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MONTHLY DIGEST
December 2025
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This Month's
Top Stories
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Featured Articles:
Seasonal Affective Disorder Month (S.A.D.)
National Grief Awareness Week
Meet Our Team
Community Spotlight ~ Vanessa Barisano MSN, PMHNP
Upcoming Local Events:
11th Annual "Through Our Eyes"
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Message from the Founder
As we enter December—a month filled with celebration, reflection, and often complicated emotions—I want to gently remind you of something important: you are not alone. The winter season brings shorter days, colder nights, and for many, a noticeable shift in mood or motivation. This time of year can amplify joy, but it can also amplify grief, stress, and loneliness.
At Wholistic Counseling PC, our mission is to walk alongside you through all of it—the light and the dark. We believe in whole-person healing: mind, body, and spirit. Whether you're navigating holiday stress, coping with loss, or simply trying to stay grounded during the busiest time of year, please know that our doors and hearts are always open.
This month’s newsletter is filled with resources, education, and community events designed to support you through the season. There is hope, there is help, and there is healing—even in the coldest months.
With Care and Gratitude,
Julia Schubert, LCSW
Founder, Wholistic Counseling PC
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December Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) – Understanding the Winter Shift
December marks Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding the impact that shorter days and reduced sunlight can have on emotional well-being.
SAD is more than “winter blues”—it is a form of depression triggered by seasonal changes, often showing up as:
- Low energy or fatigue
- Changes in appetite or sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of interest in activities
- Feeling down or hopeless
Effective supports may include light therapy, vitamin D evaluation, talk therapy, structured routines, exercise, or medication when needed. If you or someone you love is struggling, our team is here to help you navigate these seasonal mood shifts with compassion and evidence-based care.
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National Grief Awareness Week – Honoring Loss with Compassion
The holiday season can intensify feelings of grief. National Grief Awareness Week reminds us that loss doesn’t follow a schedule—and healing is not linear.
Whether you've lost a loved one, a relationship, a sense of safety, or a chapter of your life, your pain is valid. This week encourages open conversation, understanding, and support for anyone navigating grief.
We encourage you to reach out for help, share your story, or allow yourself a moment of stillness and care. You deserve support as you honor the memory of what was and hold space for what is to come.
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Dina Forgione
LMSW
We're excited to introduce Dina Forgione to our team! She will be seeing clients in person during evening hours/Saturdays in the Patchogue offices.
Dina is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a Master’s Degree from Long Island University (LIU Post). For more than 15 years, she has dedicated her career to helping people across New York State feel supported, understood, and empowered. Her experience spans community programs, residential, and long-term care settings, where she has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities and complex medical needs.
Dina believes that every person—no matter their background or circumstance—has the ability to grow, heal and achieve their goals. She specializes in helping people navigate life’s most challenging transitions, including divorce, loss, family changes, medical crises, relocation, and financial stress.
Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, and deeply respectful. Dina strives to create a safe space where clients feel seen and valued, helping them build on their strengths and rediscover their sense of balance. She also emphasizes the mind-body connection, incorporating techniques that support physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Welcome to the team! We're so happy to have you!
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Wholistic Counseling is proud to highlight:
VANESSA BARISANO PMHNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN
As a Women's Mental Health Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, my vision is for all women and mothers to feel worthy of mental health treatment without fear or judgment. In our practice, my focus is on medication management in combination with supportive counseling tailored for your specific needs. I am bilingual in Spanish and English, and I have experience treating a range of mental health conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, Bolar disorder. depression, panic disorder, OCD, trauma, PTSD, ADD/ADHD and borderline personality disorder.
I have specialized training in Pregnancy/Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders. I offer an evidence-based practice approach by integrating research with clinical expertise and my patient's priorities. We will make decisions together concerning the risks and benefits of safe treatment to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Whether you are preconception, pregnant, postpartum or "empty nesting", I have the expertise to manage your needs. My passion is helping women navigate through all their transitions & difficulties with compassion and empathy.
I am confident we can work together to help you achieve wellness & vitality!
LOCATIONS AND HOURS
Virtual Hours:
Monday - Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday appointments upon request.
In-person visits available by appointment only for office locations in Williston Park, Babylon and Sayville.
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The Long Island Museum is thrilled to present the 11th annual “Through Our Eyes Exhibition" in collaboration with the Long Island State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Program at Stony Brook University.
This yearly exhibition celebrates the creativity of individuals living with memory loss and the challenges of aging. Featuring artwork by participants in LIM’s “In the Moment” program and showcasing how the arts can inspire joy, connection, and expression at every stage of life.
“Through Our Eyes” will be on view in the LIM Art Museum through December 21, 2025.
Plan your visit at the Long Island Museum, click visit our website below.
All “In the Moment” programs and exhibitions are underwritten by a generous anonymous gift.
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Now Accepting New Clients
Do you know anyone who is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling with life’s challenges? They don’t have to face it alone. Our practice is now welcoming new clients.
✅ Confidential & Supportive Environment
✅ Personalized Therapy Tailored to Individual Needs
✅ Virtual Tele-Health & In-Person Sessions Available
✅ Insurance Accepted
If you or someone you know could benefit from mental health support, we're here to help.
Wholistic Counseling PC
157 N. Ocean Ave.
Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 406-9308
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