A Therapy & Mental Wellness Blog

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Being in a new relationship can be so exciting that it's easy to assume that the "honeymoon phase" will last forever. Most of us know this all too well. However, that's not the case. After the initial butterflies have dwindled, you or your partner may become bored and even antsy, especially if the relationship is not built on a genuine and strong connection. After a while, the relationship may start to feel dry and routine. I

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Boundaries are where you end and others begin. It's essentially the fence you build around your physical, emotional, mental, financial, and spiritual space. And that fence allows you to play gatekeeper, to decide who can come in, who can't, and under what circumstances. Setting boundaries can be complicated and sometimes intimidating depending on who you are setting them up for, like your boss, kids, spouse/partner, coworkers

I have experienced many deaths in my life from all different dynamics of relationships, starting at a very young age. You can’t always...

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT 12 Hurtful Phrases Your Partner Should Never Utter The foundation of any successful relationship is effective communication. How we talk to each other declares the levels of safety we feel with each other. Good communication involves always being transparent, empathetic, and considerate with your partner. But sometimes, in the heat of the moment or due to carelessness, we impulsively use words that hurt our loved ones. Rememb

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT By now, many are familiar with the " Five Love Languages ," because of Gary Chapman's book and the quizzes that were made shortly after. Many have learned their love language and now understand how to love or communicate love to their partner. But what happens when you don't succeed in loving your partner the way they deserve to be loved or the way you vowed to love them? That's right: an apology is given . Along with love l

During the adolescent and teen years, ages 10-16, it can be challenging to advocate for yourself or express your needs to others, especially your parents. However, at this age, it is necessary because you are a dependent under the age of 18 or at the age of consent, which means your parents have to sign off for you to do something: and your parents pay for most things. Asking your parents can be easy for something you know they support or for something simple like candy from

As a therapist, I see first-hand how divorce can cause many hardships for children whose parents are divorcing. Therapists sometimes refer to these effects as "divorce poison." Common issues that arise from divorce include brainwashing children, badmouthing and bashing the ex, and parental alienation. Going through a divorce may bring up negative feelings about your ex-spouse, but your children mustn't get tossed into the middle. Parents who talk about their ex in a hateful w

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT It is normal to go into a relationship with expectations about how you will be treated and how your partner will act in certain situations. Expectations can be a good or a bad thing in a relationship, depending on how they are approached. If one partner goes in with expectations that are never communicated, they could be setting themselves up for disappointment. However, if expectations are set and are too high, this can lead

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Navigating feelings can be challenging but trying to navigate someone we love can be even more challenging. Often, individuals cannot find the right words to say to someone going through a challenging time. Whether that individual is a sibling, a parent, a child, a coworker, or a close friend, it's not easy, and we want to support them. Taking steps to validate their feelings, ease their load, and communicate that they are no

Written by: Amanda Levison , M.S., LMHC, LPC, CCBT Many times, people are dating, and their relationship appears serious, but when is it appropriate to have THAT conversation? Are you too old to ask for commitment? Is it weird to say, "So, what are we?" I have had clients talk about the difficulties of dating and the uncertainty of their relationship. They want commitment, but they are scared to have a mature conversation, due to fear of pushing the other person away. I