Reflect and Reset: How to Process the Past 12 Months and Prepare for the Next

Reflect and Reset: How to Process the Past 12 Months and Prepare for the Next

Holidays and special gatherings can bring joy, connection, and excitement — but they can also bring stress, tension, and pressure to “make everything perfect.” Wherever you fall on the spectrum — eager, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between — there are ways to support your mental health and enjoy the moment.

Try these strategies:

Nurture positivity. Anticipation can lift your spirits. Reframe negative thoughts into more balanced ones to ease frustration.

Embrace emotions. Grief, annoyance, or stress may show up — and that’s natural. Acknowledge your feelings, then use tools like deep breathing or meditation to move through them.

Manage stress. Some situations are beyond your control, but you can choose how you respond. Redirect tough conversations, set boundaries, and focus on kindness.

Remember: you don’t have to control every detail to create meaningful memories. Taking care of your wellbeing allows you to fully enjoy the parts of the season that matter most.

The information featured on this site is general in nature. The site provides health information designed to complement your personal health management. It does not provide medical advice or health services and is not meant to replace professional advice or imply coverage of specific clinical services or products. The inclusion of links to other websites does not imply any endorsement of the material on such websites. The inclusion of links to other websites does not imply any endorsement of the material on such websites. The information provided in this blog post reflects the personal views of the author. The blog post contains general health information and is not a substitute for your doctor’s care. Please discuss with your doctor how the information provided is right for you.
SCHEDULE
MEET CLINICIANS
NEW TO THERAPY?
RESOURCES
Reflect and Reset: How to Process the Past 12 Months and Prepare for the Next

Reflect and Reset: How to Process the Past 12 Months and Prepare for the Next

As the year winds down, it’s natural to reflect on everything that’s happened — the highs, the lows, the changes you embraced, and the goals still in progress.
Making the Most of Your Wellbeing for Special Occasions

Making the Most of Your Wellbeing for Special Occasions

Holidays and special gatherings can bring joy, connection, and excitement — but they can also bring stress, tension, and pressure to “make everything perfect.”
Healthy Coping with Change

Healthy Coping with Change

Change is inevitable. Sometimes it’s exciting, other times it feels overwhelming — but either way, it challenges us to adapt and grow.
Are You Sober Curious?

Are You Sober Curious?

For many, alcohol is a common part of social life — but more and more people are choosing to drink less, or not at all, for personal and wellness reasons. Still, that choice can come with peer pressure: “Why don’t you drink?” … “Come on, just have one!”
Managing the Symptoms of Depression

Managing the Symptoms of Depression

Recovering from depression takes time — and while medication and counseling can help, lifestyle changes play a powerful role in long-term well-being.
Wintertime Depression

Wintertime Depression

If the colder weather and shorter days leave you feeling down, you’re not alone.
A Quick Guide to Mindful Living

A Quick Guide to Mindful Living

Whether your goal is running your first 10k, paying down debt, or simply decluttering your space — big or small, goals can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Achieving Goals Step by Step

Achieving Goals Step by Step

Whether your goal is running your first 10k, paying down debt, or simply decluttering your space — big or small, goals can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Meditation for Anxiety: A Beginner's Guide

Meditation for Anxiety: A Beginner’s Guide

Many different types of meditation can be helpful for anxiety. You may want to try a few to find out which you like best. You can also use different techniques depending on how you feel in each moment
How to Create a Recovery Support Network

How to Create a Recovery Support Network

There are 4 types of people everyone needs in their recovery support network. We’ll walk through each one and discuss why it's important.
World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day

While your support is valuable, encourage them to seek professional help from a doctor, mental health professional or a suicide prevention specialist.
How to Talk with Your Teen About Mental Health

How to Talk with Your Teen About Mental Health

For some families, talking about mental health might be an everyday occurrence. For others, it may be unfamiliar and feel a little awkward. But the more you talk about it, the more comfortable it will feel.
How to Calm Back-to-School Nerves

How to Calm Back-to-School Nerves

For some kids, the new year can also bring worries. They may be concerned about their new teacher or about the workload. They could be stressing about who they’ll sit with at lunch. Or they could feel anxious about making the leap to middle school or high school.
Healthy Ways to Help Your Child Navigate Digital Spaces

Healthy Ways to Help Your Child Navigate Digital Spaces

Youth can find a lot of educational, fun and inspiring content online. But they also may come across unsettling, inappropriate and distressing content that can impact their mental health and wellbeing.
Preparing for Transitions: Back to School

Preparing for Transitions: Back to School

Change is tough for most people at any age. Moving grades or schools can bring anxious thoughts and stress. Younger children might tell you through changes in behavior.
What to Know About Virtual Therapy

What to Know About Virtual Therapy

So, you’re thinking about starting therapy and in our digital world you’ve been hearing about virtual therapy (or sometimes called telehealth therapy) as an option. What are the benefits to seeing a mental health practitioner online versus in person?
Stress: Reasons We Feel It and How to Manage It

Stress: Reasons We Feel It and How to Manage It

When you experience stress, your body reacts as though it is under attack and usually you go into fight or flight mode. That is, you either defend yourself or remove yourself from the situation.
Creating Welcoming Environments: Inclusive Language

Creating Welcoming Environments: Inclusive Language

Words are tricky. It can be difficult to find or know the right words, especially because their meanings sometimes change over time, or mean different things to different people, or in various contexts.
Resources for LGBTQIA+ competent care and support

Resources for LGBTQIA+ competent care and support

If you are in immediate danger or having a medical emergency, call 911 or text 678-678. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, get in touch with someone immediately:1-866-488-7386 Text START to 678-678.
What inclusion looks like

What inclusion looks like

Inclusivity means making sure everyone, regardless of their differences, feels safe, accepted and welcomed.
CARE Counseling & University of St. Thomas Athletics: A Partnership Rooted in Mental Wellness and Community

CARE Counseling & University of St. Thomas Athletics: A Partnership Rooted in Mental Wellness and Community

At CARE Counseling, we believe that mental health is an essential part of whole-person wellness. That’s why we’re so honored to partner with the University of St. Thomas Athletics Department —an organization that continues to lead with heart, purpose, and action.
Practicing gratitude meditation

Practicing gratitude meditation

Writing isn’t the only way to have a gratitude habit. You can also take time to think about, or meditate on, what you’re grateful for.
KKBJ Radio Feature "What Does It Mean to Have "Good" Mental Health?"

KKBJ Radio Feature “What Does It Mean to Have “Good” Mental Health?”

Mental Health Awareness Month may be over, but the importance of mental well-being lasts all year. That’s why we’re excited to share a recent radio interview featuring one of our amazing clinicians at CARE Counseling, who spoke about what it really means to have "good" mental health — and how we can all take steps to support it every day.
The relief of an adult ADHD diagnosis

The relief of an adult ADHD diagnosis

Maybe you’ve been finding it hard to meet deadlines at work. Or you can’t pay attention during meetings. Maybe you’ve had these issues your whole life. These are just a few of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
PreviousNext