Anam Counseling Early Spring 2022 Newsletter
Jess Helle-Morrissey, MA, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C, CLD(CBI), CLEC
Hello, dear clients.
As I write this, there is snow melting off my office roof, dripping past my window. Even though it’s still mid-February, I’m going to be optimistic and call it early spring. If you haven’t already, take a moment to notice the extra light in each day. Notice if you feel any extra energy, or stirrings toward an awakening from winter hibernation. We’ve officially passed the halfway mark between winter solstice and spring equinox! Even as a hardcore lover of winter, I always find this time of year to be energizing and hopeful. Keep noticing your glimmers.
With that extra light and possibility, check in with yourself about ways you can use this time to be kind to yourself physically or mentally. Maybe use the extra daylight to get a walk in after work to move your body and breathe some fresh air. Or if you’re like me and February makes you think about making plans and setting goals, check out this recent episode of the podcast Life Kit for some behavioral-science-based ways to stick to goals or create new habits.
RATE CHANGE & TIMES OUT OF OFFICE
In the interest of planning ahead, I’m planning to increase my rates effective April 1 to $130/individual session. I increased for new clients starting at the first of the year but am giving existing clients a longer notification window.
Speaking of goals and planning ahead, one professional goal of mine this year was to plan my time out of the office more intentionally. I’ll give folks reminders of course, but as of right now, I have the following times in 2022 where I will be out of the office:
April 4-14
June 14-17
August 1-6
September 6
November 21-25
December 26-30
NEW OFFICE SPACE & COVID PROTOCOLS
The only constant is change, as the saying goes. Beginning in March, I will be moving next door to a bigger office. I have loved my little office for the past year, but it’s ultimately just that - too little! So for those clients who saw me prior to covid in the blue house next door to my current office, I’ll be moving back to the blue house but on the main floor in the office just off the waiting room. In terms of telehealth, this won’t matter much, obviously. But in the bigger picture, I’m feeling more comfortable officially extending the invitation to come back to the office, with some parameters in place. Namely, I’d still want both therapist and client to be masked, for now, since test positivity is still well above 10%.
As always, it’s quite easy to toggle back and forth between telehealth and in-person, so no one needs to make a decision one way or the other and stick with it. We can play it by ear. And of course a drawback to being masked in person is losing a lot of the nuance of facial expression. But overall, for folks who are fully vaccinated and prefer masked in-person appointments, know that that is an option going forward.
RESOURCES
Despite attachment theory being one of the oldest and most well-researched topics in the mental health field, it’s very much having a moment right now! Previous newsletters have book recommendations to go in-depth on learning your attachment style, but for a brief overview, this 20-minute episode of Life Kit is worth a listen. Of note, this episode mainly focuses on attachment style in the context of intimate partner relationships. Exploration of attachment style is always a great topic for therapy.
EXPLORE ANAM COUNSELING’S WEBSITE
Anam Counseling
Practical Counseling with Heart and Soul
Jess Helle-Morrissey, MA, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C, CLD(CBI), CLEC
www.anamcounseling.com