The most beloved Christmas songs boast that it's the most wonderful time of the year, but is it really true? 

As counselors, we know that what you see on the outside of people’s lives never tells the full story. Even the beautiful family Christmas card isn’t an accurate picture of reality. The truth is that there’s a lot of sadness and brokenness in this world, and it’s easy to push it away and not enter into it. It’s normal to want to numb yourself or avoid and gloss over the hurt. 

In this episode John, Shay and Lynn acknowledge that the holidays can both be a time of levity and joy, but can also be a time where we are faced with hard realities. You may have recently lost a loved one, been given an unwanted health diagnosis, or are reeling from a painful breakup. Or maybe you're far away from family or friends and don't feel like celebrating over the holidays.

This episode will help you manage the grief you may be experiencing as we discuss:

• The basic principles of grieving loss


• Ideas to honor the memory of a loved one


• Practical ways you can comfort someone who is hurting over the holidays


• The BEST gift you can give someone this Christmas - and it’s FREE!

Stay tuned for two more episodes in our “Keeping Your Sanity Over the Holidays” series!