Therapy For Us By Us: Recent Episodes
Claudia Parada
Therapy For Us By Us is a podcast showcasing conversations centering Black and Brown voices in therapy and wellness from the lens of mental health practitioners. Truly a space created for us by us in an effort to build community and see ourselves reflected in wellness spaces.
I am your host Claudia Parada, an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist and I am excited to connect with all you beautiful folks and your stories.
Spirituality and Mental Health with Pablo Castro
Summary:Claudia and Pablo discuss the connection between spirituality and mental health, particularly within the Latinx community. They explore how spiritual practices like eco spirituality can provide comfort, meaning and support during challenging times. Pablo shares ways to incorporate spirituality into everyday life and heal from religious trauma.
Key Points:
• Spirituality and a connection to nature can provide balance, meaning and a sense of purpose that supports mental wellbeing. When we sever our connection to the earth, it impacts our mental health.
• Simple practices like spending time in nature, gardening, meditation, and connecting with the elements of earth, water, fire and air can enhance spiritual wellbeing.
• Healing from religious trauma involves reclaiming our own spiritual connection with the earth and finding balance.
• Our cultural and ancestral spiritual practices are inherently intertwined with who we are and can be sources of healing.
Connect with Pablo:
- IG @xochipillicounseling
- https://castroorozco.wixsite.com/pabloorozcocastro
Resources mentioned:
• Raza Psychology - Organization focused on eco spirituality and psychology https://razapsychology.org/• Jose Alejandro Renteria - Researcher focused on Aztec eco spirituality
Final Advice: Get outside, connect with nature, listen to the voices of ancestors and plants, volunteer with land stewardship organizations.
In this episode, I interview Jessenia Ramirez of Capaz Counseling, a Latina Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in Attachment and Trauma Therapy. She talks about breaking generational curses through attachment work. We also discuss the freedom and responsibility that come with working in private practice and how to center BIPOC communities in our work. Listen to the full episode on anchor.fm, spotify and Apple Podcasts.
To connect with Jessenia, check our her website https://www.capazcounseling.com/
In this episode, I interview Lesley Cherry, LMFT who specializes in working from the frame of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with clients of color. She does a deep dive into the specifics of how DBT is different than other types of therapy, how it can really support someone who is having challenges emotionally, and how it can support them
specifically coming from a member of collective culture. Check out the whole episode on Spotify, Anchor, Apple Podcast.
To learn more about Lesley, check out her site here https://www.thewisemindinstitute.com/clinicians
In this episode, I imterview Vivien Roman Hampton, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker from Activated By Wellness. She shares about the importance of humanizing therapy, especially with BIPOC folks, and suggests ways on how to do it. She also discusses different theoretical approaches which resonated with clients and the impact of that. Listen on anchor.fm, spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Check out Vivien's website https://www.activatedbywellness.com/
In this episode, I am interviewing Beverly @cheajalfcc a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She talks about developmental trauma and neurodiversity. We also talked about Brain Spotting and why it's so life changing especially for folks of color. Hear Beverly drop some wisdom and guide us on a short Meditation. Listen on @anchor.fm @spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check out Beverly's website https://www.cheajalfamilycounselingcenter.org/
In this episode, I am interviewing Juriana Hernandez a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Amor Therapy. She is a certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist from the Academy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and an expert in the area of recovery of Narcissistic Abuse. In this episode, Juriana talks about how to recover from Narcissistic abuse and talks about relationship issues, codependency issues as her work is really centered around dynamic issues. Listen in as she explains how to support people who come out of their potential grief.
Connect with Juriana here https://www.amor-therapy.com/about-me
In this episode, Christina shares about the importance of authenticity and how she can bring it into the room as a a therapist. We also discuss practical ways to bring forward more honesty and authenticity within yourself. We also compare notes on how to deal with your negative self talk, noticing when you're 'should-ing' all over yourself, and what to do when you notice that.
To connect with Christina Winesberry check out her website http://www.christinamwinesberry.com/
Music by Artelia Green and The Bandanas
In this episode, I am interviewing Lu Rocha, a bilingual Spanish speaking trauma therapist. Her professional experience includes more than twenty years of counseling, organizing, activism, and advocacy within the Latinx community and other marginalized communities. Listen in as she explains how she never thought she would end up as a licensed social worker and shares how her path has brought her to where she is now. She also discusses how she saw how mental health systems fall short in what they can offer Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities, so she created something to meet our folks' needs in a more real way. Connect with Lu here: https://www.lurocha.net/about-lu Music by: Artelia Green and The Bandanas
CW: discussion of sexual abuse and sexual assault
In this episode, Jess and I discuss the topic of sexual abuse in medicine journey in expanded states of consciousness and the lack of systems of accountability in place to bring forth justice. She shares about how lack of awareness in the practitioner can contribute to abuse of power and tells us some suggestions on what we can do to choose a solid therapist or healer to work with whether in talk therapy or other medicine journeys.
Check out more about Jess here
Music by Artelia Green and the Bandanas
In this episode, Shirley shares about how she transitioned from the corporate world to her healing path. She discusses how this work calls us to take a hard look at the depths of our truth, our power, and that going to therapy isn't all rainbows in butterflies. In that challenging work of transforming our perception of the mundane to that of something magical, we can know our truths. See what she says about healing work and it what it means to embody it in your everyday life.
Check out more from Shirley here: https://www.soulisticwellness.com/
Music by Artelia Green and The Bandanas
In this episode, Yuri shares about her journey to finding her authentic passion and how that shows up in her life and in her work.
In this episode, Evelyn and I dive into conversation around what it means to bring our experiences to the table and feels connections across intersection and identity. She also discusses what is needed for mental health practitioners and other providers who work with newcomer and immigrant communities.
Connect with Evelyn https://www.lamaripositahealing.com/
Music by Artelia Green & The Bandanas
In this episode, Christhmus Presence and I catch up around how our school journeys have transformed us (or not). We also get into their take on abolition work and what it means to decolonize mental health.
Connect with Christhmus Presence here- https://www.christhmuspresence.com
Music by Artelia Green & The Bandanas
In this episode, Rosa discusses her journey of how she overcame her counselor's negative feedback and forged her path towards finding herself as an LCSW where she gets to serve her community. She shares on the importance of having representation and mentors that look like us take us under their wings and show us that we are capable.
Connect with Rosa Shadrin-Toledo, LCSW
http://www.radicalhealing.us/roxytoledo.html
https://www.instagram.com/mindfulpathspllc19/
Music by Artelia Green & the Bandanas
In this interview, Yessenia and Claudia deep dive into Yessenia's journey in integrating her own healing experiences and how that has informed her therapy practice in support clients in their own healing path. Yessenia shares on how trauma can impact us on different levels and how incorporating a mindfulness practice can help better our understanding of our inner experiences.
Connect with Yessenia Lajara, LMSW, TCTSY-F
https://www.yessenialajara.com/
Music by Artelia Green & the Bandanas
During the interview, Claudette Mestayer, LCSW and Claudia share their stories on how intergenerational trauma manifests itself in their families as well as in their communities. They share on some of the challenges of what it's taken to recognize and name toxic family patterns as well as how they have learned to integrate healing around these patterns while continuing to support folks in the community in doing their deep healing work.
Connect with Claudia Mestayer, LCSW
https://www.therapyforlatinx.com/united-states/oakland/therapist/claudette-mestayer
https://www.instagram.com/therapywithclaudette