A Girl’s Guide to Being Beautiful

I came across this article and thought it was important to share.  It is a good way to start your day.  To take control of your life and realize each day is a new day.  You have the choice how you want to make your day.  You have the choice how you want to live your life.  I challenge you to start your day “Beautiful.”

Photograph from the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

A Girl’s Guide to Being Beautiful By: Kayla Knopp

There is one moment in each day when you are completely in control of your own destiny.  It is the moment you first open your eyes in the morning, the instant the first thought of the day skiters through your brain.  That very first thought sets the mood for the rest of the day.  In the wee hours of the morning, you can decide whether to embrace life as an ally or to declare war on the world.

If you give in to your inner demons and choose the latter, you can bid being beautiful farewell.  Nobody looks good in a war.  Beauty goes hand in hand with happiness, love, and peace.  Even if you are not completely happy with your physical appearance, if you can possess those last three traits, you will be beautiful.

Suggested song for the day: “You’re beautiful” by Christina Aguilera

Stress Relieving Activities

Being a former pre-school teacher, I have applied many techniques I used in the classroom to adapt to the client’s needs in therapy sessions.  One thing I recommend to those who fidget or have high anxiety would be holding on to something like a stress ball, playdough, or even gak.  By playing with something in your hand, it allows you to let go of the stress and prevent yourself from negative habits like nail biting or leg shaking.

Making gak is a simple process that will provide hours of fun and relaxation. Follow these steps to create your own batch of stretchy, gooey and slippery gak.

To make gak:

1. Gather your ingredients. In order to make gak, you will need the following ingredients:
   • Elmer’s glue
   • Water
   • Borax (found in the laundry departments of stores)
   • Food coloring
2. Mix the glue and water. Combine 2 cups of Elmer’s Glue and 1½ cups of warm water in a small container or bowl.
3. Add the food coloring. Choose your favorite color of food coloring and add it to the glue/water mixture. Stir the mixture after you have added the food coloring to spread the color.
4. Mix the Borax and water. In a different container, combine 1 cup of hot water with 1½ tablespoons of Borax.
5. Combine the two containers. Add the contents of the two containers together and stir the mixture very well. You should begin to see the gak take form and solidify.
6. Use your gak! At this point, the gak is in top shape and ready to be used. Remember to store your gak in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.

Enjoy!

Beyond the Tree

When looking at a tree, a typical person may not look too deep into it.  Like the age of the tree, what might have occurred there, the memories it made for others, the reasons for the cracks in the trunk, the lifted roots… there is so much more beyond the tree.

A tree can signify life, birth and whatever else you make of it.  It can be a place of peace and calmness, a place to create memories, or a place of mourning.  Looking at nature typically allows people to be free.

I love using art as a way of therapy, especially when working with children.  Trees are interesting to analyze because it relates to the artist from every perspective from the age to the details created.  The trunk may signify  the age where different movement represent ages in which significant events may have occurred.  Every time I analyze a drawing, the client is amazed (and so am I) at the accuracy noted.

Suggested reading, “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.

Photo compliments of MegaPixels Photo, http:// www.megapixelsphoto.blogspot.com

Hypnotherapy Overview

Last week I became certified as a Rational Hypnotherapist, under the training of Dr. Aldo Pucci.  Hypnotherapy is done to help an individual express deep thoughts that may be uprooted.  While in the training, I learned (at a deeper level) how to help someone, to help themself.

There were subject areas addressed and I couldn’t help but to think how I could help apply the technique with my family and friends.  While it is frowned upon to counsel them under therapeutic context, hypnotherapy does not reject this idea because it is considered a different level of therapy.

Surprisingly, the teens I work with seems so eager to be “hypnotized” but they struggle the most with measurable, specific goals and true motivation.  The most successful client is someone who has a specific goal that they are wanting to achieve.  Some common issues that are seen with the most positive results are: anxiety, depression, anger, sleep problems, substance abuse, weight loss, and smoking.

I am looking forward to applying this practice with others and helping them to the best of my ability!

OA & Teens

I am currently working with a 13-year-old who suffers with anorexia.  I thought it was important for her to have added support so I started my search.  The local eating disorder clinics start at 14-years-old and older.  The OA meetings are for adults.  Although they do not turn anyone away, it is not encouraged.

I am thinking about forming a group for teens and young adults ages 12-20 for both males and females.  This would be for anyone who struggles with an eating disorder: anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating.  This group would be every Saturday for a minimum of 10 sessions.  Please let me know if you know someone who would be interested and/or have suggestions for a successful group.

For more information, please contact me.

Learning in the Mental Health Profession

In February, I taught a seminar in Miami on Easting Disorders to approximately 30 other professionals, in the social service field.  After the seminar, an attendee called me.  She is a student at Barry University in the mental health field asking questions about experience and career advice.  I have always been honest when it comes to teachers, schools, jobs, etc… I felt it was important to tell her from my experience, what I learned about in the industry.

1. I learned I had to take a comprehensive exam after completing 60 credits of graduate school in order to graduate.
2. I learned I had to have an unpaid internship for 1 year, while in school.
3. I learned that being unlicensed, it is very difficult to get a job other than at a community mental health agency (which it’s still difficult to get a job there).
4. I learned I made more money as a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree than with my Masters.
5. I learned working a 12 hour day would become a “normal work day.”
6. I learned I will not be licensed until after I work for 2 more years post graduation, have a supervisor, take some more courses, and take and pass that state boards.
7. I learned that no matter how good a therapist is, there is always gossip when a lot of females work together.
8. I learned that therapy in the real world is very different then how it appears in school.
9. I learned sessions can last (to be expected to last) for several hours, not just 1.
10. I learned that there is not the “typical” client.  They are all different and require different attention.

