Why I See Clients on Christmas Day - What is Lifestyle Therapy?

Don?t get me wrong; I don?t always see clients on Christmas Day. It?s not as if there?s a steady stream of people weaving around the building in need of an appointment. But for some people Christmas Day is dreadful, a major ordeal and they need to see a counsellor or hypnotherapist to help them cope better with the Day.

Many people work on Christmas Day as well as other Bank Holidays. Catering, hospital staff, emergency services, transport systems have staff who work over the holidays. Some people don?t mind working; they may get paid extra and rejoin their families later in the day. Others have to work in rotation with their colleagues and this year it?s their turn.

Let?s look at the people who may need the services of a counsellor or hypnotherapist on Christmas Day;

- Bereaved people, even long-term bereaved people often struggle with significant times of the year. Certain times of the year can be hard because of their focus on family, love, caring and togetherness. Unlike more personal anniversaries that can be endured alone, Christmas is an occasion that is constantly in our faces. Television programmes, magazine articles, shops, other peoples? houses are all full of tinsel and bonhomie. Feeling depressed, unhappy, alone can be especially hard to manage at this time.

- Being single can be difficult at Christmas time. Friends and family may mean well but watching others make plans, agonise over gifts for their loved ones, talk about their plans, even complain about in-laws or step children can all serve to reinforce a feeling of being alone, single, unloved.

- Childless people can really struggle at Christmas time. When a couple is desperate for a child even seeing a picture of Santa can be devastating. And it?s doubly difficult because people with children often don?t appreciate how hard it is for childless people, who, in turn, don?t want to spoil it for those with children.

- Being away from home or having to work over the Christmas period can cause feelings of loneliness, missing out on the fun, being sidelined. Feeling resentful or depressed as a consequence may require help in order to understand and deal with these reactions and feelings, and sometimes these feelings can become overwhelming.

Let?s look at ways to help in these situations:

- A counsellor or hypnotherapist can help a person who is struggling with issues of bereavement, loneliness, isolation. Therapy can help to improve outlook and perspective, help reduce stress, negative thinking and so improve personal levels of confidence and self-esteem. Negative thoughts and feelings can become a vicious cycle of despair and self-doubt. Certain times of the year can magnify those feelings and an appointment on Christmas Day can sometimes really help to lift the mood and improve the mindset.

- Accepting invitations can be a positive step. Many people are happy to set an extra place at Christmas Day lunch. There is often far too much food around already and an extra place is no problem. But accepting an invitation can be difficult to do. It may feel like charity or pity, but often it is neither. Seeing it as an invitation to join a few people for a pleasant meal can make a big difference to the experience of Christmas Day.

- Planning ahead to make the day special can be a remedy for loneliness. Arranging lovely meals, highlighting interesting films and television programmes, making home cosy, warm and comfortable are all important steps that can help make the day pleasurable. By allowing time for treats, like having a leisurely bath, reading a good book, doing some handicrafts, listening to music, the holiday period can become a precious break.

- Volunteering in a homeless shelter, refuge, animal sanctuary can be a valuable use of one?s time. Many of these places struggle to find staff at holiday times, so an offer of help is often warmly received. And doing so may open up a whole new world of friendships and interest.

And at the end of the day occasions like Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day are all just one day of the year. Seeing a counsellor or hypnotherapist can help with the underlying issues of grief, loneliness, low self-esteem but often being more relaxed about the day, making a few plans ahead and having less high expectations can significantly improve the experience.

Source: http://www.lifestyletherapy.net/why-i-see-clients-on-christmas-day/

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