Mental Health Matters
October is a big month for the mental health community!

It’s Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month, and Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day.

These dates may act as good reminders to regularly attend to your mental health, as well as help loved ones who may be struggling with theirs.

(As a reminder, the national crisis hotline is 988.)
Friendships: Lost & Gained
Since we work with so many young adults, we sometimes hear about the struggles they have with letting go of old friendships. Clients often experience guilt, sadness, and second-guessing about letting some friendships go.

The reality is that at around 30 years old, it’s both healthy and normal to go through a pruning process of your friendships.

There are two main reasons for this.

The first is that many of us pair off into couples in our late 20s and early 30s. Because of that we tend to spend more time with our partner and other couples.

The other has to do with our personal evolution. What we valued in our adolescence can drastically change by our 20s and 30s. With age and maturity, we may also be able to see more clearly a toxic or one-sided relationship.

It's at this point in life that we tend to re-evaluate the strength of our friendships. In doing so, we get rid of or distance ourselves from friendships that no longer serve us to make room for others that do.
Tip of the Month
As we all know, communication is one of the cornerstones of any good relationship. Here's an effective but often underutilized technique:

Rather than assume you understand what your partner is saying which we all do from time to time ask your partner clarifying questions like “What do you mean?” or “I’m confused. Can you please explain that?” It will help eliminate a lot of misunderstandings and potential arguments.
Start "Winterizing" Yourself
With a chill in the air and the first day of fall in our rearview mirror, it’s time to start preparing yourself for the colder, darker days of the year.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects about 10% of people who live in cold weather climates during the fall and winter months. Even if you don’t have SAD, you can still experience the “winter blues”.

Here are three tips to prepare:

1. Plan some trips or events to look forward to. It’s even better if that includes a trip to a warm-weather climate.

2. Invest in a blue-light therapy box, which can provide the equivalent amount of light you would get on a sunny, clear day.

3. Maintain good habits around diet, exercise, and sleep. Watch your alcohol consumption, which tends to spike for many of us around the holidays.
Therapist Spotlight
Yvany Peery, LICSW, is a trauma therapist specializing in working with those who have experienced complex trauma and loss/grief. She focuses on anxiety disorders, attachment issues, relationships, and life transitions.

Additionally, Ms. Peery enjoys working with clients of color and those from different cultures.

She has recently added more in-person sessions to her schedule.

To schedule an appointment with Ms. Peery, call 202.588.1288
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ or email us at info@dctalktherapy.com.
What We're Reading
By Ann Patchett
 
Patchett is an award-winning writer who has written several novels, works of non-fiction and children’s books.

Her latest novel is a beautiful story about young love, mature love, and the lessons learned from both. It also explores issues related to celebrity.

During the height of COVID-19, Lara recounts to her three grown daughters her exploits in the summer of 1988 in small-town Michigan when she dated a fellow actor who went on to become a famous movie star.

Our Clinical Team
DC Talk Therapy | info@dctalktherapy.com | 202.588.1288 | dctalktherapy.com