BONUS

*** I learned that after a long day at work, I still love to come home and cuddle with my dog.

For more information please contact amanda@amandalevison.com.

Depression Outlets

When asked on a popular social networking site about what people use as an outlet for depression, the feedback was quite similar and repetitive.

The top 10 choices were the following:

1. Expensive shoes
2. Sex
3. Shopping
4. Band Practice
5. Exercise
6. Masturbation
7. Social interactions
8. Seeing a therapist
9. Liquor
10. Painting

Of the 10 different ways, only half were healthy ways.  Many people partake in unhealthy ways to take care of themselves.  It is important to identify what makes us happy and healthy.  Here are some healthy suggestions to use when depressed.

1. Exercise: When you exercise regularly, you tone your body and metabolism, regulates stress hormones like cortisol, and promotes the release of endorphins (morphine-like substances that your body naturally releases when you exercise).
2. Art:  Express your feelings and your artistic side.  You might come up with your most successful work while improving your mood.
3. Seeing a therapist:  Some people have a difficult time expressing themselves.  This is a great way to express yourself without people judging you and have an impartial person to listen to you.
4. Social Interactions: When depressed, many isolate.  This will only make you more depressed and focus on the pain rather then the positive things.  Get out there, call a friend, be social.
5. Read a book: This is distract you and can be uplifting.  I recommend reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.  It is very inspirational.

For more suggestions and/or feedback of what works for you, please email Amanda@amandalevison.com.

Anorexia Nervosa & Britney Murphy

Many people struggle with an Eating Disorder or have at some point in their life.  As Eating Disorders have become more knowledgeable in society we have learned about the various types.  Once of the oldest and most familiar is Anorexia Nervosa, also referred to as Anorexia.

The DSMIV defines Anorexia Nervosa as:

• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
• Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
• Amenorrhea (at least three consecutive cycles) in postmenarchal girls and women. Amenorrhea is defined as periods occurring only following hormone (e.g., estrogen) administration.

The most severe side effect and most common cause of death for people who suffer with Anorexia is a heart attack.  That is due to the huge imbalances in the electrolytic balance of the blood, like hyperkalemia and hypocalcaemia. Either of these two issues can promote a heart attack.

Britney Murphy, known as the fun-loving actress, suffered from this condition.  Looking back at her pictures, through the years, it was difficult to identify a time when she was at a healthy weight.  Murphy died at the age of 32, on December 20, 2009 from cardiac arrest, most likely due to the severity of her being underweight.

People typically are not picked and ridiculed in society the way the paparazzi captures it and publishes it for all to see. There is so much pressure to be thin, beautiful, and perfect.  Britney was a great actress and will be missed by many.

Britney Murphy pictured at a very low body weight.

Contact amanda@amandalevison.com for further questions.

References:

http://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/medical/heartattack.php

DSM-IV. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC.

Family Communication

Last week I had a teenage client whose relationship with his parents is struggling with lack of communication, lack of trust, and comfort.  A typical day would sound something like this:

Mom: How was your day?

Client: Fine.

Mom: Did you learn anything at school today?

Client: No.

Mom: Well, what did you do then?

Client: Nothing.

And then it would lead to the daily argument.  The conversation sounded the same whether mom or dad asked the questions.  Many people struggle with communication with their teenager.

I gave the family homework for the week.  For the client: He is to elaborate with more than one word answers.  Parents: Try not to yell in reaction for the flat answers.  Therefore, they would have conversations and help build the communication.  I am anxious to see how this has worked for them within the week.  If you struggle with communication within your family, I challenge you to listen, elaborate and have patience.

Contact amanda@amandalevison.com for further questions.

Men & Laundry

I have a client who is a single dad.  We had a talk and he said he feels lost with the basic household stuff that he never imagined having to do.  Here is a lession on cleaning the laundry.  I am not an expert but have experience with proper washing.

1. Separate the clothes.  You may think it is a waste of time, but you will thank me later.  This dad and many others learned the hard way.  You can separate them a few different ways but the easy way is by two.  One load of ALL whites (make sure nothing else) and one load of colors*.

* If you have a new dark item, wash alone or with other darks.  If you wash with clothes, you may ruin the pink Jonas Brothers shirt that your 9-year-old is in love with.

2.  With your dark load: put the load in the washer with appropriate detergent.  Set to proper setting (usually normal and/or cotton setting) and wash.  When you are done with the washer, put clothes in the dryer.  Before you start the dryer, make sure the lint filter is empty of lint.  If it is full of lint, it may take long to dry.  You can add a dryer sheet for added softness directly with the load of clothing.

3. With your white load (absolutely NO colors): Very similar but add some bleach this time.  This will keep the white looking fresh.  Put the load of clothes in the washer with appropriate detergent and about a half of a capful of bleach. Set to proper setting (usually normal and/or cotton setting) and wash.  When you are done with the washer, put clothes in the dryer.  Before you start the dryer, make sure the lint filter is empty of lint.  If it is full of lint, it may take long to dry.  You can add a dryer sheet for added softness directly with the load of clothing.

4.  For spots: If it is not a white, do NOT use bleach.  I suggest Sol-U-Mel or Shout with a spout.

If you have further suggestions for the single parent, please let me know.