Katie Seavey Pegoraro supports employees with issues of stress and balance, providing tools and resources to cope when life feels overwhelming. Katie is a contact for those who may be coping with issues of mental health, substance use, or grief and loss. A young professional herself, Katie is a unique support to employees who are navigating the many life transitions that occur in your 20's and 30's.
Since I was a teenager, I’ve had trouble sleeping. From hypnotherapy to melatonin, I've tried all kinds of lifestyle changes and strategies to get better sleep. No matter what helps, I am never immune to those nights at 3 AM where my mind won’t seem to shut off. No surprise
As I write this blog post, we are nearing the milestone of 500,000 deaths in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide. In the U.S. we are also nearing the one-year anniversary of that week in March where the realities of the pandemic set-in and everything changed. We are all caught
November 26th and 27th most of us had time off. How was that time for you? I hope it was good - within pandemic-adjusted terms. If it felt in anyway less satisfying, fulfilling, relaxing...or it just felt...different...here are some things to consider. We are in a pandemic. This cannot be
It’s been a few years since I read Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering, but it continues to inspire me to think about purposefulness in relation to gathering. A good gathering, a good friendship, a good relationship; all are going to be the product of mindful and purposeful effort. As
A few years ago I wrote a blogpost titled, An End to "But": More kindness and complexity in our words. I'm revisiting the concept as it seems apt for our times. With most of us living in increased isolation, the voice in our head may feel louder than ever. Now
Right now people are living with a great amount of grief and uncertainty. We can’t dismiss our feelings or our very justified worries and concerns. However, we can have a both/and way of thinking. It may help to think of it this way: When we are anxious or uncertain, our
When the pandemic began, a therapist told me that the one thing that would be consistent during this time is the fact that my emotions would be inconsistent. This would be one thing I could actually count on. My acceptance of this has been my lifeline for getting through this
Each of us has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a myriad of ways. In March we dove deep, headfirst, into a number of emotions and a new way of life that is ever-evolving. Some people may find they are drinking more in one night or more days of
A message from the Work/Life Center: We are getting many requests from employees asking what they can do to challenge racism and to support their Black coworkers. We love that we work for a company with this level of concern. In our last blog post we shared some thoughts on context as
A message from the Work/Life Center: It is not surprising that the SAS community is deeply moved and troubled by the recent examples of racism that reflect larger systemic problems in our nation. Work/Life wants to respond to your requests for ideas about supporting colleagues and taking action in your community. We understand the urge to act and will provide suggestions in our
It can be nice to take a break from COVID-19 topics. In this blog I am writing about something else I find myself discussing often: imposter syndrome. I would say I discuss it most often with young professionals, but I’ve heard from people of all ages that they experience it,
It’s Mental Health Month and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness of the importance of caring for our mental health and wellbeing. If you’re someone who has lived with a mental health condition prior to COVID-19, now is the time to tap into the skills and resources you have been
For those of us who live with our partners, our relationships have quickly turned into coworking, Coronavirus fear sharing, constantly interacting partnerships. Here are some things to consider as you adjust to these new normals. Have tips to share? Please comment below! We are more likely to remember when things
Work/Life wanted to know the creative ways SAS employees are coping with the temporary changes caused by Coronavirus precautions. We asked how you are coping with working from home, working from home with kids, keeping entertained at home, and how you are staying centered and connected with others. Here is
Almost five years ago I took a big leap and changed jobs. After interning and then four years working as a hospice social worker, I was ready for something different. My heart was and will always be with hospice work, but I wanted to learn something new. When you work
In my office is a coaster with this quote from Kathleen Norris: “Anything, everything, little or big, becomes an adventure when the right person shares it.” The right person could be anyone, but for the sake of our annual Work/Life relationship series, I'm thinking about romantic partners. In the context
This guest post was written by Candice Creasman, PhD, owner of Creasman Counseling. The Work/Life Center is so grateful to Candice for sharing her expertise with SAS employees and their families. You can learn more about Candice and Creasman Counseling at the bottom of this page. Should I Stay or
For the last two months I’ve seen commercial after commercial with smiling faces, catchy tunes, and kids running around houses full of good food, presents, and family. This season, we’re encouraged to remember what “matters”. Here’s something else to remember: the goal of these commercials is for the company to
You’ve probably grown accustomed to seeing men with more facial hair in the month of November. First, there's the No-Shave November movement, when men do not shave their beards to “evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness”. This is an honorable mission however there is another one of a similar nature
"Take care of yourself!" Sound like something you hear often? This instruction may conjure up fixed ideals of what "taking care" means: getting to the gym, making smoothies, meditating, or getting more sleep. But gym memberships aren’t for everyone, not everyone has a blender, and we may not be able
There are many articles and blog posts about the benefits of quiet time and daydreaming. The concept sounds great, but also easier said than done. Creating the time and space for this "day dream" state can be difficult. I get it. I literally have to trap myself on a bus
Dr. Enrique Lopez, Adult Medical Services Director of Holly Hill Behavioral Health Hospital, sat down with Work/Life to discuss mental health crises treatment and support. The first podcast explores what one can expect when seeking treatment at a behavioral health hospital. The second podcast addresses how to provide support to
I recently hosted a Digital Dial-Back Challenge. For two weeks participants chose a form of technology they wanted to assess and potentially reduce their use of. This was not a detox. Instead, by creating a plan including strategies and "alternative actions", participants found increased opportunities to be aware of their
In this post I wanted to bring attention to the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents. Of the 2,000+ books that are in our Work/Life Library, this is a book that I refer to most often. I continue to receive
This Mother’s Day I admired two rose bushes as I arrived at my parents' house. There was a yellow bush that we planted the Mother’s Day after my mother’s mom died. And a pink bush that we planted a different year, the Mother’s Day after my father’s mom died. The
In two podcast recordings, therapists Hilary Mandzik and Ruth Amos explain the multiple impacts of perinatal loss and opportunities for support. Hilary Mandzik, PsyD is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Cary, NC; she also sees clients remotely throughout NC and VA. Dr. Mandzik's specialties include perinatal mental
In a college class on addiction I learned about the “gas/brake” metaphor for how our bodies respond to substances (think stimulant- puts on the gas / depressant – puts on the brake). Our bodies want to maintain homeostasis. If a substance causes one response (gas), then our body will cause
What are emotional affairs and how can a couple move forward after an emotional affair has occurred? Jillian Knight, LMFT, answers these questions in two podcast recordings. Jillian Knight is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Millennial Couples Counseling in Raleigh, NC. Jillian is a PREPARE/ENRICH Assessment
Each week in February, your Work/Life team has invited therapists and dating professionals in the community to respond to questions about relationships. For this final blog in the series, we asked our experts… How do you thrive as a single person? Kate Freiman-Fox, Ph.D. Matchmaking, Date and Relationship Coaching
Every year Lisa and I look forward to our dating clinics where we meet with employees to talk about all things dating and relationships. We offer these as part of our annual February Relationship Series. Although we promote these in February, we can meet with employees anytime to talk about
