If you’ve never heard the term Maycember, you probably can still relate. It’s that unique storm of stress that hits in May, when school is wrapping up, calendars are overstuffed, and summer’s slower pace feels just out of reach. As therapists near UC Berkeley as well as the high achieving communities of Piedmont, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, we are familiar with this time of year and what it feels like to all ages of clients.
While there’s no shortage of generic stress relief advice out there, we wanted to offer something different—real insight from inside our therapy rooms. Below, five of our therapists share deeper strategies to help you not just manage stress, but understand it in a way that can apply to your individual situation. We don’t want to go into hiding for this kind of stress; we’d like to help you show up ready to go!
Tara: Complete The Stress Cycle To Reset
One of the most helpful things I explore with clients is the stress response cycle—and how to actually complete it. Stress is not just an emotional experience; it’s also physiological. If our bodies don’t get the signal that we’re safe, the cycle stays open, which can leave us feeling stuck. It’s like when a song gets stuck in your head and you need to close the loop by playing it all the way through.
Our student and faculty clients at UC Berkeley get especially stuck in the stress response cycle.
To close the stress cycle, I often encourage physical expressions like crying, laughing, dancing, or movement—anything that gives the body a chance to release the buildup. These aren’t just cathartic; they’re biological responses that help us reset. Here’s a helpful article if you’d like to dive deeper into this concept.
Emmy: During Overwhelm, Befriend Yourself
When we’re overwhelmed, we often reach out to friends for support—but what if we could be that same steady presence for ourselves? Whether you are a working professional, student, parent, or wearing many hats — you can benefit from an act of self-compassion.
One practice I use with clients is writing a self-compassion letter. It draws on three key elements:
- Self-validation – Acknowledge what you’re feeling and why.
- Self-kindness – Offer yourself encouraging, loving words.
- Common humanity – Remind yourself that you’re not alone; others have felt this too.
This practice creates space for connection rather than judgment. Over time, self-compassion can become a more consistent support system than self-esteem alone. For a deeper dive, check out Dr. Kristin Neff’s book Self-Compassion, or visit her website here.
Jessica: Create Distance From Thoughts
An excellent therapist tip I can offer is called cognitive defusion, a concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It helps us step back from our thoughts instead of getting entangled in them.
Say someone is thinking, “I’m going to fail this exam.” Rather than accepting that thought as a truth, we practice shifting it to, “I’m having the thought that I’m going to fail this exam.” It may seem like a small change, but that bit of distance can be powerful—it creates space between us and our thoughts, helping them feel less overwhelming and more manageable.
Megan: Reframing Breaks Through the Body
Stress is so deeply personal—shaped by our nervous systems, environments, and life experiences. But a quote came to mind that’s stayed with me:
“It’s the forgetfulness that movement gives that is marvelously foreign to the striving of the will.”
– Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog
That idea—of allowing the body to move us out of mental overdrive—echoes what I try to bring into sessions. Through “somatic experiencing”, I work with clients to incorporate “functional breaks”—small, sensory-based pauses that interrupt the stress response. These are personal to each client and can be tailored to each situation.
These moments don’t need to be elaborate. Standing up and stretching, stepping outside, shaking your arms, or doing a quick grounding exercise can offer your system a needed reset. These aren’t just “self-care”; they’re practical, body-informed shifts that restore capacity in real time.
Lindsey: Remember Your Core Values
Stress can be a moment of getting bent out of shape (we therapists call it “emotional dysregulation”) or a season of chronic-to-acute troubles. But no matter what we go through, we still have to live with ourselves through each of these moments. This means enduring our non-compassionate self who is mad that we didn’t start studying earlier, or our low-on-patience self who wants to snap at everyone. We also have to live with ourselves when we are deeply emotional, whether we feel joy or nostalgia or fear.
I talk with clients about their core values; the deep rooted things about them that make them who they are. When we can connect to our personal values of trying our hardest, or disengaging from conflict, or even just our boundary of sticking to a bedtime that works for us, we can get through the work we have to do. Picture yourself in an argument with someone because you (or they) got impatient or snippy with all that goes on. Who do you want to be in these moments? What’s actually important in your family: being on time or being in a good mood? Because sometimes you have to choose.
Take the Next Step
If any of these practices resonated with you—or if this season has you feeling especially overwhelmed—come try a few sessions! Therapy offers a space to explore what your stress is telling you, and how to respond to it with care, clarity, and intention. Our offices are in Berkeley, CA and Lafayette CA, and we see clients statewide in California.
We’d be glad to get to know you, and make future stressful seasons feel less daunting. Contact us here, or explore more resources on our website.
