Marriage & Family: Celebrating Holiday Traditions

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9 -- 'Tis the season for newlyweds to
celebrate holidays with their newly acquired families. Despite the joy,
exchanging holiday cheer with extended family members and participating in
new traditions, especially religious and ethnic customs can be daunting,
challenging and stressful.
To mitigate the anxiety of celebrating the holidays with new family
traditions, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
(CAMFT) recommends engaging with the new contemporary family by making
seasonal visits more meaningful, rather than allowing the occasion to
threaten your own beliefs and traditions.
-- Avoid stereotyping. Limit yourself on categorizing people in groups.
Look for differences that you value about your family members.
-- Respect cultural differences. Some customs are difficult to understand
and hard to accept. Even though you may not agree with certain customs,
learn to respect your family member's beliefs.
-- Express yourself. Closing yourself to your family members will only
make them feel more uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to be yourself and
share your personality.
-- Share your cultural background. Help them to understand what is great
about your customs. Talk to them about family stories that promote your
culture.
-- Listen. By listening, we can improve relationships and show that we
care about what others have to say.
-- Learn new things. Don't be afraid to interact with family members even
if there is a language barrier. Maybe you can learn some phrases or
research about different cultures.
If you still feel that these differences are too overwhelming or
difficult to resolve, consider contacting a Marriage and Family Therapist
to help. Therapy can help with relieving stress, communicating more
effectively, and addressing issues that might be difficult to handle. To
learn more about mental health or to locate a MFT, visit
http://www.TherapistFinder.com
About CAMFT
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT),
with 27 chapters throughout the state, is an independent professional
organization, representing the interests of licensed Marriage and Family
Therapists. CAMFT provides http://www.TherapistFinder.com as a resource to
prospective patients looking for Marriage and Family Therapists located in
California. For more information CAMFT, please call (858) 292-2638 or visit
http://www.camft.org.


SOURCE California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists