Conscious Mental Health: Recent Episodes

Academy of Integrative Mental Health

Welcome to The Conscious Mental Health Podcast: For mental health professionals who are always learning. The Conscious Mental Health Podcast is a series of diverse educational resources for mental health professionals sponsored by the Academy of Integrative Mental Health. The Academy expands knowledge to professionals in the mental health community and beyond, using a conscious, experiential, and evidence-based format. Our mission is to deliver comprehensive health and wellness to all, by empowering personal and professional growth and confidence. We believe continuing education is an essential aspect of mental health care that is ever-evolving and changing, just like the communities we serve. The CMH Podcast is part of our efforts to increase access to modern, experiential knowledge across all stages of a clinician’s career. We share engaging conversations with skilled therapists, multi-disciplinary experts, and advocates committed to thinking outside the box using an integrative approach. Our episodes are similar to our training style in that you receive research-informed content and guided practices, news updates, and other segments to support you in your personal and clinical practice. This podcast is intended to provide information as a resource and is not a substitute for mental health treatment, medical advice or professional training. And the statements and views shared by the guests are their own.

CW: a few f-bombs, discussion of trauma, mentions of SA and other abusive tactics

What happens when two neurodivergent therapists get deep into a conversation about therapy vs coaching?

It all started with a tweet, and suddenly, Laurel and Juniper found themselves down a rabbit hole, asking: Is there really a rift between therapists and coaches? If so, why?

In this first deep dive, we attempt to stay on track (but let’s be honest, side quests abound) as we untangle misinformation, break down how each profession is marketed, what kind of education is required, and the potential costs—and harms. Plus, there’s a bonus game, Who Said It? where Laurel guesses if the quote came from a therapist or a coach (play along), and a little exposé on debarred mental health professionals now moonlighting as coaches. And of course, we’ll share our best tips for anyone shopping for a therapist or a coach.

Are you a coach or therapist who wants to weigh in? We want to hear from you!
Are you a client of a coach, therapist, or maybe both? We want to hear from you, too!

Drop a comment, send us a voice message, or email. You are invited into this conversation, and we welcome as many side quests, rants, or hot takes as you want to dish.

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In this very first episode of After Billable Hours, Juniper and Laurel dive into a whole new format (because we like to keep things fresh, right?). Brace yourself for some laughs, cringey childhood memories, and more ADHD talk than you can spin a fidget at.

“Quote-unquote” alert: Juniper says it… a lot. Like, more than 5 times (they counted), while Laurel manages to keep it at a totally normal level. Be clear, we both say "quote-unquote", is that a therapist thing?

•Meme Picks of the Week: Yes, memes made it into the show. Because of course they did.

•ADHD & Meds: This week, we get real about starting ADHD medication later in life. Spoiler alert: it’s like realizing your brain has been on airplane mode for the past few decades.

•Cringe-worthy Childhood Stories: Let’s just say ADHD in childhood wasn’t always cute. Prepare for some stories that are equal parts cringe, a little sad, and oddly comforting... if you know, you know.

•Tips for the Curious: Are you thinking about ADHD meds? We share some tips and insights for anyone curious about the journey.

So grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let us entertain, educate, and maybe even relate with you for the next hour or so.

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel sits down with Cory Lockhart, a teacher, artist, writer, public speaker, and Nonviolent Communication facilitator. Cory shares about her experiences learning and living out the principles of Nonviolent Communication, the ways in which her intuitive, heart-led practices have shaped her own work and life, and the ways in which these practices can intersect in our relationships, both with clients and beyond.

Cory Lockhart is a teacher, artist, writer, public speaker, and founder of Hart Communication, LLC. She facilitates classes and workshops for teens and adults on living and communicating with compassion and speaks to groups about the experiences and ideas that have shaped her. She believes in the fundamental dignity of every person and the interconnectedness of all parts of Creation. Through working as a human rights defender with Community Peacemaker Teams, Cory made a commitment to the practice of nonviolence. She has completed three International Intensive Trainings in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) through the Center for Nonviolent Communication and continues to pursue ongoing training in this field. She is a trained, attuned, and certified Reiki Master in Usui and Holy Fire Reiki. Reiki training and practice awakened her to her intuitive gifts, which led to the development of Heart Portraits. Cory has a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Northwestern University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Bellarmine University and a Master of Arts in Spirituality from Bellarmine University and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Cory lives in Louisville, KY with her two cats, Patty Petunia and Ralphie, who make her laugh every day.

Learn more through her website: corylockhart.com

Want to experience a live workshop?

Join Cory in person on October 5th for Creating Conversations that Connnect: https://mountsaintfrancis.org/creating-conversations-that-connect

Use the coupon code CMH through October 6 for 15% off Cards for Remembering decks, Reading & Reiki sessions, or a Heart Portrait session:
Cards for Remembering and Reading & Reiki sessions: https://www.corylockhart.com/cards
Heart Portraits: https://www.corylockhart.com/intuitive-heart-art

Where to find Cory:Instagram: @coryllockhart
corylockhart.com

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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Laurel drops in to give an update on CMH’s summer break, and all of the awesome Academy of Integrative Mental Health resources you can check out until we’re back in the fall with Season 3! Make sure to give us a like, subscribe, and review while you’re here, so we can keep bringing you awesome, topical, and compassionate resources all year round.

Check out the Academy: https://academyimh.com/

Our online learning library: https://learn.academyimh.com/

We have a YouTube channel! https://youtube.com/@academyintegrativementalhealth?si=pxLt_3N2B2kRsXgl

Or find us on Instagram @academy.imh and @cmh.podcast 🎙️

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In this episode of the Common Client Conundrum series on The Conscious Mental Health Podcast, host Juniper, the director of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health, delves into the complex world of ambivalence.

Key topics include:

Neurobiology of Mixed Emotions: Understanding what happens in the brain and body when experiencing fluctuating emotions.
Nature of Ambivalence: Exploring the factors that contribute to ambivalence and how to recognize it.
Techniques and Strategies:
- For Clinicians and Clients: Effective methods to work with ambivalence.
- Modalities:
  - Motivational Interviewing
  - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  - Ego States Work
Fundamental Skills Revisited:
- Empathetic Listening
- Reflections
- Mindfulness of the Righting Reflex

Join us as we revisit these essential yet often undervalued tools, providing insights and practical tips for navigating the intricate terrain of ambivalence in clinical practice.

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel chats with Gabriel Villarreal, a licensed professional counselor, the owner of LostBoys Strength and Conditioning and ADHD Counseling, and one of our Academy collective members! This is a part 1 of a two-episode series with Gabriel, and in this first part they tackling the topic of ADHD - what’s helpful, what’s not, what’s current in the research, how social media has influenced our and our clients’ perceptions of ADHD, and more!

Gabriel Villarreal is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. He owns LostBoys Strength & Conditioning, and ADHD Counseling in the Roanoke Valley, the only facility that houses a mental health practice and strength gym in the country. LostBoys S&C offers coaching to children with special needs (e.g., ADHD, ASD, Depression, Anxiety, etc.). Additionally, with his private practice, Gabriel coaches multiple classes specifically for ADHDers of all ages, which has been artfully designed to give clients the medicine exercise offers. Gabriel is an expert in the topic of exercise and mental health. He is a sought after public speaker for gyms, coaches, athletes, and educators, in the Roanoke Valley and beyond.

Where to find Gabriel:
Instagram: @gabrielv_lpc, @lostboyssnc, and @academy.imh
https://roanokeadhd.com
https://lostboyssnc.com

Resources mentioned:
Dr. Ned Hallowell (Delivered from Distraction, Driven to Distraction, ADHD 2.0): https://drhallowell.com/read/books-by-ned/

Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale: https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/WFIRS-S.pdf

Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale: https://psychology-tools.com/test/vadrs-vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-rating-scale

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh
Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com
Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel talks with Molly Fitzgerald King, a licensed art therapist and licensed professional counselor. They talk not only about Molly’s clinical work, but about the advocacy work she is doing on many different levels, about our understanding of advocacy as professionals, and even our understanding of the narratives that play out for us as professionals in our own lives.

Molly specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and treats individuals with addiction, trauma disorders, depression, and anxiety. Her primary focus is Autism Spectrum Disorder. Molly uses shame resilience methods and mindful self compassion, and loves to incorporate art, dance, yoga, and music into her work. She strives to make mindfulness skills more accessible for people who struggle with sitting still, and to help people find environments where they can thrive. This includes work, school, home, nutrition, movement, creative outlets, relationships, and hobbies. She believes most symptoms bubble up when our environment can’t meet our needs but we still feel stuck there. She focuses on many body based techniques designed to reduce activation.

Molly is the writer of the upcoming play “Asking Toddlers to Do Algebra,” which will debut in the city of Louisville, KY from July 25th-27th, 2024. She is also the originator of Braxton’s Bill, a bill currently in process in the Kentucky State Legislature, focused on mandating long-term substance use inpatient treatment coverage.

Where to find Molly:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/molly-fitzgerald-king-louisville-ky/767152

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh
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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

Welcome to "Common Client Conundrums," a segment where we delve into the everyday issues that are discussed in therapy and share insights and evidence-based interventions. In this episode, host Juniper Owens, LCSW and Director of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health explores the intricate dynamics of shame in part two of our guilt and shame series.

From its cultural influences to its personal manifestations, Juniper uncovers the layers of shame, shedding light on its impact on individuals and communities alike. Join us as we navigate the terrain of shame, discussing its connections to trauma, societal expectations, and personal resilience.

Tune in for insightful discussions, real-life examples, and evidence-based strategies for addressing shame in therapeutic contexts. Together, let's unravel the mysteries of shame and cultivate a deeper understanding of this complex emotion.

In this episode:

Introduction to Shame: Exploring the nature of shame as a complex and powerful emotion involving feelings of embarrassment, humiliation, and distress.
Cultural Influences: Examining how shame is shaped by societal norms and expectations and its role as a tool for social control.
Collective Shame: Discuss how historical events, injustices, and stereotypes contribute to collective shame within cultures or communities.
Example: Highlighting racial and gender disparities in healthcare and their connection to historical trauma and systemic discrimination.
Trauma and Shame: Exploring the link between shame and trauma, and how experiences of shame can exacerbate mental health issues.
Symptoms of Shame: Identifying emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physical, and interpersonal symptoms of shame.
Shame Resilience Mechanisms: Discussing defense mechanisms and coping strategies individuals may use to protect themselves from shame.
Therapeutic Approaches: Exploring evidence-based interventions for addressing shame, including self-compassion, psychodrama, and mindfulness.
Brene Brown's Shame Resilience Theory: Understanding the four aspects of shame resilience and how they contribute to healing and personal growth.
Societal Views on Pleasure: Reflecting on cultural attitudes toward pleasure and how they contribute to feelings of shame and guilt.

Find references on our blog post!

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In this episode, Laurel Sims-Stewart, Lead Content Developer at The Academy of Integrative Mental Health, speaks with Laura Hensley, a licensed professional clinical counselor and expert in treating non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

She and Laurel discuss 🎙️

🗣️ The importance of understanding the nuances in treating NSSI and addressing our own fear as clinicians in doing this work.

🗣️ She also gives practical tips and tools for walking alongside these clients and offering the most effective support.

Laura Hensley has been a Licensed Clinical Counselor since 2007 and specializes in the treatment of trauma and anxiety with EMDR, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing as her primary theoretical approaches. Laura has done extensive work with clients struggling with suicidal ideation and those struggling with non-suicidal self-injury and has seen great success in treatment through collaboration with these clients.

