Luna and Sol Counseling

Luna and Sol Counseling A private counseling practice helping you thrive in all you do. We focus on working with individuals all ages and families.

New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because you lack discipline. They fail because they’re built too big, too fast, with n...
12/31/2025

New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because you lack discipline. They fail because they’re built too big, too fast, with no review point.

Try this instead:

Start smaller than you think

“Work out daily” → 5 minutes
“Journal every day” → 1 sentence
“Meditate” → 1 minute

Commit for 21 days, then revisit

Not forever. Just a short experiment.
After 21 days, decide: keep it, adjust it, or pause it.

Anchor it to something you already do

Stretch after brushing your teeth
Walk right after lunch
Journal before bed

Reward effort, not outcomes

A checkmark, a note that says “I showed up,” a quiet moment of pride

Habits aren’t built through motivation. They’re built through repetition, flexibility, and returning.

The holidays often trap us in either/or thinking.Either I’m grateful or I’m overwhelmed.Either I love my family or they ...
12/21/2025

The holidays often trap us in either/or thinking.

Either I’m grateful or I’m overwhelmed.
Either I love my family or they stress me out.
Either this season is meaningful or it’s exhausting.

Try replacing or with and.

You can feel grateful and tired.
You can love people and need space.
You can enjoy moments and struggle through others.

The “and” strategy isn’t about positivity or fixing your mindset. It’s about letting your experience be honest and complete. When you stop forcing yourself to feel one way, the pressure eases. Stress softens when you allow complexity instead of fighting it.

This season doesn’t need to feel simple to be manageable.

It just needs permission to be real.

You don’t need a full journaling routine to check in with yourself this season. Sometimes one good question is enough to...
12/19/2025

You don’t need a full journaling routine to check in with yourself this season. Sometimes one good question is enough to slow things down and bring a little clarity. These prompts aren’t about fixing the holidays or doing them “right.” They’re just a way to notice what you actually need in the middle of it all. Pick one. Write a few lines. Stop when it feels helpful.

TheWoodlandsMentalHealth HoustonTherapist TexasCounselor

December has a way of making us forget what actually helps. The routines that worked in July didn’t suddenly stop being ...
12/18/2025

December has a way of making us forget what actually helps. The routines that worked in July didn’t suddenly stop being effective, they just got buried under busyness, expectations, and overstimulation.

Before looking for new tools, pause and ask:

What helped regulate me earlier this year?

What did I stop doing once life got louder?

What support did I already know worked?

Maybe it was walking outside, journaling, moving your body, limiting social plans, or sticking to a simple routine. These aren’t “summer-only” skills. They still work, they just need to be brought back into the picture.

The goal this season isn’t to reinvent yourself. It’s to remember what already helped you feel steady and use it again, even in small ways.

Holiday parties can be overstimulating for introverts, not because of people themselves, but because of noise, constant ...
12/17/2025

Holiday parties can be overstimulating for introverts, not because of people themselves, but because of noise, constant conversation, and the expectation to stay socially “on.” A few intentional strategies can make these gatherings more manageable without forcing yourself to be someone you’re not.

1. Identify a “safe spot” early
This might be near the food table, by a window, or close to the pet in the house. Having a consistent place to return to gives your nervous system a sense of stability and reduces social fatigue.

2. Use anchors to pace yourself
Holding a drink, snacking, or standing near something familiar can naturally limit interruptions and give you small breaks between conversations.

3. Choose depth over breadth
One-on-one or small-group conversations are often less draining than circulating. It’s okay to stay in one conversation rather than working the room.

4. Take intentional micro-breaks
Stepping outside, into a quieter room, or even the bathroom for a few minutes can help reset overstimulation before it builds into exhaustion.

5. Decide your exit ahead of time
Knowing when you plan to leave reduces pressure to “last” the whole event and often helps you stay more present while you’re there.

Introversion isn’t something to overcome during the holidays. With a little planning, you can participate in ways that respect your energy and still allow for connection.

The holidays often feel like they demand joy and celebration, but for many of us, the season simply shines a brighter li...
12/16/2025

The holidays often feel like they demand joy and celebration, but for many of us, the season simply shines a brighter light on the people who are missing.

If you are navigating grief this December, please know this: You do not have to put your feelings aside to accommodate anyone’s idea of holiday cheer. Your grief deserves space and validation.

Making room for sadness alongside the season can be a powerful way to keep connection alive. Here are three gentle rituals you can try to honor their memory:

1. The Memory Candle: Light a special candle during holiday dinners or quiet evenings. When someone asks about it, you can simply say, "This is for [Loved One's Name]," as a quiet act of remembrance.

