Lilit Lewis, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

05/13/2023

Such an honor to contribute to this article. Highly recommend Wondermind as a valuable mental health resource!

We asked real people and licensed therapists to share helpful Mother's Day messages to anyone feeling a lot of complicated feelings today.

08/26/2022

What do you feel like you really needed (emotionally) as a child, and did not receive? Chances are, those unmet needs impact you now.

Exploring the past, specifically foundational relationships in childhood, can allow you to discern and speak up for your needs as an adult. Understanding yourself better can ultimately enrich your relationships too.

06/01/2022

Over the last few weeks, I have shared glimpses into the process of therapy and why it can be healing. Today, I want to share about my personal vantage point as a therapist and some of my observations when I notice that therapy is working.

I hope you find these words encouraging, wherever you are in the process, knowing that the effort is worth it.

05/26/2022

We are collectively grieving and impacted by trauma this week. Holding the dear families in Uvalde close to my heart and all of us who are impacted by this horrific tragedy.

05/20/2022

As we continue our conversation about therapy for MHA month, let’s talk about how the process of change might look. We might expect a quick and linear path toward our goals, but really, progress happens in both the ups AND downs of growth. Where you are right now holds purpose — even if it’s not exactly where you hope to arrive.

If you experience what feels like a setback in therapy, it does not mean you are back at square one. All of the work you have put in has been integral to the overall process of change. You can draw upon the skills you have gained along the way for those more difficult moments ahead. While you can expect that the path ahead will be bumpy, there will also be moments when you feel yourself soaring.

A gentle reminder: the path ahead is uniquely your own, with all of its ebbs and flows.

05/17/2022

There is no “right” way to walk through pain. If you are angry, you are not alone. If you are overwhelmed, you are not alone. If you feel weighed down by sadness, you are not alone. If you feel numb, you are not alone.

There is much to grieve over in our world right now. If you are feeling overcome by it all, pause and notice the emotions stirring up inside you. Let the grief wash over you, but let it also move you to take another step forward.

May you find comfort in moments when you need it most and may you be gentle with yourself, as well as others, as you mourn.

05/13/2022

Continuing the conversation about therapy for Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s talk about one of the biggest questions regarding therapy — how can a conversation with someone I don’t know help?

Here are some reasons why therapy is more than just a conversation:

▫️Therapy is rooted in the initial establishment of trust and security in the therapeutic relationship. Your therapist has been trained to utilize empathy to meet you where you are at. When you feel understood and met with compassion, security and trust can begin to develop.
▫️Externally processing emotions and being met with empathy and validation diffuses shame and ultimately allows for new insight and healing.
▫️Your therapist is present with you, but also holds a vantage point of looking in from the outside and collaborating with you to put the puzzle pieces together as you share.
▫️When your therapist knows you on a deep level (who you are, pivotal moments that have shaped you, etc.) they are able to utilize their extensive training to pair insights that can propel you toward growth.

05/04/2022

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and each week this month, I will share a glimpse into the therapy process — what can be expected and why it can be healing.

This week, let’s talk about the decision to start therapy. Often when people consider starting therapy, they may have reached the point of feeling little hope for how their circumstances can change. For some, therapy feels like “the last resort” option when they finally make the decision to start. One of the things I hear most when clients make that initial phone call is “I just don’t know how it’s going to get better.” Indeed, the path ahead toward relief and change can feel uncertain. If you choose to start therapy and you are having difficulty grasping how things can possibly change, know this: your therapist is holding hope for you, even when you are struggling to see a way through. The path ahead doesn’t feel cloudy and daunting for your therapist. Your therapist is with you. As I share with my beloved clients — I’ll hold hope until you’re ready to hold it too.

11/25/2021

A gentle reminder that gratefulness does not mean you forfeit feelings of loss, grief, sadness, or anger. You may feel grateful for what you have, while grieving what you have lost. The beauty of gratefulness is that you can hold it simultaneously with pain.

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁

08/14/2021

Our worth is not dependent on our performance or on the views of others. Yet, so often, it’s a fear of disappointing, of making a mistake, of not being “enough,” or not fitting a particular mold that keeps us stuck.

✨As we head into the weekend, take a moment to reflect. What would your days look like if you felt both free and convinced of your unchanging worth? Would your choices look any different? What would your relationships look like?

07/28/2021

There are so many ways we can prioritize our mental health and doing so is a sign of strength — not weakness. We are strong when we choose to say no. We are strong when we choose grace over a need for perfection. We are strong when we ask for support.

What are some choices you can make today to prioritize your mental health?

06/30/2021

Life is completely unpredictable and can leave us feeling out of control when there is uncertainty about the path ahead. If you are feeling this now, invite yourself to take a pause. Breathe in and out. Activate your senses and look around you. Reflect on what you know is true and what you need right now. There are so many unknowns you have navigated already and you are capable of mindfully moving through this moment too.