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The Challenges of Coming Out in Your 30s and 40s

National Coming Out Day has been observed since 1988, and it still stands as a day of liberation and celebration for millions of people each year. But if you are in your 30s or 40s, you might worry that you’re too old to come out as gay, lesbian or another sexual orientation. While it may feel like coming out young is the norm, there are over 3 million Americans over 50 who identify as LGBTQ, so you are not alone.

At Caring Heart Counseling, we have therapists experienced in working with LGBTQ clients who can help you navigate the unique struggles and challenges you face, including coming out in your 30s and 40s.

Fears About Coming Out Later in Life

The biggest fear most clients in their 30s and 40s have is the impact they’ll have on their loved ones. You may have children, close friends or a family who has a specific image of you that you fear will be shattered if they know your sexual orientation. You could also feel torn between the straight life you’ve led, even if people just assumed it, and the gay world that feels foreign and unfamiliar.

There can be a serious amount of stress, anxiety and discomfort toward embracing oneself as LGBTQ. You may not even know if you fully identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or something else entirely. This can naturally lead to an avoidance that keeps you trapped in silence, unsure when or if it’s a good idea to be more open about your identity.

Can Counseling Help Me Come Out?

Therapists who have experience in treating LGBTQ clients can help them navigate the pros and cons of coming out. They can’t tell you when to do so, but they can help you explore the process, practice and decide who to let in on your personal life. What’s most important is figuring out what feels most comfortable and safe for you; you should never be forced to come out from societal pressure or preconceived notions. Likewise, you shouldn’t be condemned to a life that doesn’t feel genuine because you fear you’ve missed your time to come out.

There’s Never a Wrong Time to Come Out

While it’s never too late to be open about who you are and who you love, it can be daunting for someone who feels like they’ve “missed the mark.” The younger generation are so open about their sexualities and gender identities that gay, lesbian, bisexual and other LGBTQ people might feel like they’re “too old.”

You could also be in a marraige or long-term relationship with a heterosexual partner and feel guilty telling them the truth about your sexual orientation. Perhaps you’re currently single but your past relationship history has family and friends believing you’re straight. In either case, it is still 100-percent okay and acceptable for you to come out and embrace your identity.

Contact us to learn more about our individual LGBTQ counseling in Colorado. Our therapists are always happy to answer any questions you have about the therapeutic process and what we can do for you.

Why Perfectionism Plagues the LGBTQ Community and How to Deal With It?

For so many people, being gay, lesbian, transgender or queer makes them feel broken. They may have been explicitly told their identity is unacceptable or wrong by non-supportive family members; if they lived in the closet for a long time, there is an innate desire to make everyone happy and prove themselves as “good enough” that can transform into a major struggle with perfectionism.

Being LGBTQ is more accepted than ever, but that doesn’t automatically make it any easier for anyone. Coming out is still scary, and there are still many people who will judge you based on hurtful stereotypes, negative stigmas and false ideas about who you are. You might even find yourself struggling to accept yourself as LGBTQ because you don’t feel like you’re living the way you should.

To overcome perfectionism, it’s important to first understand the way it’s linked to your identity.

A Protection Against Discrimination

While they’re still young children, many LGBTQ men, women and individuals were picked on or shunned by classmates. They may have been called gay as an insult or had other slurs hurled at them. At any age, this would be painful, but to a child who is still so vulnerable emotionally and mentally, it can be detrimental.

When you don’t feel accepted for who you are while you’re still developing, it can lead to constant feelings of worthlessness and insecurity in adulthood. To overcome the feeling of being “not good enough,” perfectionism can emerge as a defense mechanism. Proving yourself to others, whether it’s as the most talented, smart or successful, becomes a means of keeping yourself safe.

How Perfectionism Holds You Back

On the outside, many perfectionists really are successful. They might hold esteemed degrees or academic credentials, have great jobs in sought-after fields and be living a life others even envy. But that doesn’t mean they’re satisfied. In fact, at the core of perfectionism, there is a driving force of dissatisfaction. Nothing really feels “enough” because you could always do more, be more, look better, etc.

Left unchecked, perfectionism can create a cycle of anxiety and depression that makes achievement even harder. This, in turn, fuels greater feelings and fears of inadequacy. You’ll suddenly find yourself trapped trying to be the best while constantly feeling the worst.