Laura is also the creator of Navigating a Stressful World: CBT for Anxiety, an online video-based CBT program for individuals struggling with anxiety. The program is ideal for individuals wanting to learn methods for reducing anxious symptoms at home on their own schedule, or as an adjunct to therapy to provide psychoeducation and reinforcement of CBT skills. *Laura is offering our listeners an exclusive discount of 50% for the next 30 days with promo code CMHP

Where to find Laura:

AnxietyHelp4You.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-a-stressful-world
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@navigatingastressfulworld?si=aP42tackQDESvl_Q
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavigatingAStressfulWorld
Instagram: @navigating_a_stressful_world

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh
Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com
Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

Support the show

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
Send us a comment here.
Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

Join Juniper Owens, LCSW, director of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health, as they delve into the latest trends and topics in mental health on the Conscious Mental Health Podcast. From discussing the viral Elmo Tweet and the concept of trauma dumping to exploring the pervasive issue of loneliness, each episode offers insightful discussions and expert insights into the complexities of the human psyche. Tune in to stay informed, educated, and inspired in your personal and professional development.

What to expect in this episode:

Elmo's Viral Tweet:
Explore the ripple effect of Elmo's simple yet powerful tweet that sparked an outpouring of emotions on social media. Learn about the heartwarming connections made and the discussions it ignited about the importance of checking in on loved ones and sharing emotional experiences on social media.
Trauma Dumping:
Delve into the concept of trauma dumping, motivated by the overwhelming responses to Elmo's tweet. Understand the thin line between genuine expression and overwhelming others with traumatic experiences, and explore the ethical considerations of sharing on social media platforms.
Loneliness Epidemic:
Uncover the pervasive issue of loneliness highlighted by the surgeon general's special report. Gain insights into the societal and environmental factors contributing to the loneliness epidemic and is profound impact on mental health.
Trivia Game:
Wrap up the episode with a fun and engaging trivia game called Fact or Fiction, where listeners can test their knowledge of mental health facts and myths, from debunking brain-related misconceptions to exploring social phenomena. This trivia game adds a lighthearted touch to the heavy nature of our work and lives.

References:

Boyd, R. (2019, February 8). Do people only use 10 percent of their brains? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-people-only-use-10-percent-of-their-brains/

Clinic, C. (2023, December 14). When venting turns toxic: What is trauma dumping? Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-trauma-dumping

Guo, C., Gilmour, S., Song, P., & Fang, A. (2023). Editorial: Positive or negative? The effect of emerging technologies and products on mental health. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1282385

Healthy Minds Monthly poll: Personal finances were still a major source of anxiety for Americans Le. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/healthy-minds-monthly-poll-personal-finances-were

Marie, S. (2021, November 17). Understanding the bystander effect. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/bystander-effect

Matthews, D. (2019). Capitalism and mental health. Monthly Review, 49–62. https://doi.org/10.14452/mr-070-08-2019-01_5

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). (2023, May 3). New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-stat

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel talks with Kelly Tuttle, a neurology Nurse Practitioner and traumatic brain injury survivor. Kelly shares her story of healing after her TBI which resulted in a career shift to helping others walking similar paths. She discusses her book, “After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury,” and offers tips and advice to mental health professionals for working with clients who have experienced a TBI.

Kelly is a member of the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, the California Association of Nurses/National Nurse United, and the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. She earned her master of science in nursing from Gonzaga University and her bachelor of science in nursing from California State University, Fresno. She currently works in clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in California.

Where to find Kelly:
https://kellytuttle.org
Instagram: @brain_np_
TikTok: @brainlovingnp

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh
Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com
Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

Support the show

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
Send us a comment here.
Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

Welcome to Stay Cure-ious! Join Juniper Owens, licensed clinical social worker and mental health educator, as we dive deep into the world of self-help and wellness. In this episode, we're unraveling the Law of Attraction (LOA), a belief system with wide-reaching influence.

🔍 What to Expect:

Intro
What is the Secret?
Discover the origins of LOA in the 19th-century New Thought movement
Explore 'The Secret' and its impact on popularizing LOA, along with its influencers
Esther and Jerry Hicks (and don't forget Abraham)
Demystify the science claims behind LOA in an engaging and accessible way
Interview with a Metaphysical Shop employee, Matt
Compare LOA teachings with evidence-based approaches like positive psychology and CBT
Critically assess the potential harms of LOA, including victim-blaming and fostering unrealistic expectations
Conclusion

Whether you're a deep diver into self-help or just curious about the Law of Attraction, this episode offers valuable insights into its pros, cons, and ethical considerations, especially if you are a mental health professional.

Link to Article from British Columbia University on Cultural Appropriation vs Appreciation

We didn't have enough space to list all the references. You can find them on our YouTube video description or on the transcript for this episode on our website.

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel sits down with Masha Shapiro, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and perinatal mental health professional, to talk about anti- and postpartum mental health care, including how to best support perinatal clients in all stages - before, during, and after pregnancy.

Masha graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2013, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a triple-certified trauma professional, and is a certified individual trauma specialist, a complex trauma specialist, and is fully certified in EMDR. Masha also specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, perinatal mood disorders, narcissistic abuse recovery, self-esteem and relationship issues.

Where to find Masha:

https://werisenyc.com
Instagram: @we_rise_nyc

Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net

When The Bough Breaks documentary: https://youtu.be/vo5X9Lui09s?si=R0yRZ54m6Q-qmn0D

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

Support the show

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
Send us a comment here.
Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode of Common Client Connudrums, join your host, Juniper Owens, director of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health, in a lively two-part discussion about guilt and shame. In Part One, the focus is on understanding shame. The episode delves into the definitions and distinctions between shame and guilt, highlighting their characteristics and origins. Juniper emphasizes the importance of cultural, religious, and psychological perspectives in comprehending the roots of these emotions. She also discusses the social roles of shame and guilt, emphasizing their impact on human interactions.

The episode offers practical strategies to help individuals deal with these emotions, including:

The concept of self-forgiveness can contribute to improved mental health.
Understanding the difference between proportionate and disproportionate guilt
Cultivating self-compassion is essential to addressing guilt
Recognizing the interconnected nature of human experiences and using restorative justice principles to make amends and seek healing.

References:

20 science-based recommendations for therapy with highly self-critical or shame-prone clients. (n.d.). ACT With Compassion. https://www.actwithcompassion.com/20_science_based_recommendations_for_therapy_with_highly_self_critical_or_shame_prone_clients

Budiarto, Y., & Helmi, A. F. (2021). Shame and self-esteem: A meta-analysis. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 17(2), 131–145. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.2115

Cavalera, C., Andreani, P., Baumgartner, O., & Oasi, O. (2022). Do immature defense mechanisms mediate the relationship between shame, guilt, and psychopathological symptoms? Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.832237

Clark, A. (2012). Working with guilt and shame. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 18(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.110.008326

Costa, R. M., & Brody, S. (2013). Immature psychological defense mechanisms are associated with greater personal importance of junk food, alcohol, and television. Psychiatry Research, 209(3), 535–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.06.035

Forgiveness Definition | What is forgiveness. (n.d.). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition

Hall, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (2005). Self–Forgiveness: The Stepchild of Forgiveness Research. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(5), 621–637. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2005.24.5.621

Kämmerer, A. (2019, October 9). The scientific underpinnings and impacts of shame. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-scientific-underpinnings-and-impacts-of-shame/

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

In this episode, Laurel speaks with Karen Helfrich, LCSW-C about healing our relationships with money! Karen walks Laurel through the process of understanding financial wellness through narrative, trauma-informed, and systemic lenses - and addresses how we get to the roots of growing our financial health in sustainable ways, especially for women+.

Karen helps women reclaim themselves from self-abandonment and find peace in alignment with self, clear interpersonal boundaries, and effective communication. Trained in somatic psychotherapies, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Embodied Recovery, and the Safe and Sound Protocol, she sees our human experience through a lens that starts in the body and weaves its way throughout our emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and habits.

Where to find Karen:

https://www.avalonhealers.com
Sign up for Karen’s FREE course: https://www.avalonhealers.com/freeclassregistration/
Instagram: @avalon_healers

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

Take a course: learn.academyimh.com

Support the show

Please share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
Send us a comment here.
Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

CW:://Mentioning words like suicide, sexual abuse, etc.

Welcome to a Shallow End episode, where we cover various mental health topics in short form, bite-sized format, all while retaining professional and educational rigor.

Have you heard of algospeak? Well, we hadn't either. Once we started looking into this, we ended up in a vortex of algorithms and mind control (ok, that's a little dramatic, but...). This discussion warrants attention, research, and awareness among mental health professionals and beyond due to the implications of how language shapes our awareness, understanding, and conceptions of serious concepts that are addressed in therapy.

Algo = algorithm

Social media users are commonly using algospeak, which is a code word used to avoid AI content moderation tools that flag user content for violating social media app rules or that might be sensitive or harmful.

Common Algospeak Words:

Panini/panorama/pnoramic = pandemic
Unalive = suicide/kill/murder
Seggs/shmex - sex
Corn or the emoji for corn = porn/adult industry
Cornucopia = homophobia
Leg Booty - member of LGBTQ community
Le dollar bean = lesbian
Accountant = sex worker
S.A. =- sexual assault or sexual abuse
Camping or going camping= abortion
Ninja or the emoji = derogatory terms and hate speech towards the Black community
Spicy eggplant = vibrator
Swimmers = vaccinated people
Yt = white people
Saltines = white people
Opposite of love = hate

Sources:

Huyghe, S. (2022, April 27). Algospeak: a new language to circumvent AI-powered content moderation. MultiLingual Media LLC. https://multilingual.com/algospeak-a-new-language-to-circumvent-ai-powered-content-moderation/
Pejcha, C. S. (2023, August 18). TikTok’s “mind-reading” algorithm is about to change. Document Journal. https://www.documentjournal.com/2023/08/tiktok-personalized-algorithm-opt-out-cognitive-liberty-dsa-neurotechnology/
Schultz, S. (2021, October 5). Machine learning reveals role of culture in shaping meanings of words. Princeton Engineering. https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/2020/08/14/machine-learning-reveals-role-culture-shaping-meanings-words
Steen, E., Yurechko, K., & Klug, D. (2023). You can (Not) say what you want: using Algospeak to contest and evade algorithmic content moderation on TikTok. Social Media and Society, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231194586
Us, W. B. C. (2023, August 25). Social Media Algorithms Warp How People Learn from Each Other. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-media-algorithms-warp-how-people-learn-from-each-other/
When algorithms become culture. (n.d.). Data & Society. https://datasociety.net/library/when-algorithms-become-culture/

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In today’s holiday mental health news special:

The holiday blues and tips for navigating the season
Psychology of gift-giving
Paradox mindset and winter solstice
Supportive resource for yourself and others this holiday season

Podcast listeners will receive 15% off our upcoming live training, Liberating Joy From Loss Through Prescriptive Memory Making and Dyadic Creativity with Dreamscape Developer Nancy Gersham (code revealed at the end of the podcast).

When working with a client’s memory, how do we locate the fleeting, joyful bits so often overshadowed by loss that no new insights can emerge? This playful approach begins with curating novelty from positive felt-sense memories- then co-creating an even more novel "prescriptive" memory from these lived experiences to become where healing can happen.

In this master class, Nancy Gershman will introduce a cinematic technique for arriving at the memory our client needs to move from isolation to re-integration in the world. Case studies will demonstrate how prescriptive memories are compounded in a client’s imagination, with magic realism launching memory reconsolidation capable of updating long-term distressing memories. Live demos will give you an excellent sense of how to listen or prompt for incongruity so you can lead your client to new sources of courage and humor based on personally developed imaginal or photo-based artwork.

Implications for using this method in-person or via telehealth, with adult populations (grief and non-death related loss) and in clinical settings (hospice) will be addressed. This training requires no artistic background and applies to all licensed mental health providers.

