Coming Out Forums: Recent Episodes
Dr. Lisa Cook
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Coming Out is about having a safe space for self-discovery and expression of our true selves to fulfill the purpose in our lives! As women, we are often tasked to have it all together but truth is we often do not. Who made that rule for us? Here, we value being authentic, living in our truth and walking in power! Join Dr. Lisa Cook & special guests for raw, tough conversations, revealing truths and fortifying nuggets to transform us and foster our evolution as women Coming Out! Coming out of shame, guilt, depletion & unhealthy patterns and Coming to self-love, self-acceptance & so much more!
Did you know that 1 and 31 children under 8 years of agecould be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (according to the Centers for Disease Control)? The prevalence of this condition has risen since 2023 from 1and 36 children. With there being no identified cause of autism, parents have become intentional and deliberate in their awareness of signs in their children.
Our special guest, Shondra Boatman, is one of those parents!She and her husband are advocates for their autistic daughter, and for their other two daughters! She shares hercompelling personal story of discovering her middle’s child autism diagnosis and its impact on her parenting and her lifestyle.
You do not want to miss this conversation!
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Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
This episode features a conversation with Chanel Smith, who discusses her personal experience with transitioning from suicidal ideations to living intentionally with a focus on her well-being, mentally, spiritually and physically!
The discussion underscores the significance of self-actualization and the necessity of making daily choices. It invites consideration of whether individuals can intentionally pursue healing and embrace an alternative mindset.
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Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
What are your DREAMS?
According to one definition in the article "Dream vs Goals: The Differences That Matter," a dream can be described as a series of images, thoughts, desires, or emotions that traverse the mind. Dreams are fueled by the creativity and imagination of our minds, often representing aspirations and hopes we wish to fulfill in the future.
What happens when you give up on your dreams? What pushes you forward to go after your dreams?
My conversation with Dr. Tanieka Davis brings to life how she pursued her dreams and brought her dreams into her reality. She is a testament of faith, persistence and grit.
Tap in to listen to her story and let it inspire you to go after everything you envision for your life.
Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
What happens in our bodies as a result of trauma and how do we learn to regulate our bodies when there are a vast range of emotions peculating within us?
Why is giving ourselves "permission" to tap into our emotions important?
Why must I consider "Radical honesty" with myself?
What are some techniques that I can utilized to regulate my body when I am triggered to bring balance and peace?
Well, my special guest, Nikiya Pruitt, LSCW and a PHD student in Somatic Therapy, provides us with some insights from a clinical and personal view.
You do not want to miss this episode! You are going to be shocked with how far back our wiring goes to creating the person we show up as today and how it impacts are body's recovery when triggered!
Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
In the US, the CDC reports in 2024, 20,17% of youth ages 12-17 reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode and that suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals 15-29 years of age. In 2021, suicide was the third leading cause of death among US High School students!
Further the CDC, in 2021, reported that 22.8% of US adults experienced a mental illness with 5.5% experienced a serious mental health disorder.
Alarming statistics but the real truth about mental and emotional health crisis in the United States.
What happens when you're on the front lines of life's trauma, and the psychological wounds within you become the norm?
What happens when the multifaceted sides of the life of a woman creates no capacity to care for yourself?
What changes in your life that you move from living in survival to living to SAVE yourself?
In our conversation, with Special Guest, Alana Johnson, she champions mental health awareness and acknowledging the stigma that we carry as women and people in general regarding helping ourselves from a mental health and physical health perspective. She talks candidly about her losses in this life and how these experiences shaped her and how she is taking care of her mental health each day.
Alana provided us with some practical options to support your mental health journey.
We encourage you to find a safe space to share your feelings and thoughts that allow co-regulation of your nervous system in your life.
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Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
Do we change or do we evolve as people in our lives?
One of my favorite quotes is by James Baldwin: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." In her book "Becoming," Michelle Obama stated, "It's all a process, steps along a path... Becoming requires equal parts patience and rigor. Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there's more growing to be done."
Have you stop growing? Are you ready for change...for evolution?
Dr. Lisa Cook, along with her special guest, Sheena Phillips, outlines valuable steps to learn from as she narrates her journey and offers practical methods that can be applied to one's life.
Disclaimer: The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
Recent studies indicate that one in eight individuals has experienced some form of religious trauma. If you have encountered adverse experiences due to your faith or the actions of a faith community, this episode is highly relevant. Dr. Lisa Cook and her esteemed guest, Bisi Gbadamosi, LMHC, will be discussing the serious issue of "religious trauma."
If you have felt shame, ostracism, or anger related to these experiences, there is hope for addressing and healing from the psychological impact.
By the conclusion of this episode, you will be able to identify whether you are experiencing religious trauma or vicarious trauma stemming from another's religious trauma. Licensed Mental Health Clinician, Bisi Gbadamosi, offers clinical approaches to learn how to address the unresolved emotions, negative cognitions, spiritual and physical distress from religious trauma.