Hiding Behind the “Perfect” Image

For many trans men and women, being “perfect” means conforming to everyone else’s idea of what they should look like. If you are closeted, this could mean embracing the epitome of masculinity or femninity while denying your true identity. If you are open but still struggle to look the “right” way, vulnerability and intimacy become challenges rather than joys in any relationship.

Rather than feeling comfortable showing someone who you are, there is an underlying fear that any type of imperfection is a fatal flaw that no one will ever be able to truly accept and love.

Overcoming Perfectionism Through Therapy

A LGBTQ counselor can help you address perfectionism’s impact on your mental health, self-esteem and self-image. Marrying your true self with your LGBTQ identity takes a lot of inner work, which can be difficult to tackle alone. Together, we can work one-on-one to overcome your anxiety, fears and negative thoughts. We can work on building self-acceptance and growing more comfortable with not being “perfect.” You can learn to be real.

Contact us today to book a session with one of our Colorado therapists.

The LGBTQ Community and Anxiety and Depression

Mental health is different for everyone, but there are particularly unique experiences in the LGBTQ community that position its members to experience greater levels of depression and anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, LGBTQ depression and anxiety is 1.5 to 2.5 percent more prevalent than the same disorders among the heterosexual, gender-conforming population.

Many people who aren’t part of the LGBTQ community do not fully understand the experiences and circumstances that place individuals at a greater risk of mental illness. Stigma and fear of rejection also cause many “out members” to mask the depth of their feelings and mental health symptoms. In order to create a more inclusive society rooted in understanding, Caring Heart Counseling wishes to help communities, friends and family members understand the unique mental health experiences and needs of LGBTQ people.

Social Conditioning and Depression

From a very early age, children are exposed to both subvert and overt messages that allow them to build concepts of how a man or woman should be. They learn in movies, books and even through their own eye witnesses what love “should” look like. These mental concepts are called schema, and they form the framework of how a person goes on to interpret themselves and others.

Unfortunately, the narrative surrounding LGBTQ people has been grossly stereotyped. The gay man has always been ultra-feminine and sassy, a caricature that people come to expect from someone who comes out as gay. Transgender people are expected to “pass” fully and meet a certain set of physical criteria before others accept their identity, as if they are only okay with someone being trans if they look like a cisgender male or female.

A person who finds that their same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria do not align with their society’s expectations is more likely to experience feelings of inferiority, rejection and isolation that lead to clinical depression.

Living With Anxiety as an LGBTQ Person

The same messages that someone internalizes as a child can become their source of anxiety later in life. The fear that they are not good enough, that they’re “different” and flawed cause many LGBTQ people to develop general and social anxiety disorders. Rejection, discrimination and prejudices from communities can also lead to a threat response that causes LGBTQ people to fear everyday situations and interactions with other people.

A person who lives as LGBTQ might place extreme burdens on themselves to meet other people’s expectations. They may feel like they have to “prove” their good enough to be loved and accepted as if their sexuality or gender identity is a mark against them. Many people might listen to these concerns, but they aren’t often qualified or educated enough on the LGBTQ experience to provide the level of support someone needs to heal.

How Therapy Can Help

Therapy is one way to overcome depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses within the framework of being LGBTQ. At Caring Heart Counseling, we do not view your sexuality or gender identity as being a cause of any mental health symptoms. Your identity is not the problem, but it can be influencing your perception, impacting your relationships and negatively impacting how you see yourself.

An accepting, educated therapist can provide the compassionate support and understanding you need to benefit from therapy. If you would like to learn more, please contact us anytime or request an appointment.

How to Support Your LGBTQ Friends

If your friend is part of the LGBTQ community, you likely want to show them all the love and support in the world. Whether you’ve always known or they recently came out, acknowledging and celebrating their identity is a great way to be a good ally. Sometimes, people who aren’t familiar with LGBTQ identities inadvertently offend their friends. They might go over the top with their support to the point it dehumanizes their friend or embarrasses them; they might tell them that being gay or transgender “doesn’t matter”, which unintentionally dismisses a core part of their life.

This guide will help you be a more supportive friend and create a more inclusive and accepting world for everyone.

