Kristen Moore, MFT

We are knee deep in the holiday season! For most of us, the holidays bring up a host of feelings and memories, and not all of them are positive. This time of the year can be particularly difficult if it evokes loss or if you struggle with toxic family members. Here is your friendly reminder that you are worthy of boundaries and you get to take space for yourself, decide your own traditions and feel however you need to. I wish our culture made more space for these feelings at the table, but until then you can come sit next to me!

Happy Thursday! The Affirmators are back and this one is for you:

If you are struggling with the news around the Supreme Court nominee and the sexual assault he perpetrated please know you are not alone. I see you and believe you. I encourage you to stay connected and get support where you are able. Take a break from the news if you need to. If you aren’t in a place where you feel like you can share what’s coming up for you, that’s ok you can still care for yourself and remain in community. Call a friend or supporter just to check in and chat about other things. Reminding ourselves that we have community and avoiding isolation is a powerful way to combat anxiety and depression. If you would like immediate, confidential support please consider reaching out to RAINN: 1-800-656-4673.

Just in case you need a boost today:

Next up on the summer reading list! I’ve been wanting to pick this up for awhile and finally grabbed a copy:

Thanks to Cynthia Hoffman Mft for sharing this great article about the words we use. TL;DR: Stigma is perpetuated by the words we use when discussing substance use and this stigma leads to unequal access to care, among other harms. See fun chart below about what to say and what not to say:

For today's post I pulled an affirmation card for you all from my favorite deck of "Affirmators!: (50 Affirmation Cards to Help You Help Yourself Without the Self-Helpy-Ness)". If you're reading this, today's affirmation is for you:

where are my Millenials? What say you?

Currently reading the new report Expanding Our Frame, Deepening our Demands for Safety and Healing for Survivors of Sexual Violence just released by The National Black Women’s Justice Institute and Andrea J. Ritchie, Esq. The brief aims to help expand the messaging of the anti-sexual violence movement by centering Black women, girls, and femmes and building new structures of partnership and accountability for healing: bit.ly/expanding-our-frame

How do you combat a case of the Mondays? I've figured out that waking up early so that I have time to sit with my coffee, listen to some good tunes and return emails starts my week off on the right foot. Disaster may still come later, but I'll be caffeinated and singing some Queen!

Happy New Year! What if this year instead of focusing on a resolution around your physical weight you focused on losing emotional weight? Who could you be and what could you do if you were able to let go of some of the pain, self-doubt or anxiety plaguing you? Good news: kale is not required!