Music Credits
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/john-hayes/no-home
License code: AUSKJNHP3I5LFRAZ

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/winter-morning
License code: YCGDQOP7O1SDTYSC

https://uppbeat.io/t/roger-gabalda/winters-tale
License code: BJNUFGEXVAZIHKSC

https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/elf-culture
License code: Q1OZM4OIW9U0P4PN

Clip Credits

Malacomca @FTANDME
GLOW Up with Rashá @LifewithRasha
PBS Newshour @PBSNewsHour
Our changing Climate @OurChangingClimate
Roundtable @RoundtableTRTWorld
BrainCraft @braincraft
TED - ED @TEDEd
Video by Pressmaster: https://www.pexels.com/video/an-elderly-woman-giving-a-gift-to-her-husband-3192051/
Video by Tobias Wagner: https://www.pexels.com/video/the-sun-illuminating-earth-s-surface-4156415/

Links

https://www.findhelp.org (find local assistance resources near you)

Sources

Gilovich, T., & Kumar, A. (2015). We’ll always have Paris. In Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (pp. 147–187). https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aesp.2014.10.002
Ledwith, M. (2023, August 29). The Psychology Of Giving Gifts. Tweak and Twine. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.teakandtwine.com/blog/the-psychology-of-gift-giving
Looking for support during the holidays? Check out these free resources. (n.d.). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/blog/looking-support-during-holidays-ch

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In this episode, Laurel chats with Larisa Garski, LMFT and Justine Mastin, LMFT, LADC about their newest book “The Grieving Therapist: Caring for Your Clients and Yourself When It Feels Like the End of the World.” Larisa and Justine take Laurel on a journey through the Realms of Grief as a therapist, walking through their writing process, personal stories, and offering tools and wisdom for caring for yourself as a clinician.

Larisa Garski, LMFT is the chief of clinical staff for Empowered Therapy in Chicago IL. Larisa is the co-author of The Grieving Therapist: Caring for Yourself and Your Clients When it Feels Like the End of the World, and Starship Therapise: Using Therapeutic Fanfiction to Rewrite Your Life. Larisa has also contributed to numerous other books on pop culture and psychology, co-hosts the Starship Therapise podcast, and is an AAMFT-approved supervisor.

Justine Mastin, LMFT, LADC is a psychotherapist, author, and so much more. Justine runs Blue Box Counseling, a private practice in Minneapolis, MN and is an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor. She literally wrote the book on Therapeutic Fanfiction—Starship Therapise: Using Therapeutic Fanfiction to Rewrite Your Life—and she offered support to healers in The Grieving Therapist: Caring for Yourself and Your Clients When it Feels Like the End of the World. Justine also co-hosts both the Starship Therapise and Dark Side of the Mat podcasts and has presented a TEDx talk. Justine is proud to educate future therapists at the University of Massachusetts Global.

Buy “The Grieving Therapist” for 25% off and FREE shipping through North Atlantic Books using the code GRIEVING: https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/the-grieving-therapist/

Where to find Justine and Larisa:
Instagram @grieving_therapist, @mindbodyfandom (Justine), @starship_therapise

justinemastin.com
starshiptherapise.com
Podcast: starshiptherapise.com/podcast

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com
Take a course: https://learn.academyimh.com

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Welcome to the 'Stay Cure-ious' series, where we embark on an investigative journey through the complex modern mental health landscape. Join us as we delve deep into individuals, products, companies, and theories within the mental health arena, all of which boldly proclaim to be the ultimate "cure-all" or a one-size-fits-all intervention.

In each episode, we scrutinize the evidence, separate fact from fiction, and explore the potential impact of these claims on mental well-being. Tune in for insightful conversations, expert perspectives, and evidence-based insights to help you make informed decisions about your mental health practice or personal journey. This series encourages a balanced and skeptical approach to media consumption, news and evidence regarding mental health treatment.

In this episode of Stay Cure-ious, we delve deep into the world of Dr. Daniel Amen and the Amen Clinics, exploring their claims about brain health, mental illness and the various products and services they offer. We critically examine Dr. Amen's use of brain scans (SPECT scans) for diagnosing mental health issues, his language and methodology, and his emphasis on lifestyle interventions. The podcast also highlights the importance of a nuanced, integrative, evidence-based mental health and wellness approach. It raises questions about the validity of Dr. Amen's claims and the potential ethical considerations in his practices.

Key Points:

Dr. Daniel Amen and the Amen Clinics are known for their claims about brain health and their use of SPECT scans for diagnosing mental health issues.
The podcast explores Dr. Amen's language and methodology, which often polarizes issues and emphasizes "right" and "wrong" concerning human brains and behavior.
Dr. Amen's background in evangelical Christianity and its influence on his work and practices are discussed.
The podcast highlights the controversy surrounding SPECT scans and their validity in diagnosing mental health conditions.
The role of placebo effects and the need for a critical perspective when evaluating claims about mental health interventions are emphasized.
Dr. Amen's approach to nutrition, exercise, and supplements as potential solutions to mental health issues is discussed.
The podcast encourages a balanced and skeptical approach to media consumption and news.
The complexity of mental health and the importance of considering multiple factors in addressing mental well-being are underscored.
The podcast does not provide definitive answers but encourages listeners to approach the subject with an open and critical mindset, recognizing the complexities of mental health and wellness.

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In this special bonus episode, Laurel and Vanessa Blades, therapist and integrative mental health professional, chat all things holiday-prep and focus on Common Client Conundrums that arise during the holiday season!

Setting your pace and intentions
Whose needs are you prioritizing?
Yellow Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree - how to survive tough conversation traps
Money mindfulness
Forced family or Found family?
Special traditions
Non-holiday holiday movie recommendations
And more!

Resources from the show:

✨Check out our FREE companion resource for this episode in the Academy of Integrative Mental Health’s online learning library!✨https://learn.academyimh.com/course/holidayplanning

Article on Yellow Rock:
https://www.onemomsbattle.com/blog/implementing-yellow-rock-communication-when-co-parenting-with-a-narcissist

Bonus resources:

You Can Disagree, Respectfully (Article)
https://open.substack.com/pub/nedratawwab/p/you-can-disagree-respectfully?r=1t63jj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Modified Gray Rock Communication (Video)
https://youtu.be/C5hytskUE_A?si=P2eKdjp7YQ1_jXl4

Grey Rock vs Yellow Rock (Video)
https://youtu.be/SL_4LE1FoJw?si=X2bp4eDiCnAONGPm

Holiday Anxiety (Video Playlist)
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0f8EWxuyFagwACrUMdalfy7MthaFoAGm&si=yGUeHovTXwnbuJ0R

Where to find Vanessa:
http://www.bridgemindbody.com
Instagram: @bridge_mindbody

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com
Take a course: https://learn.academyimh.com

Support the show

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In this episode, Laurel sits down with Dr. Angel Jackson to discuss her books The Power of Change and The Gratitude Awakening Practice. Dr. Jackson is an entrepreneur, author, podcaster, consultant, licensed and ordained minister who provides opportunities for others to look inward to discover their greatness through her transformational writing and speaking. She is the owner of One Holistic Living and the author of The Power of Change: Understanding Your Resilience in the Midst of Growth and The Gratitude Awakening Practice: A Daily Practice To Discovering Your Greatness.

Dr. Jackson takes a grassroots approach by providing a transformational experience to those who are ready to discover their greatness and elevate in the gifts that God has given them. Angel believes it is a gift to serve others in her community. She is the co-founder of The Healing Tent podcast where she provides insightful and impactful conversations to elevate the community. Angel believes when individuals begin to look at themselves from a holistic perspective, they will begin to discover their greatness and give greatness to themselves, family and community.

Where to find Dr. Jackson (mention the CMH Podcast for a 10% discount on her books and consulting services!):

https://oneholisticliving.com
Instagram: @iamdrjackson

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

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*Content warning - mentions of suicide, weight loss, and violence

In this episode of Mental Health News Updates:

In the Headlines - Examining the Link Between Ozempic and Mental Health: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know

Research Review - Understanding Incels' Dating App Experiences: A Journey into Mental Health and Relationship Well-Being (link to research article)

Advocacy Alert - Bipartisan Legislation Addresses Mental Health in the Face of Climate Change: The Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

Did you Know? - Blinking: More Than Meets the Eye – How It Offers Your Brain a Mini Vacation

Support the show

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In this episode, Laurel sits down with Masha Shapiro, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and trauma professional, to talk about the use of co-regulation in trauma work, her research on the prodromal phase in the development of PTSD, and more!

Masha graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2013, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a triple-certified trauma professional, and is a certified individual trauma specialist, a complex trauma specialist, and is fully certified in EMDR. Masha also specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, perinatal mood disorders, narcissistic abuse recovery, self-esteem and relationship issues.

Where to find Masha:

https://werisenyc.com
Instagram: @we_rise_nyc

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

Support the show

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In this episode, Juniper chats with Dr. Rubin Naiman, psychologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Naiman, a sleep and dreams specialist, shares wisdom about the importance of sleep and dreaming, how to shift our perspective on sleep and dreams, and the cultural, psychological, and spiritual implications of the value we place on sleep.

Dr. Naiman is the director of NewMoon Sleep, LLC, an organization that offers a range of sleep services and trainings internationally. He has worked with a diverse clientele ranging from Fortune 500 CEOs to world class athletes, from homemakers to statesmen and entertainers. Dr. Naiman has helped develop sleep products ranging from mattresses to melatonin and provided consultation to organizations ranging from yoga ashrams to world renowned rock bands.

He is the author of groundbreaking works on sleep, including Healing Night, Healthy Sleep (with Dr. Weil), The Yoga of Sleep, To Sleep ToNight, and Hush, as well as professional book chapters. He also blogs for The Huffington Post.

Where to find Dr. Naiman:

https://drnaiman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulsleepanddreams/
Twitter: @drnaiman
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@RubinNaiman

Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/academyimh

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

Laurel drops in to welcome everyone back for the new fall season of CMH, and updates on new training offerings from the Academy!

If you’re interested in being a guest on a future episode of the CMH Podcast, or you have an idea for a topic or guest you’d love to hear about from us, you can reach out to us at www.academyimh.com/cmh-podcast, or send us a DM on instagram at @cmh.podcast!

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Laurel drops in to give an update about the CMH Podcast being on bereavement leave for the summer. We’ll be back to our regular release schedule in the fall!

If you’re interested in being a guest on a future episode of the CMH Podcast, or you have an idea for a topic or guest you’d love to hear about from us, you can reach out to us at www.academyimh.com/cmh-podcast, or send us a DM on instagram at @cmh.podcast!

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Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

CW::// Substance Related Death

For this month's episode: the topic of the month, I spoke with Robin Monson-Dupuis about grieving as a mental health professional. We discussed the unique experience of grief as a therapist, returning to work after loss, tending to our grief, considering what and how to discuss our grief with clients, and how differently people grieve and respond to devastating life events.

Robin has been a psychotherapist and substance abuse counselor for over 30 years. She has been a leader in her workplace, church, and community. She continues to travel on a healing journey, often not knowing where that will take her, but trying to trust the process. Her book is Spirit Son.

You can find her book, blog and other ways to connect with Robin on her website..

Website: rmmwellness.com - RMM Wellness Therapies

The link to Fun Run/Walk in honor of her son to raise funds for Addiction Treatment and Sober Living scholarships: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Greenfield/EthansRunAgainstAddiction

The link to the website about our foundation: ethansfund.org

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CW:// Suicide and Climate Related Disasters

In this mental health news update, we cover the 21 states with proposed or passed laws restricting gender-affirming care, public art engagement, and its mental health benefits, research reviews on the impacts of natural disasters and disaster fatigue, and we close with a very interesting did you know segment about the secret powers of people who nap.