Learn About Their Experience

Be open minded and willing to listen to your friend’s evolving experience as an LGBTQ individual. What have been their greatest sources of pride? What are their biggest challenges and fears? You can support your friend solely by being present and listening. You don’t need to fully understand their experience to be supportive. Just the act of being there can give your friend a much-needed sense of acceptance that so many LGBTQ people go without.

Do Not Sexualize Them
Your friend’s gender identity and sexual orientation are not oddities; as individuals, they are not educators or responsible for answering any and all questions you have about how sex and love works for someone who isn’t cisgender or heterosexual. Although you might genuinely be asking from a harmless position of curiosity, asking your friend questions about their sex life can dehumanize them and deny their body autonomy.

You also don’t want to imply through your questioning that there’s a right or wrong way to be intimate. Sex looks different for everyone, and it is a personal matter that isn’t immediately open to discussion just because someone identifies as LGBTQ.

Find Good Resources to Help Them
LGBTQ people are more likely to experience mental illness, prejudice and discrimination. Even as full-fledged adults with careers and a good support system, they may carry wounds from a non-supportive family or bad experiences from the past. You can help them by educating yourself and knowing what resources to direct them to if they ever need help. Local therapists and support groups that offer LGBTQ services can provide a safe space that’s understanding of your friend’s experiences and needs.

You can also educate yourself on some of the warning signs of poor mental health in your friend; identifying issues and reaching out to them when things are difficult can be life-saving.

If you’re searching for LGBTQ therapists in Denver, we are always available and eager to meet with you at Caring Heart Counseling. To learn more, contact us or request an appointment.

How Talk Therapy Can Be Helpful for Your LGBTQ Teen

If your child has recently come out to you as being transgender or non-binary, you might be panicking and wondering how to support them through the next chapter of their life. Coming out at any age takes tremendous courage, and your child might still be feeling anxious and afraid about what this realization means for them.

Seeking out ways to support your child through this time already shows how much you love them. Although you may not know what to say or do in this moment, know that the most valuable thing you can offer your child is love and acceptance. To help you continue to provide as much support as possible, we have put together several therapist-approved strategies.

Learn About Gender Identity

Gender and sex are not the same thing, and this is often the biggest misconception and point of confusion for parents whose child has just come out. Sex is a biological fact, but gender is a social construct that is generally comprised as “masculine” or “feminine.” When your child does not feel like the gender they were assigned at birth, they may decide that they want to live as the opposite, in which case they would be transgender. Non-binary gender, on the other hand, encompasses a wide range of gender expressions that may nor may not relate to someone’s sex.

You can learn more about gender, transgender and non-binary experiences through sites like the National Center for Trans Equality, the Trans Youth Equality Foundation, and the American Psychological Association.

Ask Questions

Rather than ask your child, “Why do you want to be ____?”, you can speak with them about their feelings and thoughts. This process can help you understand them while allowing them to vocalize emotions they have likely been struggling with alone for a long time. Questions are only questions; expressing a desire to understand your child’s feelings, rather than putting them in a defensive position, shows you care about their mental health and experience as a transgender or non-binary person.

Accept the Answers Your Child Doesn’t Have Yet

Just because your child comes out does not mean they fully understand what they want to do next. Transitioning takes time, and the timeline is different for everyone. Ask your child what steps they’d like to take next. Do they have a name they would like to go by? Would they like to start wearing clothes that are better aligned with their identity? They might not fully know what they want to do yet, and that’s okay. Both of you can move forward at your own pace. There is no rush.

Allow Yourself to Accept and Even Grieve

You can accept your child unconditionally and still feel a loss over who you thought they were. Your hopes and dreams for their future are different, and it’s natural to feel confusion and even pain about their transition. Siblings will also need time to understand and adjust to your child’s new identity. But no matter what their sexuality or gender, your child is still the same person. Their incredible personality, sense of humor, aspirations and strengths do not change based on who they love or what gender they identify as.

However, it is still important to acknowledge the importance of their decision to come out. Being transgender or non-binary doesn’t define a person, but it is a large part of who they are and how they see themselves and their place in the world.

Get Help Together

Counseling for LGBTQ can help you support your child while addressing any difficult thoughts, feelings or fears you have about their transition. Children can work with a counselor to address their changing needs and mental health including problems common among transgender and non-binary youth. We also offer family counseling that helps the entire family adjust to the change and be as supportive and accepting as possible.

