como las económicas, las expectativas de perfección, la sobrecarga de actividades, la nostalgia por seres queridos ausentes o el aislamiento social. Es importante cuidar la salud mental estableciendo expectativas realistas, priorizando compromisos, manteniendo rutinas, conectando con seres queridos, dedicando tiempo a la relajación y, si es necesario, buscando ayuda profesional.

11/29/2025

Mental health can be challenging during the holidays due to stress from financial pressure, social obligations, and complex family dynamics. It can also be a time of heightened loneliness or grief, especially for those with a history of mental health conditions or recent loss. To cope, prioritize self-care, set realistic expectations and boundaries, connect with your support system, and consider professional help if needed.

11/26/2025

This Thanksgiving, we’re sending love to everyone who may find the holidays difficult. Whether you’re experiencing mental illness, loneliness, grief, burnout, or challenges with loved ones or finances, please know you are not alone.
Take a moment to care for yourself and remember that it’s okay to set boundaries and prioritize your well-being.
From all of us at Rodriguez Counseling Center, we’re thankful for the strength and resilience of our community. Wishing you peace and comfort this holiday season.
YouAreNotAlone

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

🧡 A Mindful Thanksgiving: Tips for Mental Wellness During the Break 🦃

As we gather to celebrate the season of gratitude, let’s also take care of our mental well-being. Here are a few tips to make this Thanksgiving a mindful and balanced one:

🍂 Practice gratitude: Start a daily gratitude ritual with loved ones.
🍂 Manage stress: Prioritize self-care with breaks and realistic expectations.
🍂 Stay connected but balance alone time: Recharge with moments of quiet.
🍂 Create safe spaces for conversations: Check in with loved ones about their feelings.
🍂 Limit digital overload: Unplug and focus on in-person connections.
🍂 Promote healthy sleep habits: Rest is key for mental wellness.

If you or someone you love needs support, at #988

11/11/2025

The Veterans Crisis Line’s new number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need. Signed into law in 2020, the National Su***de Hotline Designation Act authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline.