BeWELL

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are finishing their conversation about In Treatment on HBO by discussing parent/teen/therapists relationships, therapy for therapists, and loneliness during quarantine.

The two begin the episode by outlining the remaining characters to be discussed. Laila is a high school student struggling with her sexuality. Rita is Brooke’s AA sponsor for her alcoholism. Adam is Brooke’s current partner. 

 

When discussing Laila and her struggles as a teen in high school, Ednesha brings up the dynamic of teens in therapy and their parents. Unless the minor is in immediate danger, the patient can expect therapist confidentiality for what is said during their sessions. However, the therapists talk about the option teens have, which is letting their parent sit in on a session if the teen feels comfortable and wants to discuss a specific topic with a therapist present. 

 

The conversation about Leila also leads to a discussion about how upbringing affects one's view of themself. Laila has been brought up being told she is “spoiled” and believing she has not been affected by the traumas that other Black Americans speak on due to her class status. However, Diana and Ednesha dig into the circumstances surrounding her family to find that racism has played a part in her upbringing regardless of what Laila believes. 

 

After a short break, Diana and Ednesha return to discuss how the show portrays the life of Brooke outside of sessions. Ednesha says that one benefit of social media is that patients can look up their clinician and see that they are real people who exist outside of the office as well. This is especially beneficial during the pandemic because therapy/the relationship with a therapist may be the most constant and consistent thing in the patient's life due to the chaos of COVID.

 

Lastly, they tackle the conversation of Brooke’s alcoholism. Because she does not seek therapeutic help for her drinking problems, Brooke sometimes falls out of her role as a clinician and lashes out in sessions with her patients. This helps debunk the myth that therapists should be able to treat themselves, and that they have all their answers for their own problems, by showcasing the issues that arise when therapists are not in therapy themselves. 

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you catch last week’s episode on Minority Mental Health Month.

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

Instagram: https://www.

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Ednesha is continuing her conversation with the BeWELL team about Minority Mental Health Month. Joining her once again is Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, Suhailey Núñez, Divya Robin, Teanika Chamberlain, and Tamika Covington.

The conversation picks up where last week’s episode ended: about police involvement in mental health emergency calls. The women discuss how it feels to be BIPOC in a space that is not affirming of their identity. This does not mean that they want to be surrounded solely by those from a similar background. Instead, it means they feel comfortable in spaces where they do not have to explain culture, slang, etc. This comfort diminishes when police become involved. Ednesha retells times when she had to bar police from going into her office when she made mental health emergency calls about her patients. She would also escort them to the ambulance if need be, never leaving them alone in a space that was not culturally competent. 

 

Divya changes the conversation by discussing how therapy should not be seen as a last resort. This originates from the ‘tough it out’ mindset that was discussed in last week’s episode. Tamika discusses how mental health challenges are inevitable in one’s life, so why not start therapy right now before they strike versus after. The women discuss how preventative care is emphasized in medical care, so it should be just as important in mental health care.

 

To close off the episode, the women begin discussing the finances involved in mental health treatment. Ednesha brings up how there should be financial incentives to enroll in social work school after the pandemic due to the influx of mental health issues. She brings up her own student debt and how it is hard to live off a therapist’s salary in a place as expensive as New York City. She also discusses the challenges that come with putting a price tag on your services. Many therapists question if their services are worth enough money, and if there are people who are actually willing to pay. Ednesha assures clinicians of color that there are patients who wants to see them, because their work is so important. 

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to tune into last week’s episode which included even more discussion of Minority Mental Health month. 

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

Instagram:

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Ednesha is joined by some other members of the BeWELL team to discuss the importance of Minority Mental Health Month. Joining her is Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, Suhailey Núñez, Divya Robin, Teanika Chamberlain, and Tamika Covington.

Victoria starts off the episode by talking about why it is important to acknowledge Minority Mental Health Month. She says that there are many minority communities that don’t discuss mental health needs for a variety of reasons. Tamika adds that having a whole month to highlight minority mental health care is better than having a single day because it sustains focus on the topic and shows that this is not a trend by a long conversation that must be had. Divya chimes in to bring up the fact that there is a general Mental Health Month in May. However, during that month everything is talked about in blanket terms that don’t address the specific needs that minority communities face to gain access to mental health resources. 

 

Teanika shifts the conversation to talk about women of color specifically. She notes that many people in her life associate a woman in therapy with craziness or illness. Ednesha adds on that when she talks to members of her community about her work, they are often surprised by what she does and that therapy is for everyone. This is also why she urges medical doctors to refer their patients to mental health treatment facilities when their physical illnesses could have underlying mental causes. She believes people are more likely to take up the referral if done by a doctor. 

