A Therapy & Mental Wellness Blog

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Do you find it difficult to take time to focus on yourself? Are you always helping others? The new year is a perfect time to gain control of your life by building self-esteem and finding inner happiness. In 2021, it is hard to focus on everything that needs to be done, which can lead to burnout. Taking time for yourself is not selfish, and it can allow you to become the best version of yourself. Here are some steps to live a

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT The holidays can be tough between the physical challenges and the emotional obstacles that can occur; it's easy to feel overwhelmed. On top of this, COVID-19 has added even more stress to an already stressful time of the year. We now have the added pressure to manage our children who are off from school and their academic needs getting met to then make sure holiday plans are set and gifts are bought for loved ones. What is su

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT The pandemic has thrown many people into an unknown working situation with many new adjustments. Some lost their jobs or got laid off, and others were fortunate enough to begin working from home. Each of these come with problems or adjustments for everyone. Here are some ways it may be a breeze for one person but difficult for another. Balancing the needs of work and home in one location and meeting the needs of children and

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT It is hard to know how to feel about all of the new situations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and grief is one of them. Dealing with grief during this time is a unique situation we have been thrown into with no idea how to handle it. As if grieving is not hard enough, we now have to grieve from a distance without the ones we love around us. Grief does not have to be for someone who has died; it can be for the loss of a job, th

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Social distancing has taken a toll on many people from all aspects, including but are not limited to financially, socially, and mentally. Even though we have been quarantining for a couple of months now, this COVID-19 world still feels new. With this new way of life comes some difficult adjustments we have to make. Being forced to stay home, at first, may have been relaxing, but quickly turned into a struggle. We had to deal

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Employee mental health is hard to navigate. Being professional yet appropriate, setting clear boundaries to show professionalism, commitment, and yet not becoming too personal is tough. Now with the additional stressors of COVID-19, we're taking it to a whole new level. Most people have had to adjust to working at home and finding the work/life balance with staying motivated, staying focused, and in addition to for many, taki

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that affects about eight million people every year in the United States. Between 7 and 8% of the population will experience some degree of PTSD in their lifetimes. While most people understand that PTSD can contribute to stress, anxiety, and insomnia, a lesser-known issue is the impact PTSD can have on the ability to learn. Effects of PTSD on the Brain Trauma can affect t

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT For many people, forgiving someone for an indiscretion or misbehavior is not an easy thing to do. Contrary to popular belief, forgiveness is not about condoning or excusing the wrong doer’s behaviors. It is a shift in our thinking, allowing us to move past the wrongdoing and not allow it to take up space within our lives. It is a shift where we can move past the actual wrongdoing or event without letting it manifest ill will.

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT With today's technology and continually being on the go, it's hard to take the time to clear our minds and be present. You can achieve mindfulness by focusing one's awareness in the moment, while acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and body. Mindfulness can be very beneficial. Mindfulness increases your awareness, understanding, and acceptance of emotions. It also encourages improvements in social skills an

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT We can think that our situations are a result of bad luck, others appearing to always getting their way, that we never win, our lives are not what we expected, and so on. But do you ever look at the role that you play in your own life? We are ultimately responsible for our own choices, consequences, happiness, and our lives in total. We are almost always in control of what is going on, and when things are not going the way we