Hello Pamela,


I spent 8 years in Florida early in my career and these past couple of weeks of summer in Michigan brought me right back there along with an appreciation for air conditioning and water!


This newsletter is full of tips for reducing panic and anxiety and a really great recipe! Don't foget to check out the link to our virtual learning lab with free to low cost help for parents, anxiety, ADHD, stress, and so much more!


I wish you a summer filled with moments of joy and laughter.



Dr. Pam McCaskill



office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com

734-416-9098

Therapy Services

McCaskill Family Services Newsletter

Term: Summer| Issue 66 | June 30th, 2025

"My therapist told me to 'sit' with my feelings. What does that mean?"

Often times, we are taught by our therapists to engage in coping skills to help us regulate our emotions. While this is an important piece of the therapeutic puzzle, it's possible that we could be using coping skills as an avoidance tactic for our challenging emotions. Instead of truly feeling and acknowledging our emotions, are we inadvertently distracting ourselves from understanding and effectively processing them? MFS therapist, Jaclyn Rink, MSCP, LLP explains what it means to 'sit with' our feelings, and a step-by-step guide on how to do it!

At McCaskill Family Services, we specialize in working with children and adults who are struggling with ADHD, Learning disabilities, and co-occurring mood symptoms. If your family or someone you know could benefit from our services, please contact us. Our clinicians are trained in empirically-based techniques, and would be happy to promptly schedule an appointment in person or via tele-health. We can be reached by phone at 734-416-9098 or by email at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.

A Helpful Tool For Panic Attacks

Summer Sausage Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 13.5 oz Andouille Sausage, sliced about 1/2 in thick
  • 1/3 cup diced red onion
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 orange pepper, chopped
  • 2 small to medium zucchini, sliced
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 2 ears of corn
  • Additional sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • For topping: 1/8 cup of basil and cilantro each
  • Optional: Poblano or Jalapeno pepper for those who like a little more heat or spice.


Basil Cilantro Crema

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup basil, packed
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, packed
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • Juice from half a lime About 1/2 - 1 tbsp

Instructions

  • Blend the ingredients for the Basil Cilantro Crema in a food processor and set aside. Refrigerate if you are not going to be using it in about 10 minutes.
  • For the sausage skillet, add the extra virgin olive oil to a pan over medium to high heat. When it is shimmering, add in the sausage. Cook for 3 minutes per side and then remove it from the pan.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the grill or skillet and then when it is hot, add the corn cobs. Cook for 4 minute per side over medium heat.
  • Back in the skillet, do not wipe it out. Instead, just add in the red onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until it softens. Then add in the pepper and cook for another 3-5 mins.
  • Add in the zucchini, garlic salt, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Mix it all in and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Make sure the zucchini is touching the bottom of the pan to enable it to char a little. Stir regularly to keep it from over cooking.
  • When the corn is done, cut it off the cob and add the corn and sausage to the skillet. Saute for about 2 minutes. Then turn off the heat and remove the skillet from the burner. Allow to cool for about 3 minutes and add in the cilantro and basil.
  • Serve with the Basil Cilantro Crema alone or over rice.


Get to Know Our Staff
Clinician Spotlight

Jaclyn Rink is a master’s level clinician who has been a part of the MFS family for 9 years! Jaclyn works with children, teens and adults struggling with various types of anxiety, OCD, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and self-harm.


She obtained her clinical psychology degree from Madonna University and previously worked in the University of Michigan's (Dearborn) Counseling and Disability center. Additionally, she holds two bachelors degrees in the areas of sociology and journalism from Oakland University.


Jaclyn is a certified SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Experiences) provider and co-runs the McCaskill Family Services Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) group for teens. She is the MFS social media director, newsletter editor, and writes many of our MFS mental health blogs. She is currently working on her art therapy certification!


In her spare time, Jaclyn enjoys hiking adventures and traveling. She loves to write poetry, bake, and is continually improving her golf game! She and her partner recently rescued Tucker, a super sweet Pitbull, who is silly, loves to swim and is full of energy!

Click the picture for a message from Jaclyn !

Interested in reading some of Jaclyn's other blogs? Click below for a direct link on a topic that may be helpful for you !

  1. Mac & Cheese: A strategy for relieving your child's anxiety
  2. OCD Misconceptions: Debunked
  3. Feeling Physical? The differences between health-related anxiety disorders
  4. Meet Your Mental Enemies : Cognitive Distortions
  5. The Dopamine Dilemma
  6. Journaling as a Therapeutic Tool
  7. Feeling Unmotivated? Me, too!
  8. Adopting an Attitude of Gratitude

Adult Evaluations by Dr. Spencer

Food For Thought

A monthly newsletter addition from our Dietitian & Eating Disorder Recovery Team.

MFS Virtual Learning Lab

Need Some Extra Support?

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Current Learning Labs:

  • Parenting in the digital age
  • Fueling for athletes
  • Pitfalls to healthy eating
  • Secrets of parenting the strong-willed child
  • Stress management strategies
  • ADHD: Separate fact from fiction
  • Recognize depression in teens


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