Contact Caring Heart Counseling to learn more or book your appointment today!

How Talk Therapy Can Be Helpful for Your LGBTQ Teen

For many LGBTQ teens, feeling safe and open to discussing their often conflicting feelings is difficult. Mental illness affects teens in the LGBTQ community at a much higher rate than their cisgender, heterosexual peers; LGBTQ teens are six times more likely to experience depression and four times more likely to have thoughts about suicide or self-harm. The most concerning statistic is for those whose families reject their identity. LGBTQ teens from non-supportive families are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families are accepting of their identities.

You only want what’s best for your child, but you may not know how to handle their emotions and unique experiences as an LGBTQ individual. Whether they are questioning their gender or sexuality, recently came out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, it’s critical for them to feel like they are loved, supported and whole exactly as they are, no matter who they love, what their pronouns are or who they wish to become in the future.

Talk therapy for LGBTQ teens takes both age and experience into account. The mental health of teenagers is already characterized by unique challenges, including struggles with body image, self-esteem and identity. When a teenager is also facing other challenges related to their sexuality or gender, it can have a compounding effect on their mental health. In therapy, they will be able to gain support, guidance and acceptance while learning how to cope with any underlying mental health issues they are experiencing.

Cope With Prejudice and Bullying

LGBTQ teens are twice as likely as their peers to experience bullying, violence and sexual assault. Learning how to recognize the warning signs of an abusive relationship, setting boundaries and building resilience are all topics that can be covered in therapy. Some teens may feel more comfortable discussing situations with a third party than with their parents. Rather than forcing them to open up about experiences with their family, a therapist allows them to work through feelings in a safe space and reveal things on their own terms.

Build a Good Self-Esteem

When a teenager feels like their sexuality or gender is different than what they consider “normal,” they’re more likely to suffer from low self-esteem. They might feel like they are broken or damaged because of who they are attracted to or how they see themselves. In transgender teens, body dysphoria can also trigger depression and self-loathing.

Part of a therapist’s job is to help every client see the inherent value in themselves regardless of where they currently are in life or what struggles they are facing. For an LGBTQ teen, this means building a solid foundation of positive self-talk and personal regard that they can rely on as they grow.

Treat Mental Health Issues

Because LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience mental illness, therapy is always beneficial to assess their current mental health. Most mental illnesses present themselves before age 14, but far too few are ever addressed during adolescence. By participating in talk therapy, your teen can get help for any psychological symptoms they’re experiencing and prevent them from worsening in the future.

Therapy helps teens let go of judgement and recognize the value in their identity. Different forms of talk therapy can be used depending on their needs, including cognitive-behavioral, emotionally-focused, and body-centered approaches. If you are interested in learning more about our services or scheduling a virtual or in-person counseling appointment for your teen, contact Caring Heart Counseling or request an appointment today.

7 Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ Teens

Coming out as LGBTQ is a life-changing moment, but not everyone experiences the same sense of liberation and acceptance. Many teens can’t come out because they know they’ll face serious backlash from their families or communities. Even after you come out, your mental health struggles don’t magically disappear.

It’s okay to be scared and wondering whether it’s even a good idea to let others know who you are. While you figure out the right time to open up to your friends and family, Caring Heart Counseling is here to provide you with resources to get the support you need and deserve.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization that offers 24-hour crisis counseling for LGBTQ+ teens. In addition to a list of resources, they also provide telephone counseling and a chat that you can connect with anytime.

LGBT National Youth Talkline

The LGBT National Youth Talkline is available to anyone 25 and younger who needs someone to talk to. You can reach them at 800.246.7743 for 100-percent free and confidential support. You’ll have a safe space to talk with someone about issues including sexuality, gender, anxiety, problems with school, family troubles and relationships. You can also call simply to vent and be reminded that someone out there cares and you’re never truly alone.

Love Is Respect

When you’re new to relationships, it’s hard to know what’s healthy and what’s a red flag. If you aren’t out yet, you might find yourself trapped in a bad situation and not even able to get help from family or friends. Love Is Respect offers information on sex health, dating and support for victims of abuse. You can read their site or call them at 1.866.331.9474.

National Runaway Safeline

If you aren’t safe at home or are thinking of running away, call 1-800 RUNAWAY (1.800.786.2929) to speak with a trained responder who can help you figure out what to do and how to stay safe. You can also chat or use the forums to talk to others in similar situations. It’s always better to reach out, explain what you’re going through and receive help rather than put yourself in danger.

