Hello!
Happy Thanksgiving! There are so many great resources in the newsletter...Please take a minute to read Dr. Byrd's message....so powerfully on point! Look for a fun new Thanksgiving Day activity for ALL family members to do together! Oh...and don't miss that sweet recipe...gotta give that a try!
I am thankful for you...truly thankful. You got out of bed this morning, and you did your best. Yes, many things did not get done and many things were not done the way you wanted....and it is OK!!!! Whatever struggles you are going through, you are still swimming. Maybe you think others don't notice how much you do, how much you are suffering or the burdens you are carrying. I am proud of you, and I am thankful that you continue to get out of bed each day and do your best. Please take a moment to be proud of yourself.
With sincere gratitude,
Dr. Pam McCaskill
734-416-9098
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McCaskill Family Services Newsletter
Term: Fall | Issue 11| November 17th ,2020
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Our Holidays Are Looking Different This Year....
How to Cope with the Changes, While Still Enjoying the Season
I don't think it comes as much of a shock to us that this year's holiday season is not going to go as planned. Many families rely on the holidays to ensure togetherness and uphold tradition, so we have every right to feel disappointed while longing for normalcy as we attempt to enjoy the holidays during a pandemic.
What if we try to shift our thinking?
Instead of swimming against the current, what if we flow with it? What if we embrace the idea that this year can be a beautiful opportunity to shake things up a bit, start new traditions, and re-define "being together." With a little ingenuity, a positive attitude and a flexible mindset, we have the ability to enjoy this holiday season, and likely make it the most memorable year of all.
Dr. Michelle Byrd gives us some ideas on how to do this in her latest blog entry, as she shares her 5 favorite tips for finding some light, when things are feeling a bit dim.
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We know how hard this year has been! If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please contact us! Our clinicians are trained in empirically-based techniques, and would be happy to promptly schedule an appointment in person or via tele-health. We can be reached by phone at 734-416-9098 or by email at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.
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Grateful Scavenger Hunt
Not much has been the same this year,
so what better time than 2020 to start a new holiday tradition? Get your family, some cameras, and search the house for a scavenger hunt centered around the things and people that you are grateful for.
Have everyone take pictures of what they found and share them with each other before dinner. Download the list below for ideas to search for!
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Consider printing out some favorites to hang in the house, or uploading them to sites like Shutterfly or Mixbooks to create a photobook for that year. Repeat in 2021! |
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Join our very own Emily Kavanagh, M.S., as she hosts the monthly Western Wayne County ChADD Meeting: a group designed to help support children, adults and their families with ADHD, providing them with helpful tips, tools and information from professionals in their community! Meetings are free and open to all. |
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Join A Virtual Mindfulness Group |
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For more info or to register for this group:
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Dr. Michelle Byrd has been trained in helping people throughout the lifespan with evidence-based techniques, though she specializes in child and family therapy. She has had the great fortune of being directly trained by the scientists who invented two popular behavior therapies--Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Dr. Steve Hayes) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT; Dr. Marsha Linehan).
In addition to her work at MFS, Dr. Byrd is a Professor and the Director of Clinical Training at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Byrd practices out of our MFS Brighton office.
When she's not in the office, Dr. Byrd loves spending time with her family and her rescue pup, Chuy. She loves camping, playing tennis, reading both fiction and non-fiction books, and playing pinball.
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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting |
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What You Need:
- 4 eggs
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1.5 cups white sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1-8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup butter softened
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
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How To:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a large pan with sides with cooking spray or oil. Remove butter and cream cheese from refrigerator and set aside.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer until foamy; add the vegetable oil, pumpkin, and white sugar. Beat on medium speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Next, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Beat on low speed until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
To Make the Frosting:
- Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together in a bowl with an electric hand mixer until creamy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over cooled pumpkin bars; sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Cover and store in fridge for up to 6 days. Serve cold. Enjoy!
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Holiday Healing with Horses |
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3-Day Grief Workshop
December 8-10th, 2020
Struggling this season? Grief and loss can become increasingly difficult during the holidays. Consider joining our next 3-day Equine workshop to help support you with the assistance of an equine-friend and certified instructor.
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Newsletter Editor's Notes
Thanksgiving can be like the middle child. It sometimes gets lost in in the midst of other Holidays celebrated during this season. Although it is relatively more quiet, Thanksgiving is just as important as it's sibling holidays, and often has a lot to say to us when we listen and let it speak up.
I love Thanksgiving for its simplicity. Halloween and other Holidays have so many extra components; costumes, gifts, etc. Thanksgiving is about two of my favorite things: Food and Togetherness. It doesn't require anything fancy in order to be celebrated, just a plate and someone you love. This year, especially, has reminded me that I am grateful for the simple things, and the most joy to be found is in human connection...pie is a close second.
Love those who love you, fiercely. Be grateful EVERY time you are with them, whether it's around a dinner table, during virtual school days, or six feet apart in the park. Those people and those moments give our soul the nourishment it needs, and that has been difficult to find this year. I am grateful for Thanksgiving, as it reminds me that its meaning and teachings can be simply celebrated, everyday.
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Happy Turkey Day ! I'm a masters level clinician at McCaskill Family Services who specializes in the treatment of OCD, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders for all ages. I co-run the McCaskill Family Services DBT groups for teens and adults, and specialize in psychological assessment. I am also our monthly newsletter co-editor and social media manager!
I'd like to personally thank you for staying in touch with our practice, and hope you find this newsletter inspirational and informative. If you or someone you know would like to schedule an appointment with me, please contact our office at 734-416-9098 or email us at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.
I look forward to meeting you!
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409 Plymouth Road, Suite 250, Plymouth, MI 48170 • 734.416.9098
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