Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday this season, most of us are getting ready to be with loved ones - to enjoy their company and maybe exchange gifts. For many of us, this is the happiest time of year, with time off from school and perhaps even a few extra days off from work. During that “free” time, we shouldn’t forget to take a moment to think of people who are less fortunate and reach out to help someone in need.
 
For the new year, many of us also acknowledge the annual custom of making new year's resolutions, setting goals for the year to come. We also review last year's resolutions to see how far we've come. We won't ask you how you did, but you can ask us - our new year's resolution is the same as last year's: to keep helping all of you to achieve contentment and joy in life!
 
May you all have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season, and a very Happy New Year!


Lynne Lyons, MD
Medical Director and Psychiatrist
Lakes Center Mental Health Network
Mental Health and
the Holiday Season

For many people, the holiday season is a time of celebration, relaxation, and quality time spent with family and friends. For others, the holiday season can drum up uncomfortable feelings and triggers. The holidays can also place us in sensitive environments around people that we may not want to speak to for the sake of our own health and well-being.

If you’re struggling with your mental health or are working through substance abuse issues, the holiday season can be a particularly troubling and difficult time. Fortunately, with proper planning, they don’t have to be. There are steps we can take and things we can keep in mind to prevent us from encountering harmful triggers and upsetting environments.
Practice Mindfulness
to Relieve Stress

Mindfulness can help to decrease stress, improve your wellbeing, boost your creativity and memory, and help with your mental health. It’s clear why it makes it onto our list of self-care tips for December, but how do you practice it?
Gratitude is a
Self-Care Tool

Gratitude is another seemingly straightforward concept. Most of us are grateful for something or another in our lives. However, this apparently simple emotion can be a powerful self-care tool. There is a growing body of evidence to show that expressing gratitude can help with your physical and mental health.
We provide comprehensive psychiatric and psychotherapy services for a vast array of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychotic illness, borderline personality disorder, substance abuse/addiction, trauma related issues, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and behavior problems. Call (248) 859-2457 to set up an appointment.
Did you know? SPRAVATO® can have a rapid antidepressant response and is added on to an antidepressant and the rest of your regimen. It is the first new mechanism of action to treat depression that has come out in over 30 years. 
There is hope for treatment-resistant depression. Call (248) 859-2457 to set up an appointment.
Lakes DBT We provide comprehensive DBT services to provide effective treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other disorders involving emotion dysregulation, including co-occurring substance use disorders, major depressive disorder, and individuals with history of trauma. At Lakes DBT Center, we believe that with effective evidence-based treatment and a caring and coordinated treatment team, clients can achieve a life worth living. 
Lakes Psychiatric Center remains open for business. We are offering Zoom online tele-therapy appointments for new and existing clients as well as in person sessions. Please contact the front desk to assist you with your appointment type or instructions for using Zoom. Call (248) 859-2457 for info.
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Lakes Depression Center is continuing to provide SPRAVATO® treatments per the usual schedule. We have enhanced our safety and cleaning protocols. You are safe to start treatment or continue treatment. Call (248) 956-7164 for info.
Ginger Blair, LMSW, CAADC 
Clinical Social Worker
and Certified Addiction Specialist

Ginger Blair is MSW and a Certified Addictions Counselor. Her undergraduate training included a first in the country program for a BA in Social work. (Waverly, Iowa) Her graduate training is from Wayne State School of Social Work. Ms. Blair has over 40 years of experience in behavioral medicine. She takes pride in her 30 years of service within public health settings. She has also four years of training in Bioenergetic analysis.
Sydney Strandberg, LMSW
Clinical Social Worker

Sydney received her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University with specialized training in evidence-based trauma treatment and significant clinical practice in outpatient, community mental health and medical settings. As a mental health provider, Sydney has treated diverse populations of all ages utilizing trauma-informed interventions and collaborating with health providers and top tier specialists in Michigan. She has also received endorsement in infant and maternal mental health.