Around this time of year, there tends to be an increase in both joy and stress, often in equal parts. As a psychologist, I see this in my patients every year. I also see it as an opportunity to help them take care of themselves over the holidays. This means coping with stress, sometimes difficult family members, and sky-high expectations.

Like most families, we have some holiday traditions. Going to a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the Civic Center in Madison, Wisconsin, used to always be on the agenda. While we no longer attend a production in person now that I am a dad, we keep the spirit alive by watching a lighter take on the holiday classic: The Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine reportedly took his role as Ebenezer Scrooge as seriously as he would........

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