Therapist Blog Challenge #16: Surviving the Holidays

Therapist blog challenge #16 focuses on how to help readers make it through the crazy emotional stress of the holiday season.

[Headline] Come up with a catchy title for your blog post.  Here are a few examples:

Crazy Christmas and Hectic Hanukkah! How to Make it Through the Holidays

How to Survive Holiday Chaos and Have Fun with The Family

Dealing with Holiday Stress: Tips to Get You Through

[Strong Intro] Lay out the topic with a little more detail.  Below is an example.

The holidays are upon us! Time to deck the halls, eat delicious food, and spend time with the family. And while 'tis the season to be jolly, experience tells us that not every moment will be perfect. Stress levels and emotions can run high, and our mental sanity can take a hit. Here are strategies to deal with holiday chaos and actually enjoy the season:

[Scanable Content]

Break your content into smaller, readable sections with a clear sub-heading.

Anticipate Some Stress

If you are expecting absolute perfection, you will be let down. Prepare for the holiday vacation knowing that there is going to be some stress involved. Your in-law might offend you, the kitchen will be a mess, you might get overwhelmed with all there is to do, etc. By understanding that things will be hectic at times, you can have realistic expectations and prepare to deal with such moments. This is not to suggest that you should set yourself up for a miserable, anxiety-filled family vacation. On the contrary, by anticipating some stressful moments, you'll be more able to savor the good ones.

Don't Schedule Every Minute

It's exciting to plan a fun-filled vacation, but if you find yourself or others constantly worn out from the non-stop skiing, baking, or outings, take a step back from all the activities. Sleep is valuable for everyone, so amidst the holiday partying, make efforts to meet the needs of your physical body. Instead of going out to a movie, why not watch one at home so the little kids can start to unwind before bed? Consider lightening up the calendar a little bit.

Plan for Alone Time

If you're married, single, or in a relationship, take time away from the family crowd to refresh. This may mean going for a jog, scheduling a quick date, or doing anything that lets you relax and be yourself. It will be a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the family party and can rejuvenate you to spend more time with them.

Decide to Be Happy

Even if you're stressed, even if you're tired, even if there's some family tension, decide to be your best self. A negative attitude is contagious, and no one likes a party-pooper! On the contrary, a positive outlook is infectious as well, so send out good vibes to others who may be feeling the holiday stress as well. It's likely that you get to be with large groups of family only every so often, so make the most of that time.

[Strong ending paragraph] The final paragraph wraps up your post and can include a summary of important points.

Remember that the holidays are meant to be an enjoyable time with loved ones, not a torturous event. By having realistic expectations, practicing self-care, and taking things easy, you can enjoy the holiday season.  How do YOU handle holiday stress?

Now get to writing!

Additional reminders about the 2014 blog challenge

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too. Post a link for this blog challenge in the comment section of this blog post.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.

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Therapist Blog Challenge #15: Parenting Tips

It's been a few weeks since our last Therapist Blog Challenge, but I'm ready to hit the ground running again if you are!

Therapist blog challenge #15 focuses on parenting defiant young children. This is something that every parent has experienced, and you as a professional may be able to provide some insight on this topic. Use the following format as a guide for how to best structure your blog post.

[Headline] Come up with a catchy title for your blog post. You may write your own or use one of the following:

How to Survive When Your Toddler's Driving You Crazy!

5 Steps to Make it Through the Terrible Twos

Keeping Your Cool With a Defiant Child

[Strong Intro] Lay out the topic with a little more detail and introduce your reader to your main points. Here's an example:

It's only 10 am, and your 2-year-old has already suffered a major meltdown. You were warned that the toddler years were tough, but you never expected anything like this! Here are 5 ways to survive with a defiant toddler.

[Scanable Content] This is the real meat of your blog post. Make sure to format your content in a way that is easy on the eyes by breaking it up into sections instead of just writing one long paragraph. Be sure to flesh out the details under each sub-topic.

