Move Forward Counseling, LLC

03/18/2026

☕️⚡️ Norepinephrine: Your Brain’s Built-In Espresso ⚡️☕️ (Also known as: The Let’s-Go Chemical You Didn’t Know You Had 🚀)

Ever feel that moment when your brain clicks on and you’re suddenly alert, focused, and ready to handle what’s in front of you?

✨ Not anxiety. Just brain science doing its best.

Norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) is a chemical messenger that plays a big role in:

👀 Alertness
🎯 Attention & focus
🔋 Energy
💪 Motivation
❤️ Heart rate & your body’s stress response

It helps your brain stay awake and ready to respond — especially in situations that require quick thinking or action. Think of it as focused energy, ready-to-act vibes.

When levels are balanced, norepinephrine helps you feel motivated, attentive, and prepared.
⚖️ Too little can feel like low energy, brain fog, or trouble focusing.
⚖️ Too much can feel like being stuck in overdrive.

Like everything in the brain, it’s all about balance.

Curious about the science behind it? The Cleveland Clinic explains it clearly and in a friendly way: 🔗 Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline): What It Is & Function https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22610-norepinephrine

Your brain is constantly adjusting to help you stay alert, engaged, and ready for the day.
Not magic. Just incredible biology. 💚

MFC offers mental health counseling for health and wellness goals. If you struggle with focus, motivation, and finding the energy to do the things you know you love to do, ask our scheduling team to help match you with a health and wellness-specialized therapist at www.moveforwardpa.com.

Thank you to Rebekka Matthews, LSW, one of MFC's health and wellness specialized therapists in person at our York office and online across PA for helping create today's "What is it? Wednesday" post. https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/rebekka-matthews/

03/12/2026

MFC is proud to sponsor Lancaster County Women for Good, helping to celebrate Gracie's House, the nonprofit voted as the winner of their 1st-quarter grant. 😍LCWG is a giving circle of women across Lancaster County. 💛

Congratulations to Gracie's House as this quarter's grant winner of $6,345! And thank you to Magdalen Mowery for nominating them.

We’re so proud to support their mission to help organizations create, maintain, and protect safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities while offering resources that improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

Their vision? A world where LGBTQ+ youth and adults are safe, supported, and free to fully express who they are.

Thank you to everyone who has donated. We're so grateful to be part of such a generous community!

We also want to thank the two other non-profits who generously shared their time and passion with us. Here are some additional ways you can support them:

North Star Initiative
Please attend their awareness and fundraising events, start a donation drive to collect supplies for the home, volunteer for events, admin support, or with the residents (survivors), donate online, following them on social media, and share their posts to help spread awareness, invite a staff member to speak to your business or group about our mission and work.

CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
They are always looking for volunteers to become Advocates! Information sessions are held 2x a month, virtual and in person. Join them to learn more! April 10, they will be hosting our Lancaster Community Breakfast event at the DoubleTree in Willow Street, and on April 23 we will be at Iron Valley Golf Club for our Lebanon Community Happy Hour - No charge for either event, and another great way to learn more about CASA of Lanc & Leb Counties! Registration information coming soon!

A special thank you to the generous Impact Sponsor making this quarter possible: Move Forward Counseling, LLC

Thank you all so much! This donation makes a huge difference to our big adventure. So happy to be part of the team now!

Join our charitable circle of women giving for good at https://www.lancowomenforgood.com/

03/11/2026

🎉 Dopamine: Your Brain’s Built-In Reward System 🎉 (Also known as: The Motivation Messenger You Didn’t Know You Had 🚀)

Ever wonder what helps you start a task, stick with it, and feel that little spark of satisfaction when you finish?

✨ Not laziness. Just brain science doing its best.

Dopamine is a key chemical messenger in your brain that plays a big role in:

🏆 Motivation
🎯 Goal-directed behavior
😊 Anticipating reward
🧠 Focus & learning
🚶 Movement

It’s the reason you want, try, and achieve. Think: Drive, reward, repeat. 🔁

Dopamine helps your brain anticipate pleasure and stay engaged — whether it’s checking something off your to-do list, working toward a big goal, or enjoying a small win along the way.

When dopamine is balanced, motivation feels doable.
⚖️ When it’s off, things can feel flat, overwhelming, or just hard to start.

