Giving THANKS for PEACE_November 2025 Therapy Newsletter
Hello WTVACC & Grow Therapy Counseling Family. We have made it to November!!! How Exciting?! It was once October 31st and I blinked and it was November 14th. I have no idea how in the world we are half way through a new month. My apologies for my delay for sending the newsletter later than I hoped for. But hey we are always making progress and have things to work on, even your therapist.
Thank you for allowing me and understanding that I am officially on my Personal Leave/Sabbatical/Vacation. I am actively in vacation mode until Sunday, November 30, 2025! I will be back ready for our therapy sessions, meetings and admin work on Monday, December 1, 2025!
Please refer to the October newsletter for additional Therapy FYIs.
Just a reminder there's still support available for this month of November. You are not alone.
• From November 13th to Monday November 24th I will not have access to my phone and laptop devices during this time. In case of a medical emergency or if you are in immediate harm, you will need to contact #911 by phone. In case of a Mental/emotional health emergency you will need to contact #988 by phone or contact the behavioral emergency hotline on the back of your insurance card. Or call your local city or county behavioral emergency services hotline. And/or visit your local hospital/emergency room. You may also contact another trusted therapist that will be helping to assist with emergencies and continued mental health support.
These are the counseling contacts that you are encouraged to contact when necessary, during the hours from 10:00am to 8:00pm during the weeks of my absence. Please understand that these counselors also have their own normal counseling sessions and other responsibilities during these weeks. These counselors are aware of my absence and were so kind and thoughtful to help with support during these weeks. I am truly appreciative and thankful for these trusted therapists.
1) Mr. Jeremy S. Poling, LPC (specialize in anxiety, depression, couples & family counseling). Phone: (540) 830-1777. Email: polingtherapy@gmail.com & jeremypoling@me.com
2) Ms. Jakeil Gilchrist, LPC (specialize in anxiety, grief, family counseling, & self-confidence). Phone: (757) 738-7542. Email: healingshipts@gmail.com
3) Mrs. Miranda Brown, LCSW (specialize in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy_DBT, suicidal ideation/self-harming behaviors, trauma & couples counseling). Phone: (757) 271-9030.
4) Dr. Cheyenne James, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, LPC, CSAC. (specialize in trauma). Phone: (540) 425-3543. Email: Cheyenne@friendlycitypsychology.com
*All of these counselors are also connected on the Grow Therapy platform.
• For Thanksgiving week, Tuesday, November 25th to Sunday, November 30th 2025. I will only have access to my therapy phone and laptop devices for mental health Emergency reasons only.
*December Important Dates & Reminders
• Available for normal schedule sessions from Monday December 1st to Wednesday, December 10th 2025.
· Unavailable from Thursday, December 11th to Monday, December 15th 2025. I will not have access to my therapy phone and laptop devices nor internet access. Please refer to emergency support contacts shared above. (Dr. Cheyenne James will be unavailable for these dates).
· Available for normal schedule sessions Tuesday, December 16th and Wednesday, December 17th. Thursday, December 18th I will be available for sessions upon request only.
· Unavailable for Christmas and New Year's Week! Friday, December 19th to Sunday, January 04th 2026. I will have access to my therapy phone, laptop device and internet for Emergency reasons only.
*Please make an effort to attend at least 1 session for the month of December to keep your account/case active. Remember as part of our counseling agreement , counseling standards of practice and ethics we will need to meet at least once monthly. We understand the schedule is slightly different this season and that we are in holiday and vacation mode but its still important for all of us to be intentional with scheduling and attending sessions. Remember fam, Communication is key and the expectation. Life & emergencies will happen at some point, so please let me know asap. This goes for me as well. I will continue to do my very best to notify you asap if there's a crisis/emergency situation I have to take care of. And I want to say Thank you for your grace, mercy and understanding when I recently experienced my humanity when I had to cancel or reschedule a session or meeting.
· Available for normal schedule sessions starting back on Monday, January 05, 2026!
*This will also be the date I will be available for New Clients.
