Stress Management Skills in Santa Fe, NM

by | Sep 2, 2022

Stress management skills have been talked about endlessly, it seems. And yet, most of us are more stressed than ever.

‘Course, part of that may be because we’re living in uber-stressful times these days.

Stress management skills help you navigate the inevitable times of change, even crises, that are part of being alive. Having the right skillset can help you remember who you are, what brings you joy, and how to overcome what’s holding you back.

When no one’s taught you (true for most of us)

That’s no good. Who wants to live like that?!

How to Develop Stress Management Skillstall carved stone statue of Native American woman in Taos, New Mexico. Stress management skills can make a world of difference if you're struggling with anxiety, grief, or overwhelm. The Santa Fe Therapist can help. Online counseling. 87122, 87506, 87048, 87501

One stress management skill learning how to calm down your nervous system.

Another is to find a few quick but effective guided imagery or relaxation meditations. I really like Tara Brach. She has a website that’s full of high-quality, free downloadable meditations. Meditating and listening to guided visualizations and soothing music, btw, helps calm down your nervous system.

Make it easy — find a short meditation to begin with. Listen a couple of times and see how you feel afterward.

One more important stress management skill is paying attention to how you’re feeling and reacting to something or someone.

Finally, when you know how to tell the truth about how you’re feeling and what you’re doing with your life, your life will change for the better.

Are you doing things that are satisfying and fulfilling? With people you enjoy being with?

What You Love Matters

The more time you spend with people and experiences, including work and career, that give you pleasure in a meaningful sense, the less stressed you’ll be.

I was reminded of this when I sat down with Linda Durham, one of the most influential people in the Santa Fe contemporary art scene over the last three decades. I interviewed her for my public radio show, Living From Happiness (KSFR 101.1fm); it was apparent how much Linda has lived this idea.

No longer a youngster, she’s very open about that. She also tells the truth about what she loves and accepts the facts of her life as they are. As she writes in her memoir, Still Moving,

There is something comforting about the passage of time, about aging, about

entering a phase of life known by various names that I’m learning to embrace.

 

Most ageist euphemisms still make me cringe. Senior citizen. Crone. Old.

Elderly. Hag. Twilight years.

 

To find comfort in the debatable concept that time moves forward and, in

my case, has moved quite far, I practice a private and uplifting process that

brings hopeful optimism to my septuagenarian self. I imagine that I’m a healthy,

life-loving, eighty-eight-year-old.

 

If my beloved business hadn’t failed, and if I hadn’t thrown all caution to the

proverbial wind and used creatively raised funds to embark on a trip around the

world, this book would not exist. And there would be no one to thank.

Radical Acceptance

Stop fighting the facts, and instead, practice accepting how things are. Our need to keep pretending everything’s OK when the house is on fire is pretty astonishing. Honestly? I consider myself the Queen of Pretending, which has cost me a great deal over the course of my life.

Yes, it’s absolutely OK to take a break from everything once in a while, or even regularly, as long as the “break” is doing something healthy to strengthen your stress management skills. (And yes, it’s also OK to binge-watch a little bit, or read something that’s not so important. We can’t always be doing the “right’ thing.)

But if you’re so checked out that you’re missing your life, that’s a problem.

Inner Peace

When you run out of places to hide, when the usual ways of pretending things are OK enough to just get through one more day, that’s the perfect time to learn how it feels to be at peace with the present.

Especially if you — stress management skills, the Santa Fe Therapist,

… you may have forgotten what emotional / psychological / spiritual safety feels like.

And when you don’t feel safe, your brain tells you that you have to scan the environment for threats and danger constantly. You’re on edge, on alert, jumpy, nervous. That’s crazy-making and exhausting, and you’ll likely end up developing chronic mental and/or physical health problems.

Stress Management Therapist in Santa Fe, NM

I’m Melanie, the Santa Fe Therapist, and I teach stress management techniques to women who are struggling to reclaim health, wellbeing, and peace. laughing woman sitting in wooden chair outside on her New Mexico portal. Stress management counseling with the Santa Fe Therapist. 87544, 87540, 87501, 87048, 87506

Profoundly positive things begin happening when you learn how to calm down your nervous system.

We’ll figure out what’s going on and what you need to begin feeling more in control of your life and way less stressed.

In balancing the science of therapy with the art of healing, I’ll create an innovative program for you that sets you on a path of success from the very first session.

My compassionate, creative approach weaves together my ability to hear below the surface of the words, advanced degrees, years of specialized training, and professional experience teaching stress management techniques to hundreds of people.

Neuroscience, Eastern Wisdom, & Earth-based Practices

I use the latest neuroscience findings as I combine Western systems, Eastern wisdom, Earth-based practices, as well as creative, innovative ideas to help you process what’s happening, heal old patterns, and begin building your future.

My clients usually work with me weekly for 6 to 12 months. As we work together, you’ll be getting tools for long-term success and learning and using strategies and techniques to serve you for many years.

You’ll work hard for sure. But won’t all be horrible and terrible! I love sharing ideas about good books and films and laughing together once in a while. The point is to be less stressed, right? Right.

My hope for you is that you’ll feel safe every step of the way.

Online Therapy in New Mexico

Online therapy helps busy women find the time away from day-to-day pressures to calm their nervous systems. It also makes it easy and convenient to process emotions and learn new neuroscience techniques cope with challenges, heal the past, and begin building your future.

Stress management counseling in Santa Fe, NM works really well with online therapy.

I strongly believe in the power of online counseling. Along with the research that proves its effectiveness, I see the positive benefits for clients every week. Please click here if you’ve got questions about online therapy.

Online counseling from anywhere in New Mexico, including Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, Los Alamos, Pecos, Las Vegas, Tesuque and El Dorado.

Stress Management Counseling in Santa Fe, NM

Stress management counseling can make a world of positive difference in your life. When you reach out for stress management help in Santa Fe NM, you’re making an investment in yourself that can change in your life in the best of ways.

Stress Management in Santa Fe, NM Phone Number

If it doesn’t feel too stressful, you can give me a call to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consult. The # is 505-699-4197.

And if it feels easier to send me an email, please do that: melanie@melanieharth.com.

Other Services From The Santa Fe Therapist

The Santa Fe Therapist specializes in several areas of health, wellbeing, healing and recovery. I know that one size never fits all. My services are individualized to each client, and are based on your values, your needs and desires, and your goals.

I offer individual adult counseling and guidance in Santa Fe NM for: