A Therapy & Mental Wellness Blog

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

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT You mustn't live your life with hate in your heart. Hatred causes you more pain and grief than the people you focus your hate on. Forgiveness is in NO way, saying, "What you did to me is acceptable or alright." It acknowledges and says, "I am in NO way, allowing what occurred to disrupt my happiness forever." The answer to happiness lies in forgiving others by allowing yourself to let go, seek peace, and free yourself from th

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Well-known business tycoons, successful athletic individuals, and all achievers in life do one thing in common; they all set goals for themselves, their businesses, and the things they wish to achieve in life. Goal setting allows us to have both long-term vision and short-term motivation. It concentrates knowledge acquisition, and will enable you to become organized and focused with your time and resources so that you can mak

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT School is back in session, and the ease of summer has come to an end. Here are some simple tips from your therapist in Harrisburg, PA , for a successful school year and less frustration between you and your children are as easy as: Set up a bedtime and wake-up routine in advance. Working on going to bed at a designated time and waking up when the child needs to get ready for school can be done at least two weeks before school

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Life today is hectic, overwhelming, and leads to anxiety and depression for many. Talk therapy can have an unbelievably constructive impact on your life. It can shift the way you function as an individual and allow you to evolve into the best you. Talk therapy is not a speedy solution, but it will give you exceptional skills and tools for coping and learning to deal with life situations that are often overwhelming. Certain

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Decision making can be hard. Whether it is picking out what to wear or which college to choose, most find it difficult to make decisions. Although making a decision can be hard, we make decisions every day. It is important to identify, is it a big or small decision. An example of a big decision would be buying a house, while buying a new shirt may be a small decision. Have you overanalyzed the situation or have you given

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT People typically think of the holiday season as a joyous occasion spent with family and friends. While many are spending time with their families and loved ones, others may be struggling to find happiness during the holidays. These people may be people who may have people to celebrate with, or they may have feelings of being overwhelmed with being with their family or friends during the holidays. This holiday season; take

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. It also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. A person's speech may become soft of slurred in the early stages and then worsen as the condition progresses. Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, but medications have been shown to im