Help Guide

Help Guide published a variety of articles on topics ranging from a teenager’s guide to depression to eating disorders and suicide prevention. If you want a one-stop source to learn all the basics about a variety of mental health subjects, this is a fantastic place to start.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI dedicates itself to offering help and resources to LGBTQ teens, regardless of whether they’ve figured out their own identity yet. Here, you can learn about important LGBTQ statistics and learn how to find a good mental health professional who treats LGBTQ teens.

Caring Heart Counseling

Our Denver, Colorado theapists offer LGBTQ and gender identity counseling. Whether you need someone you can confide in or help dealing with problems like stress, anxiety or depression, we’re here to listen. Our therapy sessions are confidential, and we can help you work through your problems in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Contact Caring Heart Counseling for more information about counseling for LGBTQ individuals or request an appointment.

What You Need to Know About Substance Abuse in the LGBTQ Community

Being a part of the LGBTQ community, openly or not, has a significant impact on how you see yourself and place in society. Those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning might feel pressured to join the community when they just want to live their life without being impacted by their sexual orientation or gender identity. Given the significant challenges people who identify as LGBTQ face, they are more likely to suffer from mental disorders like depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

LGBTQ Substance Abuse Statistics

The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual (LGB) Adults shows that LGB adults have a higher substance abuse rate than the national average. They are also less likely to receive treatment.

Individuals who identify as transgender are also more likely to experience mental health problems and struggle with substance abuse at a mucher higher rate than the rest of the population. Discrimination, social stigma, personal psychological struggles and abuse all place transgender people at a higher risk of developing a substance use disorder or misusing drugs and alcohol.

Unforuntately, there are still no national studies from accredited organizations that track substance abuse among the transgender population. Although they are substantially more likely to suffer from poor mental health, the transgender community remains largely underserved and misrepresented in the media.

Causes of LGBTQ Substance Abuse

Heteronormative cultural standards have made it difficult for an LGBTQ person to feel accepted and included in their daily lives. Even within their own families, someone who comes out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender can face serious criticism and even become subject to physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Lack of social support, coupled with stigma about what it means to be LGBTQ, causes many individuals to suffer in silence or even deny their identity.

Self-Stigma and Body Dysmorphia

When someone realizes their gender identity or sexual orientation differ from what they see as “normal,” they are often likely to react with feelings of shame, guilt and anger. Rather than celebrating themselves for who they are, most people have some level of internalized stigmas that cause them to judge rather than accept themselves. When they perceive their identity as problematic, they’re more likely to begin struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety. This can lead to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.

Many transgender people suffer from body dysmorphia, a condition that causes them to focus on their percieved flaws in their apperance. For someone who does not feel their anatomy matches their gender, this can cause significant distress and emotional grief that they are forced to confront on a daily basis.

Lack of Appropriate Medical Care

Many LGTBQ people have experienced discrimination in the medical field; their sexual health is often judged or condemned, and they have a difficult time finding sensitive practioners who understand their unique needs and challenges. This also persists in the mental health professional. Receiving treatment for a mental health problem, including substance abuse, is not as easy for someone who is LGBTQ as a straight, cis-gender person.

The lack of resources, fear of judgement and discrimination can leave people suffering alone for years.

LGBTQ Therapy in Denver, Colorado

Caring Heart Counseling prides itself on serving the Denver LGBTQ community with compassion, sensitivity and inclusivity. We respect all races, genders and sexualities at our practice and encourage any and everyone who wants to receive counseling to reach out.

We offer substance use support counseling for LGBTQ individuals that’s both accessible and affordable. Contact us today to learn more or request an appointment get matched with one of our therapists.

How to Maintain Your New Year’s Resolution

Resolutions are a fun New Year’s tradition, but they can also cause a lot of pressure and disappointment. The top resolutions each year are focused on wellness, including exercising more, losing weight and eating a healthier diet. In 2019, a survey found that only 7 percent of people stuck to their original resolutions while 19 percent managed to fulfill some but not all of their plans.

To give yourself the best headstart to 2021, here are a few therapist-approved tips to making and sticking to good New Year’s resolutions.

