Abigail S. Holbrook, MSW, LCSW, LLC

One of the most important things you can do during this quarantine is take care of your own mental health in healthy and adaptive ways. That's going to look a little different for each person to some degree. We all pandemic in our own way.... You can do this.

Very much so. I have seen this in a number of clients and friends. See Susan’s comments below. Take care of you. #Repost @whole_embodied_therapist with @get_repost Holidays are NOT the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Some people experience flashbacks to traumas of holidays past. Some are grieving losses of family or friends who’ll not be here this year. Some are anxious at all the expectations of gifts, social engagements, and/or events with lots of food. ...Some will return home to family time that is painful, some will choose not to and may be feeling lonely. To all of you who are hurting, or are excited AND sad...wherever you are- you matter, your experience is valid. Wishing you compassion and kindness to allow yourself to be where you are and to take the best care of yourself that you can! #blueholidays #unhappyholidays #itsokaytobesad #grief #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietyrecovery #edrecovery #ptsdrecovery #addictionrecovery #chronicillness #spoonies #chronicpain #endthestigma #highlysensitiveperson #yougotthis #youareenough #youmatter #mentalhealthjourney #recoverywarrior See more

I hope very much that all of you...all of us have these people in our lives. Wishing you peace as you prepare for a new week ahead. If you’re holding something, reach out, and ask your friend to just hear you. It’s so very powerful. #repost @dr.alexandra.solomon with @get_repost I’ve been a therapist, client, teacher, learner for a long ass time, and this is the thing I know most of all~~ YOUR PRESENCE IS YOUR SUPER POWER. What would happen if you really, deeply, truly... started to believe that? * It’s not your money, your fixing, or your cleverness. It’s not your pity or your praise. * It’s your love-infused presence. I want that to feel like a weight off your shoulders, like a deep exhale. Show up. Listen. Tune yourself into the experience of the other. Decenter yourself (your ego, your desire to rescue, your impatience, your moral outrage). And just be WITH the person you love as they hurt. Trust the beauty that is your body near their body, holding the bass note as they ride the waves of emotion. Lean the eff right into that. * There’s all kinds of shit that makes this simplicity hard to believe. Sometimes men-people especially struggle to trust that they are enough just exactly as they are cuz the world has told them that if the people they love are hurting, then they gotta fix that shit forthwith. But I’ve seen it too many times... how she melts in the embrace of his curiosity and care. Ooh it brings me to tears every time! #depression #anxiety #selfcare #socialwork #socialworker #counseling #psychotherapy #friends See more

This looks like a good list, y’all. We all need to be with a therapist that fits our needs. ...if a client of any background asked me to refer them to a counselor who shared with them an identity, community or lived experience, I wouldn’t hesitate. People deserve to voice their opinions, and have their needs met. Simple as that. To that end, seeing people get well and stay well matters more to me than who’s in front or behind of me, in this competitive rat race of a therapist market. I do this work because I want to see people thrive, not simply survive and get by. That level of integrity begins with me encouraging clients not to settle for any therapist who is not a good fit, including myself, possibly.

Exercise is important and it is not a cure for depression. Please don’t assume I’m taking a reductionist view on this, but I know movement of the body in some form of exercise is a useful tool for the overall management of both depression and anxiety. I also know it’s really hard to start, especially in winter when seasonal mood changes can make it even more difficult to start a new habit. These ideas could be helpful. #depression #anxiety #exercise #mentalhealth #counseling #psychotherapy #socialwork #socialworker https://tonic.vice.com//get-yourself-to-exercise-if-youre-

Hi everyone, as we move farther into the holiday season I encourage you to visit www.yourholidaymom.com from Thanksgiving through the New Year this season. This is a project started by Robin Rice,the mother of an adult transgender son. There you will find daily letters written by volunteer holiday moms written for LGBTQIA children, teens, and adults who are without family support (or have compromised support) and need to read words of acceptance and support through the seas...on. Read more about the moms and the letters on the website. A new letter posts on Thanksgiving but you can read past letters now. Please know I see you, I hear you, and I fully accept and care very much about you and who you are. You have my full support. Wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving week. #selfcare #lgbtq #lgbtqia #support #love #thanksgiving #christmas #holidays #holidayselfcare #depression #suicide #anxiety #loneliness #compassion #counseling #psychotherapy #socialworker #socialwork See more

Core beliefs we hold...the stories we tell ourselves about the reality of who we are, others, and the world around us deeply shape aspects of our lives and our experiences in both supportive and sustaining ways as well as damaging ways. Beliefs do not define who we are, nor do they have to dictate our lived experience. We can become more fully in touch with themhow they operate in our livesand begin to change the beliefs and stories we have clung to. This is a big idea and ...it isn’t something that happens over night. It all begins with awareness of the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what the world is like. The awareness of how powerful these narratives are is a huge step towards beginning to shift to more life-sustaining, supportive perspectives. That is what much of the work of therapy in my office is about. It’s hard work with important results. Wishing you all a peaceful start to your week. #counseling #psychotherapy #belief #narrative #story #corebeliefs #socialwork #socialworker See more

