This weekend we are officially kicking off the 2025 holiday season with HALLOWEEN! Holidays help us regulate our nervous systems, relate to those around us in positive ways so that we do not feel alone, and help us find joy in the simple things in life. Whether you enjoy the spooky end of Halloween, the Disney end of Halloween, the Fall Festivals of Halloween, or are not into Halloween at all there is something that you can do during this season to increase you and your family’s capacity to regulate stressed nervous systems, for positive interactions, and self-empowerment.

We can increase our capacity for being able to interact with and tolerate intense emotions caused from life stressors, depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment reactions, and many other mental health issues. When we increase our circle of capacity, we can shift perspective and more positively function in the world around us. Holidays provide ways for us to intentionally strengthen and increase our circle of capacity by the activities and events that we choose and are encouraged to participate in.

4 Ways Halloween & Fall Festivals Help Decrease Mental Health Struggles, Strengthen Relationships, and Increase Capacity for Grounding, Positivity, and Joy Among Children, Teens, and Families.

1.       Creativity – Curiosity and Play

· Decorating pumpkins: carving, painting, intentionally placing them strategically around your home, business, or yard.

· Decorating Yards: From spooky and gory, to Snoopy, to completely nature-based decorations - fun is to be had!

· Halloween/Fall Crafts – Homemade crafts, school projects, and store bought- follow direction crafts all light up the limitless creativity inside our minds.

·  Costumery: Face painting, choice of costume, homemade costumes, or extravagant realistic costumes allow us to play in a fantasy world with safety and imagination.

If you need counseling for Children or teens ages 5-18 Spiral Roots LLC has openings.

2.       Family Connections - Strengthening Family Relationships

·  Creating, crafting, decorating together! There are no limits.

·  Cooking fun foods together can be so much fun. “Hey, don’t forget the chocolate ‘dirt’ desert!

·  Having experiences together, going to festivals, and on nature drives brings opportunity for laughter and conversation. Yes, even with teens!

3.       Community – Positive Co- Regulation

·  Passing out Candy, Trick or Treat, Trunk or Treat, and School Parties!

·  Hayrides, Haunted Houses, and Theam parks all add to the fun.

·  Story Telling & Suspended Disbelief engage the mind.

·  Music making, dance parties, and bouncy houses help us move our energy around.

Spiral Roots LLC has openings for child therapy and teen therapy in Harrisonburg, VA

Call Melissa Today for child or teen therapy in Harrisonburg, VA.

4.      Nature- Helps Us Be Present and Breathe

VA

·  Corn Mazes are a safe way to be lost and found, to hide and seek, and to be seen and heard!

·  Leaf peeping and scenic drives quite our souls and spark conversations.

·  Walks outside engage all our senses. The smell of wet leaves, the crisp mountain air, the bright orange and red and yellow foliage, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, and the tingle of winters promise on our skin.

·  Bon fires with or without smores connect us more.

·  Lawn care in preparation for the winter gives us a sense of accomplishment.  Leaf raking, followed by jumping in and scattering them adds to the season!

Spiral Roots LLC has child therapy and teen therapy (5-18) openings in Harrisonburg VA. Connect today with Melissa!

Halloween can give us an extra incentive to engage with our creativity and play. We are allowed to take time out, while feeling safe, for moments of suspended disbelief of scary things that turn out ok. We find joy and movement through participating in family and community interactions and events. And we can pause and inhale the sweet aromas of fall, breathe, and enjoy all that nature can provide. We can do all these things intentionally thanks to the holidays all the while regulating our nervous systems, relating to those around us in a positive way, and finding joy in the simple things in life.

Heading out now, myself, to a pumpkin carving party! Happy Halloween!

If you need child or teen therapy in Harrisonburg, Virginia call me or send me an email today!

Melissa Deaton Cook LPC provides therapy for children and teens in Harrisonburg, VA at Spiral Roots LLC where she integrates nature-based therapies in helping her clients regulate their nervous systems and build capacity to overcome the effects of anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns. Connect with her today.

Serving the Shenandoah Valley -Harrisonburg, Staunton, Rockingham County, Augusta County, and Page County from Dayton, VA

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