Braving the Holidays: Support for Stressful Seasons with Nicolle Wargo- Boswell

The holiday season can heighten stress for many clients, especially those navigating family conflict, religious trauma, or the current socio-political climate. This two-hour workshop will provide therapists with practical, trauma-informed strategies to help clients regulate their nervous systems, set and maintain boundaries, and approach difficult holiday conversations with greater resilience. Participants will explore evidence-based techniques for co-regulation, communication, and boundary-setting that can be adapted for diverse client needs. By the end of the training, therapists will leave with interventions they can immediately integrate into practice - and tools to help clients move through the holidays with greater stability and self-compassion.

Objectives:

• Identify common triggers related to family dynamics, religious trauma, and socio-political stressors that may surface during the holiday season.

• Demonstrate nervous system regulation techniques therapists can teach clients to reduce reactivity during high-stress encounters.

• Apply trauma-informed strategies for boundary-setting and communication to support clients in navigating difficult holiday conversations.