Processing Holiday Thoughts and Emotions

This is the time of year that thoughts and feelings related to the holiday season stir. For some, they anticipate celebrations and a connection, where for others they may experience resistance and dread. Emotions can feel overwhelming and this time of the year most people have expressed to me that grief, despair, loss and a sense of powerlessness seems to bombard them.

In the many conversations I have had with clients who experience challenges this time of the year, what has served them well is a combination of strategies and skills centered on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and emotion focused therapy (EFT). Skills such as emotional processing and regulation, to understanding where their thoughts stem from has resulted in alleviation of stress and a boost to their mental health aspect. 

For readers that are not familiar with CBT and EFT, CBT is a short term, problem focused therapy which aims to assist individuals in identifying and changing thinking and behaviour patterns that are causing distress in their lives. EFT focuses on the role of emotions in psychotherapeutic change. The client and the therapist work towards strategies to transform the emotion through a corrective emotional experience. Think of EFT as having three goals; strengthen the self, regulate the affect, and create new meaning. 

I suggest asking yourself are you emotionally aware? Emotional awareness is imperative to help you understand what you're feeling, the why and what is physically happening to yourself at that time. When we are able to regulate, what that means is to be present, a sense of calmness, receptive and aware. The flip to regulation is dysregulation- when a person may find themselves shutting down or withdrawing from the situation. 

We all have our go to; things that when we are stressed we resort to certain habits that perpetuate those patterns that may be actually doing a disservice to our state of being. In particular, CBT provides tools to approach situations with mental strength by focusing on negative thoughts, thought patterns, reframing one's perceptions, management of ourselves (behaviour) provides those opportunities to have those check-ins on whether we are taking a break and meeting our basic human needs such as love, nurture and safety. 

At The Victoria Assessment and Therapy Institute, we are here to support you in self-determining your own growth, whatever you may need. Contact our office if you think CBT and/or EFT with a therapist might hold helpful strategies for you to navigate this season, as well as in through the New Year.

Author: Stephanie Robertson MCP, RCC, CCC

Disclosure: The information provided is generic advice, please contact your individual therapist to match your circumstances.