Grief is a natural response to loss, but it doesn’t always follow a neat timeline. The healing process is individual.

Mother's Day is often portrayed as a time of celebration, filled with flowers, heartfelt cards, and family gatherings. For many, it's a cherished occasion to honor and appreciate maternal figures. However, for others, it can be a day marked by complex emotions—grief, longing, estrangement, or unfulfilled desires. At Attentive Psychotherapy & Counseling Center, we recognize and honor the full spectrum of feelings that this day can evoke.

When we think of “family,” we often imagine unconditional love, safety, and support. But for many, family is also the source of emotional distress, manipulation, and lasting psychological wounds. So what happens when the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally consistently harm you? The idea of cutting off family can feel extreme — even taboo — but sometimes, it’s the healthiest path forward.

Winter can be a tough time for many reasons. We get stressed out planning for the holidays and exhausted once they pass. We might feel lonely and unmotivated to do much of anything if it requires venturing into the frigid, freezing cold. On top of it all, we're hit with the shortest days and longest nights of the year, which can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).