BeWELL

 

In this episode of the BeREAL Podcast, Diana and Ednesha answer questions about grief, guided by the BeREAL producer, Don. 

The duo discuss the many different forms of grief that many people are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. They address grief due to the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of feeling safe, and the loss of routine. They highlight that it is important during this time to find ways to talk through grief, because many people cannot grieve together, and instead must experience the stages whilst in self-isolation. They go over different responses to grief such as attempting to return to normalcy, distracting oneself with work, and by letting oneself be angry. 

 

The conversation shifts and your hosts talk about the future and life after the pandemic. They bring up the ways that the conversation of grief may shift in a post-coronavirus world, and advocate a slow return to the old routine. The pair also cover the topic of self-compassion and explain the importance of not being hard on oneself while in self-isolation, and instead shed light on the importance of putting mental health at the forefront of your to-do list. The episode concludes with your hosts telling the listeners how they have been spending their time during the stay-at-home order.

 

The team at BeREAL would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been listening to our episodes, your support means so much to us! Be on the lookout for a new episode coming next week!

 

For more information on The BeREAL Podcast and BeWELL Psychotherapy visit the links below. 

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

On this episode of the BeREAL Podcast, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Sean Grover, LCSW to discuss group therapy both in person and online. 

 

Sean Grover is a psychotherapist and author with 25 years experience leading therapy groups and working with parents. Sean’s parenting book, WHEN KIDS CALL THE SHOTS: How to Seize Control from Your Darling Bully--and Enjoy Parenting Again was named Best New Nonfiction from Publishers Weekly and has also been published in Chinese, Korean, and Russian. Sean’s Psychology Today parenting blog has gathered three and a half million reads and he has been a featured guest on The Today Show.

 

Sean is brought in to discuss the benefits of group therapy, and how it differs from individual counseling. He goes into the details of how to find a group that is the right fit for you, and he explains how he creates group dynamics. He offers anecdotes of how having the wrong people in one group can cause discomfort, but also recounts stories of how putting the right people together can bring joy and ease to all members attending the sessions. Some characteristics he touches on that can truly make a group great are maturity, diversity, and personality. Some of Sean’s groups have been around since the 90’s and he gives great examples of how group therapy can become a second family over time and truly help human growth. 

 

The episode concludes with the trio discussing how group therapy has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sean explains the technical and personal issues that arose due to this transition and talks on how he overcame those hurdles to restore his groups’ dynamics remotely. 

 

As always, thank you for your continued support of the BeREAL Podcast. Until next week, more information on Sean and BeWELL Psychotherapy can be found below:

 

Sean Grover: 

 

www.SeanGrover.com

 

BeWELL Psychotherapy:

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

Hello Herd:

 

https://www.helloherd.com/

 

 

 

On this week’s episode of the BeREAL Podcast, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Melanie Stitt to further discuss social isolation and what dating is like during a pandemic. Melanie is a licensed social worker with the BeWELL Psychotherapy team in Manhattan, and she runs a private practice in Philadelphia as well. 

 

The team of therapists dive into the topic of social isolation and examine it from all angles. They discuss the trials some people might be facing if they live alone as well as the issues that can arise from sharing space with others during this time. The trio give their own personal accounts of how they are handling social isolation and explain how important it is to acknowledge that everyone will be dealing with the COVID-19 lockdowns differently. They brainstorm appropriate ways to reach out if you know someone who might not want to talk about their mental health at this time, but may be struggling due to the virus. 

 

Other occurrences that can have harsh effects on mental health at this time are milestone moments. More specifically, the cancellation of milestone moments. Along with Melanie, your hosts offer solutions to help remedy the hurt many people might be feeling due to missing senior prom, graduation, weddings, birthdays, vacations, or other events that they were looking forward to. 

 

The conversation shifts and the team addresses how the dating landscape has changed during this time. They give examples of creative ways people are still putting themselves out there and meeting new people through dating apps, all while adhering to the social distancing guidelines. They also look at the way couples’ dynamics are changing, now that they either can't see each other at all (if they’re isolating separately), or they see their partner every hour of every day (if they’re isolating together). 