 

After a short break, the women return to discuss if mental health resources are harder to access for than the average person. Divya says that as a child of immigrants, there is a guilt that is brought into the therapy room when seeking mental health care. This is because the mental health resources were not available to their parents. The women also discuss the mindset many were raised with of “what happens in the family stays in the family.” They also address the idea that therapy is thought of as a treatment for white people, it is extremely costly, and state sanctioned mental health care can lead to more distress. For example, some mental health calls to authorities are answered by police officers, which causes more stress for patients of color. 

 

Thank you for tuning into the first part of this conversation on Minority Mental Health Month. Be on the lookout for the second part dropping next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode about In Treatment on HBO.

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Transformational Coach Cathy Mckinnon. Cathy is here today to speak about Wellness Warrior Coaching.

Cathy begins the episode by telling her story. She experienced, what she calls, the trifecta: infertility, divorce, and cancer. All three of these events changed the way she wanted to live, and now she uses them as the building blocks in her business at Wellness Warrior Coaching. Her goal with her coaching is to help women step into their power. She does this with 90 day programs that are designed so the client can go off on their own and succeed.

 

Cathy continues by stressing how important it is for women to ask themselves what they want their life to look like and what message they want to leave behind. For Cathy, she wanted to be the best mom possible for her son (who she calls her miracle baby). Part of this journey requires an assessment of your current situation. Many women hold onto their old lifestyle (their 9-5 jobs, etc.) because there is comfort in the familiar. However, breaking the paradigm is what paves the way to a better life.

 

After a short break, the women return to discuss what a consultation with Cathy looks like. She runs Diana through a mock intake. She asks Diana about BeWELL and its many platforms, and Diana discusses how she is uncomfortable with success. Success can be scary because it also means things can then go wrong. Cathy introduces the idea that everything can go wrong at all times, what’s important is asking yourself, “what happens if this goes right?” She then goes on to explain the next step of the journey is drawing (literally or figuratively) how you want to present yourself in the future. 

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week’s episode on Money Emotions. 

 

For more information on Cathy and Wellness Warrior Coaching, visit the links below:

 

Website: https://www.wellnesswarriorcoaching.com/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswarriorcoaching/

 

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

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

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

 

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week we just have the BeREAL team here, and Diana and Ednesha are discussing In Treatment on HBO.

The two begin the episode by explaining the premise of In Treatment on HBO. They talk about how it used to feature a white male clinician and now it features a black female clinician. They go over the cast and their characters and compare them to situations they encounter daily in real life. They also note that the show takes place during COVID times, and the clinician sees her clients in her home. 

 

The first note they give the show is that it doesn’t depict a therapist who sets boundaries with her patients. They call her at unreasonable hours and she always responds to their beck and call. It also is set during COVID but hardly addresses the mask/vaccine question that many clinicians are asking themselves as they return to in person sessions. A good thing the show outlines, however, is a realistic depiction of the cost and payment methods of therapy. One patient struggles to afford her rates while another is seen pro bono due to legal reasons. Ednesha points out that this highlights an important quality therapists must have. They must be able to take money and believe that their work is worth the money they are given.

 

Diana also notes that the show speeds up treatment for a narrative purpose. The work that is accomplished in the show’s four weeks would take at least a year, if not more, in real time. One example of this is the character of Eladio is challenged to view himself beyond his bipolar disorder diagnosis. Having worked in a clinic, Ednesha is aware that clinicians are made to diagnose patients so that Medicaid can cover their session fees. However, she also notes that clients can then cling to those diagnoses when therapists care more about relationships than medical conditions. 

 

Diana also notes that In Treatment on HBO is a great example of why therapists should be in therapy. The therapist depicted lets her past flood into her sessions with patients. It also changes the relationship the therapist has with her patient. Clinicians should have their own therapist so this doesn’t happen, and they can remain an unbiased third party in the patient’s life. 

 

After a short break, they return to discuss another patient depicted in In Treatment on HBO. Colin is a white man who recently was released from prison for white collar crime. He comes into her home inebriated and angry. Ednesha says that that is the exact reason she would not hold sessions in her home. However, with COVID and Zoom, patients are slightly let into the lives of their therapists. They can see their living rooms or offices and hear background noise. Diana and Ednesha discuss how this has altered some relationships they have with clinicians. Lastly, they debunk the fantasy that you want your therapist to be your close friend. In reality, you want them to remain unbiased and outside your personal life so they can truly be told anything. 

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode on Money Emotions. 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Money Emotions Manager Vivi Schenk.

As a Money Emotions Manager and Money Coach, Vivi Schenk helps millennials get unstuck with money, teaches them how to have a healthy relationship with it and equips them with financial knowledge so they can build lasting wealth.