Advocacy Alert - Support Relief for Turkey/Syria

UNICEF is on the ground in Turkey and Syria helping children and families in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes.
The Turkish Red Crescent is accepting donations and providing nutritional services and blood supplies for those affected or wounded by the earthquakes.
Humanity & Inclusion plans to expand its team in Syria to help provide mental health and rehabilitation services and will be deploying some rehab specialists to Turkey aid emergency care victims.
Mercy Corps is working to aid those affected in northwest Syria, a place of limited infrastructure where 1.8 million people are living in camps after being displaced by years of armed conflict.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are working with health authorities to provide medical aid. To donate, click here.
The Syrian American Medical Society provides urgent medical care. You can donate here or by texting EarthquakeSyria to 71777.
Social justice organization CARE International is working to assess the most urgent needs in the area. . Donate here.
The Syrian Emergency Task Force is responding to the emergency by providing water, tents, food, blankets, medicine, and other supplies necessary. Donations are being accepted by SETF
International Medical Corps is also accepting donations to make medical care and supplies available as part of t

Support the showPlease share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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Learn about interpersonal neurobiology and relational neuroscience with Robyn Gobbel, who hosts the Parenting After Trauma Podcast, Creator of Being With, an Immersion course for parenting professionals, and The Club, a virtual community for parents of kids with big baffling behaviors. Robyn is also the author of Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors; Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work, to be released later in 2023.

In this conversation, we talk about Interpersonal Neurobiology and Relational Neuroscience, how behavior is an externalization of inner experience, curiosity rather than judgment, connection as a biological imperative, relational neuroscientist and substance use disorder, resonance circuitry as an agent of change, co-regulation with nature and so much more!

Connect with Robyn:

Website: https://robyngobbel.com

Podcast: https://robyngobbel.com/podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobynGobbelMSW

IG: https://www.instagram.com/robyn.gobbel/

Free eBook on attachment: https://robyngobbel.com/ebook

Free masterclass and eBook on a nervous system approach to changing behaviors: https://robyngobbel.com/masterclass

Upcoming trainings: https://robyngobbel.com/trainings

Support the showPlease share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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We spoke with Meg Sasse Stern (she/her), the Outreach and Operations Coordinator at Just The Pill, a non-profit telehealth abortion provider offering virtual and mobile clinic visits in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming. Just The Pill sees patients from over 30 states, and last year their mobile clinics provided no-cost abortions to over 150 traveling Texans.

Meg has been on the front lines of abortion access in KY for 20+ years. She co-founded one of the first Practical Support Abortion Funds and has expertise in creating safer pathways to abortion access. Meg is a network weaver with experience in cross-movement collaboration. Meg enjoys travel, rest, and quality time with good people when she is not engaged in direct action as community care.

In this conversation, we discuss pregnancy care options, especially in states where abortion is now illegal (including the state where we live, Kentucky), legal issues, and how to best support a pregnant person as a mental health professional. Meg shares a fantastic resource that she created, with vetted resources for anything a person seeking an abortion would need, including information about medical abortion, organizations that offer financial support, and ways you can advocate if you want to support abortion access for all residents of this country.

Here is the link tree for Abortion Care resources shared in this conversation.

Just The Pill

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This podcast episode is a conversation with Heather Ross, host of the popular Living With Your Child's Addiction podcast, trained in CRAFT, and certified ITC parent coach.

We discuss how CRAFT (community reinforcement and family training) and Invitation to Change models support your loved one (and yourself) struggling with substance use disorder. The CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) program is a non-confrontational, evidence-based intervention for helping families affected by addiction. It helps individuals develop effective strategies for helping a loved one struggling with substance use disorder seek treatment and cope.

The invitation to Change program is based on an approach by the Center for Motivation and Change that combines the evidence-based protocol of Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) with Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Invitation to Change provides perspectives and skills to help you encourage your loved one toward recovery while increasing your own well-being.

About Heather:

Heather Ross is a mother willing to do whatever it took to have a healthy relationship with her daughter, who struggled with Substance Use Disorder. She is a family recovery coach who is CRAFT trained and Invitation to Change Certified.
Supporting her daughter taught her to focus on their similarities instead of their differences, be present as a mother, and love her daughter unconditionally for the 21 short years she had on this earth. After her daughter lost her life to a fentanyl overdose, Heather became even more dedicated to helping families heal. Her clients call her an expert at helping them create peace of mind, space for change, and loving connection in their families.

In addition to being a parent support coach, Heather has over 20 years of experience in the recovery community and hosts the Living With Your Child’s Addiction Podcast.
When Heather is not helping other parents, she enjoys spending time in nature with her dogs, going to sound baths on the beach, traveling, and having experiences with friends and family that create beautiful memories.

Links for this episode:

Free Invitation to Change Support group (it’s in progress but you can join at any time)

You can learn more about Heather's services here.
Find Heather on Instagram and Facebook.
Check out the Living with Your Child's Addiction podcast.
Learn more about Invitation to Change.
Read Beyond Addiction: How science and kindness help people change.

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CW// suicide and homicide

In this episode we discuss the cases that provide legal precedents for the laws and standards we practice under today and then discuss how to balance liability, safety and practicing therapy in the way you were trained and makes sense to you.

Reminder, please review and stay up-to-date on your state's laws, your licensure board's policies, your agency policies as well as your professional ethical standards. This refresher is general and discussed federal law and general standards of care for mental health professionals.

Helpful Links:

State Duty to Warn/Protect Laws
CAMFT - Working with Clients Facing Suicide

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In this mental health news update, our research review breaks down a study that looked at the distorted time perception and memory lapses after the covid 19 pandemic. In the headlines, we discussed the life and death of Stephen Twitch Boss in the public eye. Our advocacy alert shares updated information and resource about abortion access, and in the did you know segment, we learn about a disturbing sleep event called the exploding head syndrome.

Resources mentioned in the show:

Research Review
How long was it for you? Memories of the duration of the UK covid-19 lockdown

In The Headlines -
Please Don't Blame it on High-Functioning Depression.

Advocacy Alert:
reprolegalhelpline
How to get an abortion pill online
Planned Parenthood - abortion pill
The Brigid Alliance

Support the showPlease share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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In this episode, Juniper talks with Nancy Gershman, a psychotherapist, memory artist, and creator of Dreamscaping, to discuss the development and many uses of this innovative modality. Their conversation covers:

Nancy’s professional journey and how she came to the creation and use of Dreamscaping as a therapeutic tool.
Discussion about the ways in which the brain stores and holds memory, including the importance of incorporating “felt sense” memory when working toward healing.
Ways in which Dreamscaping can be used to address grief, trauma, and many other issues that clients bring into the therapy space.
And more!

Nancy Gershman, LMSW, is a psychotherapist and the developer of Dreamscaping, an imaginal and photo-based approach to treating grief and loss, supported by the way memories get encoded in the brain. More playful than painful, Dreamscaping uses resourcing, focusing on felt sense memory, re-scripting and mental simulations to shift the focus from “what do you miss?” to “what gives you joy?” After a decade of dreamscaping with the bereaved as a memory artist, Nancy was featured for her work with end of life families at VNSNY/Haven Hospice as NY1’s “New Yorker of the Week” (2016). In 2020, Routledge published Prescriptive Memories in Grief and Loss: The Art of Dreamscaping, co-authored with Barbara E. Thompson. Additional publications include case studies in Robert A. Neimeyer’s Techniques of Grief Therapy (Routledge, 2012, 2016) and Annals of American Psychotherapy (2010) with Jenna Baddeley, PhD. In addition to presenting her work internationally and working in a supervisory capacity, Nancy has been the host of Death Café New York City since 2013. Today, applications for dreamscaping range from liberating joy in those married to Ed (eating disorders), to re-gendering individuals in the trans community, to updating distressing memories in those who believe they can never return to a beloved person, place or thing.

Where to find Nancy:

www.artforyoursake.com

Instagram: @artforyoursake

Facebook: facebook.com/artforyoursake

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com or on Instagram @academy.imh

Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

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Juniper here, director of the Academy of Integrative Mental Health. In this short episode, I wanted to share my experience of how the holiday season is showing up for me and possible ways you can make space for others who are having a tough time. Words are powerful, and language matters.

Support the showPlease share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

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Research Review

A new study reports that major political events affect the public's collective wellbeing, sleep and mood.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721822001498?via=ihub

Advocacy Alert

Content warning//This story discusses suicide.
Healthcare workers deserve stigma-free, accessible mental health services.

ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare

In the Headlines

New York City Will Hospitalize More People With Mental Illness Involuntarily

Housing First

Did You Know??

Learn about a rare syndrome (no spoiler alerts here)

Resource of the Month

We asked the clinical team at Bridge Counseling and Wellness in Louisville, KY, for nominations of their most frequently shared free resources for clients. The winners of their most recommended resources were two podcasts- Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, and Terrible, Thanks for Asking with Nora McInerny. Give those a listen and see what you think and if they would be a good fit for your clients.

Please leave us a review if you find this information helpful for your personal and professional growth and confidence. (bonus, send us a picture of the review and receive a discount on select courses).

Support the showPlease share your voice with us! We would love to hear from you!

Record a voice message here.
Send us a comment here.
Apply to be a guest on this podcast here.

Would you like to share your work with the Conscious Mental Health Community ? We offer both paid and free sponsorship opportunities. To apply click here.

This conversation is with Nicole Sartini, LPCC, Executive Director and co-founder of Bridge Counseling and Wellness and Co-founder of The Academy of Integrative Mental Health.

Nicole Sartini (she/her/hers) has been practicing therapy professionally since 2010 and has been working in the field as a non-professional since 1999. Sartini’s specialty centers around helping adults recovering from difficult childhoods, leaders looking to find more balance in their lives, and high-functioning individuals who suffer from anxiety or depression. She also specializes in assisting individuals going through major life changes such as: entering adulthood, starting or graduating from college, getting married, making job changes, and preparing for, or adjusting to, the birth of a child. Nicole’s counseling practice involves integrating traditional talk therapy with mind-body work through the practice of mindfulness, the use of diet and exercise, nutritional supplements, and an emphasis on developing a healthy self image.

Today, Nicole shares a bit about her path as a mental health professional, integrative group practice owner, and her philosophy supporting mind, body and soul. In this conversation, Nicole talks about self-knowledge and growth from a spiritually embodied perceptive.

A few notes about this episode. Because Nicole and I are business partners, close friends and passionate conversationalists, we ended up recording for a long time. I had to heavily edit this conversation, so please be aware that there are some rough and awkward transitions at time because I am by no means a professional editor, but I tried my best to cut and paste to include the highlights of our conversation.

Topics explored:

Knowing and trusting yourself by listening within to the deeper “I”
Operating from your personal truth
Embodied action to align with your beliefs
Embracing the whole self while serving the greater good
Surrendering as a practice
Guided embodiment practice that you can follow along with at the end of the conversation

You can connect with Nicole by following her on Instagram @edensidesanctuary or by visiting www.bridgemindbody.com.

Support the show

This monthly segment is a round-up of current topics in the news that could be relevant to mental health professionals and their clients.

Here are a few links mentioned in the segment:

988 Update

You can find a directory of warm lines by state here.

Blackline is a hotline geared toward the Black, Black LGBTQ+, brown, Native, and Muslim communities
Kiva Centers offers daily online peer support groups
M.H. First Oakland and M.H. First Sacramento operate during select weekend hours in the California cities of Oakland and Sacramento
Peer Support Space hosts virtual peer support groups twice a day Monday through Saturday
Project LETS provides support by text for urgent issues that involve involuntary hospitalization
Samaritans of New York is a hotline based in New York City
Trans Lifeline is a hotline for trans and questioning individuals
Wildflower Alliance has a peer support line and online support groups focused on suicide prevention

U.S. Surgeon General Releases New Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace framework.