I keep coming back to this image from an unknown artisttheir take on the client-therapist relationship. I can’t take away your storm, but I will sit with you in it...listening to you, talking to you, reflecting back to you...to help you try to make sense of what it contains. And in that process my hope for you is that you can begin to learn what you need to from it...how to survive it and move through it and to feel more fully alive and whole. Out of all of my roles, the most important thing I will do is sit with you so you know you aren’t alone. You can do this. Wishing you peace this Wednesday. #counseling #psychotherapy #therapy #lonely #deppression #anxiety #growth #socialworker #socialwork

I know things are tough right now. Before you reach for an old way of coping that doesn’t serve your well-being, stop and check in on these four feelings and sensations. When we’re emotionally overwhelmed and/or physically run down and not taking care of our basic needs, it can be easy to fall back on old, unhelpful ways of coping. There’s no shame in that. Almost all choices are an attempt to feel better, but try to stop for a few minutes and check in on these things. Are th...ere some changes you could make or actions you could take that might help and also serve your efforts to heal and care for yourself in a positive, adaptive way? Go ahead and do those now. Wishing you peace this week and spaces of comfort. #selfcompassion #mindfulness #wellbeing #selfcare #depression #anxiety #trauma #suicide #suicidal #compassion #coping #care #counseling #psychotherapy #socialworker #socialwork See more

A tool to use when difficult feelings or sensations arise. RAIN: Recognize what is happening...Allow the experience to be there, just as it is...Investigate with interest and care...Nurture with self-compassion. If what is present feels too intense and painful, please reach out for support. For further information on RAIN...https://www.tarabrach.com/rain #wellbeing #mindfulness #selfcare #health #compassion #selfcompassion #socialworker #socialwork #psychotherapy #counseling

This is the experience of telemental health during a pandemic. It’s real and hard and there is laughter echoing in bathrooms, cars, closets, and bedrooms.

One of the most important things you can do during this quarantine is take care of your own mental health in healthy and adaptive ways. That's going to look a little different for each person to some degree. We all pandemic in our own way.... You can do this.

Good stuff and very true. Finding humor when things are uncertain is very important. Take good care.

Hi Everyone, It's been a while. There are many changes going on in our world right now and a lot that is uncertain. What I do know is that I'm witnessing widespread acts of love and generosity, and we can and will move through this time if we work together and actively focus on caring for ourselves and each other. I am still working actively as a therapist in the Athens, GA community and have moved my practice for the present time fully online using Simple Practice teleconfer...encing. My current understanding is that many insurance plans are covering teleconferencing for therapy, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announcing just yesterday that Medicare will now cover telehealth services for beneficiaries who need to access this from their homes. This is amazing news. Anxiety around coronavirus and the potential negative impact of social isolation are very real. I do not want to downplay that, but I want to encourage you in a few ways because I know you can cope. The resilience of the human mind and spirit and our ability to adapt to difficulty are truly amazing. I'll continue to check in over the next few weeks. Coping: -Check the facts from reputable sources only and limit your daily news consumption. -Follow the guidelines recommended or required. They are designed to keep you, your loved ones, and the community healthy. -Plan ahead as you are able, but focus as much as you can on what you need to do today to care for yourself and the people in your life. Our brains are trying to figure out what life will look like 2 months from now. It's not possible in many ways, so bring your brain back to the present frequently. Check out "mindfulness activities" online for more information. -Even with the uncertainty and unknown, there are absolutely areas where you can create some control in your life in the present. -Do this by focusing your attention on ways you can create some stability and routine in your day--keeping your mind on balancing activities around work/tasks, play/pleasure, social connection, helping others where possible, learning, wellness, laughter, eating, and sleep. These are areas where agency can be created. -Lastly, and maybe most importantly, never has technology been more important as a tool for social connection. Use the Internet to reach out to your family and friends and to access resources. -Reach out to a therapist or counselor if you feel you need to talk to someone about how you're coping. Most of us are available online and ready to help. Take care, y'all. You got this.

Very much so. I have seen this in a number of clients and friends. See Susan’s comments below. Take care of you. #Repost @whole_embodied_therapist with @get_repost Holidays are NOT the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Some people experience flashbacks to traumas of holidays past. Some are grieving losses of family or friends who’ll not be here this year. Some are anxious at all the expectations of gifts, social engagements, and/or events with lots of food. ...Some will return home to family time that is painful, some will choose not to and may be feeling lonely. To all of you who are hurting, or are excited AND sad...wherever you are- you matter, your experience is valid. Wishing you compassion and kindness to allow yourself to be where you are and to take the best care of yourself that you can! #blueholidays #unhappyholidays #itsokaytobesad #grief #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietyrecovery #edrecovery #ptsdrecovery #addictionrecovery #chronicillness #spoonies #chronicpain #endthestigma #highlysensitiveperson #yougotthis #youareenough #youmatter #mentalhealthjourney #recoverywarrior See more