1) Don’t lose control

Write a short paragraph about why it's important for a parent to stay in control. This may include explaining how a situation can escalate if an adult gets angry and how a child is more likely to respond positively to a parent who is calm.

2) Don't lose focus on who is responsible

Write a short paragraph about how parents need to remember that they are the ones responsible for helping their toddler. True, they cannot force a child to stop crying or acting out, but the parents are the adults and ultimately have the responsibility to improve the situation.

3) Pay attention to the positive

Now, write about ways that parents can recognize the good, even when a toddler has a meltdown. Has the child gotten a bit better since the last outburst?  Has a parent improved in becoming more patient or more firm in his/her approach? Write how there is something positive to be gleaned even from difficult situations with defiant toddlers.

4) Don’t assume the worst 

Write about ways in which a parent can remember that even the most difficult toddler doesn't have bad intentions. It's easy to become overwhelmed with stress and frustration, but parents should remember how young these children are. Remind your readers that defiant toddlers are still developing and are certainly not trying to cause trouble.

5) Set limits for your defiant child

Explain why setting limits for a child's behavior is crucial. Elaborate on how limits help your child learn consequences, how they can be appropriate punishment, and how limits can help a parent put an end to a tantrum.

[Strong Ending Paragraph] Here's where you wrap it up. Just one short paragraph to briefly summarize your main points will do. You may want to close with a question, such as "How have YOU best dealt with a defiant toddler?"

That's it. Now, get to writing!

Here are a few additional reminders about the blog challenge:

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too.
• Post a link for this blog challenge in the comment section of this blog post.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.

Here's a list of previous blog challenges.  Feel free to revisit!

Therapist Blog Challenge #14: Feedback in Romantic Relationships

Therapist blog challenge #14 topic focuses on when to ask for and to consider feedback about a significant other.

[Headline] Come up with a catchy title for your blog post.  Here are a few examples:

Dating & the Peanut Gallery: What Other People Say About Your Love Life

Tough Critics: What they Really Think About Your Significant Other

To Ask or Not To Ask: Should You Talk to Your Friends About Your Romantic Partner?

[Strong Intro] Lay out the topic with a little more detail.  Below is an example.

Should you ask your friends if they like your romantic partner? Should you listen to what they say? What are the pros and cons of getting feedback about your relationships?

Dating relationships can bring complex dynamics:  Both parties have family and friends involved in their life who care about their well-being.  But things can get tricky when that extends into romantic relationships.   Here are things to consider when talking to other people  about a romantic partner.

 [Scanable Content]

Break your content into smaller, readable sections with a clear sub-heading.  For this example, we'll lay out Do's and Don'ts when it comes to asking for and giving relationship feedback/ advice.

When should you ask for feedback?

Write about times when it might be appropriate for person in a relationship to ask for the opinions of other people.  Maybe they want an outside perspective of how the relationships looks to others.

When should you not ask for feedback?

Write a short paragraph about when a person shouldn't ask for advice.  This might include breaking the confidence of the romantic partner or discussing very personal, intimate details of the relationship.

When should you listen to feedback?

Now, write to a paragraph about when one should seriously consider loved one's feedback about a significant other. For example, if several loved ones share similar warning signs those should be taken into consideration. Or if "He/she is a great fit for you."

When should you not listen to feedback?

Write a paragraph about when a person should refrain from trusting loved one's feedback about their romantic partner. You could explore who's feedback you should not take into consideration, and what types of feedback you should dismiss. For example, it's never a good idea to listen to superficial concerns about someone's looks or chosen profession.

[Strong ending paragraph] The final paragraph wraps up your post and can include a summary of important points, additional resources, and a call to action, such as "Call today for a therapy consultation."

That's all folks. Get going.

Here are a few additional reminders about the blog challenge:

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too.
• Post a link for this blog challenge in the comment section of this blog post.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.