2. The 'Giving Back' Gift: Instead of buying a gift for them, donate to their favorite charity or cause. It transforms potential pain into a purposeful action that reflects their values.

3. Sharing a Special Memory: Allow yourself or invite others to share just one, simple, happy memory of the person. Keep it short, no pressure, just a moment of shared warmth.

Grief is love with nowhere to go. Give that love a direction this season. It's okay to cry, it’s okay to step away, and it is more than okay to remember. Sending strength to anyone holding a heavy heart right now.

The holidays have a way of turning the volume up in our heads. Old stories come back. Comparisons get louder. Pressure s...
12/15/2025

The holidays have a way of turning the volume up in our heads. Old stories come back. Comparisons get louder. Pressure sneaks in wearing festive clothes. Before trying to change anything, it might help to pause and notice what’s already playing on repeat.

Ask yourself:

1. Are these thoughts helping me move through this season or weighing me down?

2. Would I say this to someone I love on a hard day?

3. Am I reacting to what’s actually happening, or to a fear I keep rehearsing?

You don’t have to fix your thoughts. You don’t have to make them prettier. Sometimes just noticing them is enough to soften the moment and make this season feel a little lighter.

The scents of the season: cinnamon, cloves, pine; can be powerful anchors for your nervous system. Pause, inhale deeply,...
12/14/2025

The scents of the season: cinnamon, cloves, pine; can be powerful anchors for your nervous system. Pause, inhale deeply, and let them ground you in the present. A simple mindfulness tool to ease the holidays.

Sometimes the thing ruining your holiday isn’t the stress, the people, or the chaos. It’s the quiet ways you get in your...
12/12/2025

Sometimes the thing ruining your holiday isn’t the stress, the people, or the chaos. It’s the quiet ways you get in your own way. Self-sabotage doesn’t show up as dramatic meltdowns. It shows up as the small choices that slowly drain your joy:

• Overcommitting because you don’t want to disappoint anyone.

• Avoiding emotions until they spill over.

• Expecting perfection and then quitting when the moment isn’t right.

• Comparing yourself to everyone else and deciding you’re behind.

• Pulling away from connection because vulnerability feels risky.

• Criticizing yourself instead of giving yourself credit for how much you carry.

Why we do it:

Self-sabotage is usually self-protection in disguise. It’s fear of being hurt, rejected, overwhelmed, or seen too deeply. It’s your nervous system trying to keep things “safe,” even if that safety accidentally steals the joy you were hoping for.

The truth:

You’re not the Grinch, you’re a human who learned to protect yourself in ways that no longer serve you.
A softer holiday is possible when you stop fighting yourself and start understanding yourself.

A lot of us slip into enabling without even realizing it, especially during the holidays. We fix, smooth things over, sa...
12/11/2025

A lot of us slip into enabling without even realizing it, especially during the holidays. We fix, smooth things over, say yes when we mean no, and carry the emotional weight so things don’t fall apart.

You’re allowed to stop over-functioning.

You’re allowed to let people feel the impact of their own choices.

You’re allowed to choose your well-being without feeling guilty.

Caring for your family doesn’t mean carrying your family.
This season, let people hold their own weight.

Holiday season can stretch our minds and our margins, which is why I love gifting items that actually support emotional ...
12/10/2025

Holiday season can stretch our minds and our margins, which is why I love gifting items that actually support emotional wellness. Each of these tools connects back to real skills we build in counseling: calming the body, grounding the mind, and making room for joy again.

1. Guided breathing sloth – A playful way to practice slowing the breath and calming the nervous system.

2. Portable water painting board – Encourages practicing mindfulness and creativity.

3. Guided journal – Helps organize thoughts, increase self-awareness, and create space for reflection.

4. Dad joke desk calendar – A daily dose of lightness that supports mood through small moments of laughter.

5. Affirmation stress balls – Perfect for releasing tension and reinforcing gentle, encouraging self-talk.

Little tools can make a big impact, especially during a season that asks a lot of us.

Happy Holidays,
Luna and Sol Counseling


People will remember old versions of you long after you’ve outgrown them. And sometimes the holidays bring those version...
12/10/2025

People will remember old versions of you long after you’ve outgrown them. And sometimes the holidays bring those versions back into the room: the quieter you, the people-pleasing you, the one who carried more than you should have. But you don’t have to step back into roles that don’t fit anymore. You’re allowed to show up as who you are now, even if it takes others time to adjust. You deserve to stay true to the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to become.

Address

9595 Six Pines Drive Suite 8210
The Woodlands, TX
77380

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Luna and Sol Counseling posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Luna and Sol Counseling:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram