Elijah Levy, Ph.D.
Thirty Years Experience Treating Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Recognized for Distinguished Volunteerism Consultant to Mental Health Programs
University Professor for 33 years
Recipient of Excellence in Teaching Awards
Published Author
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Thank you for visiting my website where you will find literature on mental illness, anthologies/books of poetry written by individuals living with mental illness and a documentary on Founders House of Hope and my Veterans Legacy Project. If you are interested in enriching your cultural literacy, I have booklets on comparative religion, intercultural awareness, stress reduction, an outline to write your autobiography and more.
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I offer training to health care/mental health organizations invested in training their employees to become culturally and linguistically competent providers. Since health care providers are at higher risk for developing compassion fatigue, I conduct self-care training to engender self-awareness in providers to create and maintain healthy, wellness lifestyles.
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Consultation for Mental Health Services
I have been working with individuals living with persistent, severe mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Bipolar and Related Disorders in inpatient and community, residential care settings for 35 years. As a consultant, I am available to design psychosocial/psychiatric rehabilitation programs for residential care facilities and inpatient programs.
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The residential care facilities I design programming for have produced impressive program accomplishments such as self-publishing anthologies/books of poetry, in addition to residents achieving their recovery goals to earn discharges to more independent living programs. For example, residents at Founders House of Hope where I have worked for the last 27 years, have enrolled at Cerritos College and participated in occupational preparation programs to pursue part time jobs. Further, our residents have shortened their length of stay by immersing themselves in our functional, capacity building program emphasizing skill acquisition and illness management. The program philosophy at Founders House of Hope drives self-determination, empowerment and we make sincere, genuine investments in each resident's recovery program by providing the needed services, supports and resources enabling them to lead satisfying lives outside of Founders.
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Available to Teach Courses at Assisted Living Facilities
I am available to teach specialty courses at assisted living facilities including memoir writing, creative/successful aging or other courses designed to sustain meaning and purposeful living in older adulthood. These courses are very well attended at the senior centers I have taught at the last 23 years. All participants enrolled in my classes receive booklets with the curriculum and exercise sheets to engender investment in the learning process and skill acquisition.
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Life Coaching/Mentoring
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Are you dissatisfied with your work, relationships and can’t seem to motivate yourself to set meaningful goals with purpose? If you are then not acting will only continue to erode the quality of your life and you’ll feel hopeless about your future and not experience enduring and genuine happiness. I can help motivate you to set purposeful goals, explore why you’re dissatisfied with work, create a wellness lifestyle and consider re-careering to find your true and fitting work.
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The coaching relationship will hold you accountable to achieve smart, measurable goals and increase self-esteem, self-determination and confidence. You will empower yourself by challenging assumptions of your abilities; by honestly asking yourself who you are and who you want to become. The coaching relationship will enable you to gain more control over your life and provide you with opportunities to change by expanding your power. Not acting only widens the gap between the real self and the ideal self. The gap needs to narrow so you can reach for the best in you and realize your aspirations and ideal self. The longer you wait to act, the more it hurts the quality of your life. Admit it – you’re aware you need to change but need insight, self-awareness, guidance, confidence and support of a life coach.
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Dr. Levy is a deeply thoughtful, caring individual who encourages and inspires all who come in contact with him to pursue their aspirations with conviction and courage. He emphasizes high ethical standards, critical thinking, and respect for diversity. His concern for the needs and well-being of others is rare and genuine. I am and will always be extremely grateful for the support and guidance he has provided me.
I had the good fortune of meeting Elijah when I applied for an adjunct teaching position at the University of Redlands. The university assigned him conduct my in-person interview and teaching demonstration. I had limited teaching experience at the time and, were it not for Elijah's calming, encouraging demeanor, I might not have performed well and, as a result, may have decided teaching was not for me. He was (and is) a model of intellectual vigor tempered with authentic humility and empathy that I took with me when engaging with my students in the years to come. I am deeply thankful to have met him at that critical stage in my personal and professional journey and know that the impact I have had the opportunity to make in the lives of my students is in part due to his influence on me.
What people say about Elijah
Material on Cultural Literacy
The American Mosaic, A Tapestry of Faith, Intercultural Awareness, Philosophical Foundations of Heroism
Literature on Mental Illness
Self-Care
I Deserve to Feel Great About Myself
Books by Elijah Levy
In this collection of poetry Levy illuminates in a passionate, sensitive, yet provocative style the fundamental existential dilemmas of our time. Modern life tends to undermine the search for authentic meaning and enduring happiness, contributing to alienation and meaninglessness. The speed at which our society moves has accelerated dramatically unlike any other historical period, compelling some to cling to traditional values as undesired change creates difficult adjustments that upset work-life balance. Americans admit experiencing stress from long commutes to work, insecure jobs and dissatisfying careers. The dilemma arises from confusion surrounding what we really want out of life in uncertain times. Alienation is a pervasive, subjective feeling produced by living in an impersonal, industrialized society. The vulnerable individual cannot resist honoring enticing images of conspicuous consumption and defining success as financial prosperity.
You, Me and Them is a captivating, humorous, cleverly written book which will provide the reader with the ultimate enrichment experience related to intercultural awareness.Author Elijah Levy, Ph.D. brings over 15 years experience teaching individuals how to increase their capacity for tolerance and identify their counterproductive biases.In a clever, humorous and engaging style, Dr. Levy guides the reader through how early socialization experiences and reinforcement of culture bound values can result in dichotomous, habitual ways of thinking about others. Throughout the book, Dr. Levy challenges readers to risk exposing their potential cultural and religious biases so they can be checked against reality; so distorted perceptions and cultural assumptions can be removed. Dr. Levy shows readers why differences between cultures are not inherently negative; that it is not that the culture bound values of other cultures are wrong, but that values, norms and customs are relative to a culture and can only be understood in terms of the survival function they serve in a culture. In the end, readers are liberated from their limited, polarized thinking patterns to appreciate and experience a more pluralistic, inclusive view of the world.
Books/Anthology of Poetry by Residents of Founders House of Hope, The Chateau and Windsor Hall
In this collection of poetry, individuals living with mental illness write in an intimate, evocative and vivid style their longing for acceptance, respect and recovery. For the mentally ill, writing poetically by using imagery, figurative language, symbolism and metaphor is a safe passage to capture hope, redemption and and purpose. Individuals living with disorders on the Schizophrenia Spectrum and Bipolar Disorder are a vessel of truth and writing poetically transforms that truth in a way that makes it amenable to healing. What is dormant and shameful to disclose is awakened, and it energizes one to act in some way to heal and defeat ongoing devaluation, loneliness, stigmatization and alienation. In the end, it is hope that gives life meaning and sustains faith for the good life. Without hope, one lives in despair and futility. The evocative nature of poetry transforms silence, alienation and insignificance to sound. The written word, the poem, is shared so others can understand and empathize with the mentally ill to abolish alienation, stigma and to welcome integration. The healthy mind will invariably understand the depth of suffering of the mentally ill and through empathy, the ability to take the role of the other, become more compassionate toward the mentally ill. Although each of the poets in this book lives with a mental illness, they are unique in how they creatively express their thoughts.
In this collection of poetry, individuals living with mental illness convey in an intimate, evocative and vivid style their longing for acceptance, meaning and recovery. For the mentally ill, writing poetically by using imagery, figurative language, symbolism and metaphor is a safe passage to reclaim who one was before the illness emerged. Individuals living with disorders on the Schizophrenia Spectrum and Bipolar Disorder are a vessel of truth and writing poetically transforms that truth in a way that makes it amenable to healing. What is dormant, and undoubtedly shameful to disclose is awakened, and it energizes one to act in some way to heal, defeat and overcome ongoing devaluation, loneliness, stigmatization and alienation. In the end, it is hope that gives life meaning and sustains faith for the good life. Without hope, one lives in despair and futility. The evocative nature of poetry transforms silence, alienation and insignificance to sound. The written word, the poem, allows one to share this experience in a public forum for others to understand and ultimately connect them to the larger world to reduce alienation and engender integration. The healthy mind will invariably understand the depth of suffering and through empathy, the ability to take the role of the other, become more compassionate toward the mentally ill.
In this collection of poetry, individuals living with mental illness convey in an intimate, evocative and vivid style their longing for acceptance, meaning and recovery. The therapeutic benefits for the mentally ill writing poetically is a journey of self-discovery and the writing process organizes and clarifies their situation in life. For the mentally ill, writing poetically by using imagery and metaphor is a safe passage to reclaim who one was before the illness emerged. The metaphor relies on an analogy or symbol to create new meaning by expanding the imaginative mind that ultimately pushes one into a new reality that generates insight. The metaphor is fascinating because of its power to silently express a complete picture in an instant. Individuals living with symptoms of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder are a vessel of truth and writing poetically about suffering transforms that truth in a way that makes it meaningful and amenable to healing. What is dormant, and undoubtedly shameful to disclose is awakened, and although it describes the limitations the illness imposes in their lives, it energizes one to act in some way to heal the pain, overcome and defeat ongoing devaluation, loneliness, stigmatization and alienation. In the end, it is hope that gives life meaning and sustains faith for the good life. Without hope, one lives in despair and futility. Meaning gives one the strength to overcome. The evocative nature of poetry transforms silence, alienation and insignificance to sound. The mentally ill live in their safe, beautiful, intimate and private world. The written word-- the poem, allows one to share this experience in a public forum for others to identify with and ultimately connect them to the larger world to reduce alienation and increase integration. At some level, the healthy mind will invariably understand the depth of suffering and through empathy, the ability to take the role of the other, appreciate and render compassion to the mentally ill."
For individuals living with special conditions, writing poetry is healing and the material derives from a world of creative ideas, dreams and reflections on the meaning of life. Poetry drives self-expression and is not bound by rules constraining the creative process. It empowers and silences shame, isolation and despair. The poetry in this anthology invites the reader into a world where metaphors reveal vulnerability, anguish and shame associated with having a special condition. The evocative nature of poetry transforms silence, alienation and insignificance to sound. For these individuals, writing poetically is a safe passage to reclaim one’s life. The metaphor is fascinating because of its power to silently express a pure, complete picture. The storytelling, prose and free verse poetry here is vivid and evocative, illuminating the inner, subconscious mind in a metaphorical and symbolic medium. It is spiritual, deeply intimate and contemplative. The poems unleash emotions connected to loss, pain, vulnerability and to living with these special conditions. It is healing and natural to disclose in words the limitations imposed and to allow the reader to enter a mind often infiltrated by unwelcomed, malicious demons and devaluing voices. The poets in this book reveal their suffering and longing for acceptance. The writers share their dreams, sustained hope for recovery while educating us about their special conditions and the enemy within. We hope that the healthy mind will understand the depth of suffering. In the end, it is hope that gives life meaning and sustains faith for the good life. Meaning gives one the strength to overcome. We celebrate the poetic genius of our brave souls who share to educate us so we can support their desire to live with purpose, meaning and self-determination.
This anthology of poetry and stories are insightful reflections of life written by residents of Carmelitos in Long Beach, CA. The project demanded the entire year of 2016 to complete and it revealed how the power of a shared community goal intrinsically motivated members to persevere and get words to paper. The group wrote tirelessly and the process generated confidence that their poetry and stories mattered to the world. The written words inspire, and bring hope and strength to those in despair. In the end, the reader appreciates that courage and faith in God is required to restore true and sacred living. The pain we all are vulnerable to experiencing lifts when we no longer feel hopeless and trust that God remains our secure, spiritual base and lifeline.
The poetry in this anthology will reveal how one discovers insight into the real self, how we search for light in our passage out of darkness and find the courage to reinvent ourselves. The aging process, what it reveals to us and how to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation can be healing. The art in the book captures the world as the “artist sees it.” In the end, this anthology will be instructive and compel the reader to conduct a self-analysis to enhance self-awareness and meaningful living.
Books by Residents of Founders House of Hope
In this collection of poetry, the author uses irony to “tickle the mind” and to remind the reader that contradictions in life are inescapable and function as a reminder of how precarious and unpredictable life is. Mystery and the unanticipated events that emerge in our lives are teachable moments and according to the author “fate governs life.” For the author, irony represents deliberate contrariness. Reading this poetry will remind the reader of life’s twists and turns. The poetic form used in this book of poetry is rhyme, in addition to incorporating mythological characters such as dragons, mermaids, centaurs and unicorns to have the reader dive deep into a world of magical realism. In the end, the reader will truly appreciate how the evocative themes and images expressed in the poetry captures the essential meaning of life.
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Cecile began writing as a child. She loved reading and took an interest in writing poetry at age 12. As a child, she wrote stories on pads of paper and drew images to reflect her writing. Her goal was to become a famous author. In high school she enjoyed creative writing at Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan. Cecile attended a poetry reading group at Cobb’s Corner Bar where she read her poetry on stage and became more passionate about writing. At age 18, she was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and took a Greyhound from Detroit to Lake View Terrace, CA She is currently at Founders House of Hope and still enjoys writing poetry, art and writing in her journal. Cecile’s parents are deceased and she regularly communicates with her sister and brother.
Andy first discovered his artistic and writing talents in high school. He was attracted to poetry like he was attracted to his first girlfriend. He attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana to pursue art and a new experience. Currently, he has found his passion in writing poetry, abstract art in acrylics and he hopes to compete in his first triathlon soon. Andy's poetry is inspirational and it motivates him and others to achieve and discover their talents. Writing sustains his passion for life and he hopes to inspire a new generation of young writers. Andy draws inspiration from his art which reflects the intersection between music and his perceptions of what it takes to unite the world. The mosaic mixture of colors in his art subscribes to the notion that a fabric of colors can be weaved to create a unified world.
In this collection of poetry, Knight canvasses the sphere of human existence, from the meaning of love, vulnerability, joy, hope and recovery. The unforgiving forces demanding your surrender are defeated and the hope, vision and celebration of a positive future are embraced and provide the motivation to become the ideal self. In a sensitive, yet evocative style, Knight captures the essence of being human-how we are at times, compelled to live within mystery as long as it feels right. In his poetry, Knight reveals the challenges of aging, the power of relationships to unite lovers and enable others to find a common ground. Glimpses of existentialism weave through the work and reveal how individuals pursue meaning, despite acknowledging how freedom of choice and responsibility can undermine our pursuit for meaning and clarity in life.
I lost my mind in order to gain my soul. Those are the words of a man who has lived through the struggle to conquer his mental illness through a journey of self-discovery that takes him to prisons and hospitals-and a world inhabited by saints, angels, and devils. Author Paul Arthur Bell begins his story with a riveting scene-a police officer points his .38 revolver at him. As Bell places his forehead against the muzzle, he shouts, "Be gone, Devil!" Later arrested and charged with drug use, Bell spends the night in jail, hallucinating and wondering how he got there in the first place. His girlfriend, Darla, is confused and takes a mystified Bell along with her on a nonstop roller coaster ride of emotions and unrequited love. Bell eventually discovers that a higher power has come to him as a whisper through all he has endured, and shares his newfound wisdom and unashamed honesty about his twenty-five-year battle with his demons. Bell refuses labels and understands that his destiny is to learn to listen. If you suffer from mental illness or know someone who does, Beyond Psychosis will help you find insight into the ravages of this disease.
Dr. Levy offers training on the following:
For a no fee consultation, email me here or call me at (562) 230-3334
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