Would you like to share a comment or opinion about any of these news updates - record us a voice message here or email us at info@academyimh.com.

Support the show

In this episode, Laurel sits down with Sarah Teeple, an expert in Ayurvedic Medicine and founder of Teeple Holistic, to discuss all things Ayurveda and their intersection with mental health. Their conversation covers:

“Ayurveda 101” - understanding the foundational components for those brand new to the practices
Discussion about rigidity in many “Western” medicine practices/nutrition plans and the ways in which Ayurveda can provide a more individualized, compassionate, and gentle approach
Ways in which Ayurveda can offer strategies for mental health concerns such as anxiety and insomnia
A wonderful breathwork practice to use any time, anywhere
And more!

Sarah Teeple is an integrative women’s healthcare provider. Her holistic approach combines the best of modern nutrition science with ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. She is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Medical Board Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, specializing in gut health, hormonal balance, and calming anxiety, naturally.

Sarah guides clients, set-by-step, to better health and happiness, using personalized nutrition plans, herbs, teas, and simple meditation and relaxation techniques. She has helped hundreds of clients drastically improve their quality of life and safely wean off prescription medications (with their doctor’s approval).

Where to find Sarah:

www.sarahteeple.com
Sarah’s linktr.ee, where you can find the free Dosha quiz and book a free holistic chat: linktr.ee/teepleholistic
Instagram @teepleholistic
Try Sarah’s FREE 5-Day Ayurveda Challenge: https://www.sarahteeple.com/5-day-challenge

Get in touch: https://www.academyimh.com

Take a course: https://www.holisticmentalhealthschool.com

Support the show

In this episode Juniper sits down with Betsi Kreshover, Director of Outreach- East Coast for Recovery Unplugged, a trailblazing organization focused on the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, to discuss-

what the Recovery Unplugged model looks like in action, using music as the "universal connector" in addiction recovery
how music and other expressive arts are integrated in a variety of ways to help clients feel seen and heard, process trauma, and foster connection
the history, reach, and success rates of Recovery Unplugged
the impact of COVID-19 on ability to provide service and level of demand for care
the importance of centering recovery around the client, meeting them where they are, and being open to multiple models of treatment

With 10 years of experience working in the behavioral health and private substance use disorder treatment field, Betsi shares that she's never seen a model or organization quite like Recovery Unplugged. By blending music with traditional approaches, Recovery Unplugged helps those recovering from addiction build trust, heal from trauma, and embrace recovery with empowerment, strength, and passion. In their own words, "Everyone connects with music, and most of us turn to it during our hardest times. Recovery Unplugged uses this connection to build trust with our clients and help them embrace lifesaving care". Recovery Unplugged focuses on the client, meeting them where they are with the understand that the historical or standard models of addiction treatment may not work for everyone. By being adaptable to each group and individual that comes into Recovery Unplugged, and using their unique music treatment model, their success outcome is up to 4x higher than the national average.

Get in touch with us
Access our resource library or take a course

Support the show

In this episode, our director and co-founder Juniper sits down for a conversation with Robin Marie Monson-Dupuis, LCSW, SAC, RYT. Their beautiful discussion covers -

Robin’s personal story of grief leading to the writing of her book, Spirit Son
exploring and understanding ourselves as Spirit
how our own stories and experiences can influence the ways in which we do our work
clinical and spiritual methods for working with grief and trauma, and the intersection of these perspectives
and more!

As a psychotherapist and yoga teacher with over 30 years of experience, Robin’s goal is to help her clients uncover, or rediscover, their strengths as an individual, find peace amidst stress, trauma, or the curve balls life throws their way. Together they work to introduce and solidify wellness practices into their lives, whether in their relationships with themselves, their partners, their family, or their work. Robin works with a wide variety of clients struggling with grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, stage of life issues, marital issues, spiritual crises, and substance abuse. She specializes in working with law enforcement and first responders.

About Robin’s book, Spirit Son
When Robin Monson-Dupuis, psychotherapist and substance abuse counselor, loses her son Ethan to a heroin overdose after an eight-year journey trying to help him stay alive, it shatters everything in her world. She finds her beliefs tested: her role as a mother, her faith, her marriage, and her purpose in this world.

Spirit Son: A Mother’s Journey to Reconnect with Her Son After His Death From Heroin Overdose is a courageous memoir detailing one mother’s story of surviving her unimaginable pain, beginning to heal, and even growing after her traumatic loss. This raw account of losing a child to the opioid epidemic and struggling to find peace offers honest analysis and reflections as well as a profound message of hope: that the everlasting bond between us and our loved ones can be embraced, even deepened, despite their physical death.

Where to find Robin and purchase her book:
RMM Wellness
Ethan’s Fund

Where to find us:
Get in touch with us
Access our resource library or take a course

Support the show

Arielle Sokoll-Ward, LCSW-S, CCTP-II, (she/her/hers) finds it to be most rewarding working directly with clients in a warm, comfortable, and non-judgmental environment. Arielle likes to provide a space where clients feel comfortable processing difficult emotions so they can leave the session feeling a greater sense of resilience, confidence, and happiness. Arielle is here to listen, hold space, and process with you as you tell your story.

As a grief and trauma therapist trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and a Level II Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Arielle knows that processing our past can be an intimidating and vulnerable experience. Foundationally, coming from a relational approach, she is here to tell you that you are not in this alone and she will meet you where you are in your journey. Arielle graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and has years of experience working with an array of populations. She has been professionally speaking since 2014 and a 2019 TEDx speaker on finding resilience within grief. Arielle is the author of the new book, Adding the E: Perspectives of Grief Through Recounts, Letters, and Poetry.

In this episode your host Laurel Sims-Stewart and Arielle Sokoll-Ward discuss grief, trauma, and using a relational model in clinical practice. Arielle shares about the path that led her to grief and trauma work, and we talk together about how the bodymind processes trauma, modeling humanity as a therapist, self-disclosure for building rapport as part of a relational model in treating trauma, and more! Arielle also shares about her experience writing her newly published book, “Adding the E: Perspectives of Grief Through Recounts, Letters, and Poetry.”

Check out Arielle’s website: https://www.ariellesw.com/

Find her on Instagram: https://instagram.com/adding_the_e

Arielle’s TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/KfxCcMUWTp4

Buy Arielle’s book, “Adding the E”: https://www.gcrr.org/inara-publishing-books/adding-the-e

Support the show

As part of our Re-Writing Relationships series, I had a conversation with Tammy Berman, who specializes in helping people through the divorce process using the collaborative divorce process. She is the current president of the collaborative family law professionals of Florida and is active locally and statewide in educating the public about the collaborative law process.
Tammy Berman, LMHC is a mental health professional and the founder of My Counseling Connections. She specializes in helping people through the divorce process, working with teens and in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and has a shared vision with the founder to support and advocate for DBT Skills to be a part of school curriculum across the world. She is certified in Motivational Interviewing, she is a Supreme court certified family mediator, a qualified parenting coordinator, a national board certified counselor and an accredited collaborative professional. She is the current President of the Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Florida and is very active locally and statewide in educating the public about the Collaborative Law Process.

We discussed divorce and conflict in relationships and the typical paradigm of divorce in the United States for many people.
We talk about what the collaborative process is; which goes beyond meditation and the idea of having a winner and loser in the process.
You will learn all about the divorce process approach used in mitigation and mediation as well as how collaborating with a multi-diciplinary team and the people involved in the divorce process.

How to reach Tammy and learn more!
www.MyCounselingConnections.com

https://www.facebook.com/mycounselingconnections/

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

We have been creating a resource bundle each month that we are calling starter packs. Our monthly bundles include blog posts, worksheets and materials and guided practices that you can use in sessions and for yourself. If you sign up for our monthly newsletter you will also get access to our monthly curated playlist that goes along with the theme of each bundle.

This month, our topic of focus is on grief and specifically honoring grief as the two year mark of the COVID 19 pandemic is upon us. Anniversaries are important placeholders for the mind and body and are significant considering how we respond and cope with grief and trauma.

In this episode we discuss:

Grief as it relates to the Covid 19 Pandemic
Grief anniversaries
Types of grief (cumulative, prolonged and complicated grief and collective grief)
How grief effects the body and mind
The relationship between grief and praise
Techniques of how to grief individually and in community
Guided grief breathing practice
Poems, clips and more!

Resources mentioned in epidsode:

The Centre for the Grief Journey
Good Grief Network
The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martin Pretchel
The Work that Reconnects
The Well of Grief by David Whyte
Grief resource pack (AIMH)
Yin Yoga practice for grief (AIMH)

If you are interested in alternative and nature based mental health services for grief processing and more, check out your host's website www.juniperowinds.com

Contact us with any questions, thoughts, ideas or if you want to be a guest on this podcast. www.academyimh.com

Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
yesterday by cheif. on chillhop daydreams
Poets by Ciaran Delany - The Waves

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

The host for this episode is Tina Zeller, a collective member and collaborative educator with the Academy for Integrative Mental Health focusing on trauma sensitive yoga and family advocacy from birth and beyond. This is a conversation with Kazia Bryant, which explored the details of doula work and the impact of doula support on the collective mental health of families.

Kazia is a full spectrum doula, reproductive justice advocate, community healer, and Midwifery student. She is the Doula Program Coordinator and Executive Director at Mama to Mama, and is the Doula Program Manager at Black Birth Justice. She is passionate about serving her community and reducing the black and brown maternal death rate. She believes our community deserves postpartum experiences that are not traumatic. Her goal is to care for families during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Where you can find Kazia:

https://www.mamatomama.us

https://www.blackbirthjustice.org

We love our podcast listeners! Please enjoy 10% off any of our online courses by using the coupon code Conversations at checkout.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

This month, we have very special episode all about relationships as part of our Re-Writing Relationships Starter pack, which has all kinds of resources, including worksheets you can use in session or for yourself, journal prompts, a blog post and more. If you sign up for our monthly newsletter, you will also have access to our themed playlist in which our team members select their favorite songs related to the monthly topic!

We also have a bonus episode, as part of this series, coming out later in the month with Tammy Berman about the Collaborative Divorce process. You won’t want to miss this resource!

We put a call out about our Re-Writing Relationships to see if professionals had something to say about relationships that is a bit outside the box and comes from an integrative perspective (duh, that’s the whole point of this podcast). Anyway, we got a ton of responses and spoke with a group multi-disciplinary professionals. During our interviews, we noticed several themes and decided to organize this conversation, like a panel and grouped according to the themes.

The reason why we choose the topic of Re-Writing relationships for this month is for one, Valentines Day is in Feb and can bring up a lot for many people. A lot of the content discussed in therapy revolves around relationships; whether that be relationship to self, other humans or beyond. Relationships involve our sense of belonging, connection and intimacy - which are important themes in human life. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

See our YouTube channel to watch/listen to the full conversation with each of our panelists!

