Holidays and winter
Getting through the holidays and the winter months
For a lot of people this time of year is harder than it is supposed to be. This page gathers what is already on this site about the things that tend to come up, so you can go straight to the one that fits.
Where to start
The articles are general reading, and not a substitute for talking to someone.
If the season feels lonely, that is more common than it looks: in our study of CDC estimates, more than a quarter of adults in both Tryon and Charlotte said they feel lonely at least sometimes.
Feeling stretched thin
The season can add plans, travel, money and other people's expectations to a load that was already full. If worry has started to feel like the normal state of things, start here.
Grief around the holidays
Occasions built around being together can make an absence harder to ignore. If this time of year is bringing a loss closer, this is somewhere to begin.
Low mood that will not lift
Shorter days and the quiet stretch after the holidays can be hard going. If a low mood has settled in and is not shifting, it is worth reading about, and worth talking to someone about.
Relationship strain around the holidays
Time together, travel and competing expectations can bring old disagreements back to the surface. If that is happening between you and a partner, couples counseling is one way to work on it.
Starting therapy in the new year
If you have been meaning to talk to someone, the turn of the year can be a natural point to begin. It helps to know what the first sessions involve, and how to tell whether a therapist suits you.
Support outside the practice
The Resource Center keeps a list of organizations in and around Charlotte, with their own phone numbers and what each one is for.
Getting started
Take the next step
The first step is a conversation. You describe what has brought you here, Laura describes how she works, and between you it becomes clearer whether to carry on.
There is no obligation to book anything afterwards, and it is a reasonable thing to do even if you are not sure you want therapy yet.
Prefer to write rather than call? Use the form, or the contact page.