 

We want to give a big thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast so far. We hope you are all safe and healthy during this time and are finding ways to maintain good mental health. We look forward to you joining us next week for an all new episode of the BeREAL Podcast. Until then, more information about the podcast and the BeWELL Psychotherapy practice can be found below:

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

Episode 5 of The BeREAL Podcast is all about the new normal! Diana and Ednesha are joined by Jamie Lieberman from the FearLess Business Podcast. Jamie is an attorney and mother of two, and with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of her roles have gone digital.

Jamie shares her tips for working from home while managing your kids newly-online learning. The trio discuss how to overcome the hurdles imposed by the coronavirus, such as the lack of you-time, limited face-to-face socialization, and heightened anxiety. For the second half of the episode, Diana and Ednesha are interviewed by the BeREAL producer, Don. They retell their experiences of practicing “physical distancing.”

Without kids, the biggest change to their routines has been working from home, and more specifically, working in the same home as their partners. Your hosts give advice on how to maintain a positive relationship dynamic with your significant other, while living and working under the same roof. They suggest ways to use the extra at-home time to learn more about your partner, and ways to find your own private space if needed to promote good mental health.

Following the advice of last week, the most important thing to do right now is to establish your personal routine within the new normal. Thank you for all the love you’ve shown our last few episodes, we appreciate it so much, and can’t wait for you to join us next week.

Join the BeReal Facebook group to offer input on the BeReal closing tagline.

Jamie can be found at:

 

https://www.hashtag-legal.com/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hashtag_legal/

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hashtaglegallc/

 

FearLess Business Podcast: https://fearlessbusinesspodcast.com/

 

Find more information about BeREAL and BeWell Psychotherapy here:

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago, before New York City issued a shelter in place order as a means to combat the COVID-19 virus. The team here at BeWell does not advise traveling at this time or visiting places where many people will gather. The hosts and the guest for this episode have changed their ideas of how to maintain a healthy mind during this pandemic. We will continue to tell listeners to go outside as it complies with what each state or county has ordered, but people must practice physical distancing and avoid places with even small crowds. This is a way to promote mental wellbeing during this time, however, we would also like to stress how crucial physical wellbeing is one’s health. Stay safe and for more information on how to protect yourself you can visit the CDC website.

 

The BeREAL team continues to cover how to establish a new normal amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Diana and Ednesha are joined with Diana’s friend Rick to discuss what it is like to travel at this time (please see disclaimer above). Rick is brought on to discuss his recent trip to New York City that was initially to attend an event, until that event got cancelled due to the virus. 

 

The trio discuss ways to cope with the banning of large events and the possible emotional implications of these cancellations. They delve into the anxiety that is caused by not being able to anticipate what is coming next during these constantly changing times, and advocate for ways that people can use this time to look further into the future, and plan for life after the pandemic. Another hot topic that they take on is how to deal with the contradicting information coming from various prominent figures in politics, and how to ward off fears caused by the news that could be mentally overwhelming. Finally, the team concludes by offering suggestions for how to continue to practice good human values during this time and uplift those around you. Even though we may be physically separated during this time, it is important to remember that everyone around us is experiencing something similar at this time and might be facing similar mental health obstacles.

 

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to BeREAL this week and in the past. See you all next week!

 

Join the BeReal Facebook group to offer input on the BeReal closing tagline.

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

 

In episode three of The BeREAL Podcast, Diana and Ednesha cover the inception of the podcast and relate it to a discussion about the ways to maintain good mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Routine becomes a big issue that is covered in this episode, because maintaining as normal of a routine as possible during this time is critical for a healthy mind. Your hosts examine the possible mental health implications posed by the coronavirus, and highlight the ways that this extra free time can be used to be productive and experiment with new mindfulness activities. The conversation turns back to the BeWELL Psychotherapy practice as the pair elaborate on the ways that therapists are handling the pandemic. The two explain the ways that they are attempting to cater to their patients’ needs during this time while also keeping track of their own mental health.

This pandemic is constantly changing and each day brings new triumphs and challenges, but it is important for us all to learn how to “pivot” our daily routine and come out on the other side both mentally and physically healthy. The team here at BeREAL and BeWELL is wishing you all the best during this uncertain time, and we welcome you to visit us at www.bewellpsychotherapy.com. Thank you for all the support so far on The BeREAL Podcast, until next week.

 

Join the BeReal Facebook group to offer input on the BeReal closing tagline.