Here is how to reach our panelists for this episode:

Kristal DeSantis:

Call: 512-887-8036
Visit: www.austinstrongrbc.com
Email: info@austinstrongrbc.com
FB: facebook.com/austinstrongrbc
Instagram: @austinstrongrbc

Morningstar Fonlupt:

Instagram: @theonlynakedpriestess
TikTok: @thenakedpriestess
https://campsite.bio/alchemicalfoundry

Rev. Diane Walker:Email: lifecycles11@gmail.com

Call: 502-548-5377
Website: https://www.ministerswithmore.com/contact

Lisa McJunkin:

Website - https://www.mcjunkininc.com
Email: mcjunkininc@gmail.com
Phone: 619-343-2138
Instagram: @mcjunkininc
Facebook

Stephanie Batts:

Website: www.bridgemindbody.com
Email - Stephanie@bridgemindbody.com

If you would like to see the speakers full bio and photos, check our our instagram post on this series.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Alisa Stamps, MSS, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Philadelphia. She specializes in working with adult children of narcissists, and runs a support and recovery group for these individuals entitled, “Shattering the Mirror”. She also has experience in the treatment of eating disorders and complex trauma. Alisa’s post-graduate work has included a three -year Gestalt Therapy training program, Level 1 certification in Internal Family Systems Therapy, Level 1 certification in Dr. McBride’s five-step recovery model for treating adult children of narcissistic parents, as well as training in somatic and embodiment work. Alisa received a Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a vocal music director and professional actress for many years. She then went on to receive her Master of Social Service degree from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She also recently released a book this past summer called The Gaslighting Recovery Journal and has started a YouTube channel focused on psycho education around these topics.

Alisa Stamps, an expert specializing in the topics of children of narcissistic parents and eating disorders, joins Laurel for a conversation about her work. They discuss common signifiers of narcissistic traits in relationships, how and why the topics of narcissism and disordered eating intersect, and the implications of this understanding on clinical work. They also discuss how to work on reframing our relationships with food and movement, and share an update on Alisa’s new book, “The Gaslighting Recovery Journal.”

Links:

Therapist Adult Children of Narcissists/Philadelphia/Alisa Stamps

Alisa Stamps, MSS, LCSW

Alisa on Insta

Alisa’s YouTube channel: Alisa Stamps

The Gaslighting Recovery Journal

AIMH Cultivating Compassionate Beginnings starter pack

Credit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

The Gaslighting Recovery Journal: Prompts and Practices for Healing from Emotional Abuse

In this episode, we are using the New Year as a starting point in discussing transitions, as the new year tends to be an obvious threshold. We are moving from one year to the next (according to the Gregorian Calendar) and for many can be a time of reflection and intention setting. We will meet Janus, the roman god of beginnings and namesake of the month of January, whose two faces allowed him to look into the past and future at the same time. We will discuss ideas around tending to the threshold of the new year, while both processing the year past and intentions for the year ahead with ahead with compassion. Why compassion? Because both reflecting on the past and making plans, goals or intentions for the future can for most trigger a well worn neuro pathway of shame, doubt, regret or any other combination of critical self-talk and emotions.

Links:

Gabor Mate's Compassionate Inquiry: Free Guided Meditations

Dare to Rewire Your Brain for Self-Compassion | Weiyang Xie | TEDxUND

Self Love Yoga | Full Class | Yoga With Adriene

Guided Tonglen Practice

Slow Flow Yoga for Self Compassion with David O.

Nice pdf on shadow work with a lot of resources

Check out our Starter Pack - Cultivating Compassionate Beginnings

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with integrative mental health resources and to gain access to our monthly curated Spotify playlist. Don't have or want to use Spotify? You will also receive a PDF with all of the songs and descriptions of why these songs were chosen by our team.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Amy Lajiness, LCSW, PMH-C, is an ecotherapist and psychotherapist practicing in San Diego, CA. Amy holds certification in Perinatal Mental Health, ecotherapy and is a highly sensitive person informed therapist. You can learn more about her practice and work by checking out her practice, Inner Nature Therapy.

In this conversation we chat about ecotherapy, including the power of having nature as a co-therapist, what an ecotherapy outdoors may look like as well as how to bring nature into your indoor office sessions. We also talk about being a highly sensitive person (HSP) and how to work with folks with identify with those traits.

Resources Amy shared:

Books

With Nature in Mind by Andy McGeeney
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
Your Brain on Nature by Eva M. Selhum, MD, and Alan C. Logan, ND
Ecotherapy edited by Martin Jordan & Joe Hinds
The Work that Reconnects and Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy
Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols
The Biophilia Effect by Clemens G. Arvay
Ecopsychology by Roszak, Gomes, & Kanner
Reclaiming the Wild Soul by Mary Reynolds Thompson
Nature and the Human Soul and Soulcraft by Bill Plotkin

Research

Minding Nature Journal - Essays, art, poetry, and a free newsletter highlighting many of these

HSP website

Juniper recommends this article to learn more about nature as co-therapist.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

The topic of the month is Winter Wellness!

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter season is quickly approaching. Winter looks and feels differently for everyone and as mental health professionals we notice that it can be a difficult time for us and/or our clients. The Academy team got together and discussed their experience with winter.

The Academy Team:
Juniper Owens - Director and Lead Faculty
Stephanie Batts - Content Creator, Faculty
Rozlyn Newman - Curator of Social Operations
Natoya Jones - CEU Manager and Educational Consultant
Laurel Simms-Stewart - Content Creator, Faculty

We cover all kinds of topics like addressing stress during the holiday season including family conflicts and boundaries. The shifts folks might experience with their energy and mood, Themes our clients often struggle with, seasonal affective disorder and how to get outside more in cold weather.

We also offer plenty of tips and techniques as well as a guided practice at the end of the conversation on how to protect your peace. We will also be publishing our winter wellness bundle, which will include this podcast, our blog and worksheets and interventions that you can download and use with your clients or use for your own personal winter wellness. Our printable resources our designed to be customized for your clients and focus on an integrative approach which includes aspects of mind, body, spirit and environment. Check out the link in the show notes to access this bundle to use in session with your clients right away because....winter is coming!

Leave us a voice message to share your comments!

Check our our Winter Wellness Starter Pack.

Are you interested in joining our collective? Click here.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

We are starting a new series of shorter episodes focused on an element or topic of the month in the vast arena of integrative mental health. In these episodes, we will review research, clinical experience and offer experiential practices or techniques.

This topic is walk and talk therapy. Please read more about walk and talk therapy on our blog post here. You can also find this podcast and blog in our Walk and Talk Bundle, along with exclusive handouts to use in session with clients.

To send us a 90 second voice message, please click this link.

If you are interested in further resources for your practice, please check out our walk and talk therapy bundle.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

In this episode get to know the development team at the Academy of Integrative Mental Health a bit better. Our team, Juniper Owens, director, Stephanie Batts, Content Creator, Natoya Jones, CEU Manager and Educational Consultant, Laurel Simms-Stewart, Content Creator and Rozlyn Newman, Curator of Social Operations.

We discuss what our ideas and definitions of integrative mental health, our experiences and why we are passionate about professional development, education and holistic mental health. If you are new to integrative mental health, would like to move in that direction in your personal or professional life or are interested in hearing more about our approaches and team members, this episode is for you!

We mentioned a few of our courses and webinar series, which you can learn more about here. Listen to the podcast for discount codes :)

If you would like to leave a question or comment, please do! We use Speak Pipe and with your permission, we will reply to you on our next episode.

Is there a topic you are interested in learning more about? Would you like to be a guest on our podcast? Would you like to join the Academy as a partner (content contributor or course facilitator or friend/supporter)?

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Ashley founded Oswald Digestive Clinic in 2016 after being frustrated to see people struggle with their gut health, while knowing that there are ways to help them improve and often resolve their bothersome symptoms.

After struggling with her own gut heath issues, Ashley is passionate about helping others to improve and eliminate these issues in their own lives too, and to regain their freedom. She has completed 7 years of schooling in nutrition science, including a year at Harvard’s Brigham And Women’s Hospital, and has worked in a variety of settings in the health care system, so has a unique big picture view of where there are gaps.

With Oswald Digestive Clinic, she is working to fill healthcare gaps, helping their clients finally go from gut struggles to gut freedom, so they can get back to living life on their own terms.

In this conversation, Ashley and Laurel discuss supplements, gut health research focused on mood, intriguing case studies and even practice a technique you can use personally or in your practice called Urge Surfing.

Show note links:

Course, Masterclass, Quiz: www.healyourgutcourse.com

Depression specific presentation: https://www.healyourgutcourse.com/offers/98rMXMDk/checkout

Course: https://www.healyourgutcourse.com/offers/HMoXgEds/checkout

HEY YO! (40% discount to your audience with code podcastspecial)

YouTube: Oswald Digestive Clinic

Free Gut Health Call & Website: helpyourgutnow.com (or oswalddigestiveclinic.com) -> both go to same spot
Gut Health Freebies: https://oswalddigestiveclinic.lpages.co/guthealthfreebies/

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Today we spoke with Katiuscia Gray who is the owner of Mind Meets Movement counseling, an integrative counseling center in New York. It was a lovely conversation that dipped into the ocean of the intersection of yoga and mental health. Kat describes her personal experience with yoga, her mind/ body work with children and teens, a trauma informed approach with integrating somatic techniques such as yoga, cracks in the foundation of the mental health delivery system and so much more. She shares all kinds of tips and techniques using a somatic approach as well as direct practice experience working primarily with people of color. Near the end of the conversation, she shares a beautiful guided relaxation, that had me almost asleep. If you are needing some self-care or relaxation today, please allow yourself a little bit of time to listen to this informative conversation and the guided practice.

Katiuscia Gray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified yoga teacher (200hr) and psychotherapist. She graduated from Adelphi University in 2006 with an M.S.W. in Social Work and received a yoga certification in 2018. In 2019, she became a certified clinical child and adolescent anxiety treatment professional (CCATP-CA).

She is the owner of Mind Meets Movement Counseling Services, an integrative health practice in Valley Stream, NY that focuses on individual, children, adolescents, young adults and families. She and her team utilize unique and creative methods to help clients get the most out of their sessions, linking mind and body in the process.

You can reach her and learn more about Mind Meets Movement Counseling here.

Share your thoughts with us!

Send us a voice message here to share your comments, wisdom, ideas or thoughts with our Integrative Conversations mental health community.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Our guest today:

Dr. Anna Yusim is an internationally recognized, award-winning, Stanford- and Yale-educated, Board Certified psychiatrist, executive coach, author and speaker. She specializes in guiding individuals to achieve greater levels of impact, fulfillment and connection in their life and work. On the Clinical Faculty at Yale Medical School, Dr. Yusim is the best-selling author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life. Having helped over 1500 individuals to live happier, more meaningful lives, Dr. Yusim is presently starting a Spirituality and Mental Health Center at Yale and making a documentary about the intersection of mental health and spirituality.

About this conversation:

In this conversation, Dr. Yusim shares her journey in the intersection of spirituality and mental health from the lens of psychiatry. She also shares valuable stories and ideas from her research, extensive travel and experience working with clients. We dive into ideas and practices presented in her book which includes; soul, authenticity, purpose, part of something greater, intuition, harnessing personal power and much more! Dr. Yusim also guides us in a breathing practice at the end of the conversation, so make sure to stay tuned for some stress relief and oxygen boost!
Resources mentioned in episode:

Visit Anna's website here to learn more about her work, services and courses. Check out Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life

Listeners of this podcast will receive 25% off the Spirituality and Mental Health Course I co-created with Harvard Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander M.D. and meditation expert Karen Newell by using this coupon code!

Book mentioned in conversation - Irvin D. Yalom - Lying on the Couch

Spirituality and Medical Practice: Using the HOPE Questions as a Practical Tool for Spiritual Assessment

The effectiveness of spiritual/ religious interventions in psychotherapy and counselling: A literature review

Share your thoughts with us!

Send us a voice message here to share your comments, wisdom, ideas or thoughts with our Integrative Conversations mental health community.

Music - Soulful performed by L'Indecis, written and produced by Arnaud Bresson Source: Chillhop Records

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

Our guest today is Robin Stone who holds a Master’s in Applied Psychology from New York University, and a Master's in Health Arts & Sciences from Goddard College in Vermont. Incorporating Transformative Language Arts, narrative and creative arts therapies, she uses expressive arts to help clients understand how culture influences their thinking and being. Robin supports clients coping with trauma, grief and loss, stress, and difficult couples and family dynamics.

