Happy Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for you, for the work I get to do, for my healing journey, and for getting to be a part of yours<3

Gratitude is part of my daily practice (including as a prompt in the #beginwithinjournal), and it’s what I encourage anyone I see to practice as well. Why? Bc, it’s literally healing to our body and mind. It releases dopamine and serotonin, countering the stress hormone, cortisol. We can both authentically feel whatever we are feeling, while still holding onto gratitude. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Gratitude prompts from Christopher Littlefield @harvard_business_review:

1 What have I gotten to learn recently that has helped me grow?

2 What opportunities do I currently have that I am grateful for?

3 What physical abilities do I have but take for granted?

4 What did I see today or over the last month that was beautiful?

5 Who at work am I happy to see each day and why?

6 Who is a person that I don’t speak to often, but, if I lost them tomorrow, it would be devastating? (Take this as a cue to reach out today!)

7 What am I better at today than I was a year ago?

8 What material object do I use every day that I am thankful for having?

9 What has someone done for me recently that I am grateful for?

10 What are the three things I am grateful for right now?

By taking time to write down our answers, we consciously redirect our attention to that which we are grateful for. It’s also a great way to look back and realize what we may have thought of as insignificant were actually the things that brought us joy.

“Think of your mind like your digestive system — what you put in it impacts how you feel. When you flood your mind with a constant flow of worry, envy, resentment, and self-criticism (compounded by a barrage of news and other media) it negatively impacts your mental well-being. A gratitude practice is like a workout and a healthy eating plan for your mind.”

💛💛💛Thank you for being here.

Please enjoy FREE SHIPPING with code ‘THANKFUL.’

We’ve been featured in some pretty neat gift guides, podcasts, mental health articles, and interviews (see below).

Begin Within Journal Featured in Organically Becca’s Gift Guide!

Click here to see the full list!

Begin Within Journal Featured in Nicky LaMarco Gift Guide!

Begin Within Journal Featured in My Four and More’s Guide for Picking the Perfect Gift!

Begin Within Journal Featured in My Four and More’s Guide for Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas!

Christina was featured in Natural Awakening’s article on Heading off Headaches:

“The mind-body connection is fierce,” says Christina P. Kantzavelos, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in chronic illness and pain at Begin Within Today, in San Diego. “It’s important to keep in mind that pain literally originates in the brain. I use a Constructed Awareness approach with clients and bring curiosity to the pain they are experiencing, including headaches. What thoughts and emotions are coming up when they focus on the pain?” she says. “Physical symptoms are often the manifestation or tangible evidence of what is going on in your unconscious mind. Our bodies become stronger or weaker, depending on our emotional state. Fear, self-criticism and invalidating the self can be the root of a headache.”​​​​​​​​

Christina Kantzavelos was also featured in How Stuff Works’ 3 Key Steps to Finding the Right Therapist for You

Holistic psychotherapist Christina P. Kantzavelos offers a list of questions to ask yourself as therapy progress:

• Do I feel safe talking about anything?

• Do I feel completely comfortable?

• Do I feel supported?

• Are my goals, and treatment plan being revisited as needed?

• Do I feel like I'm meeting the goals created in my treatment plan?

• Do I still feel like this is leading to personal growth?

“You may be wondering why a lot of therapist, including myself, don’t accept health insurance. In this article I would like to focus on the issue of confidentiality and privacy when it comes to accessing benefits.”

- Molly Zive