Cohen and Wolf’s Lunch-and-Learn Series: Managing Stress Around the Holidays with Angie Wirsing, LCPC

Just in time for the holidays, the Wellness Committee welcomed Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Angie Wirsing on December 14 for a discussion on how to manage stress during the holiday rush and craft realistic New Year’s resolutions. Angie specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults in the areas of stress-related anxiety and trauma.

During the Lunch-and-Learn session, Angie kept the talk interactive by conducting a short online stress management quiz to help identify sources of our stress. “One of the biggest problems is that people feel the holidays must be perfect,” she added.

Taking us through some methods to manage stress, Angie emphasized the effectiveness of establishing priorities, maintaining self-care routines, and setting boundaries—even if you don’t want to disappoint people. Another important tip that Angie offered was to monitor our self-talk (inner dialogue) to be sure it stays positive. She encouraged us to adopt the mantra, “I’ve gotten through this before, and I’ll get through it again.” Angie also had the group practice 4-7-8 and square deep breathing exercises to reset our nervous system and restore a sense of calmness.

In addition to the stress management tools, Angie shared her views on New Year’s resolutions, cautioning that anxiety can often increase while making such a commitment. One way to stay on track is to make sure the goal is measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. “It’s not just a goal to be done with. It’s a goal to incorporate into our lives,” she explained.

Angie Wirsing is a Counselor of Mental Health based out of Catonsville, Maryland. She has provided a variety of therapy services both in private practice and in connection with community mental health agencies in the state of Maryland.