Robin is also trained as a Health Coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to help clients adopt practical lifestyle management techniques. She develops and shares great healthy recipes that support mind-body wellness.

A longtime journalist and author, Robin has written and edited about mental and physical health, food, nutrition and holistic living for more than 20 years. After completing her undergraduate degree in journalism at Michigan State University, she enjoyed a successful career as an editor and writer at a number of newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Detroit Free Press and Essence and Health magazines.

In this episode, we have a conversation around the power of storytelling and expression in mental health and wellness. We discuss her book, No Secrets, No Lies which shares compelling personal accounts from everyday people and illuminates the emotional, psychological and hidden consequences of remaining silent, and provides holistic, practical steps to move toward healing. We talked about her documentary, "THICK: Black Women Weigh In on Body Awareness, Food, Stress and Self-Care, featuring the stories of nearly 20 Black women nationwide –including Robin herself – the film asks how can we take care of ourselves in the face of stressors like work demands, relationship issues, cultural expectations and taking care of others.THICK centers on healthy weight, as Black women contend with weight-related health concerns like heart disease, diabetes and fertility problems in disproportionate numbers. Lastly, we discuss Robin's work as a mental health professional informed by her history as a journalist and health coach and at the end of the conversation, Robin's shares a powerful expressive writing exercise you can practice and share with your clients.

Resources:

To Connect with Robin please check out her website.

Robins' book, No Secrets, No Lies is a powerful and daringly honest resource guide for families seeking to understand, prevent, and overcome childhood sexual abuse and its devastating impact on adult survivors. No Secrets, No Lies demystifies the cultural taboos and social dynamics that keep Black families silent and enable abuse to continue for generations. Among them:

Check out THICK: Black Women Weigh In on Body Awareness, Food, Stress and Self-Care, the documentary film.

Hurry! Robin's new Single Women Support Group starts Feb 19th! Click here for more information or to register.

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No Secrets, No Lies: How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse

This conversation focuses on CBD and clinical practice. You will learn about how CBD works, how to choose a supplement and resources to share with your clients who are interested in CBD. Our guest today is Kelly Venuti, LMHC, CEO and Founder of Concierge Holistic Wellness and Vitality Counseling and Brain Health Coaching.

Kelly is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified CBD Consultant/Educator, Certified Brain Health Coach, and is working towards certification in Integrative Medicine for Mental Health. She is the founder of Concierge Holistic Wellness, where she provides integrative and holistic treatments for mental wellness. She believes the mind-body-spirit connection and guides her clients on their holistic healing journeys to optimal health and wellness.

Additional Resources:

If you would like recommendations on what CBD is right for you and want to learn how CBD can help you achieve your wellness goals, Kelly offers a 30 minute CBD Consultation in person and virtually across the United States.
https://vitalitycounselingandbrainhealthcoaching.setmore.com/conciergeholisticwellness/bookappointment

Ready to start integrating CBD into your practice? Sign up here! https://venuti.greencompassglobal.com/home/businessopportunity

CBD Products https://venuti.greencompassglobal.com

CBD Dosing Calculator https://thecbdbenefits.com/embed-human-calculator/

Institute of CBD Consultants https://cbdcertificationprogramcom/

Society of Cannabis Clinicians https://cannabisclinicians.org/

Practice Better https://practicebetter.grsm.io/kellyvenuti1953

Thorne Supplements https://www.thorne.com/u/KellyVenuti

Red Light Therapy
https://redtherapy.co/?rfsn=4844972.1de8aac&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=4844972.1de8aac

Use Code KellyVenuti for $25 off all products!

To learn more, our listeners can visit https://conciergeholisticwellness.com/podcast/

Kelly can be contacted via email at Kelly@conciergeholisitcwellness.com or 727-275-7550

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Today we spoke with Christina Vesalak who is dedicated to saving and transforming lives through her work as a mental health nutritionist, specifically utilizing amino acid and nutrient therapy.In this conversation, Christina discusses her personal journey with nutrition and mood. She describes the mechanics of a starving brain and how to feed it to achieve optimal functioning, maximize therapeutic work and for relapse prevention. Chrisitina also shares about her training programs and the Certification in Amino Acid Therapy for Addiction Recovery and Sustained Mental Health, which is a 5 month training program starting in a few weeks.

Christina T. Veselak is the founder and director of the Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition. She has been a licensed psychotherapist for over 30 years, and currently provides on-line Relapse Prevention Coaching and Mental Health Nutrition to a wide variety of clients.

Christina consults for supplement companies as well as IV detox programs and residential addiction treatment, helping them integrate this life-saving nutritional approach into their programs.

She is an experienced public speaker, and has presented at conferences and trainings around the country. Christina is also a founding member and former Executive Director of the Alliance for Addiction Solutions, a non-profit organization which promotes the use of nutritional and other natural modalities to support repair of the addicted brain.

Christina is committed to staying abreast of the rapidly growing science of integrative psychiatry and functional nutrition & biochemistry for mental health, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with both the general public and professionals in the fields of addiction recovery & mental health treatment.

As integrative mental health professionals, we firmly believe in the biopscyhosocialspiritual framework that includes multiple layers and meets clients where the are at. We understand that nutrition is not a cure all or one size fits all intervention, but often times mental health professionals are not sufficiently trained in the biological aspect of the framework, which includes nutrition and its effects on the brain and body. There is an abundance of research on nutrition and mental health and it can be very confusing to sift through. In our integrative clinic, we found that many of our clients were struggling to understand what to eat and not eat for their mood as well recognizing social -emotional factors that play a role in our diet; such as disordered eating, diet culture, food insecurity etc.

Check out our courses on nutrition and supplements for mental health. We compiled the most current evidence, case studies from our own practice and knowledge from a variety of integrative practitioners and tons of resources, handouts and guided practices that you can use and share with your clients. We also share a discount code, just for our listeners during the podcast.

Links from the show:

Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition - To contact Christina directly or for the early bird discount mentioned in the podcast call 303-888-9617

The Mood Cure by Julia Ross

Seven Weeks to Sobriety: The Provern Program to Fight Alcoholism through Nutrition by Joan Matthews Larson

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Today's conversation is with Lisah Sutton-Williams. Lisah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Lisah’s specialties are anxiety, depression, life transitions, and disordered eating. She is currently the only licensed therapist with certification in Intuitive Eating in the state of KY, and she is also supervisor for up and coming clinicians in Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy on their way to licensure. (BTW, bear with us as we troubleshoot our sound quality using zoom to record our podcasts, we will get it more smooth, we promise!)

Lisah strives to create a calm and inviting environment for her clients and to work with them, for their very unique set of needs, to find what will work best for them. She believes that through working together we can move toward healing. She is a passionate advocate for Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size, both in her clinical work and in her own life.

Laurel and Lisah discuss Lisah's journey and work with her clients on Intuitive Eating, and the social and racial justice issues wrapped into the diet culture mentality.

Intuitive Eating is an evidenced-based, mind-body health approach, comprised of 10 Principles and created by two dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in 1995. It is a weight-neutral model with a validated assessment scale and over 90 studies to date. It’s thrilling to see all the research and gives me great hope. Intuitive Eating is a dynamic integration between mind and body. The principles work by either cultivating or removing obstacles to body awareness, a process known as interoceptive awareness. Essentially, Intuitive Eating is a personal process of honoring health by listening and responding to the direct messages of the body in order to meet your physical and psychological needs.

How to get in touch with Lisah:

Lisah's website: IntentionalConnectionsCounseling.com
Find Lisah on Instagram @intentional_connections

Additional resources:

More on Intuitive Eating: https://www.intuitiveeating.org/
More on the Health At Every Size community: https://haescommunity.com/
"Fearing the Black Body - The Racial Origins of Fatphobia" by Sabrina Strings: https://nyupress.org/9781479886753/fearing-the-black-body/

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Our guest today is Doug Van Houten whose work in the world is as a body, art and soul guide. Doug draws on the wisdom of the natural world, depth-psychology, eco-psychology, dreams, somatic knowing, poetry, and many pan-cultural, soul furthering practices that includes: The Way of Council, vision fasting, trance dancing and conversations with the more than human world. Doug’s true calling in life is to support others as they uncover their own unique gifts and in so doing, transform their lives in service to what Thomas Berry called ”The Great Work” of our times. Doug is also a student of Refined Hakomi, an ardent beekeeper, a visual artist, a wily wanderer, a dream tracker, a deep ceremonialist, a heart-centered activist, a yoga instructor interested in new forms of yoga and somatic practice, and a guide for Animas Valley Institute (nature based soul initiation).

"To live a more soul rooted life, means to move beyond an out-dated psychological emphasis focused primarily on wounds and symptoms to seek out the more numinous gifts we all bear that lie trapped beneath the torment of old ideals, bounded by beliefs that no longer serve, relegated to shadows cast by fear, humiliation and shame."

See Doug's offerings and work here.

Resources mentioned in the conversation:

SoulCraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche by Bill Plotkin

Check out the Animas Valley Institute to explore all upcoming offerings.

What to Remember When Wakingby David Whyte

In that first hardly noticed moment in which you wake,
coming back to this life from the other
more secret, moveable and frighteningly honest world
where everything began,
there is a small opening into the new day
which closes the moment you begin your plans.

What you can plan is too small for you to live.
What you can live wholeheartedly will make plans enough
for the vitality hidden in your sleep.

To be human is to become visible
while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.
To remember the other world in this world
is to live in your true inheritance.

You are not a troubled guest on this earth,
you are not an accident amidst other accidents
you were invited from another and greater night
than the one from which you have just emerged.

Now, looking through the slanting light of the morning window
toward the mountain presence of everything that can be
what urgency calls you to your one love?
What shape waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread its branches
against a future sky?
Is it waiting in the fertile sea?
In the trees beyond the house?
In the life you can imagine for yourself?
In the open and lovely white page on the writing desk?

David WhyteThe Ninth Duino Elegy by Rainer Maria RilkeAcademy Online Course Discount Code15% off any course (thats right, even our integrative mental health certification course ) for the month of December and Jan is TREATYOSELF. Click here to discover our online courses.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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December Greetings! This is the first of hopefully many segments on this podcast that is a conversation with our incredible team members and other amazing mental health professionals. Our curator of social operations, Rozlyn, recently asked folks on our social media accounts what questions they had around Covid and the Holiday season in general. We decided to meet up on zoom for this Q & A and share our ideas, thoughts and suggestions. We discuss sibling relationships, boundaries around Covid, isolation during this time, overwhelming emotions and much more. We also found our way into a conversation around being a mental health professional right now and during the Holidays and our personal strategies for caring for ourselves. Near the end of this episode, Stephanie shares a brain spotting technique for self-soothing and anxiety reduction, which is really cool and I have been using it frequently!

If you are a mental health professional, we know how rewarding and draining it can be right now. One way we are supporting our colleagues is offering a free self-care for mental health professionals crash course. Check out our website, under courses and you can sign up now for a daily guided practice in your inbox every day for a week (and a super special bonus practice) if that support could be helpful for you. AND if you are listening today and want to give a gift to a mental health professional you love (or gift for yourself) we are offering a discount code for the month of December on all courses (even our 3CI certification course). Use the code TREATYOSELF for 15% off any online course in our collection.

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We recently had an inspiring conversation with Yolanda Harper, LCSW, co-founder of Harper Therapy in Lutz Florida. Yolanda Harper is a therapist by trade — a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma and post-traumatic growth — but her most meaningful work is to bear witness to people’s stories of struggle, strife, grit, and growth. Currently, she loves doing this work in individual and couples intensive format.