 

Vivi begins the episode by explaining the financial mistakes she made when she was young. She states her goal is to help millennials to avoid making the same mistakes she did. One reason why money is such a hard concept to grasp when young is because it is often viewed as taboo. Because it was so hard to learn about, money began to affect Vivi’s lifestyle and even her relationships. She claims she only knew how to spend, and not how to save. 

 

Vivi then discusses how mindsets about money exist on a spectrum. On one end, money can make people very anxious, and on the other end it can be too heavily relied upon to make people feel better. This spectrum lends itself to a cycle. People will spend money, feel guilty, spend more money to feel better, and then the cycle repeats. Vivi highlights that it is important to set goals for yourself. She emphasizes that you need short term goals as well as long term. Without short term goals, you will not enjoy life and want to give up on the long term goals. 

 

The most important thing young people must learn is how to make financial sacrifices. You must make sure you do not trade what you want most (a long term goal) for instant gratification. Ednesha brings up the point that people in their twenties don’t want to make sacrifices, they want to take the world by storm. Vivi points out that this is the best time for people to evolve their financial understanding. 

 

To finish off the episode, Vivi talks about her work. She tells listeners how they can work with her, and what they can expect from a consultation. The process usually takes about three months and during that time Vivi works with her clients on both emotional and strategic relationships with money. Vivi also has free finance tools available on her website for everyone!

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode with the women of Root and Nourish.

 

For more information on Vivi and her work, visit the links below:

 

Website: http://www.vivischenk.com

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivischenk/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivischenk1/

 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vivischenk

 

Linkedin: Vivi Schenk

 

For more information on BeREAL (our psychotherapy podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

Facebook:

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana and Ednesha are joined by Ayurvedic cooking specialists Jennifer Kurdyla and Abbey Rodriguez, the co-authors of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women’s Wellness.

Jennifer Kurdyla is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, yoga teacher, and writer. Plant-based since 2008, she learned to love food by experimenting with vegan and Ayurvedic cooking in her tiny New York kitchens. She is the co-author of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness (Tiller Press, 4/6/2021), and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Abbey Rodriguez is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, herbalist, and food content creator. Over the last five years, she has been developing recipes for women and young families on her food and wellness blog, The Butter Half. She is deeply passionate about the power of plants and nutrition, and teaching others about holistic wellness. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children. 

 

To begin the episode, Jennifer talks about how she came to love Ayurvedic cooking. Her journey started with her love of the environment, and she started a vegetarian diet to combat the environmental harm done by the meat industry. Abbey came into Ayurvedic cooking because she has celiac disease and came to holistic eating through gluten free foods. Their philosophy is that plant based foods taste good on their own, and they highlight that vegans/vegetarians should not fall into a diet of solely carbs or vegetables. Instead, they seek to create well balanced meals for all diets. 

 

Next, the women discuss their journey together. Jennifer was working in publishing and Abbey was a blogger. Initially, Jennifer wanted Abbey to create a cookbook for her publishing house. However, now the two women are both bloggers and they collaborated on their first cookbook. They discuss how their book subtly weaves in Ayurvedic herbalism to make it easily accessible to many people. They also discuss the book’s focus on digestion. Digestion is often overlooked in nutrition discussions, however, digestion is a key process to how nutrients are used in the body. 

 

Outside of the book, the women are also planning a four week herbal mastermind course. The course will have similar teachings to the book. Both will capture the importance of the divine feminine, seasonal eating, and digestion in Ayurvedic cooking. 

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday, and don’t forget to check out last week’s episode with LaTanya Toland of Soul Care for Black Clinicians.

 

For more information on Jennifer, Abbey, and their work, visit the links below:

 

Website: https://www.Benourished.me

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkurdyla/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebutterhalf_/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootandnourishbook/

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

Welcome back to BeREAL! We're back with another minisode, where Diana and Ednesha are joined by BeWELL’s very own, Suhailey Núñez. Suhailey is here to talk about experiencing impostor syndrome. 

Suhailey begins the episode by talking about where she feels impostor syndrome the most, in academia. She discusses how she got into academia, and how throughout the whole process, she didn’t think she was as fit for the job as those around her. She sees this reflected in her patients, as she notes most people she sees experience impostor syndrome in educational or workplace settings. She also notes that many believe impostor syndrome is most common in women, but the reality is most everyone experiences it in some form or another.

 

Next, Suhailey moves on to discuss comparison. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she warns. The truth about comparison is that you never compare yourself in a fair way to those around you. Suhailey highlights that most people compare their deepest, darkest parts of themselves to only what others portray on the surface. This makes it hard for people to accept that they have accomplished a lot, because accomplishments are not easily internalized. It is especially hard to internalize achievements that do not fit the established narrative. Suhailey talks about her experience in academia, and how she only had one Latina professor. This might be why she experiences impostor syndrome so prominently in academic settings.