Here's a list of previous blog challenges. Jump in anytime!

Therapist Blog Challenge #13: Mental Health and Parenting

The therapist blog challenge is back! I'm making it easy to blog regularly as a practice building strategy.

Rather than start a new challenge, I've decided to pick up where we left off last year -- with challenge #13. If you are new to the challenge, you can start with challenge #1 or you can start with this current challenge. The goal of the challenge is to make it easier for you to blog regularly on your private practice website. Blogging can boost SEO, provide valuable information on your specialty areas, lets potential clients get to know you better, and establishes you as an expert. These factors can lead to more clients choosing your practice.

A good way to select a blog topic is to break down broad topics into smaller chunks. For example, mental health is an enormous subject, so focus and expand an aspect of it for one blog post. You can also turn this broad topic into a series of posts. For this example, we'll choose how mental health affects parenting.

[Headline] Here are three title suggestions that you may use or come up with a clear and catchy blog post title

4 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health and Improve Your Parenting 

The Mental Health and Parenting Connection

Mind Your Mental Health: Your Children Will Thank You

[Strong intro] You can start with the paragraph below or customize it.

Like all other aspects of health, mental health can affect your parenting. For example, parents who suffer from Bipolar Disorder are 10 times more likely to overreact, which can lead to inappropriate punishments. Parents who are dealing with depression are often less responsive to their child's emotional cues. Here are some ways to mitigate the effect of mental health problems with regards to parenting:

[Scanable content] Make your content easy to quickly scan and find the main points.

1) Physical self-care

Write a paragraph about the importance of self-care for mental health treatment and prevention. You may want to include meditation, nutrition, rest, exercise.  Emphasize the connection between physical health, mental health, and relationships. Self-care is critical prevention for parenting "meltdowns."

2) Remain calm

Write a paragraph about a skill parents can use to calm themselves when their child's behavior is difficult. You may want to share counting to 10, putting yourself in "time out", the importance of modeling emotional regulation skills for the child. When parents remain calm, children will become less emotionally reactive.

3) Treatment compliance

Write a paragraph about the importance of remaining in treatment and of following recommendations. This might include medication compliance, group therapy, family therapy, bibliotherapy, etc.

4) Playtime

Write a paragraph about the importance of play and recreation (re-creation) with their child, how play promotes positive attachment, and the mental health benefits of play for adults.

Add as many additional suggestions on how parents can take care of their mental health in ways that support successful parenting.

[Strong ending paragraph] Final paragraph can include a summary of important points, additional resources, and a call to action like "Make an appointment with Julie today!"

That's it! Read on for tips on sharing your blog article.

Additional reminders about the blog challenge:

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too.
• Post a link for this blog challenge in the comment section of this blog post.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.

Therapist Blog Challenge #12: Share Holiday Tips

We all know the holiday season can be stressful and filled with everything from difficult family dealings to enhancing feelings of depression and loneliness. Take this opportunity to reach out and share helpful tips to get your clients and readers through the holiday season. Whether lighthearted or serious, how you approach the topic depends on how you can best serve your ideal client.

One of the most popular blog posts on my private practice site Wasatch Family Therapy was a blog inspired by the 2003 movie, Elf. A therapist used Buddy the Elf's most popular sayings to write a blog incorporating positive psychology. This lighthearted approach using a beloved holiday character can be a sweet way to offer some great tips for getting through the holiday season. Remember to write something that speaks to you and your ideal client.

Here are a few possible topics:

• Holiday stress
• Difficult family situations
• Co-parenting and the holidays
• Preventing loneliness
• Giving back/community service
• Gift giving
• Creating Holiday traditions
• Don't forget the Griswolds, The Grinch, Santa Claus, A Christmas Story or any other characters you love that always have something to teach!

Additional reminders about the 2013 blog challenge

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too.
• Post a link for this blog challenge in the comment section of this blog post.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.