Feeling Off After the Holidays? Here’s a Practical Next Step for 2026.
January can mess with people
The holidays end, routines come back online, and suddenly, the stress you were able to ignore is sitting right in front of you. Sleep gets lighter. Anxiety gets louder at night. Motivation drops. Relationships feel more tense. Work feels harder than it should.
If that sounds familiar, you are not the only one
A lot of adults I work with are carrying more than usual right now, and at the same time, many are stressed about money, insurance coverage, or rising out-of-pocket costs. So instead of pretending this is a simple moment, let’s focus on what can help here and now.
What therapy can help with quickly
Therapy does not have to be vague or endless. When it’s structured, it can help you make meaningful changes without dragging things out.
People often come to therapy for:
Anxiety, rumination, or overthinking that is getting in the way of sleep and focus
Depression, burnout, or feeling emotionally flat
Relationship stress, conflict cycles, or difficulty communicating
Work stress, boundary issues, or perfectionism
Big life transitions, loss, or the feeling of being stuck
You do not need to wait until you are falling apart. Most people benefit most when they start before things become a full-blown crisis.
If cost is part of what is stopping you
I respect that finances are real, and for many people right now, the barrier is not motivation. It is the monthly budget.
If you aren’t ready to start therapy today, here are a few stabilizing moves you can use this week:
Choose one anchor habit for two weeks. A consistent wake time, a daily walk, or a simple bedtime routine. Pick one and keep it realistic.
Contain the mental spiral. If your brain starts running at night, write it down, then assign it a time tomorrow. Do not try to solve your life in bed.
Schedule one short “life admin” block. Fifteen to twenty minutes for insurance calls, bills, or paperwork, then stop. Avoidance fuels anxiety, but so does hours of stress-scrolling through your responsibilities.
These steps are not a replacement for therapy, but they can lower the intensity enough that you can think clearly again.
How to get started in therapy
The easiest first step is a consultation. It is a short call where we clarify what you want help with, talk through logistics, and decide whether working together makes sense.
For therapy and testing, I currently accept Medicare, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare/Optum.
If you have been thinking, “I should probably talk to someone,” that thought usually does not go away on its own. It tends to get louder over time. Book a consultation, and let’s make a plan.