 

Diana and Ednesha chime in to discuss how therapy fits into the picture Suhailey has painted. Therapy is a great resource for those experiencing impostor syndrome, because there is a fear people will discover your “secrets.”  Therapy provides you with a space to talk through your secrets and let them still remain anonymous. Suhailey points out that talking out your feelings of impostor syndrome will also help you realize that it is a very common experience for many. 

 

Lastly, the therapists discuss how impostor syndrome shows up in romantic relationships. They analyze the idea that many people often feel their partner won’t accept the “real them.” To close off the episode, Suhailey gives her three tips to nurturing feelings of impostor syndrome:

 

Talk about your feelings with those around you (will help you realize you are not alone)

Write down the positive experiences you have in a journal

Find something in your work that you are especially good at

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. Make sure you check out Monday’s episode on ______.

 

Also, don’t forget to attend Suhailey’s Live Wellness Webinar about the Impostor Phenomenon on June 22nd!

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), and Suhailey Núñez visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

Facebook:

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by LaTanya Tolan to discuss Soul Care for Black Clinicians.

LaTanya Tolan, LCSW, MA Ed. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Life Coach and is the Founder and CEO of Soul Care for Black Clinicians. Since 2011, she has maintained a private mental health practice devoted to healing Black people. LaTanya has always been and will always be committed to inspiring and empowering Black people towards healing, growth, change and goal attainment, so they can ultimately reach their optimum potential.

 

LaTanya begins the episode by discussing her calling. She outlines her work at Soul Care for Black Clinicians and emphasizes that “clinicians” does not just mean therapists. She also cares for the wellness of Black massage therapists, coaches, and all types of healers. She traces her work back to being a social worker in the second largest school district in the country. Seeing that there are a minority of Black clinicians in the social work field, she formed a small coalition with the other Black social workers in the district. 

 

Ednesha jumps in to talk more about Black clinicians in education settings. She talks about how social work school does not meet the needs of Black clinicians or Black patients. LaTanya discusses how Black clinicians need to prove themselves outside of their credentials to non-Black patients, but with Black patients their connection is what is most important. However, she also stresses that patients should not worry about their clinicians wellbeing. Even though life happens for therapists as well, many have their own therapists and that allows them to show up to their consultations and focus solely on the patient. 

 

Lastly, LaTanya talks about her work at Soul Care for Black Clinicians and as a professor. She talks about the issues she works on with her clinician clients, specifically self-esteem and anxiety issues. She also emphasizes the importance to lead by example in both fields of her work. She finishes off the episode by telling about how she modeled self care as a professor to her students. 

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL! Make sure to check out last week’s episode about Pride Month 2021. Also, stay tuned for an all new minisode this Thursday.

 

For more information on LaTanya or Soul Care for Black Clinicians, visit the links below:

 

Website: www.soulcareforblackclinicians.com

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcareforblackclinicians/

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Diana’s good friend, Michael Lee Scott. Michael is here today to discuss Pride month 2021 and Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS.

Michael starts off the episode by telling the story of how he and Diana met. He then tells of many experiences the two have shared together throughout the years, until he changes to conversation to talk about how he got into the arts. He traces back his creativity to his parents, and tells of how they encouraged his artistic endeavors. These kept with him throughout his career when he ventured into musical theatre. 

 

Next, he talks about his career in recent years and his interpretation of the creative process. He highlights why it is important for artists to carry through with their work. He explains that even though in the middle of a project, you might think it looks terrible, it will come together in the end. Before the break, Michael tells one more of his favorite stories as Diana can’t emphasize enough how good of a storyteller he is. 

 

After the break, the trio return to discuss Pride Month 2021. Diana and Michael tell the story of them attending the first pride parade in NYC together. Michael then delves into Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. He retells how the organization came to be. The Broadway Bares event started as a biannual go-go dance night. These nights used to bring in around $8,000 a night. Since then, the organization has grown, and last year the event brought in over $2 million in one night. 

 

Lastly, Michael talks about his work with Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS now. He has since retired from being a performer and now works as a choreographer. BeREAL’s very own Jessica chimes in to talk about her experience with the show, since she joined as a performer in 2014. To close out the episode, Michael shouts out the personal work Broadway Cares does as well as an organization that branched off called Broadway Inspirational Voices.

 

Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode on brand building. 

 

Also, make sure to check out BeREAL’s new merch!

 

For more information on Michael Lee Scott, visit the links below:

 

Website:

 

Instagram:

 

For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:

 

To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

Instagram: https://www.