Moreover, if you know someone who may have been affected by religious trauma, this episode aims to provide insights into the grief and loss associated with such experiences, potentially altering your understanding and perspective. Our primary focus is on healing and establishing a pathway toward personal recovery and growth.
If you like this episode, the next one you should listen to is, "The Comeback to Life Through Healing!"
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The Coming Out Forums Podcast and content posted by Dr. Lisa Cook is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
Our final episode of The Coming Out Forums, "Getting Healthy Podcast Series" focuses on our personal accountability and intentionality for our own health journey.
Dr. Lisa Cook and her special guest, Olyvia Phillips, delve into the topic of "Getting Healthy" on a personal level, discussing how they are both being intentional and accountable for their health.
The key to improving your spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health is YOU! Join us in creating space for an intentional shift, where you hold the power to achieve your best health!
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The Coming Out Forums is releasing the 2nd episode of our Getting Healthy Podcast series. We are focusing on the importance of personal health literacy and self-advocacy as your superpower in relation to managing your health!
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Getting Healthy ~ What does this really mean?
The Coming Out Forums is launching a three-part series on this topic, especially for women, and women of color!
We are excited to have our special guest, Olyvia Phillips, share from her professional and personal experience on "Getting Healthy" from the public health perspective historically to the current state of healthcare.
We rally behind her definition of "Getting Healthy", which she describes Getting Health is having the best opportunity to feel and be, with being able to create a life where you can thrive, feel supported and are prioritizing your well-being.
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Nikki Giovanni stated, "How can you know someone else, if you do not know yourself?"
In your self-discovery journey, it is an opportunity for you to be the person you truly are without operating as a person conditioned by others' expectations-based on societal standards.
What a wonderful miracle it can be to show up to life as your authentic self, "Unthawed!". Our special guest, Monique Phillips, says when she smiles and genuinely means it, and when she stands without seeking to shrink her most powerful self, she will be living in integrity and in her power!
Please tune in to this episode to hear her journey!
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What does it mean for women to operate in the "Essence of Femininity?"
According to our special guest, Cindy Jaimes, it means that for each woman to live in her integrity and understand as she cultivates who she is, she can harness the essence of her power.
You do not want to miss this episode!
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As you entered 2025, I wonder if you fully embraced your "Comeback." We all have something we are striving to achieve or return to, but the essential question is, "When you reach this point, have you begun to heal?"
Please listen to our special guest, Nina, Vice President of Experiential Operations and Planning at ESSENCE, as she shares her perspective as a trauma-sensitive meditation teacher and her journey of healing from domestic violence. Nina's goal is to use her certification to heal generational trauma within families, couple dynamics, and diverse communities.
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If you find in a situation where you feel unsafe, please call 800.799.SAFE (7233).
Today, we find ourselves in a culture dominated by fear. According to a study, four out of ten Americans report that their anxiety has increased over the past year. Consider the implications! With life's rapid pace and the high level of uncertainty, how can one lead a life focused on "Losing Fear and Living Faithfully"? Is it truly achievable?
In this episode of the Coming Out Forums, we delve into this subject with our special guest, Jacqueline Rosa-Ramirez. We address both the practical and spiritual aspects of showing up each day to "Lose Fear and Live Faithfully." This is an episode you won't want to miss!
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We are navigating through challenging and difficult times, with each day presenting new challenges that can affect us emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. The questions then arise:
"What should I do?"
"How do I keep moving forward?"
"What if I'm at my breaking point?"
Our discussion with Kristina Hinton, a Master-Level Educator, provides insights from her experiences to help you find the answers that bolster your "Perseverance Mindset"!
You won't want to miss this episode!
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Do not be fooled...trauma comes in many forms! According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 61% of men and 51% of women report at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes! Join my conversation with Phyllis Collum-Ferguson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with 25+ years in the mental health/wellness field, share her real-life trauma story! You will walk away inspired and with insight to live in recovery "Higher Than Trauma!"
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Tune in today for tips on cultivating an abundant mindset! Dr. Cook has a transparent and enlightening exposition on how we can operate in abundance! You do not want to miss this episode!!
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What happens when life happens? Have you tapped into what it takes to operate in "Emotional Resiliency", or do you live robotically, rarely taking care of your own needs?
Please watch and listen to my conversation on operating in functional emotional resiliency! You will not be disappointed!
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Tune in to this podcast, as Dr. Cook share her insights on "Forgiveness ~ What it Means and It's Impact from her contributors and her personal and professional experience with forgiveness! There is a reward for each person who sets their hearts towards forgiveness and wholeness! What is the reward...well... listen to this episode to find out!
