Therapy Isn't Just For Crisis: Why Starting Counseling in Maryland During the Holidays Can Be Supportive
You don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to reach out for support.
Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is to get grounded before things reach a boiling point.
We’re a week out from Christmas. For many, this is peak holiday season — events, family, expectations, emotional landmines, and long to-do lists. If your nervous system is running on fumes or your emotions feel like they’re sitting just under the surface, this might be a good time to pause and ask yourself a few important questions:
What’s actually going on with me right now?
What do I feel?
What do I need?
And how can I give myself permission to tend to that?
Therapy isn't just for when you're in crisis
You don’t need to be falling apart to begin therapy. You might just be feeling... off.
More irritable than usual.
Experiencing unexpected and intense emotional moments.
Feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or overstimulated — even when everything “looks fine” from the outside.
Maybe you’re noticing a pattern you don’t want to repeat.
Perhaps your boundaries are slipping.
Or you’re finding it hard to breathe between events, errands, and expectations.
Something many people don’t realize is that you don’t need a diagnosis to seek support.
You may just need to notice that you’re not feeling like yourself — and decide that’s worth tending to.
Why the holidays can stir things up — even when you "should" be fine
This season has a way of bringing everything to the surface, such as grief, tension, old unsupportive stories, pressure, and even joy can feel like too much sometimes. I wrote about this and added a few actionable tips in a previous blog, "The Guide To Navigating Mental Health During the Holidays." You can read it here.
When working with my clients, I hear things like:
“I should be grateful, but I feel disconnected.”
“Everything feels harder right now, and I don’t know why.”
“I just want to get through the holidays without completely shutting down.”
The truth is, the holidays don’t come with emotional space built in. They come with expectations — and if you’re not intentional, it’s easy to lose yourself in the shuffle.
In those moments, therapy can offer real-time support.
Therapy will support you in unpacking the challenging aspects of life, noticing what’s happening, and deciding what you want to do differently.
The value of starting now, not later
A lot of people wait until the new year to start therapy.
But there’s something powerful about beginning while you’re still in the middle of it.
You’re more aware of what’s actually happening
The patterns are fresh
Your responses are live and present
And you don’t have to rely on memory to describe how you feel — you’re already in it
Starting counseling in Maryland during the holidays allows you to show up just as you are. Tired. Overwhelmed. In-between. Holding it together — or not.
You don’t have to bring a perfectly formed story or a polished insight.
You just get to show up, real, raw, and honest, and we take it from there.
That’s when the best therapeutic work is done.
What we do in therapy this time of year
If you start therapy now, you don’t have to unpack your entire life in one session. We start where you are.
Together, we might:
Slow down the thoughts that take you into a tailspin so you can hear yourself again.
Explore what’s draining you — and where you might be able to shift something.
Make space for the grief or guilt you’re experiencing.
Talk through the boundaries you want, but don’t know how to effectively implement,
Identify what would feel more supportive in the next few weeks.
Therapy doesn’t have to be heavy or clinical. It can be steady, gentle, compassionate, and focused.
A place where you get to be honest and safely explore the aspects of your life that feel challenging right now.
Starting early
We’re close to the end of the year. And if you’ve been putting off reaching out because you think you “should just wait until January,” I want to offer a different option:
You can start now, and it doesn’t have to be big or overwhelming. Simply reach out and schedule a free consult. It’s safe for you to dip your toe in to get more information.
You can begin with one simple step to affirm that your well-being matters right now, not just later.
Even one supportive conversation can shift how you move through the rest of the season.
A few reminders as the holidays approach
You don’t have to do it all.
Do yourself a favor and don’t have to wait until you crash to reach out.
Support doesn’t have to be a last resort. Think of it as a compassionate form of care.
You’re allowed to prioritize yourself, even in a season that asks you to prioritize everyone else.
Counseling in Maryland can be a place to land, even now
I work with people who are navigating the middle of things.
The middle of grief, burnout, family dynamics, holiday pressure, or just the frustrating sense that something’s not working.
If you’re in Maryland and this season is feeling more tender than bright, I’d be honored to offer you support that meets you where you are.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
You don’t have to wait until January to take care of yourself.
Now is the perfect time to get started.
