Therapy and Counseling Services Blog | Lancaster, PA

How can you help? Tips for parents of kids with depression/anxiety

Published on: September 16, 2019

Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. As a parent of a child who is struggling with anxiety or depression, it can be difficult to know how to help your child. You may feel defeated or like you are doing a bad job of parenting, when in fact anxiety and depression are NOT a result of bad parenting. You may also struggle with maintaining calm or patience with your child as you might not understand why they are reacting in a certain way. First of all, as the parent, you need… Continue Reading This Article

You are an “empty nester”, so now what?

Published on: September 3, 2019

This is it. You have just watched as your last child goes off to college. You have come home to a place that was once filled with the noises of your children and is now almost too quiet for comfort. You may be struggling with a vast array of emotions from excitement for your son or daughter to anxiety over their wellbeing, fear about their preparedness and safety, and sadness that yet another stage of life has passed. Transitioning is Hard Being an empty nester is hard. There is nothing that prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster of watching your… Continue Reading This Article

Mental Health Tips for Back to School

Published on: August 12, 2019

Whether you are entering another year of high school, starting college for the first time, or returning to college for another year, the school year can be a great time to work on your mental health. Being in school is a challenging environment for anyone mentally and for those with underlying mental illness, it can be downright overwhelming. Opportunity for Growth Challenges and changes, while daunting, can be a great time for personal growth. Equipped with the right tips and tools you can succeed, and come out better for having experienced and overcome tough times. This is the opportunity to… Continue Reading This Article

Move Forward Welcomes LPC Stephanie Graybill

Published on: July 31, 2019

Move Forward Counseling, LLC is excited to announce the addition of Licensed Professional Counselor Stephanie Graybill to our team. Stephanie is a 2016 graduate of Edinboro University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She specializes in helping those struggling with: Depression of all kinds, including postpartum and grief-related. Stress and Anxiety, including those navigating life changes such as parenthood, new careers, transitioning to college, learning to set boundaries, and managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Trauma —Stephanie is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She uses a variety of trauma-informed interventions to help clients work through their traumatic experiences to become stronger and more… Continue Reading This Article

Adjusting to Parenthood is Hard

Published on: July 23, 2019

You have always known you wanted to be a parent. So you try, you get pregnant, and you and your significant other (or you on your own) have a child. Suddenly, you are thrust into parenthood. This life isn’t about you anymore. Your relationship now involves another person and an entirely different set of priorities than it did in the past. It takes adjustment. And, it is not easy. I am not just talking about those suffering from postpartum depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders. This parenthood thing can be difficult for anyone. And that is ok. Get Rid… Continue Reading This Article

Perinatal Loss: A Personal Journey

Published on: July 1, 2019

Perinatal loss can refer to miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a child shortly after the birthing process. It is understandably devastating, heart-breaking, and soul-crushing. It can be difficult to talk about and accept. You might feel all alone and completely distraught. However your grief shows itself, it is a personal journey. Your grief might not look the same as a spouse’s or family members. It might not look the same as another person who has also suffered perinatal loss. Waves of Grief Grief comes and goes in waves. There are days that feel normal, like they used to feel,… Continue Reading This Article

Why summer is the best time to focus on your child’s mental health

Published on: June 17, 2019

Summertime is great for many reasons. The kids are out of school. The weather is great. There is more freedom on our time and less extracurricular obligations. It is a great time to get outside, to reconnect with yourself, and to get your child the therapy he/she/they needs. Therapy tends to be thought of as a school-year thing. Parents see their kids struggle with stress over class assignments and drama with their peers while school is in session. But, often times busy schedules get in the way of scheduling counseling appointments and mental health falls to the bottom of the… Continue Reading This Article

Mindfulness and Movement: Disconnecting Outdoors

Published on: June 3, 2019

I once listened to a podcast about mindfulness running. A frequent music and podcast listener, the thought was a bit foreign to me at the time. I mean, who doesn’t want to escape into a song or a story while doing their workout. The podcast suggested putting the music away, leaving the earbuds at home, and instead focusing on the movement of your feet, the sound of the birds overhead, the wind hitting the trees, the sun on your face, etc. It stressed the necessity of being focused on the present and not letting your mind wander. It is easy… Continue Reading This Article

A letter to the mom who feels invisible

Published on: May 23, 2019

Being a mom is hard work. It is perhaps the hardest job you will ever have. And, while it is rewarding in some of the biggest ways — smiles, hugs, “I love you’s” and seeing your child’s own individual successes (hardly possible without your backstage efforts) often times it can feel like your efforts go unnoticed. We get it. Being a mom is demanding. It requires significant amounts of time and energy and emotional stress on your part. It is exhausting and many times feels pretty darn lonely. After all, you are the one managing life. Keeping tabs on… Continue Reading This Article