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Rebranding Yourself maybe an outcome that happens in your life when your back is up against the wall, and when you start to recognize that something is not working within you. Can further self-discovery provide the answers to refining the image that you want to see ofYOU?
Powerful discussion with my special guest, Abigail Sunday! You will walk away with new insights towards your rebranding experience!
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The Strong Women Phenomenon ~ Is This a Blessing or a Curse in our Society? Can you be strong and vulnerable at the same time? Do strong women have needs? Tune in to hear Michelle Gray, a LCSW, Kelly Campana, an Executive Coach, any myself, Dr. Lisa Cook share our perspectives and drop some nuggets of truth that can be helpful for all women!
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Two Licensed Clinicians chop it up on a provocative topic, Intersectionality of Faith and Mental Health-A Clinician & Personal Perspective! We answer the questions, “Can I experience anxiety, depression and/or trauma and be a person of faith?" Does going to therapy mean that I have a lack of faith? We address how faith and mental health can be bi-directional and both spaces can increase one’s faith and hope! Tune In! Share! Subscribe!
Two Licensed Clinicians chop it up on a provocative topic, Intersectionality of Faith and Mental Health-A Clinician & Personal Perspective! We answer the questions, “Can I experience anxiety, depression and/or trauma and be a person of faith?" Does going to therapy mean that I have a lack of faith? We address how faith and mental health can be bi-directional and both spaces can increase one’s faith and hope! Tune In! Share! Subscribe!
Dr. Lisa Cook, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, offers 10 tips on how to cope with unexpected job loss or job transition! She provides her personal and professional lens to this topic...offering support for emotional wellness for those who may be facing job insecurity today or in the future.
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Do you want to know a few secrets with "being okay with not being in control"? Well, my conservation with Dr. Cleo Booker, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, will enlighten you as she shares her journey with learning to be okay with not being in control. You will hear about the tough internal questions you should ask yourself, the concept of allowance and the truth that Dr. Booker's wants every listener to know! This will be life changing, PLEASE TUNE IN!!Listen, Subscribe and Share!Dr. Lisa Cook
Being wired to help someone could be in your DNA, so how do you cultivate a lifestyle of practicing the principle of "Help Who I Can, While I Can? What could be the driving force?
The conversation with our Special Guest, Tina Stringer provides us with some insights and portable tools to look for opportunities to help others!
PLEASE do not forget that helping who I can, while I can commence with our love and compassion for ourselves, then our energy to help can outflow to the next individual.
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The language we use is so much important in our healing journey! If you are looking for some strategies on operating your healing "in REAL Time", you do not want to miss this conversation!
Get ready to be enlightened and energized by our conversation!
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Looking to gain a collaborative women's mindset! You will want to listen to my conversation with Dr. Temeca Richardson! "Dr. T" points you in the correct direction for building partnerships that can support your unique purpose!
There is power in harnessing collective ideas and benefits to tapping into other great minds!
There is no fear in building with the collective!
There is confidence to gain by using your intellect, ingenuity and insights to create something larger than yourself!
It's your time to join the "Collaborative Women's Ambition"!
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Special Coming Out Forums episode dedicated to MOTHERS!**
To all the moms, especially mom, I honor and salute you today!!
Happy Mother's Day!
Looking for a refreshing perspective of how to manage your life, when life's circumstances have interrupted your plan! Well stop...what you are doing and take some time to hear my conversation with Special Guest: Darlene Thorn! She drops some powerful and priceless gems about living by faith and being a caretaker.
Please don't think that this conversation is not for YOU because learning how to give of ourselves to others and maintain a healthy balance for ourselves is vital to our peace, joy and contentment in life!
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Hey EVERYBODY!
Stop what you are doing and listen to this POWERFUL episode on Breaking the Chains for Transformational Living...A Mind, Body and Soul Experience! Change can only occur when there is AWARENESS to our blind spots! We all have them!
If you are living in an emotional arrested position or made unconscious agreements with yourself that impact how you show up each day, then you want to listen to our conversation. Coach Greta and I drop some dynamic truths in our conversation that will open your eyes to this fundamental truth, "If you want transformation in your life, the buck starts and stops with you!"
As Coach Greta says..."become desperate for your life!"
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The Coming Out Forums does not own the rights to this music used in this episode, only the spoken content.
Have you found that you rarely deal with your emotions! Have you been guilty of stuffing your emotions with food, shopping, aggression or another unhealthy coping skill? If you feel the heaviness of emotional baggage, then this episode is waiting for you to listen! This episode will ignite your journey to "face your triggers", confirm that you are heading on the correct path for your healing, and propel you forward in putting down any of those un-addressed emotional bags you carry each day! Tune in NOW to hear my conversation with Special Guest: Santosha Padfield.
womenputthosebagdown
Our relationships with others are a direct reflection of the relationship that we have with ourselves. ~Dr. Lisa Cook
If you have expended your energy giving love out to everyone else, but neglected to give love to yourself, you want to listen to this episode!
