Anxiety Sucks!

Welcome to the second Takeover Episode of It's Okay to Feel!

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez and Jerika White interview Dr. Courtney Tracy, an addiction and mindfulness expert who is an Orange County native. Dr. Tracy discusses the impact her upbringing has on her passion for mental health advocacy, her personal journey through schooling and therapy, as well as the importance of having a village to confide in especially during the pandemic.

Dr. Tracy fuses the stimulating intelligence of a research-informed Psy.D. with the honesty of a true friend and the compassion of a loving mother. She discusses mindfulness and the underlying truths of our daily lives on many platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and her own podcast called “The Truth Doctor”.

What We Will Discuss

• Exposure to Mental Health Conditions at a Young Age.
• Personal Interest in Psychology Due to Family Background.
• Journey Through Education in Mental Health.
• Personal Experience with Therapy.
• Your Unconscious is Showing Free Online Courses on the Subconscious Mind, How to Forgive Yourself and Others, as well as Basics on Childhood Trauma.
• How Dr. Tracy Balances Personal Life, Work, and Mental Health.

Resources

• The Truth Doctor 
• Truth Doctor Podcast - Your Unconscious is Showing 
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez and Jerika White interviews Lorry Belhumuer, the CEO of Western Youth Services (WYS). Lorry discusses WYS, the services they provide the community, and updating services to meet new needs in a virtual world. 

What We Will Discuss

• The work Western Youth Services does. 
• Programs available to the community.
• What is the RESET Toolbox.
• How is the RESET Toolbox making an impact in the community.
• Community Training Western United Services is involved with. 

Resources

• Western Youth Services
• RESET Toolbox
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County
• ACEs Aware
• Crisis Intervention Training

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to the first Takeover Episode of It's Okay to Feel!

On the first Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez & Carolina Jernejcic discuss the stigma behind mental health in the Latino Community and why there should be no shame attached to people wanting to seek out mental health services. They also talk about what families have accomplished through some of the mental health resources that are available to all of our listeners. Finally, they share their perspectives and lived experiences as Latinos who work in the mental health field.

Our Takeover Host today is Alejandro Martinez. He is a Peer Mentor for NAMI-OC's Peer Connector Program. He is a mental health advocate who makes use of his own diagnoses to connect with other individuals experiencing similar challenges. Alejandro hopes to become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist or a Dialectical Behavioral Therapist so that he may provide support to other individuals who would like to better understand their own emotions.

Our guest today is Carolina Jernejcic- a Senior Family Advocate and a NAMI Family to Family Course Facilitator. She currently works at Riverside University Health System in an Innovative Program for transitional age youth (16-25 years) that is called “The Arena TAY Resource & Support Center.”

This unique takeover episode is a feature of the NAMI-OC Media Masterclass which teaches teens and young adults the basics of podcasting and growing their social media presence.  Takeover episodes feature Media Masterclass students who want to start their own podcast.

In this episode, Alejandro and Carolina talk about:

• Shame behind Mental Illness
• Open Mindedness and Education
• Expectations regarding mental health services
• Why we are not alone
• And More!

Resources:

• The Arena Resource Center
• Riverside University Health System's Instagram
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI-OC's Peer Connector Program
• NAMI Orange County
• Crisis Line, Warmline, and Crisis Groups

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On the final episode of season 1 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn reflect back on the past few months, share some of their highlights, and talk about what's going to happen in the future!

We're so grateful for you listeners! Keep feeling your feelings. :)

Resources: 

• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• You, Me, Empathy on Instagram
• The Feely Human Collective
• Feely Human on Instagram
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Jenipher on Instagram
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode twelve of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about what makes us humans unique and worthy of love. Our guest today is Rae Senarighi, a non-binary activist artist doing amazing things in the world of gender resilience, trans rights, and representation.

In this episode we talk about:

• Identity
• How identity plays a role in our mental health
• Rae's art journey
• Being who you are
• Authenticity in us
• Trans and human rights
• Gender resilience
• And more!

Resources: 

• Rae Senarighi
• Rae on Instagram
• Trans is Beautiful
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode eleven of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about why black mental health matters, white fragility, and more. Our guest today is Inertia DeWitt, a Healing Arts Practitioner who provides education and experiential opportunities in mindfulness, somatic practices, yoga and other ancient spiritual teachings.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why black mental health (and black lives) matter
• "All lives matter" as rooted in systemic racism and white fragility
• Racial justice
• The impact on black mental health
• Allyship and support
• Racial trauma
• Spirituality and more!

Resources: 

• InertiaDewitt.com
• Inertia on Instagram
• Healing is Mutual podcast
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode 10 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about the wonders of community, discovering your own community, and creating a supportive community. Our guest today is Natalie Franke, a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and community builder on a mission to empower small business owners to rise together doing what they love. She's amazing!

In this episode we talk about:

• Community over competition
• Culture of win and lose
• Discovering your people
• Fostering and growing a community
• Dangers of capitalism and influence
• Burnout in our passions
• Cult of authenticity online
• And authenticity

Resources: 

• Natalie's Instagram
• Rising Tide Society
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode 9 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about how they've been navigating their lives during Covid 19, and all the ways their daily routines  have changed since this pandemic started. They also talk about ways they've been coping with the pandemic, and self-care remedies.

Our guest today is the wonderful Minaa B., a  psychotherapist who uses a variety of clinical lenses to engage her clients from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Mindfulness Practice and Psychoanalytical Therapy. Minaa shares her expertise on navigating mental health during a pandemic.

In this episode we talk about:

• Being okay with not being okay
• Dealing with discomfort
• Finding things that anchor us
• Looking inward to help outward
• Disruption to normalcy
• Collective grieving

Resources: 

• Minaa's website
• Minaa's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode eight of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about being HSPs, or Highly Sensitive People, how their sensitivity has sometimes hindered them and sometimes helped them, and how they protect themselves.

Our guest today is Louise Henning, a graphic designer, art director and HSP activist. Louise is such a force for good in this world and we can't wait to share her story with you! We chat with Louise about what makes a sensitive person, how her particular sensitivity has shown up in her life, and tips for HSPs to navigate the world!

In this episode we talk about:

• What makes a sensitive person
• Traits of a highly sensitive person
• How society/people in our lives try to “fix us” to be less sensitive
• How to navigate being highly sensitive in this insensitive world
• What depletes us
• How to recharge
• And more!

Resources: 

• Louise Henning
• Louise on Instagram
• HSP on Instagram
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Show notes
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On the seventh episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about their own journeys dealing with eating disorders, where they are at in their recovery, and why eating disorders are so prevalent.

Our guest today is Jess Sprengle, a radically genuine, dynamic, and interactive therapist specializing in eating disorders and disordered eating. Jess loves being a safe place for any highly sensitive individuals in need of guidance, accountability, and—of course—a healthy dose of compassion.

In this episode we talk about:

• What is an eating disorder?
• What are the types of eating disorders?
• How to know if you have an eating disorder?
• Where do eating disorders come from?
• Navigating health and disorder
• Diet industry/wellness industry
• Treatment options

Resources: 

• Jess Sprengle's Website
• Jess Sprengle's Instagram 
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Podcast show notes
• The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness
• Project HEAL
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.