I will like to say a Huge Thank You to all past, present, potential future clients, trusted therapists and community supporters for using me as a Referral. I am incredibly Blessed and Thankful knowing you can refer so many other therapists for your family, friends, colleagues and strangers but you chose me. I don't take it lightly and I feel so grateful. It literally takes a community for us all to be Well. While you are referring potential new clients feel free to inform them to call, leave a voicemail or text my Counseling mobile# (757) 773-7488. Or email: writethevisionacc@gmail.com. I will do my very best to contact them within the week of first contact if there was a message left. Also, they can connect with me on 'Grow Therapy.' Once you have referred your people to me, please know you have done your part. Please note because of HIPAA and counseling ethics I am unable to share with you if your people have started the process with therapy. Its up to them to inform you of their decision if they choose to. Also, you are more than welcome to share the therapy newsletters with your loved ones and colleagues.
This month's theme is 'Giving Thanks for Peace.' So what does this mean and why is this so important? Well fam, all we have to do is turn on the TV, scroll through social media or talk with someone that is unwell and very quickly we all can witness that our world has a problem with Peace. I very much believe we can become peaceful people and live peaceful lives. I believe unfortunately due to unhealthy human behavior and our society has cause so many people to believe that living chaotic lives is normal. We need peace to keep our minds grounded and stabled. We need peace to help us gain the clarity, discernment and understanding to make wise decisions. We need peace so we won't crash out on our family, friends, romantic partners, work, church and neighborhoods etc.
According to Oxford Languages Peace means, "freedom from disturbance; tranquility."
According to Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peace
"a state of tranquility or quiet. Freedom from civil disturbance. Freedom from being disturbed or bothered by people, noise, etc.
"Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Harmony in personal relations. A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity."
I wonder what part of this definition resonated with you the most. More than likely that's an area you are working on or overcame.
* How to Find Inner Peace | Psychology Today Psych Today Article Link
This is a great article to read about the clinical psychology part of Peace.
As a Christian believer I love the assurance and comfort that God has shared with us about Peace. In the Gospel of John 14:27 (NKJV)
"Peace I (Jesus) leave with you, My peace I (Jesus) give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
This a beautiful reminder that our peace doesn't come from the world (society, government, neighborhood, family, friends, romantic relationships, work, material items, etc). Peace comes from a place much deeper. Yes, the areas above are very important and helpful with our everyday lives but its not sustainable when we fully rely on these areas and relationships for our peace. We need to have peace with self first and foremost and have peace when those areas above going well and unwell.
When we truly have peace we are not overwhelmed and afraid of the reality or things that are not real. Peace doesn't mean no struggle but it means we are in a state of mind knowing that self, things about us, other things and people around us will be OK! Knowing that you've done or actively doing your part in what you have control over and truly releasing control of things that are not part of our role and responsibility. Sounds familiar? Boundaries. Yes, it takes Boundaries to have and practice peace.
According to The Holy Bible, from the Gospel of Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) states,
"Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God."
Counseling Fam, we are Blessed when we have and live in peace. ("divinely or happily favored; fortunate to have, do, or experience something: often used in a lighthearted way or to avoid sounding boastful," According to Dictionary.com).
These are some more encouraging Holy Bible scriptures concerning Peace.
• II Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV).
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all."
•Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."
•Romans 12:17-18 (NKJV)
"[17] Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
[18] If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."
•Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: "
So now I'm sure you are thinking "this is all great, but Ms. Kim How can I be Peaceful and have peace when things seem so crazy, overwhelming and people and things around me is so out of whack?" First I want to say I am proud of you for coming this far and realizing and desiring to have peace. With that being said I encourage you to begin or continue to set an atmosphere around yourself and environment that peace can be practice. Examples to this is starting with your Spritual Health. Regardless of your spiritual practices there's some general activities we can all benefit from. Consider a moment of prayer/meditation. Just starting with 5-10 minutes in the morning, on your lunch break, after you get off work or part of your bedtime routine. A great resource is the Abide Meditation App (this is Christian based). This app has a free and paid version. Many clients have reported its been helpful. Abide also has a Youtube channel, Abide Bedtime Link which is more designed for bedtime mediation. Also, to mention you want to identify a safe place(s) where you pray / meditate. This may be your bedroom, closet, your home patio or balcony, office space, walk in nature, your car etc. Wherever this place is you have to recognize it as a Safe place. I've heard amazing and beautiful stories through the years of how people