crocuses

March has been shaping up as a banner month for MFT3 and we’d like to give a run-down of some of the highlights.

March started out with a message from the APA in which MFT3 has been chosen as a clinical field trial site for the upcoming DSM-5. This is a huge honor as MFTs have not been invited to this dance historically and with Katherine Allen, LMFT, in our little entity being among only 500 MFTs in the nation selected for this information gathering research process, well we feel pretty special about that. (here’s the FAQ)

Secondly came the great news that our associate, Erica Cannata, had sat for and successfully passed the MFT licensing exam. Horray Erica! So to her already lengthy list of credentials and accomplishments she has now added LMFT. I’m not sure we can fit all of the letters after her name on the new business cards, but just watch us make it happen!

Following this good news was the surprise honor when the AAMFT chose our blog as “blog of the week“. Being recognized on the national level for our blog is such an exciting thing. To know that this typing and sending out into the world each month is being recognized is very satisfying, someone is paying attention and appreciating the thoughts and insights that we share for those who may be contemplating therapy or looking to supplement their ongoing therapy with more information. (and now that we realize there is a larger audience, we’ll be writing more!)

actual view from actual car

Katherine Allen is also running for a seat on the CTAMFT Board of Directors and the voting is scheduled to end on March 30. Cross your fingers for her, and fellow CTAMFT members if you haven’t yet voted please do so!

And finally, on a much lighter note, it’s great to see the epic Northeast snows of winter disappear and the first signs of spring emerge. We welcome the tulip and the Robin. It’s a nice reminder that the one constant in life is change, whether we want it or not.

In closing, we hope that if you find yourself feeling stuck, there is help out there and we are happy to take your calls and answer your questions.

I meet with so many families that are facing changes in their lives regarding their income, specifically recent drop in income, and the discomfort associated with changing social status definitions. I believe that this movie can go a long way to altering the definition of value, worth and consciousness to bring a new perspective and comfort in these changes.

This month, as the August days quickly pass, we at MFT3 encourage you and challenge you to examine your expectations of yourselves, your partners, and your children. Make a list of things that you can let go of, even if just for one week, one night, one hour. If you have to eat cold sandwiches or throw together a salad for dinner so that you can hang out on a blanket on the front lawn and have an impromptu picnic with your family, do that. If you have to leave the laundry for another day in order to take a walk after dinner with your spouse, do that too. Play a game rather than check your iPhone or blackberry for the hundredth time today. Take a bath rather than taking another hour to work from home. Listen to the laughter of your children, the sound of the stillness after everyone is settled for the night, or the wisdom of your grandparent who is surprised to hear from you unexpectedly.

These are all simple and natural remedies for the anxiety that we begin to carry around as a result of having unrealistic expectations of ourselves. This is also an anxiety that we can transmit to our children, our employees, and others in our lives that follow our lead. Once it’s time to gear up again, you can always be proactive and prepared so that you set the pace. Stay tuned to our blog for suggestions on how to enter the responsibilities ahead with a balanced approach and a planful state of mind.

Of course if these are issues that you struggle to get a handle on, we at MFT3 are happy to provide our assistance in managing the anxiety in your household or to establish structure that allows for each person’s needs to be met.

Therefore I offer to you the following. July is “National Hot Dog Month” and “National Ice Cream Month”. Now that sounds like a fun, flavorful and frugal kind of celebration. It is also “National Family Reunion Month” and while this may cause more stress for some, it may also be an opportunity to reduce yourselves of some clutter by making the gathering a donation event as well, reducing your extra stuff as a family and helping others who lack some of the basics. Helping someone else and being grateful for what you still have has a wonderful healing effect.

July 18th is “Toss Away the Could-Haves and Should-Haves Day”. Should is another one of those tough words. It means that if something isn’t as it “should” be then everything else is worse or wrong. That’s a pretty high standard to meet. I can always find at least 3 to 6 alternative ways of seeing any situation. Embrace today, where you are, and realize that this is good, too.

from Wikipedia by Alvesgaspar

My favorite, though, is July is also “National Share a Sunset with your Lover Month”. This is a great free celebration that we can all enjoy. It costs nothing, just some time and some willingness to make it happen. Yeah, we’ve had more than our share of rain in CT, but there are still many sunny days ahead.

Any situation is what you make it, and Less is definitely More if you let it be. Have a great sunset!