New Year, New You (Without the Pressure)
The New Year has a way of showing up with a megaphone: New goals! New habits! New you! And if you’re already carrying anxiety, depression, or trauma (including paranormal trauma), that loud “fresh start” energy can feel less inspiring and more… exhausting.
So here’s your permission slip: you don’t have to reinvent yourself in January. You can choose something softer.
At Amyris Counseling and Wellness, PLLC, I believe real change is built through safety, support, and small steps that actually stick. Whether you’re navigating everyday stress or the aftermath of a frightening experience you can’t quite explain, therapy can help you feel grounded again.
If the New Year is triggering, you’re not alone
For many people, this season brings up:
Pressure to “fix everything” at once
Grief for what didn’t happen last year
Anxiety about money, relationships, health, or the unknown
Trauma memories that resurface when life slows down
Sleep disruption, nightmares, and hypervigilance
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not “behind.” Your nervous system may simply be asking for care.
A different kind of New Year intention: stability
Instead of a resolution that sets you up for guilt, try an intention that supports your mental health:
I will practice calming my body before I try to solve everything.
I will ask for help sooner.
I will stop minimizing what happened to me.
I will build routines that make me feel safe.
These aren’t flashy. But they’re powerful.
When trauma is involved (including paranormal trauma)
Trauma doesn’t always look like what people expect. Sometimes it’s a car accident, a relationship, or a medical experience. And sometimes it’s a terrifying event that leaves you feeling unsafe in your own home.
If you’ve experienced paranormal trauma, you may notice:
Panic, dread, or a constant sense of being watched
Sleep issues, nightmares, or fear of the dark
Physical symptoms like nausea, chills, or goosebumps
Avoidance of certain rooms/places
Feeling dismissed or judged when you try to talk about it
You deserve support that takes your experience seriously and protects your mental health.
As The Paranormal Therapist, I use a specialized assessment process to help differentiate between paranormal experiences and mental health symptoms (like psychosis). That means you don’t have to choose between being believed and being clinically supported—you can have both.
What therapy can look like in 2026
Therapy isn’t just talking (though talking matters). Depending on your needs, we may use:
Talk therapy to make sense of what you’re carrying
EMDR to reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories
EFT (tapping) to calm the body and release distress
Mindfulness and grounding to rebuild safety in the present
Psychoeducation so you understand what your nervous system is doing (and why)
And if you want to incorporate protective or cleansing rituals for peace of mind, we can discuss options in a way that stays respectful, client-led, and grounded.
A simple New Year reset you can do today
If you want something practical right now, try this 3-minute reset:
Name 5 things you can see
Name 4 things you can feel (feet on the floor, fabric, temperature)
Name 3 things you can hear
Name 2 things you can smell
Name 1 thing you can taste
This helps bring your brain out of threat mode and back into the present.
Ready for support?
If you’re starting the year feeling overwhelmed, on edge, or haunted by what happened—there’s help.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions, get a feel for the process, and decide what support looks like for you.
You don’t have to do 2026 alone.
Next step
Visit www.amyriscounseling.com to schedule your free consult or learn more about therapy services.
Warmly,
Dona Strohbehn, LPC, NCC, The Paranormal Therapist
Amyris Counseling and Wellness, PLLC