 

www.bewellpsychotherapy.com

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

 

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

 

 

I’m Diana Gasperoni, and I’m the host of BeREAL. I’m super excited for our second episode today. Today I have the BeREAL team in the house, which is super exciting. I have Ednesha Saulsbury. She’s a psychotherapist. She works with us at Be Well Psychotherapy. She also has a program that she’s going to talk about... which supports black women. 

Then we have Divya Robbin, who is soon to be on the clinical side at Be Well, but does all the support for me, personally. She does tech support, admin support and she is in charge of all the social media. She is getting ready to sit on the clinical side. Today we’re going to talk about what psychotherapy is. Ladies, I’m going to ask you both. We’ll have Ednesha start first. Why does talking help? What is psychotherapy? What is it? 

Ednesha says, “I think it’s interesting because when I think about psychotherapy, it’s all about awareness. It’s a place to talk through or work through not just problems (which I also think is a misconception), but all questions you have about your thinking habits, your feelings, understanding others, and how other people experience you or you experience them. One big thing is, I definitely feel that it’s a place to build compassion for yourself as well as others, but more importantly for yourself. I think we can be harder on ourselves than anyone else can be on us. Sometimes it’s just about having that time and that space to explore being empathetic, being compassionate, being accepting of ourselves. When I view psychotherapy, that’s how I view it. Building awareness.” 

Divya says, “For me, psychotherapy is such a wonderful place for people to take a step back. We live, so often, on autopilot. We’re moving, thinking and feeling in ways that we’re not really acknowledging. Psychotherapy is a great place to sit and acknowledge our experiences, acknowledge our thoughts that are day-to-day, look back at our relationships to bring awareness to that. When we’re on the go so much, we don’t have a lot of awareness. Psychotherapy is a great place to do that. While we’re doing that, we can improve our relationships, improve our thoughts, and start to form more positive coping strategies. That is a wonderful way just to give yourself the ability to do that. That’s what to me psychotherapy is.”

Diana says, “So we get to sit back and look at who we are in the world. I’m my own biggest critic. What is about talking that’s important?”

Ednesha says, “For some of us, talking is foreign. Maybe it wasn’t engaging. People didn’t talk about themselves…” It’s important to get those ideas out, and also have someone who will listen.” 

Divya says, “It’s important to have that space.” Instead of holding that within ourselves, causing anxious thoughts, it’s important to have an outlet… She says that there’s not enough education. You should feel open to talk, with those thoughts and feelings being accepted. 

It’s like ping-pong, throwing the ball against the wall and see what bounces back. Ednesha says that it’s a way to gain understanding. 

It’s like a petri-dish, an experiment. You get to try different things to see what works in the real world. 

Communicating can be harder when technology comes into the room. We communicate differently, particularly the younger generation. Divya talks about how she helps students develop skills in their own relationships and put them into practice. 

Diana talks about how people go to therapy for a number of reasons. Then, when they get there, they don’t want to talk. 

Ednesha talks about how we’re conditioned to talk about relationships and communication. 

Divya says that there’s a feeling of guilt. There may be cultural barriers as part of the transition. It may feel uncomfortable, but they can build an alliance.

 

Welcome to the BeReal podcast. I am your host, Diana Gasperoni. I am a visionary psychotherapist, CEO and Founder of BeWell Psychotherapy and BeHer programs. Along with my amazing co-hosts Ednesha Saulsbury and Divya Robbin, each week, we will talk about the journey of mental health wellness. We will talk about why your mental health is just as important as your physical health and the connection that being mentally well has on all areas of your life. We will be interviewing psychotherapists from various disciplines and schools of thought, doctors from both Eastern and Western disciplines, authors, changemakers, thought leaders, and more. 

Our mission is to bring you information that is both thought provoking and encourages you to look closer at your mental and emotional well-being. We’ll give you tips and insights to take the next steps. Or if you’ve already gotten in the door, to go deeper. Each week, we are going to have real conversations, helping you work through your mental wellness questions, reminding you that you are not alone.  

Mental health is my passion. I practice what I preach. I know that the struggle is real. It is our mission to touch as many souls as we can with this content, leading you to a place of mental clarity and well-being. 

So, for the next hour, let’s work together and look underneath the surface and get real. 

Hey there, welcome to the BeReal podcast. This is our first episode. Ednesha Saulsbury is interviewing me. So here goes…

Why are the needs of women and girls so important to you?

Having support by other women and being empowered by other women and having the opportunity to do the same is so important to me. BeWell is a female-forward business. I consider it a gift that I’m able to have this opportunity to have women all together to support one another.  

What about the mind-body connection? Why is it important to you? 

What is happening in the body and what is happening in the mind are very significant. You have to be able to see where the body is holding, both the negative and positive feelings, and also look at the mind and how the mind is affecting your day-to-day. I want to be able to bring more information about that to the world. 

What are the things that you do to make sure you’re mentally well?

I have been in my own treatment… in my own therapy every week. We’re always growing, always evolving. There’s always something to talk about. If something is working, why would you stop? It’s a relationship that helps me live my life in a very positive and open and fulfilling way. I have a regular yoga practice and meditation practice. I have a fairly healthy diet, and I try to be as open and communicative with my partner and the people around me as I can. 

What made you decide to talk about mental wellness and bring it to the masses (via this podcast)? 

My intension is to connect with as many people, answer as many wellness questions as we can, and then help people make that appointment, get in the room, create that relationship, see the change in their life… or maybe talk to people who have already done it. This sparks some curiosity. Let’s go a little bit deeper. 

How did you make the decision to start BeWell? 

It started in a transitional period. It went through many incarnations, all the entrepreneurial side of a group practice. Watching it grow--that was something in itself. Now, we’ve laid the groundwork so we can grow and continue to grow. We’ll have this podcast, the training program, etc. 

What is it about developing other therapists that intrigues you? 

It’s about watching people shift and change and grow into who they were meant to be. I get to see therapists really mature and support and become amazing people. In turn, they are doing the same with their caseloads. It’s the ripple effect.

 

Hi, I’m Diana Gasperoni. I am the host of BeReal. I am super excited to be here. I am a psychotherapist in NYC and the CEO and Founder of the BeWell Psychotherapy Group. We are all about just being. This podcast is about just being human and what that means. Therapy is really important to me. It’s been a part of my life for a very long time. The mental health space and the mind-body space--where they all come together--is a passion of mine. So I want to use this platform to bring as much information to the world as I can. 

How important it is to take care of your mental health

How important for your physical health

How important it is for your spiritual health

How all those things work together

I also want to demystify and destigmatize the idea of going to therapy. I’m going to talk about all different kinds of mental health issues and all kinds of practices to take care of your mental health. That is what we’re going to do.

I’m not going to do it alone. I am fortunate that I work with an amazing group of women. Two of them are sitting here right here with me. 

Ednesha is the first, and she talks about why therapy is important to her. It was her second career. She needed a safe space. That’s what therapy did for her. She wanted to be that safe place for other people. She wants to say that it’s ok to go to therapy. She says that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. She wants to talk about:

What it means to be a therapist

What it means to be in therapy

How beneficial it can be

She is thankful for the platform. Together, we look forward to rockin’ it. 

Divya dropped from heaven. She takes care of them all. Divya loves what BeWell stands for. She loves her job. She loves incorporating mental health and physical health. It drew her to the field. It makes mental health important. 

“Of course the podcast is called BeReal. What else could you call it? BeReal is something that’s important in the mental health space, and being real in general about what our human experience is.” Divya says, “We all have so much realness to share.” 

There’s parts that are uncomfortable, parts that are exciting. During this podcast, we’re going to talk about it all. 

It will be exciting to dig deep. We come from different perspectives. We come from different places. We come from different times. We have a different generational approach to how we do things. That is super rich, fun, and informative. We will take the information and digest it in different ways. We will ask different questions, and offer feedback in different ways.

I could just cry, thinking about how many souls we actually touch. When we think about the impact we can have, just talking and asking the right questions, we impact people every day. 

To be at the birthplace of change. That’s what we do. We are going to spark that interest and that curiosity. We have a rich and wonderful gift we can put out into the world. It’s amazing. Thank you. We can’t wait.

Join the BeREAL Facebook group to offer input on the BeREAL closing tagline. 

Learn more about the BeWELL Psychotherapy practice in NYC here.

www.beher-now.com 

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/

instagram