Therapy-Based Gifts for the Holidays
Before the Black Friday craze, I wanted to share some therapy-based gifts in my fourth annual holiday recommendation guide. I choose gifts that celebrate and support the psyche, small, independent businesses that create inspiring gifts, and companies that donate to worthy causes.
Breathing cards
Breathing is something we all do automatically, but when we practice it intentionally, it becomes one of the most effective tools for calming our nervous system. There are many different types of breathing techniques. Mindful Arts SF, an organization that promotes mindfulness education in San Francisco schools, has created a helpful and adorable deck of 50 cards, each featuring a different breathing exercise. These can be used in classrooms to teach breathing techniques or at home as part of a daily routine. Breathing exercises enhance our ability to self-regulate our nervous system, boost focus and presence in the moment, and support social-emotional learning.
https://www.mindfulartssf.org/breathing-cards
Journaling
I often suggest journaling to my clients as it effectively helps them process emotions, clarify personal concerns, and make decisions. Putting pen to paper gives their inner thoughts an external voice, unlocking insights that don’t emerge when simply ruminating internally.
Attic Journals is a fantastic independent company located in Portland, OR, that recycles books destined for the landfill. Most of these books come from schools and libraries. They preserve the cover, select special pages from the original book, bind them with wire, and fill the journal with 75 blank pages. These vintage-inspired journals are truly one-of-a-kind.
Local Food Purveyors and Food Pantries
I believe that nourishing our bodies is like giving medicine to our souls, just as our thoughts can heal and uplift us. Let's cherish ourselves by choosing wholesome foods and working together to reduce food insecurity.
Sonoma County, my home, has a rich agricultural history. Petaluma was once famous as the egg basket capital of the world. We celebrate this heritage with Butter and Eggs Day. Our chickens, cattle, goats, and vineyards are renowned globally. Take advantage of this bounty and support our local farmers.
Sonoma County Farm Trails offers a great list of local farmers and stores that sell local products. Many of them have online shops. https://www.farmtrails.org/find-sonoma-grown/locally-grown/
Made Local Marketplace is a wonderful store in Santa Rosa that sells only locally made products, including local food baskets. https://www.madelocalmarketplace.com/
Farm to Pantry is one of the coolest nonprofits around. The company's origins trace back to when the founder was walking through her neighborhood and noticed all the unused fruit falling to the ground. Fast forward seventeen years, and Farm to Pantry has delivered more than 9.9 million servings of fruits and vegetables to those in need. Please check out their website for donation options. They also have a hotline, Operation Food Rescue, that you can use if you see fruit trees that need gleaning. https://www.farmtopantry.org/
The Redwood Empire Food Bank has been a mainstay in Sonoma County since 1987. They organize many annual food drives, provide food through various initiatives that serve children and seniors, and offer food and nutrition education. In 2024 alone, they distributed over 25.8 million meals. They have many ways to donate and help reduce food insecurity in our community. https://refb.org/
With that, may your holidays be filled with peace and bounty! See you next year!