Like everything in the brain, it’s all about balance — not hustle culture, not willpower alone, but biology working behind the scenes.

If you’d like a friendly, science-based explanation, check out: 🔗 Dopamine: What It Is & Function (Cleveland Clinic) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine

Your brain is wired for progress, reward, and growth.
Not magic. Just incredible biology. 💚

MFC offers mental health counseling for health and wellness goals. If you struggle with motivation, feeling "stuck", and feeling grateful or proud of yourself, ask our scheduling team to help match you with a health and wellness-specialized therapist at www.moveforwardpa.com.

Thank you to Rebekka Matthews, LSW, one of MFC's health and wellness specialized therapists, in person at our York office and online across PA, for helping create today's "What is it? Wednesday" post. https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/rebekka-matthews/

03/06/2026

Announcing our Spring Networking Event! If you didn't get a chance to sign up for the last event or would like to attend the event again on April 24, 2026, RSVP now to hold your spot.

Be a part of this growing PA therapist networking community. This is a relaxed opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build community with fellow mental health professionals. We'd love to see you there!

Link to RSVP: https://ow.ly/KhMh50Ylhlx

This is your opportunity to build relationships with other providers while enjoying a complimentary. Lunch is provided and sponsored by exydoc, a software and managed services company focused on providing high-value provider data management solutions to healthcare providers, specifically behavioral health and community therapy. Learn more: https://exydoc.com/

Asked about how to sponsor lunch for a future networking event. The next event will take place in the Fall of 2026.

Questions or Lunch Sponsor interest? Write to getstarted@moveforwardpa.com.

03/05/2026

If you are feeling overwhelmed, start here 🤍

The “Fourth Trimester” and the period after childbirth can feel like an information overload. For many new mothers in Pennsylvania, the challenge isn’t a lack of information — it’s a lack of vetted, local information. When you’re navigating sleep deprivation 😴, physical recovery 💛, and the identity shift of new parenthood 👶✨, you don’t need a thousand generic websites.

You need a roadmap. 🗺️

We’ve categorized these resources by proximity and function to help you quickly find the specific support you need in Pennsylvania — today. Whether you’re searching for:
📍 A local support group in Lancaster
🏙️ A specialized resource in Pittsburgh
🧠 A therapist who accepts your insurance
🤝 Community-based maternal supports

This guide was created with you in mind.

At Move Forward Counseling, our mission is to provide high-quality outpatient therapy while also connecting you to the specialized tools that support your journey. While our clinical team focuses exclusively on outpatient counseling, we are deeply committed to serving as a trusted resource hub for the Pennsylvania maternal community. 🌿

You deserve clear guidance.
You deserve local support.
You deserve care that actually works. 💙

Start here. And take it one step at a time. Read "A GUIDE: Top Resources for New Mothers in PA" at https://moveforwardpa.com/a-postpartum-therapist-shares-top-resources-for-new-mothers/.

To schedule counseling for mothers from one of MFC's licensed therapists who specialize in motherhood, postpartum, and perinatal mental health, visit https://moveforwardpa.com/services/counseling-for-mothers/.

03/04/2026

🌿 GABA: Your Brain’s Built-In Chill Pill 🌿 (Also known as: The Calm Controller You Didn’t Know You Had 😌)

Ever notice how you’re actually able to slow down, take a deep breath, and relax after a long day?

✨ Not magic. Just brain science doing its best.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) is your brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, which is a fancy way of saying it’s the chemical that tells overactive neurons to slow down. 🛑🧠

Think of GABA as:

🌊 The reason you can breathe & relax
🧘 Lower stress, higher zen
😴 A supporter of better sleep
⚖️ A key player in keeping your nervous system balanced

When your brain feels overstimulated, anxious, or “on edge,” GABA helps dial things down so your mind and body can reset. It’s the internal brake pedal that keeps everything from running too fast. 🚗💨➡️🛑

Just like other brain chemicals, balance matters.
Too little or too much GABA can affect how calm, focused, or rested you feel.

