The January Buzz
Hello & Happy January!

As we enter the new year, I took some time to reflect on 2020. While I'm hopeful for what 2021 can hold for us all, I wanted to highlight some thoughts from this past year.

We wake up each day craving normalcy but this new way we’re all living is anything but normal. In fact, many days it can feel pretty disappointing, hopeless and disheartening. The uneasiness of anxiety and depression begin to creep in and stay a little bit longer each day. Some of us can push it away while others fight and fight but still end up giving in to it. Eventually the depression and anxiety get the best of all of us—we are human after all.

So what do we do with this unexpressed emotion that sits inside of us while we have to live our life, go to work, take care of our families and households? You might hear the voice of your mother saying “it is what it is,” encouraging you to move on with your day. Despite her best intentions, that wisdom doesn’t quite do its job and you still feel weary. But nonetheless, life does move on and you have to buckle down and get the work done, whether there is a pandemic or not.

You’re not alone thinking that this is a terrible feeling. You are struggling inside, yet there is no one or no thing that can make it better. There are only a few things in this world that can make us feel like this and a global pandemic is one of them. Read More...

I'm grateful you have been on this journey with us and for your continued support as we charter new territory together.

Bee well,
Audrey
What's Ahead
Love Yourself In The New Year: A Virtual Teen Workshop
We know how difficult this past year has been on everyone, but especially on our youth. They've experienced an increase in anxiety, depression, a loss of connection with friends and peers.

We want to help turn things around in 2021 which is why one of our therapists, Nicole Walsh, LSW created this workshop. Through a variety of activities she will help your teen increase their self esteem, gain confidence & practice kindness and compassion toward themselves. This workshop is designed to help teens identify their strengths while practicing gratitude and self-love; as well as set and implement healthy boundaries.

Event Details:
Date: January 28th
Time: 6-7:00pm
Location: Zoom (register for details)
Ages: 14-18
Cost: $30.00/person
5 Tips For Success-Kappa Kappa Gamma Guest Speaker
Simply Bee is so proud to partner with Kappa Kappa Gamma! It is a great honor and privilege for Audrey to be aligned with the KKG mission and vision. She spent time with KKG Northwestern in November and is presenting to the Loyola chapter later this month.
Stay Tuned...
If 2020 taught us anything it's that we love partnering with schools & districts to provide professional development trainings and wellness programs for educators. Over the past 6 months, we've had the privilege to serve several schools and districts reaching nearly 1,000 educators.

If you've been an avid follower of "The Buzz" for the past year or more, then you've likely seen all the work we do with schools in the community. That's why we decided to branch out and create a second newsletter dedicated specifically to Simply Bee Classroom.

Later this month we'll be launching our inaugural SBC newsletter! We're so excited to share all that we're doing to support educators (and their students & families).

If you would like to be added to that newsletter please opt-in below and check your inbox over the next week as we'll be popping in to share what's to come in 2021!
In Case You Missed It
Eating Disorder Networking Meeting Presentation
As a professional in the mental field it's important to be aware of what you're going through emotionally in your personal life. By recognizing and identifying your own thoughts and feelings it helps you to create and maintain healthy boundaries in the therapeutic relationship with your client.

In last months' Eating Disorder Networking Group, Audrey Grunst, MSW offered a dynamic presentation to professionals in the eating disorder field on how to maintain a healthy self-image when working with clients.
FREE E-Book Available Now: 4 Ways to Cope With Uncertainty
We can all likely agree that 2020 was a challenging year. Navigating change and uncertainty tends to be overwhelming for many, which is why we created this e-book, "Four Ways To Cope With Uncertainty."

Author Audrey Grunst, MSW, will walk you through these four skills: mastering a growth mindset, mindfulness techniques to manage anxiety, how to let go of the past and a recipe to increase confidence. Once you gain this knowledge you'll also be able to practice how to practically apply the skills to your life through the included worksheets.
How to Talk About Race: A Discussion for the Community
It was our great pleasure to host a panel discussion of professionals in their fields of expertise who examined not only the mental health impacts of this topic; but also the social and emotional outcomes that this key issue has amongst members of our community. We invite you to download the recorded discussion moderated by Simply Bee's Kristen Smith, LCSW and empower yourself in this conversation.

Panel Experts:
Dr. Donna Baptiste, Ed.D, LCP, LMFT
Department Chair & Clinical Professor
The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Shermin Kruse
Attorney, Professor of Global Transactions, Management Consultant, Tactical Empathy Specialist, and TEDx Producer

Warren Scherer
Assistant Dean of Students
University of Wisconsin-Madison Public Health Department

Ryan Wallace
Associate Pastor for Faith Formation
First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Do you see an event you like?
Contact us and we will help bring mental wellness to you!
Simply Bee
224-424-0432
assist@simplybee.net
For more information on workshops and public speaking engagements or more... contact kate@simplybee.net or 224-408-8687