*This Post has been Sponsored by Ray of Hope Counseling Services. While the Author was compensated for this post, all thoughts and opinions are truly those of the Author.*
Me time is a must have in Mom’s life. Most of us love massages, manicures, pedicures, shopping, brunches, and the list goes on and on! It’s so easy to focus mainly on physical things when making self care plans but mental and emotional wellness are just as important.
Individual Self Care
Speaking from a mother’s perspective, life can get very overwhelming. Life changes from the moment you realize you are about to welcome a new life into the world and you will ultimately be responsible for that life. As your body changes your thoughts and aspirations may as well. Some women go through a hard time after the baby while others just have a hard time altogether. Whatever your experience, being completely responsible for another living being certainly takes its toll. The next thing you know you’re caught up on a merry go round waiting for someone to just stop it long enough so you can breathe. It’s in those moments where focusing on self care and talking to someone professional about what overwhelms you, can actually help you.
Most moms are juggling a pretty hefty load. Constantly focusing on other people’s needs makes it easy to neglect your own well-being. It helps to have a third party listen to your concerns and provide techniques to help you navigate those tough moments. Talking to a professional also helps because the counselor can validate your feelings and help you know you’re not crazy.
Marriage and Couples
The typical couple story is meeting, falling in love, and then starting a family. No matter how long you stay in each stage, things get complicated after the children arrive. The focus can shift from each other to the needs of the children. Next thing you know, the communication between the two of you becomes cloudy and not has effective… If it even exists at all. Having a neutral party can help facilitate some of the communication hurdles. They are not emotionally invested in the issues and can help each party gain a more clear understanding without the baggage and resentment attached.
Many couples I know have expressed how much better their relationship is because of counseling. They feel a chance to be heard and have been challenge to think of things from a different perspective. Some couples go when they are in trouble but most recommend going before the relationship gets to the trouble zone. Strengthening your relationship by communicating better helps you and the people who are effected by you in the long run.
Family
Taking the last paragraph into consideration, many parental frustrations can spill over and effect your family especially your children. Work, traffic, bills, unexpected expenses etc can have a way of consuming your thoughts at the most inopportune times. Times when you are supposed to be attentive and relaxed to see your children at the end of the day, you’re inadvertently dismissive of them. Your irritations rile up their own.
Sometimes the reverse is true. Children deal with a huge level of stress and frustrations in their own lives. They are constantly ruled by other people’s thoughts and decisions (their parents and teachers). Children also have to learn how to navigate life through different friendship personalities and circles, then figure out how they fit in.
All things considered, families consist of people with different personalities and different life experiences. Families benefit from counseling to get through the issues that prevent the family from communicating effectively. Ultimately, counseling can help families gain understanding and cultivate closer relationships.
Ray Of Hope Counseling Services
Therapy and Counseling for Individuals, Couples, Families, and Groups
Feel relieved and healed and receive an excellent level of care. Ray of Hope Counseling Services is a group of counselors and psychotherapists committed to helping individuals feel better. With 7 locations all over Georgia, we work together to provide you with the support you need in a safe and confidential environment. Contact us and our specialists will help you out.
Lynn Thompson Umstead
LPC, NCC, CIRT, CAMS / Clinical Director/Founder
Lynn Thompson Umstead is the founder and clinical director of Ray of Hope Counseling Services, Inc. She is a trained mental health professional, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. Lynn strives to meet clients where they are. She helps the client navigate through their past to help with a better understanding toward how to achieve goals for a happier healthier life. Lynn has extensive training and experience working with relationship issues and is a Certified Imago Couples Counselor.
Lynn’s educational training is primarily cognitive-behavioral, which means your thoughts and behaviors will be a focus in the therapy process. However, Lynn is eclectic in her approach in order to meet the individual needs of her clients. She believes exploring your emotions and feelings is of utmost importance. The ultimate goals of counseling would be to gain self-awareness into what is disturbing you; explore and understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; to seek a greater sense of happiness and contentment; and for you to choose and maintain behavioral changes.
You, the whole person is Important
As a mom it’s important that we remember we are complete people. There is a physical being that houses a mental and emotional element as well. All three portions are equally valuable to our health. It’s vital to exercise self care , of the entire person, to ensure your success and happiness as well as that of your family.
