A Christmas Without Conflict? Love Conquers All…
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| I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. Sometimes, the holidays can create new layers of conflict in your relationships either with friends, co-workers or even family. For many people Christmas, especially, is a time of heightened conflict.
Around the holidays, there are people who are having a hard time managing their holiday expectations, (especially when it comes to gifts). We should not feel like making ourselves attend family gatherings with a good attitude, or dealing with the emotional ups and downs that the holidays can bring. If that’s true, you are not alone. In the midst of the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for many, this time of year can also be challenging, broken families, loneliness, and unresolved conflict.
But there is something that can bring healing to our troubled times: LOVE, JOYand PEACE.
We all desire to experience love, joy and peace, especially during this holiday season. Part of our celebration is to know that there is hope for healing and unity. Why is that? Because we can allow Christ’s love to transform our lives, our relationships, and broken dreams. Christmas brings that hope.
The holiday season is the perfect time to express your faith, and pass along the spirit of Christmas; these times are beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt!
As we enjoy the holiday season, I encourage you to take a deep breath, be intentional about how your family chooses to spend this time, and focus on what your families need most: love, attention, and communication from you. It takes more time to think about how to do this more than to just do it.
Not doing can also be an important: Not having that third or fourth beer, Not staying up too late watching TV or on the computer, Not rushing about while you drive, Not waiting for the last moment to do something. Knowing your own giving heart, out of kindness, wisdom, and support, let your gifts flow to that one person in this world over whom you have the most influence and therefore to whom you have the highest duty of care—those you hold closest to you… You can give the gift of Love. Learn to slow down and enjoy this Holy Season.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas from all of us at Compass Consulting & Affiliates LLC |
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Top 10 Ways To Have The Best Holidays Ever
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| The holidays are here… And with it comes the hope that this one will be extra special. To avoid getting bogged down in busyness, stress and old patterns.
Here are 10 ways to turn that dynamic around and create the a very special holiday season.
1. Give yourself a break. Perfection—even perfect happiness—just isn’t possible. Let your best be good enough. Make a budget for both your time and your money—and stick to it. It really is the thought that counts.
2. Make conscious decisions. Get clear about what you really want to do over the holidays before compromising with others. If you don’t have a clear plan and clear intentions, you might find yourself getting swept along by others’ desires. Even if you compromise later, get clear first.
3. Shorten your to-do list. What do the holidays mean to you? For many, it’s about family and friends and spirituality. If an item doesn’t add to your holiday spirit, scratch it off.
4. Say no when you want to. It’s very liberating. Try it and see. It sounds simple, but too often obligation trumps desire. When faced with options, choose the one that would make you happier.
5. Limit obligatory activities. If you can’t avoid certain events, limit the time you’re there.
6. Take good care of yourself. The old standards help keep stress at bay: eat healthfully, exercise, drink lots of water, and breathe deeply. Schedule time for relaxation and fun.
7. Don’t wait until the last minute. To avoid last-minute frenzy that can bust your budget, start shopping or making presents now.
8. Ask for help. Reject any notion of martyrdom. The burden of preparations should not fall upon one person. The more specific you are in your request, the more successful you’ll be.
9. Establish new traditions. If you have experienced a major life-changing event, such as a death or divorce, consider doing something you’ve never done before over the holidays, such as travel to another country or take a cruise.
10. Get support. If a glorious holiday season feels completely out of reach, you may experience the holiday blues. Many people do. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling that way. Reach out for the support you need. |
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Take A Look At What’s Happening At Compass
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| Our DUI treatment programs and Clinical Evaluations are state approved for court ordered treatment. Allow us to help you. We also do Interventions for those struggling to get help. Call today.
Here are more services we provide:
- Individual, Relationship, & Child Counseling
- Choices: Drug & Alcohol Court Ordered Group
- Meets weekly. We also work with your probation officer. DUI, possession charges, and other issues arising from substance abuse.
- Challenges Adolescent Group
- Meets weekly. Now forming for Spring 2019.
- Anger Management Classes
- Diversion Classes For Shop Lifting & Thief Prevention
- Drug Screening
- Also available on site and home kits
- Relapse Prevention & Early Intervention Program
- Substance Abuse Interventions for your loved ones
- Adolescent Female Group
- Now forming. Charity & Bethany are offering a 4-week intensive for adolescence. This is a focused group which will be held to a very limited number of teen girls. Give them a call about how to sign up your teen.
- Counseling for drug and alcohol issues
- We treat both the addicted loved one as well as the battle weary family. We are here for you.
- Executive Coaching
- Also available for the busy professional, who seems to never have time.
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THE COMPASS CONSULTING TEAM
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| Our team of counselors have various licenses and degrees, so you will be sure to find the perfect match. Call 678-395-7922 today or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment or leave a message. |
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Dr. Rick Petronella, PhD
Dr. Rick offers a treatment program that addresses destructive behaviors such as alcohol abuse or anger management. If left untreated, these behaviors can lead to DUI’s, domestic violence, and multiple losses in one’s life. He is a also Certified Clinical Supervisor and a Master Addiction Counselor and holds a credentials in Advanced Clinical Addiction and Drug Counseling. You only live once; you deserve to live free of addiction and embrace fully all that your life has to offer. |
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| Having practiced as an individual, family and corporate consultant for over 30 years, Dr. Rick has also been involved with specializing in the areas of leadership development, executive coaching. He also works closely with individuals, couples and families helping to make life as fulfilling, meaningful, healthy and conflict free as one would desire. He is the president and founder of Compass Consulting and Affiliates, LLC. and Choices Treatment Program. |
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Bethany Kinzel — MA, LPC, NCC
Bethany is an LPC focused on individuals, couples, and adolescence. She utilizes proven, clinical and educational techniques to help her clients live a more productive, meaningful and fulfilled life. Her educational techniques include: cognitive-behavioral therapy, family systems approaches, and mindfulness exercises. By practicing these techniques, the chains of repetitive, destructive behaviors will be broken, leading to a better quality of life. |
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Charity L Simpson, MS, LAPC, NCC, MDiv
Charity is a collaborative, relational-oriented counselor who seeks to support individuals within their current context. She integrates humanistic, existential, and systems theories with cognitive, behavioral, and solution-focused techniques. Charity seeks to work with clients to identify strengths, better utilize available resources, and work through challenges that pose obstacles to fulfilling life and relationships. In addition to traditional talk therapy, Charity integrates practices of mindfulness and creative approaches such as art, music, experiential, sand tray, and play therapies. |
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Bob Roland Th.M.
Bob is a compassionate and very seasoned pastoral counselor. Bob specializes in Couples, Families and Individual counseling. He also runs a successful program for pre-marital and pre-engagement couples. Give Bob a call; you will be glad you did. |
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