clear out spaces or rooms in their home to create a place for their spiritual practices and it also encouraged their mental and emotional health. Sometimes we need to take a moment to breathe, reflect, and take look around in our current environment to help identify your safe place(s). Consider cleaning and organizing your safe places and home in general. Having a clean and organized environment can help with clearer thoughts and decrease anxiety amd depression symptoms. Its Ok to ask for help with cleaning and organizing spaces. Another great resource to use is creating a peaceful music playlist. Nature and tranquility sounds, Classical and Jazz music are amazing options. I know some of you like your trap music but let's pause this genre for another theme. Music is 1 of my favorite coping skills and activity. There's ton of research about music on how it helps us our brain and connect with others. Music is also very spiritual. You will find my November music Playlist at the ending of this newsletter. There will be music/songs that are calming and some will be upbeat and fun. Try using audio Bible passage reading, or other spritual/religious text on speaker into your atmospheres / environments. In times past even for myself when I worked in toxic workplaces I would arrive to work early before other colleagues arrived or stayed late until everyone left and I would have a prayer meeting, play my audio spiritual passages and music into the atmosphere and prayer walks around my workplace building. This became a game changer to help me experience peace in my workplace. I know of other friends whom have done this as well and I recommend this for clients that work in chaotic and toxic environments. We can't expect things or other people to change if we are not willing to make changes from within ourselves. Peace starts with us. This is why I am so passionate about our spiritual health. Once we are practicing inner peace it will eventually show on the outside and people will notice and our atmospheres has the potential to change. I don't have a guarantee of the time and how it will happen, but the important part is that we must Start. And once again we are only in control of our peace. We can't force others to have peace but we can confidently establish the effective & healthy boundaries in place that our peace won't be disturbed. Another great suggestion is Go Outside & Get some Sunlight. We are Human, its part of our DNA to be in nature and have sunlight. Open up your windows and blinds, let your home shine with natural sunlight. For my office workers, go outside on your breaks. Another great mediation activity is the "Personal Relaxation Scene." For those of you that know about this activity practice it this month. If you have no idea what this is let me know and I will walk you through it in a session, meeting, or phone call. This is a great 5 minute mediation that can be done in most places and anytime of the day. Start practicing 10 minutes of complete silence. Best time to do this in my opinion is in the morning but it can be done at anytime of the day. If you are not doing this already it will feel weird and uncomfortable at first but that's ok. Turn your phone off or on silent, turn off all other devices and TV and practice being quiet and learning to be in atmosphere of silence. Life hack for peace, practice unplugging (turning your phone off) for a whole or half day at least once a week.
What a difference this makes in a society that we are always bombarded with noise. Relax fam. In 10 minutes you won't miss much what's happening in our world. Last recommendation, Read from a book or article that encourages that inner peace. 2 books I recommend for this is 'Boundaries' by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend and 'Authentic Happines' by Martin E.P. Seligman.
In giving thanks for peace this month we all know Thanksgiving is the last week of this month. Today is the day and this is the week to make plans for your Thanksgiving. You don't have to choose chaos just because its the holiday and annual tradition. You can start a new holiday tradition now. Be honest with yourself with what will actually make you be at Peace this Thanksgiving season. This is a season to give Thanks, not to give in to stress. Choose and say yes to peace this Thanksgiving. Plan ahead and recognize your safe place(s) during this Thanksgiving regardless if you are home or in another home. Have a plan B for your peace. If this holiday involves others, such as romantic partners, family, and friends discuss the plans, boundaries and expectations. Don't wait for the stressful and triggering moment. Make sure to have your relaxing resources readily available for Thanksgiving.
•Peaceful Quotes:
"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” —Saint Francis de Sales
"Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” —Dalai Lama
"Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.” —Thich Nhat Hanh
“You should feel beautiful and you should feel safe. What you surround yourself with should bring you peace of mind and peace of spirit.” —Stacy London
"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” —John F. Kennedy
"Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” —Lyndon B. Johnson
"Peace brings with it so many positive emotions that it is worth aiming for in all circumstances.” —Estella Eliot
"Peace begins with a smile.” —Mother Teresa
Ok fam, I believe this is plenty at this moment on practicing peace. Let's challenge ourselves with "Giving Thanks for Peace" by practicing peace this month. I pray and hope this will be a peaceful month for us all. And that we will all take the time to be Thankful and count our blessings for how far we have come in this journey of life and for our present situations.
Happy November & Happy Thanksgiving!
We shall meet again in December 2025!
🎵November Music Playlist 🎵
Music 18 recommended by Trusted Therapist Mrs. Miranda Brown, LCSW
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