Tell Your Therapist

Your therapist helps you stay accountable and make meaningful changes in your life. As you prepare to embark on a new year, voicing your desires and plans to your therapist can help shape the course of your time together. They can help you recognize reasons these resolutions are important to you which serve as motivation when times are though. They can also help you come up with action plans to stay on track and make short-term, fulfilling goals that gradually become good habits.

Choose One Meaningful Change

Rather than burdening yourself with a long list of resolutions, pick one that you are truly passionate about and most likely to achieve. When you start to reshape one aspect of your life, others tend to follow suit. If your resolution is to work out more, for example, then you will find that it can also help you be more social and self-disciplined.

If you aren’t sure which resolution to choose, use a journal to write down the pros and cons of each. What is your main reason for pursuing each one, and what are some steps you could immediately take to start fulfilling them?

Avoid Being Ambiguous

Saying you want to “lose weight” or “eat better” sounds wonderful but can be hard to put into practice. If your overall resolution is too broad, find a way to break it into more concrete goals. Someone who wants to use social media less, for example, might decide to not use the internet an hour before bed rather than avoiding it entirely.

Plan Ahead

Waiting until the last minute to declare your resolution can make it harder to follow through with it on January 1st. Avoid putting pressure on yourself to transform right away; instead, develop a plan that lasts the whole year and gives you plenty of room to grow and learn from any setbacks.

Smaller steps lead to the most lasting changes; a successful resolution strategy has a clear end-goal supported by smaller, actionable steps. By getting a headstart on planning, you also have time to come up with potential solutions to any obstacles that you might face.

Have you tried to carry out New Year’s resolutions in the past but struggled to stay consistent? A therapist can help you set goals that work for you and bring you a sense of achievement and inspiration instead of stress and anxiety. Contact Caring Heart Counseling to learn more about our services or request an appointment.

Tips on Avoiding Family Confrontation During the Holidays

Holiday gatherings are both a long-awaited tradition and dreaded aspect of the season. Celebrating with an extended family often involves meeting relatives you rather not deal with. Even your closest family members may share political views you disagree with or find ways to turn conversation into unwanted criticism and questions.

While you can’t stop someone from sharing their views, you can make a game plan to respond to any unwanted conversion and keep the holidays centered around companionship and appreciation.

Keep a Distance

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, health experts recommend celebrating from afar. This may receive some backlash from family members who do not believe gathering poses a threat, especially if others quarantine prior. However, new studies show that getting together indoors can lead to the spread of the coronavirus, even if people wear masks and practice social distancing.

Arrange virtual holiday celebrations instead. You can open presents on video chat, stream holiday specials and even bake cookies together while Facetiming. You have a right to keep you and your family healthy and safe this year, even if other relatives do not agree. The best thing you can do if they criticize your choice to not attend any gatherings is to say you value their well-being as much as your own, so you’re keeping your distance and wishing them well even if you aren’t together.

Hold Gatherings on Rotation

You might decide to meet with certain family members at different times. Couples may visit each other’s parents on different days, and friends may choose to get together for a drama-free celebration. One of the best ways to avoid unnecessary drama is to avoid intermingling with relatives who are prone to arguing with each other. Rather than expecting them to act differently, accept the reality of their differences and find a way to enjoy time with them individually.

Avoid Triggering Topics

Certain subject matter doesn’t have any place in a family gathering. Politics, religion and lifestyle choices, like gender identity and sexuality, should not be brought up during a holiday celebration. This is a time to cast aside differences and embrace people for who they are.

Of course, that does not mean you are subject to tolerating any unwanted abuse or commentary on your life. If there are certain relatives who make you uncomfortable or put you on the spot, it’s okay to decline seeing them, no matter what others have to say about it.

Put Gratitude Before Justification

Being grateful is more important than being right. While it may do your ego some good to best a relative in an argument or get into a heated debate about politics, will that really bring you what you need after such a tough year? As 2020 draws to a close, we must draw closer to what really matters in life.

Families are always going to have their differences. Some are easier to reconcile with than others. By returning to a place of gratitude, you can act with compassion and find the strength to let certain things go in favor of enjoying others’ company.

Caring Heart Counseling can help you navigate the often-stressful holiday season. Together, we can come up with an action plan to cope with difficult relatives and prioritize your peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to book a virtual therapy appointment.