If you are eager to explore how you can learn to have a greater capacity of love in your life, you want to tune in TODAY!
If you have been living with your heart in protective mode and wondering why your experiences with love has been so discouraging, this is the episode that could change your life!
If you are ready to "Dare to Accept Love", Dr. Lisa Cook shares 20 practical actionable tips to move you towards this goal!
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Podcast Content from Dr. Lisa Cook #12-Hay, L (1995) The Power Is Within You.
Everyone, stop what you are doing and listen to the conservation with this "Trailblazer", Coach RoShawn Broussard! She has learned the art of how to lift her voice to a higher level and to take her voice to a different place to help pull women from the incarceration of the mind, body and soul due to the aftermath of trauma! If are seeking or struggling to find your voice in your life, this conversation will plant the seeds and provide the water to grow your confidence in pursuing lifting your voice and displaying its value! She offers portable truths such as:
Unapologetically know and live in your truth, despite if anyone else hears or believes it! Forgiving yourself and others is like breathing, it must be done every day!
You do not want to miss this powerful episode! Tune in, Subscribe and Share!
Sometimes in life, we can be a witness to others' pain, loss or difficult circumstances or we can be an un-intentional participant of life's natural flow of loss and pain. In any case, we all are afforded an opportunity to create purpose from the pain!
Our Special Guest, Patricia Freudenberg, is here to share with us how to take the door that is presented to us to create purpose from pain. Her motto is, "When one door opens, another door opens!" She provides the landscape on how she chose to answer the call to help others and offer those grieving a wonderful platform to give tribute and remembrance of their loved ones!
She is vibrant and full of energy! You don't want to miss this episode!
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Have you faced depression and a perpetual sadness? Has trauma in your life caused you to lose the beauty of who you are? You do not want to miss the conversation with our, Special Guest, Dee Avant, where we talk about discovering who you are before and after trauma! Think about who you were created to be outside of trauma. We are created as beautifully unique individuals with a life of purpose ahead of us, until our lives crashed with trauma...leaving us perplexed and unsure of who we are and how we are to show up to life!
This episode provides encouragement and inspiration that there is a pathway forward for each of us. Post Traumatic Growth can be an option for our lives! We can heal! We can rediscover our essence! We can live!
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*Disclaimer: Coming Out Forums is not a substitute for clinical interventions.
Some morning inspiration and motivation from Dr. Lisa Cook!! Are you stuck in an area in your life? Are you ready to give yourself permission to move!! Your mind, body and soul are communicating to you it’s time to go forward and come out of the internal contemplation, or the inner turmoil, or an external situation that needs a change in your life!! It only takes us giving faith another chance! If you are READY, tune in today!
Women Creating Your Own Grass is a life choice and our special guest, Shaltreece Herron, provides the blueprint for all of us to follow. She is driven and is hard-wired to help people. You can learn how to pursue your dream and listen to some valuable strategies for the process. Consider, "Giving Up" and not "Giving In" as an initial step pass the resistance for you to create your own grass in manifesting life fulfillment! Remember…trying over and over is apart of the process to succeeding, it’s not your failure! Tune In Right Now!!
You won't be disappointed when you hear from my special guest, Mrs. Charmagne Lambert, a woman, a mother, a wife, a PsyD student and a beautiful human being! She drops the mic on giving us some truth about her journey of self-discovery and how a deep soul searching process can look different for each person, as we all unique individuals! Listen to her share her journey and walk away ready to choose yourself! Tune in to this powerful episode!
If you are struggling to get it right, YOU want to hear from our special guest, Jeniece Paige! Her story is powerful and illustrates how we can be malleable with the twist and turns of life. Hear from a self-taught woman who trusted God despite the nay-sayers and labels others put on her. She is raw and honest! She will teach you how to NOT let what others say about you be YOUR STORY! You can build your legacy by pushing yourself beyond any failures, pitfalls, or negativity by trusting God and living in gratitude! Tune in to this episode to start your life's legacy!
Looking to understand how to LIVE YOUR PURPOSE...well, you will want to hear from a Serial Entrepreneur, Mom, Wife and Undeniably A Woman of Strength and Faith, Elsie Norman! You will leave this opening episode with some powerful nuggets for your life! Sharing her personal life lessons, Elsie offers strategies to employ for you to get to where you want to be...living out of your purpose with courage! Things like:
Not letting yourself be a statistic! Take a chance on yourself! Ask yourself the tough question..."Is this what I am supposed to be doing with my life?"
Elsie let's us know that you are never defeated as long as you have LIFE! She is an example for us all to follow! She is real, focused, spiritual and living her life fulfilling her PURPOSE! You do not want to miss this episode! Tune In Right Now!