Yolanda is the the Founder and Director of Harper Therapy, a perfectly imperfect business owner, therapist, researcher, trainer, and teacher. She is a Master Accelerated Resolution Therapist, trainer, and TEDx Speaker. Yolanda currently resides in Florida, is a wife and mom to three human children and two therapy dogs — Goldendoodles Toby and Hobbes.

Check out her practice website, Harper Therapy!

Watch her TedX Talk about ART; The Power of Eye Movements.

Link from intro:

Emotional Wellbeing and Coping During Covid-19

Leave us a voice message with any comments about this podcast, questions for us or anything else you would like to share. We will answer any questions on our next podcast recording! (please indicate if you do not want your voice message played on the podcast).

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Today we spoke with activist and public health advocate Dr. Monica Unseld who is based out of Louisville, KY.

In this conversation Monica discusses Black mental health, what it is like living as a Black woman in Kentucky today and what peace means for Black individuals living in a world of racialized violence and generational trauma resulting in PTSD, post traumatic slavery disorder. She shares some of her experiences with the mental health system and why it is important to talk about and understand black mental health needs.

Monica E. Unseld, Ph.D, MPH. Monica received her doctorate in biology in 2008 from the University of Louisville and received her Master's in Public Health from Benedictine University in 2018. For over a decade, she has worked with frontline communities facing environmental racism and environmental injustices. She currently works for the Greater Louisville Project in Louisville, KY.

Links from show:

Nap Ministry - https://thenapministry.wordpress.com

If you would like to support Monica’s activism, please consider offering a donation to her at http://www.paypal.me/monicaunseld1

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Erica Reevey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the states of Kentucky & Ohio. She graduated from Berea College with a Bachelor’s in Women Studies, University of Louisville with a Master’s in Social Work and Bellarmine University with a Master’s in Spirituality/Religion. As the CEO/Founder of Therapists Need Therapy 2, Erica focuses primarily on being the therapist for therapists and their immediate family members. Erica is also the CEO/Founder of Forward Solutions Counseling & Consulting where she works closely with students, families and teachers to bridge the gap between mental health & educational barriers. Additionally, as one of the Co-Founders of The Black Counseling & Consulting Collective nonprofit organization, Erica dedicates her time in the community by promoting the advancement of mental health and quality of care within the black community. Also serving as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Louisville, Erica continues her commitment to education teaching courses on but not limited to, research and social work . Erica is a loving mother and wife who’s favorite form of self-care is through traveling and seeing the world when she is not serving the community. Passionate about meeting people where they are, Erica vows to help them overcome past and current traumas. She believes that in order to heal we must ALL DO THE WORK!

TNT2
Therapists Need Therapy 2, LLC also known as TNT2 is an EXCLUSIVE mental health agency that offers services and support to Mental Health Providers and their immediate family members in a SAFE SPACE. We are the Therapists for the Therapists.

Email: Therapistsneedtherapy2@gmail.comPhone: 502-414-4380Instagram: @tnt2llcFacebook: Therapists Need Therapy 2Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

We recently sat down with Jessica Hill Powell and she discusses her experience with essential oils and mood. She shares her personal experience with oils for both her physical and mental health, she explains how essential oils are extracted from plants, how to use oils safely and effectively and specific oils she recommends for mood enhancement. Jessica also shares a guided practice at the end of the podcast for your self-care and personal development.

Jessica Hill Powell is a nationally board certified health coach, and the founder of Meridian Integrative Wellness, a business that is the embodiment of all of her passions: the psychology of change, continued education, mentorship, natural wellness, and personal growth & empowerment. She has a degree in Psychology from Bellarmine University and was trained as an Integrative Health Coach at Duke University. She's also a certified yoga instructor. Aside from her own private health coaching practice, she teaches a class series, Demystifying Meditation, a free monthly Wellness Restoration, as well as a rotation of creative pop-ups.

No time to take notes or listening to Integrative Conversations on the go? No problem! Gain instant access to all the relevant aromatherapy + mood info you'll need to remember as you explore this self-care strategy for you and your clients: https://meridianiw.com/aromatherapy-companion-guide/

If you want to learn more/ participate in Meridian Integrative Wellness’s “loaner” program at your Louisville, KY area office:

Schedule a private consultation (in-person or online) with Jessica Hill Powell: https://meridianiw-scheduling.as.me/aromatherapy-jesshillpowell
Louisville area Practitioners: email jess@meridianiw.com directly for information about our local “loaner” program, where you receive a diffuser and oil on loan for a week to see if aromatherapy is right for your practice

Highly recommended aromatherapy book by Jessica: The Essential Life - 6th Edition - The Ultimate Essential Oil Guide

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/academyimh)

The Essential Life 6th Edition Essential Oils Book & Guide Fragrant Recipes, Immune, Aromatherapy, Doterra Recipes

Robin Aleksavitch, a registered nurse and biofeedback practitioner discusses what biofeedback is, how the body reacts and responds to stress and how biofeedback can help balances biological systems and moods. Bonus, guided grounding practice near the end of the conversation!

Robin Aleksevitch has been Registered Nurse for over 33 years, receiving her Bachelors Degrees in Nursing, Psychology and English from the University of South Dakota. Working as a nurse in cardiac, behavioral and school nursing, she has seen the impact stress plays on our body, mind and health. She uses biofeedback to help you to connect with your body to reduce pain, manage stress, headaches and so much more. She is also a reiki master and loves the benefits of essential oils.

Robin practices at Meridian Integrative Wellness in Louisville, KY.

You can also find her at oilsnurse.com. For all podcast listeners, you will receive a 50% off discount for your first biofeedback session! Just go to: https://meridianiw.com/stress-reduction-with-biofeedback/ and click “schedule a session now” and use this coupon code: 50off

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Alyson Hendry, M.A., CCC-SLP, is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Speech-Language Pathologist. She specializes in helping educators, medical providers, and caregivers of individuals with special needs prioritize and find time for much needed self care. She has an integrative approach that will help you explore the connection between the way you fuel your life (career, relationships, etc.) and the way you fuel your body (food and exercise). She believes eating quality, whole foods is one of the key cornerstones to healing our bodies and brains. BUT-- all the kale and broccoli in the world cannot fully counteract a stressful lifestyle. Healthy eating alone cannot counteract toxicities in other areas of our lives.

Wellness Before Work

Alyson is also the creator of the Wellness Before Work online course. In this hour long course, you will feel like you just had a coaching session with Alyson! You will explore your inner motivation for establishing a self care routine, where and when you can create time and space in your busy schedule, and how to get yourself finally moving towards true action. Spoiler alert- sleep is encouraged!! Having overcome insomnia herself, Alyson shares her best strategies for getting a great night's sleep so you feel refreshed and energized for the next day.

Have you ever had a hard time establishing a new healthy habit, or have you spent so much time taking care of others that you have forgotten to take care of yourself? If you have ever struggled to prioritize time for your own wellbeing, this is the course for you.

As a listener of this podcast, check out this incredibly useful course with this 20% off coupon: WELLNESS3. Link in show notes.

https://speech-and-movement.mykajabi.com/offers/GA2GEAg8

You'll have a 30 day money back guarantee, plus you'll get access to Alyson's virtual coaching community and will have the opportunity for real, live coaching sessions with her.

Looking to prioritize long overdue healthy habits and boundaries for yourself, and start living a healthier, happier, more vibrant life? Send Alyson an email speechandmovement@gmail.com to set up a free initial consultation and see if her 1:1 or group coaching services might be right for you.

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We recently sat down with Nina Keeler and we had a conversation about her work as a trauma specialist and how she supports mental health professionals in trauma work. Nina also shares an effective practice for resourcing and grounding into the body.

Nina received her Master of Science from Kansas State University with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. During her time in graduate school, she fell in love with Play Therapy. She completed a Play Therapy certification program through KC Play Therapy Institute. At the beginning of her career, she worked as a Social Services Case Manager and had the honor of working with many children and families suffering from trauma and attachment challenges. This led her on a journey to learn about trauma and attachment. She completed Dr. Dan Hughes’ level one Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy training in Maine. She then went on to complete Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training, and the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children through The Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska. She recently completed A certificate program in Somatic Experiencing® and is now a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.

You can find Nina's website at www.ninakeeler.com

Contact Nina here.

Learn more about her Trauma Treatment Collective here.

Take one of her courses!

Becoming A Trauma Treatment Professional

Treating Trauma with the Brain and Body in Mind

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For years, Margie Odom, M.Ed., LMFT, struggled keeping weight off that she so desperately wanted to and couldn’t find a diet that helped her succeed. She tried it all, so when nothing worked, she knew she had to dig deeper if she wanted a lasting change in her life. It was then that she realized to keep the physical weight off, she needed to come to grips with the weight that she carried within. As a therapist, coach, author and speaker, Margie helps others stop their emotional eating cycle by using her proven strategies that helped her find a solution to end her cycle of yo-yo dieting for good.

Thanks to her book, "The Weight Within: Healing Emotional Eating from the Inside Out," and her coaching programs she has been able to help clients free themselves from the weight within and start living their best lives. Margie earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Emory University, completed her master’s degree in counseling at the University of Georgia, and completed her coursework in Marriage and Family Therapy at Western Kentucky University. Known for her honesty, humor, and passion for learning, Margie’s emotional eating clients benefit from her personal success and deep desire to share her creative programs with others. Her mission is to help as many people as possible break free from emotional eating and live the life they were meant to live. Learn more by visiting www.WeightWithin.com.

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Today's conversation is with Amanda O'Bryan. We discussed her experience as a meditation teacher, her personal path in recovery and what a commitment to awareness and empowered recovery means to her and informs her work as a life coach. Amanda also shares a powerful guided practice for self-affirmation

Amanda is a certified Wellness Coach and holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology. Amanda is trained in several meditation modalities, including Mindfulness, Koru, Vipassana, Guided Visualization and Mantra.
amandaobryanwellness.com Links:Sober Curious

Amanda's Meditation Offerings

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This conversation features Stephanie Batts, LPCC.

Stephanie Batts is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Certified Brainspotting Practitioner and certified integrative mental health professional. She received an M.A. in Professional Counseling from McKendree University in Illinois, and received a post-graduate certificate in Couple Therapy. She has worked with a diverse population of individuals, couples and families. Much of her experience has been working to help clients struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, sexuality issues and poor self-esteem. Stephanie is passionate about working with couples and families to enhance relationships through improving communication, connection, parenting skills and conflict management. Stephanie practices at Bridge Counseling and Wellness, an integrative mental health center in Louisville, KY where she provides counseling for individuals and couples. She also works with people through brainspotting addressing issues of performance, creative blocks, motivation remotely all over the world.

Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting functions as a neurobiological tool to support the clinical healing relationship. There is no replacement for a mature, nurturing therapeutic presence and the ability to engage another suffering human in a safe and trusting relationship where they feel heard, accepted, and understood.

Resources:

brainspotting.com

midwestbrainspottinginstitute.org

southeastbrainspottinginstitute.com

https://youtu.be/Gx7sYfD7EkY

You can reach Stephanie - Stephanie@bridgemindbody.com. Check our her profile.

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Diane is a guide, educator, and navigator of Life and its many seasons. Passionate about philanthropic and holistic endeavors, she inspires us to claim our dreams and experience our authentic selves by living fully through all of life’s passages. She has been educating, supporting, and providing inspiration for the past 30 years, teaching from her own life studies and experiences, and from her own incredible adventures with living and dying!

We discuss the avoidance of death in American culture, green funerals, holistic approaches to working with dying folks and their families and how acknowledging death improves everyday living.

You can contact Diane at lifecycles11@gmail.com

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