Meg Will Marriage and Family Therapist

09/21/2023

Back to school...this time with only two of our crew. The oldest is beginning her career as a teacher in Belgium. And the next oldest graduated and is taking steps toward his departure from the nest. I was thinking that the usual overwhelm that happens at the beginning of a school year would lessen with fewer kiddos. I was wrong! There are still a multitude of papers to read and sign. There are still afterschool activities and the logistics of making sure everyone is dropped off and picked up on time. It's a lot!! My go-to coping strategy is to remind myself that this season brings on a kind of tsunami of things to do and it's okay to just focus on keeping my head above water until it all calms down. Which it usually does... at least until the holiday season gets into full swing. We can talk about that another day.

What is your best coping strategy for when you feel overwhelmed?

07/24/2023

Summer is definitely my favorite season of the year. The biggest reason for this is that my children are not in school and so we are not held to the demands of homework and early wake-ups to catch the bus. Summer feels more relaxed to me. Longer days mean more time outside, especially as the sunset slowly fades into twilight. Just sitting in the front yard watching the fireflies and talking with my family is often the highlight of each day.

There is so much beauty in summertime ~ colorful flowers, and funny shaped clouds in the sky, and the changing shadows of trees on a walk through the forest. It only takes a few moments of intentional observation to notice something beautiful around you and the reward is often a boost in your mood, a smile on your face, a feeling of peace.

I hope you take a moment to notice something beautiful today. And for an extra boost, share it with someone else.

06/13/2023

Asking for help is almost always difficult. It almost always seems easier for me to just keep on pushing myself or to ignore a problem rather than letting someone know I need help. Usually this results in my making a pretty big mess that no one could miss. Like the time I tried to carry all of the groceries into the house all by myself, and open the front door by myself, only to drop the milk and watch powerlessly as the container burst open and leaked out across my front porch. Asking for help would have saved both the mess on my porch and the second trip to the store.

If it seems like the problems or the hard days just won't end ~ please reach out. There is often great relief in just sharing your difficulties with someone who listens and understands.

I work with people who feel like they've tried 139 different ways to solve their problems and are still stuck in the same place. Together we can shift your perspective or find insights that offer new paths toward positive change.

Brief phone consultations are free - just call 717-971-0495 or email meg.will.therapy@gmail.com to schedule or to ask for more information.

08/26/2020

Our kiddos start school in a few days. I'm looking forward to the start of the school year even as I struggle with how strange the world feels right now. It seems like I'm driving a car that is way out of alignment and nothing I do can correct it; I just keep working and working to keep my car on the road.

This effort is exhausting and often leaves me feeling cranky and worried and so very tired.

Can you relate?

It's normal to feel this way, yet somehow knowing that doesn't take away the difficult emotions. Learning to see my circumstances from a different perspective has been helpful. Though it's not easy, taking time to think about things that I am thankful for builds up my ability to be positive, to feel happier and less worried. This morning I am thankful for blue skies and a cool breeze, for the birds singing outside my house, for my morning cup of coffee, and for a day with my kiddos to do something fun before all the chaos of back-to-school starts. How about you? What are some things you are thankful for?

As a therapist, this is one of my favorite ways to help clients - offering a way of seeing their circumstances from a different perspective and strengthening their already-present abilities to take on the challenges of life.

If you have questions about therapy or would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out via telephone (717-971-0495) or email meg.will.therapy@gmail.com, or via Facebook Messenger.

08/01/2020

Starting on a new adventure.

If you know someone who is looking for a therapist in the Manheim area, please tell them about my practice. I’m seeing individual, couple, and family clients at the Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, with safety precautions for COVID-19, or via telehealth (video conferencing).

I can be reached via phone (717-972-0495), or email (meg.will.therapy@gmail.com)

Marriage and family therapist working toward licensure in Pennsylvania; practicing at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church and via telehealth.

Areas of focus include mood disorders, couples counseling, post-partum mental health issues, and family work.

07/30/2020

After several years of working as a counselor in an agency, I am taking a new direction and opening my own private practice. My name is Meg and I am a marriage and family therapist working in the Manheim, Pennsylvania area.

My therapy practice is focused on helping individuals, couples, and families work through their struggles to find meaning and purpose for their lives. I have had a diverse range of experiences in counseling including focus areas of anxiety and depression, couple and family issues, postpartum mental health struggles, and substance use disorders.

Working as a marriage and family therapist has deepened my belief that our relationships impacts every part of our lives and that exploring those effects can open the door to creating a meaningful and satisfying life. One area of focus in my approach to therapy is to help my clients to re-frame their outlook on problems in ways that offer new solutions and strengthen their already-present capacity to grow and change.

My Christian faith impacts my approach to life and to therapy and I am always honored to integrate a focus on Biblical principals when my clients request that.

Currently, I am seeing clients at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church or via telehealth (video conferencing). Please call me at 717-971-0495 for a brief, free phone interview or to request more information.