A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER  
The therapeutic alliance is one of the most important parts of the work. It’s a strong predictor of positive treatment outcomes in individual therapy, and it speaks to a core truth: engaging in psychotherapy is a deeply human experience.

I spend a lot of time thinking about how we build rapport with clients and how we strengthen it over time.

Two approaches I often come back to:

Create a shared experience.  
Listen to a song together. Play a game of chess while you talk. Go for a walk. Shared experiences can lower defenses and create connection in a way words alone sometimes can’t.

When appropriate, thoughtfully self-disclose.  
For me, music is a safe place to share—my interests and what I’m listening to. More often than not, that small window into my humanity helps deepen trust and strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

— Andrew Tepper  
Founder, BODA Therapy

TOOL OF THE TRADE: NAVIGATING GRIEF DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON  
Practice the Three Cs: Choose, Connect, Communicate

The holidays can be an especially challenging time when you’re experiencing grief. Decorations, gatherings, traditions, and increased family time can bring up a mix of emotions that feel heavy or overwhelming.

During this season, prioritizing sleep, nutrition, and movement becomes even more important to help your body stay grounded and supported. It can also be healing to give yourself permission to hold both love and grief at the same time—to pause traditions that don’t feel right this year, limit isolation, be honest with trusted people about how you’re feeling, and give yourself an easy “out” when it comes to social events. Allowing yourself to do things differently can be a powerful act of self-care.

Honoring your loved one may also help the season feel more manageable and meaningful. Some people find comfort in small, intentional gestures—setting a place for them at the table, making a toast in their honor, lighting a candle, sharing a moment of silence, or taking a mindful walk. These acts can create moments of connection and remembrance during a tender time.

As you move through the holidays, try to build in extra time for rest before, during, and after the season. And remember: how this year feels does not define how future years will. Grief evolves over time, and so can your relationship with the holidays.

The Three Cs to guide you:  

• ✨ Choose what feels best for you—your energy, your needs, your limits.
  
• ✨ Connect with others when you can, and be honest about how you’re feeling.
  
• ✨ Communicate what you need. Let people know what helps and what hurts.
  

At BODA, we go beyond talking. We focus on giving you tools you can actually use when things get hard. Small shifts in mindset can make room for steadiness, care, and even moments of ease.

✨ This week, take a few minutes to make a plan for how you’ll navigate challenging holiday moments.

AT’S FINDS  

• 📳 In a Modern Love episode, therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab answers listener questions about navigating family stress and complicated dynamics during the holiday season.
  
• 🌀 Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano shares tips with readers for easing holiday anxiety by focusing on the moments that matter most, reframing obligations as choices, and remembering that everything is optional.
  
• ❄️ LCSW, Hannah Leib Schlichter, provides a holiday survival guide with age-by-age tips for parents navigating the holidays, from ages 4–18.
  

CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: ANXIETY TO INDEPENDENCE  
We’re highlighting one of our clients whose journey reminds us why meaningful structure and support matter.

Her struggles with anxiety began in high school and intensified in college, despite years of traditional therapy. Short-term relief never turned into lasting change—until she joined BODA’s Accountability Program.

Through a combination of individual therapy, accountability tools, family sessions, and retreat experiences, she found the structure and consistency she needed to build confidence and independence.

Today, she describes herself as “a totally different person.” Once paralyzed by fear, she now steps into job interviews and social settings with ease and self-assurance. Her parents echo the transformation: “She’s more grounded, confident, and resilient than ever before.”

“I don’t think I’d be the person I am today without BODA. It really changed my life.”

Read her full story here →

RESEARCH REPORT FROM BODA THERAPY  
BODA Therapy’s new national research report, Disconnected: Teens, Tech & Mental Health, finds that heavy tech use is contributing to rising anxiety, sadness, and isolation among teens.

According to the survey, 78% of parents say their teen would — or might — benefit from mental-health support, and two-thirds have noticed rising anxiety or sadness over the past year. Parents overwhelmingly point to technology as a key factor, with 68% reporting that screen time has negatively affected their teen’s social or emotional well-being.

After extended digital use, parents most often notice irritability (46%), trouble sleeping (29%), and withdrawal from family life (22%). Nearly 7 in 10 teens spend three or more hours a day on non-school screens — a pattern many parents believe is eroding confidence, focus, and real-world resilience.

“Parents aren’t asking for theories — they’re asking for tools,” said Andrew Tepper, founder of BODA Therapy. “This research shows a clear mandate for practical routines that protect sleep, elevate movement, and prioritize real-world connection — ideally in nature.”

The report offers concrete steps families can take to rebalance tech use and rebuild offline confidence, including:

• ✔️ Protecting sleep through structured device boundaries
  
• ✔️ Replacing screen time with movement and outdoor activity
  
• ✔️ Incorporating family therapy to strengthen communication and accountability
  

📘 Access the full 8-page report — including data, insights, and actionable recommendations for parents, schools, and youth-serving organizations — here:  
https://bodatherapy.com/research-report-2025

WHAT WE DO  
BODA Therapy offers a new approach for preteens, adolescents, young adults, and families. Rooted in accessibility, engagement, and accountability, we facilitate experiential therapy and coaching through familiar, enjoyable activities that extend beyond traditional hour-long office sessions.  

We provide a structured accountability program to prevent backsliding and reinforce progress. We also design customized 3-to-5-night retreats in the Catskills, blending immersive outdoor experiences with therapy that is dynamic, meaningful, and often enjoyable.

BODA RETREATS  
At BODA, we go beyond the traditional weekly therapy session by creating immersive, nature-based experiences designed to support lasting change.

Our retreats bring participants outside — hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, and engaging in meaningful therapeutic work. Why? Because time in nature is more than refreshing—it’s clinically proven to:

• ✨ Boost mood and focus
  
• ✨ Improve short-term memory
  
• ✨ Lower stress and PTSD symptoms
  

These experiences help our participants engage more deeply and build a sustainable blueprint for well-being. BODA retreats are also designed to complement ongoing therapy—not replace it. We work closely with referring clinicians to ensure continuity of care, offering an added layer of support when participants need a reset, more intensive skill-building, or help navigating a challenging period.

Upcoming Retreat Dates 2026:

• January 4 - 7
  
• January 7 - 9
  
• January 26 - 28
  
• February 4 - 7
  
• February 25 - 27
  
• March 5 - 8
  
• March 18 - 22
  
• March 23 - 25
  

If you know someone who could benefit from a BODA retreat this fall or winter, email us at info@bodatherapy.com or schedule a phone call with our founder, Andrew Tepper via Calendly.

IN THE NEWS

• 🌿 BODA Therapy and Andrew Tepper featured on Parents.com! Another day, another new social media trend that is going viral. But it’s important parents don’t simply write off what’s being called the “flip the phone challenge”.
  
• 🌿 BODA Therapy featured in CNBC! Andrew Tepper shared his perspective on Character.AI’s decision to ban users under 18 from open-ended chatbot conversations, highlighting the risks of AI companions replacing real human connection for teens.
  
• 🌿 The New York Times featured BODA Therapy! Read the article — it highlights founder Andrew Tepper’s unique use of outdoor activities—like hiking, skiing, and campfire cooking—to help young participants connect more openly in therapy by making it feel natural, active, and personal.
  
• 🌿 NBC News Now featured BODA Therapy! Watch the segment — showcasing founder Andrew Tepper guiding NBC's Dr. Syal through an outdoor session—hiking, skiing, and sitting around a campfire—as a live example of how ditching the office makes therapy feel more natural, active, and resonant for participants.