We made it to 2022! Can you believe it?
Usually this blog is my way of giving you useful information, like tips for how to be a better therapist, information about how to get support for your mental health, or things I wish people knew about my line of work. Today, I thought I would share a bit about things I have been working on, what I accomplished in 2021, and what I hope to see in 2022.
Sharing accomplishments is healthy, and telling people what you are working on can help with follow through, so this post is me modeling those skills. If you truly do not care, please feel free to skip this post, and I will be back later this week with more telehealth activities, app reviews, and whatever other topic I feel like exploring.
2021: The Good
Where to begin? Just before the new year, I launched my Telehealth with Kids training with the help of the awesome people at PESI. It was well-received, and they ended up giving me a book deal to create Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox, which was basically me listing my 102 favorite things to do in telehealth sessions. (By the way, you can find information on how to buy all of my books here!)
Well, you all seemed to really like that, even though Amazon crashed the day of the launch (coincidence?). My editor told me to let her know when I’m ready to do “volume 2,” and because I’m me, I said, “Literally as soon as you will let me.” So we will see what next year brings!
My first publication of the year was my guided journal, which (self-plug) is a great gift to yourself for the new year! I also self-published Armani Doesn’t Feel Well to help kids with health issues, and my good friend Dr. Katelyn and I co-authored It’s About to Get Real Unprofessional.
Armani has shown some great progress in his diabetes treatment. I’m so glad he continues to get stronger!
2021: The Bad
As many other mental and medical health professionals can relate, I have been dancing with burnout over the last almost two years. It seems to cycle from feeling burned out -> taking a break -> feeling better -> back to work -> feeling burned out again, with the spiral a little tighter each time.
This, unfortunately, means that I have to make some changes. Fortunately, PESI asked me to create a new training (more on that later), VeryWell asked to up my contract writing for them (more on THAT later), and I have another book in the works (more on that later too), and leaning into that has meant adjusting my clinical schedule. I’m hoping this shift helps me with my own self-care.
2021: The Personal
I am unendingly grateful to my friends. We continue to pull each other through the nightmare that is the 25th month of 2020.
Also, I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year. Shocking, right? That definitely cleared some things up for me.
My hair is teal now, too!
2022: Looking Forward
As I learned in 2020, when every single one of my resolutions was destroyed by the pandemic, we make plans and then life happens. That being said, here’s what I am hoping for this year:
- More blog posts! Lately, three posts per week has been a good pace because I have lots to say, but I might cut it down if I ever need a break.
- A book about clinical documentation for those of us who work with kids, which does not sound super exciting but I promise you is needed.
- I’d love to do more creative writing, which I may or may not share depending on how cringe-y I feel anything comes out.
- More rest, whatever that ends up looking like.
I hope you have the 2022 that you deserve.