We are currently gearing up to start our next run of the anger management course. Our next course is scheduled to begin in May, 2021. We will start up with an introduction to the course on Monday, May 10, 2021 and will begin in earnest Monday May 17, 2021. The course will be offered as a hybrid this semester with half of the sessions in person and half via Zoom for this upcoming session and will run 6-7:30 p.m. on Mondays once we begin.
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A look at some of the contributors to Blue Monday!
Blue Monday, 2021...how is it going for you so far?
A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT BLUE MONDAY….
I posted this original blog a few years ago, and guess what. It's January again! and Blue Monday, again on Monday, January 18, 2021! I thought it would be worth revisiting again today. I’ve updated it to reflect 2021.
January…is it really the most depressing month of the year? For many of us, it rings true. There has been research conducted worldwide which would support depressive symptoms at record highs during the month of January, regardless of location, climate, or socioeconomic situation. While there has been some controversy about whether it is a ‘real thing’, it is my opinion that there is something to this whole idea. As we return to work and school after the holidays, there is an automatic let down that the days off and gathering together has come to an end, and a return to the M-F work or school week can create some sadness. Other factors that influence this time of year for many are:
the fact that January is the month that the bills come in for the gifts purchased at Christmas, making January the month of the year when there is less disposable income .
the fact that in much of the world, the weather in January is unrelenting, either cold or rainy or snowy or a combination of all of the above. Weather and gray skies have long been associated with the blues.
And, it is the height of flu season! And we must add this year, Covid, and a worldwide pandemic adding to the mix for not feeling our best or worried about the virus.
Add to that the sad truth that there are more relationship breakups or changes in January than in any other month. People do not want to break up, change, or end a relationship just before or during the holidays, so January is that month where many take steps to make changes in their lives, and this often includes relationship changes.
This year has also seen one of the most divisive, contentious political seasons in my lifetime, and there is a level of heightened upset and discord at and about politics this month as well.
Finally, there are the New Year’s resolutionaries. We choose January as our start over month, whether it be fitness, or our diet, or weight loss, and creating those new habits pretty much takes up the first 3 weeks of January. Developing those new disciplines in bodies that are resistant can create mood changes. Just being hungry all the time can create mood changes. Let’s be honest, it makes us cranky, hungry, grouchy, and sore!
Are you feeling depressed yet? Wait, there is more. Many proclaim the third Monday of January as the most depressing day of the year, and have coined it Blue Monday. There are a few articles that posit the first Monday in January when we all return to normal as Blue Monday, but whichever day is truly the most depressing day, it stems from all of the factors listed above.
So, if you have been feeling blue, and it not usual for you, take heart and join the rest of the world for a few weeks of the blues. Understand that while you may be depressed, some of the contributing factors this month are being felt all over the world! What role does faith have in Blue Monday and in the most depressing month of the year? I think that our faith is what sustains us when the blues come, and they will come. Putting your faith and trust in a God who can turn any situation around and always wants you to not lose hope, and to never give up is the answer. Lean into Him this month and on Blue Monday. Let Him sustain you. I really like Lamentations 3:21-23…..
(Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends ! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness his mercies begin afresh each morning(NLT)
as a remedy when the blues are threatening my personal outlook. New beginnings and second chances and the gift of each new day…..God’s specialty. Especially in January. Blessings, Susie
Interesting links about Blue Monday and seasonal depression:
Interesting link about Blue Monday and
Seasonal depression:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/01/20/blue-monday-saddest-day-year-12087919/amp/
Christmas Vacation and Hope for 2021
Hi. This is your reminder that Journey to Hope is on Christmas vacation this week. However, We are checking text, email and voice messages morning and evening. If you need to reach out to Carlie, Lyndsay or me, please do so and we will try to get back to you within 24 hours. It is our prayer that you enjoy this holiday week between Christmas and New Year's and We will see you at your next appt. We resume regular counseling hours on Monday January 4, 2021. prayers and blessings, Susie
Thinking About the Good Times
There are days in our lives that are so bittersweet; we are not sure which is stronger, the bitter or the sweet. Today is one of those days, as we let you know that our Carlie Galla will be leaving Journey to Hope. We have loved the journey with you. It took me a very long time to find a counselor that I was comfortable with being a part of Journey To Hope. The first time that we met I knew that we were kindred spirits, with a love for the Lord and a love for the people that God would send our way. That has proven to be so very true as I entrusted care for so many of the beautiful souls that have been and are a part of Journey To Hope to you. We love you Carlie, and we pray God’s best for you, for Shawn, for Judah always. Sad and hard to let you go, but rejoicing for you. God has plans for your family that we cannot even imagine. You will be missed here.
Blessings,
From Carlie:
It has been just over five years since I began practicing at Journey to Hope Counseling, LLC. Journey to Hope has not only been a safe place for my clients, but it has also been a safe place for me. A few months ago my husband and I felt the stir to begin praying about joining some dear friends in Tennessee to plant a life-giving church. While there was every reason to say no; (jobs we love, a beautiful home we made our own, wonderful friends, and Shawn coming out of a season of battling cancer) we couldn’t shake the stirring. We felt that God was calling us to surrender our comforts for His calling.
My last day at Journey to Hope will be January 15th 2021. I will be spending the next month coordinating continuing care and conducting closing sessions with clients to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible.
I have been honored to be a part of the healing process of many clients over the past five years. Thank you for entrusting me with your stories. It has been encouragement to my soul to watch people walk through the hardest of times, and hold onto precious hope. You have impacted me more than you will ever know.
Thank you to Sharla, Michelle, and Rhonda for your support. You have made my job so much easier over the years as you took care of logistics so that I could focus on meeting the needs of my clients. I am also grateful for our quick but sweet conversations that always brightened my day.
And thank you to Susie and Andy who took a chance on a green, newly licensed counselor five years ago. Susie, I am thankful how God orchestrated our paths, and for the beautiful work we have done with clients over the years. Thank you for your wisdom, love and care; all of which has made me a better therapist.
My time at Journey to Hope has forever marked me, and I am better because of it. Thank you all again,
Carlie Galla
Important update to counseling schedules, in person appts and insurance
An update for all clients:
What an interesting and strange year 2020-2021 has turned out to be. I want to make sure that we are communicating with you how we are currently operating our counseling firm week to week. We are accepting new clients, but there is a bit of a wait for appointments. We are doing our very best to navigate our schedules with client needs each week.
Currently, we are coming in to the office 2-3 days a week, and 2 days a week are completely virtual. We are trying to keep the virtual and inperson counselng days complately separated.There is a separate protocol for coming in the office. We still have to be very very careful as we have several family members in our practice who are immune compromised and we just have to be. So here are the requirements, the protocol for coming in the office:
IN PERSON APPT PROTOCOLS
Please be aware that there is a different set of protocols for coming in person.
PLEASE NOTE THE SCREENING QUESTIONS below. Be aware that it is more important than that you walk through the revised screening questions.
You must be able to answer all of these questions with a very STRONG NO. If you answer yes to any of these questions, we must meet virtually. This means that we will have to reschedule your appointments.
Are you having any symptoms such as fever, coughing, aching, sore throat?
Have you tested positive for C-19 at any time since July 202q?
Have you been exposed to anyone recently who has tested positive?
️Have you traveled out of state within the past 14 days?
Instructions for your appt:
The office is now open on the days we are doing inperson appointments. We ask that you limit the attendees only to those coming for the appointment to cut down on the number of people in the lobby at any time.
Please confirm and let me know your intentions about your appointment virtual or in person. Thanks.
An update for our insurance clients.
Most of the insurance companies that we are providers for have extended approval for tele-counseling through the October 17, 2021. With the current situations, It is quite likely that coverage will be extended until the end of year, 2021. We will keep you posted as soon as we know. Many of the insurances have done their best to try to accommodate any Clients who are immune compromised and have been more than willing to cover tele-counseling and many of the insurance companies have waived co-pays as well . It is confusing for you and for us because every single policy is structured differently and comes under different guidelines regarding co-pays. We have tried our best to navigate it for you, letting you know once we hear back from the insurance companies what your policy is currently doing regarding the tele-counseling and co-pay situation. We are very aware that this is a difficult time for everyone and we don’t want to make it any more complicated for you than it has to be. If you get a call from us on a Monday when we do the weekly charges that you are being charged for your co-pay that just means that we have had a notice that the insurance is only paying the amount of the visit minus your co-pay.
We are still coming in on Mondays and running the charges for the entire week, whether they be fee-for-service or your co-pays. We are really appreciative of how cooperative all of you have been with us as we’ve navigated this pandemic with our office.
We care about each and every one of you And it has been our privilege to journey with you as we navigate 2020, with all of its changes, ups and downs and uncertainty.
Praying for each of you,
Susie