If you’re curious about the science behind it, this Cleveland Clinic article explains GABA in a clear and approachable way: 🔗 GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): What It Is & Function https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22857-gamma-aminobutyric-acid-gaba?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Your brain is constantly working to create steadiness and calm. Not magic. Just incredible biology. 💚

MFC offers mental health counseling for health and wellness goals. If you struggle with anxiety, racing thoughts, falling or staying asleep, and being able to take deep breaths to get you through stressful moments, ask our scheduling team to help match you with a health and wellness-specialized therapist at www.moveforwardpa.com.

Thank you to Rebekka Matthews, LSW, one of MFC's health and wellness specialized therapists in person at our York office and online across PA for helping create today's "What is it? Wednesday" post. https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/rebekka-matthews/

02/27/2026

Many individuals seeking therapy in Pennsylvania find themselves in a frustrating cycle 🔄

They’ve spent months — sometimes years — in traditional talk therapy. They can describe their traumatic experiences with clinical accuracy. They understand what happened.

And yet… when triggered, they still feel that physical “charge.” ⚡

This is what we call being “stuck” in the narrative.”
You may have a cognitive understanding of your past 🧠 — but your nervous system is still reacting as if the event is happening right now.

At Move Forward Counseling, we know healing requires more than just conversation. 💬✨

Our clinical framework is built on Specialized Trauma Alignment, a process that determines whether your healing journey needs:

🔹 A Top-Down cognitive specialist (traditional talk therapy)
🔹 A Bottom-Up neurological expert (EMDR-trained clinician)

By matching you with the right provider from the very beginning, we ensure your therapist is uniquely qualified to address the specific way your brain has stored your experiences. 🧩

Because real healing happens when both the mind and nervous system feel safe. 🤍

If you’re ready to move forward, we’re here to help. 🌿Get started by reading "EMDR vs. Traditional Talk Therapy: Which Is Right for You?" at https://moveforwardpa.com/emdr-vs-traditional-talk-therapy-which-is-right-for-you/.

To schedule mental health therapy with an EMDR-specialized and trained professional licensed therapist, visit https://moveforwardpa.com/our-techniques/emdr-therapy/. Learn more about MFC's https://moveforwardpa.com/services/trauma-ptsd-therapy-in-pennsylvania/ to help you decide which is right for you.

02/26/2026

A Misconception: “Mindfulness Means Sitting Still and Breathing.” Mindfulness is actually the ability to anchor yourself in what’s happening right now, rather than getting pulled into the past (regret, rumination) or the future (worry, planning, what-ifs). Mindfulness is not about becoming a perfectly calm person with no thoughts. It’s about learning how to notice what’s happening internally and externally, and then choosing where you want to place your attention.

Learn what Mindfulness is, how you can develop it into your daily activities, the benefits, and much more! "Read Think You’re Bad at Mindfulness? Think Again," written by Dr. Kim Millhimes, PsyD (she/her) at https://moveforwardpa.com/think-youre-bad-at-mindfulness-think-again/.

Mindfulness can be practiced while:
👉Eating
👉Walking
👉Spending time in nature
👉Taking a shower
👉Listening to music
👉Connecting with loved ones
👉Driving
and more...click to learn other times you can practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness can help people:
🌿Reduce racing thoughts and mental “overload”
🌿Increase emotional regulation
🌿Decrease stress and improve coping
🌿Interrupt rumination and worry cycles
and more...read the full blog for all the ways Mindfulness can help.

Dr. Millhimes is an experienced Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has offered counseling to teens aged 13 and older, young adults, and adults since 2004 and has been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist since 2011. Dr. Millhimes is trained and experienced in Mindfulness therapy. Book therapy sessions with her or read her bio at https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/kim-millhimes/. Eating disorders is one of the many specialties that she offers counseling for at Move Forward Counseling in person in York, PA and online across PA.

02/25/2026

⚡️ Glutamate: Your Brain’s Built-In Think Juice ⚡️(Also known as: The Neural Spark Plug You Didn’t Know You Had 🔌🧠)

Ever wonder what actually helps you learn something new… remember where you left your keys… or power through a focused work session?

✨ Not magic. Just brain science doing its best.

Glutamate is your brain’s main excitatory messenger — basically the chemical that helps brain cells talk to each other and get stuff done. 💬⚡️

Think of it as:

🧠 The reason you learn & remember
🎯 Focused energy, sharper thoughts
⚡ Quick communication between neurons
🌅 Part of what keeps your sleep-wake cycle on track

When you’re absorbing new information, forming memories, or problem-solving, glutamate is hard at work helping those neural connections fire efficiently.

But here’s the key: balance matters.
Too much or too little glutamate can disrupt how your brain processes information. Like most things in the brain, it works best in just the right amount. ⚖️

Curious about the science behind it? This Cleveland Clinic article explains it in a clear, approachable way: 🔗 Glutamate: What It Is & Function (my.clevelandclinic.org) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22839-glutamate

Your brain is constantly communicating, adapting, and learning.
Not magic. Just incredible biology. 💚

MFC offers mental health counseling for health and wellness goals. If you struggle setting barriers, getting enough sleep, managing stress and other challenges, ask our scheduling team to help match you with a health and wellness-specialized therapist at www.moveforwardpa.com.

Thank you to Rebekka Matthews, LSW, one of MFC's health and wellness specialized therapists in person at our York office and online across PA for helping create today's "What is it? Wednesday" post. https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/rebekka-matthews/

02/24/2026

The transition into motherhood is more than a life change — it’s a profound neurological, biological, and social transformation. 🧠💛🤱

While cultural narratives often spotlight the “joy” of a new baby 👶✨, the clinical reality for many women across the Keystone State is far more complex. For countless mothers, this season can bring identity shifts, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, emotional depletion, and a quiet struggle to feel like themselves again. 💭😔

At Move Forward Counseling, we recognize that “baby blues” can be a misleading term for what may actually be Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) — serious, common, and highly treatable conditions.

Maternal mental health care requires more than empathy alone. It requires specialized clinical expertise and a localized understanding of Pennsylvania’s healthcare landscape Our approach combines evidence-based treatment with a clear, supportive roadmap — helping mothers move from survival mode to sustainable wellness.

You deserve more than just getting through the day. You deserve support, clarity, and a path forward.

If you or someone you love is navigating the transition into motherhood, you are not alone — and help is here in The Complete Guide to Maternal Mental Health. 🤝✨

Read The Complete Guide to Maternal Mental Health: Therapy for New Moms in PA at https://moveforwardpa.com/maternal-mental-health-guide-pa/.

To schedule counseling for mothers from one of MFC's licensed therapists who specialize in motherhood, postpartum and perinatal mental health, visit https://moveforwardpa.com/services/counseling-for-mothers/.

02/22/2026

🌿Watch some of MFC's therapists personally welcome YOU 🫶 to our counseling services. 🛋️ Learn why 👉EVERYONE 👈 is welcome at Move Forward Counseling from the people who are available now to support you in mental health and wellness. 💗

💻 View this welcome video by our own therapists on MFC's YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/ldq7_d1HJ1g?si=i4lCpQ6YSGAe_Vew,

🎥 View more videos by MFC and our partner-practice, Heartwell Therapy, LLC, that include a little humor, mental health education, therapist resources/ideas 🧠, and more about our dedicated staff and services on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/-PA

02/20/2026

No waitlist: Several of our 65 licensed therapists have openings for new clients across Pennsylvania. Book virtual sessions now www.moveforwardpa.com/contact or view therapist bios (for full lists of specialties and techniques), including the following therapists who have immediate openings.

Sarah Lathrop, LAPC: https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/sarah-lathrop
Katie Carmoni, LCSW: https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/katie-camoni
Angela Miller, LCSW: https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/angela-miller
Margaret Roberts, LPC, LMFT: https://moveforwardpa.com/therapists/margaret-roberts

Your out-of-pocket costs depend on your specific plan. We participate with the following major providers in Pennsylvania:

Aetna
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Capital Blue Cross
Eliance Health Solutions (Preferred Health Care)
Employer EAP from Move Forward Counseling
Evernorth (formerly CIGNA)
Geisinger
Highmark Blue Shield
Independence BC (Highmark)
Life Solutions EAP
Optum
Populytics (Highmark)
Quest / Quest EAP
United Behavioral Health / Optum
United Healthcare UHCI UBH
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

Note: While we participate in these plans, we currently do not accept Medicaid or Medicare. Due to federal regulations, we cannot accept self-pay from clients holding these insurances.

Schedule an appointment with our licensed therapists in Lancaster, York, Hershey, Pittsburgh & online across PA. Confidential, compassionate.