BeWELL

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Christine Gutierrez to discuss soul work and soul healing.

 

Christine Gutierrez, MA, LMHC is a Latina licensed psychothera­pist, life coach and expert in love addiction, trauma, abuse, and self- esteem. Gutierrez, is also the author of the #1 best selling book I Am Diosa: A Journey to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself, and Coming Back Home to Soul. Christine is also the co-founder of The Soul Book Masterclass where she helps people find their soul's voice and turn it into a book. Through her work, Christine offers private coaching, group coaching, and transformational retreats such as her annual Diosa Retreat in Puerto Rico, as well as the Diosa Tribe, a global community where like- hearted women come to heal, rise, and lead. She has been featured in Time Out NY, Latina Magazine, Yahoo Health, Ebony, Cosmo for Latinas, Huffington Post, and others. Christine currently resides in Puerto Rico with her husband, Fernando Samalot, and their pup, Bo­dhi.

 

Christine begins the episode by telling her experience of getting into soul work. Even as a child, she had a passion for healing, and carried that passion into college, where she became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She also explains to Diana and Ednesha her struggles with love addiction, how it was hard to realize her addiction, and how she found help through her issues. 

 

Christine continues on by telling the listeners about her book, I Am Diosa: A Journey to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself, and Coming Back Home to Soul. She recalls how she went about getting a book deal, and what it meant to her that such a big publishing group believed in her work and message. However, her writing journey was not an easy one. She details the pain she was experiencing as she crafted her book, and how she needed to stop production at a point due to the passing of her mentor.

 

As the episode concludes, Christine tells the history of her group, The Diosa Tribe. The group was forged from Christine’s recognition that the mental health field lacked diversity. She clung to any women of color she could find in her work, and from there the tribe was formed. Now the tribe serves to help women from all walks of life acknowledge and heal their soul wounds. An important message Christine wants her tribe to remember is to find someone matches your greatness.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday, but in the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode with Jori O’Neal.

 

For more information on Christine or the Diosa Tribe, visit the links below:

 

Book: www.christineg.tv/iamdiosabook

 

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

 

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

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CosmicChristine

 

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

 

To schedule an appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Jori O’Neale to discuss comedy and how laughter is beneficial to mental health.

 

Jori O'Neale, is an accomplished comedian with experience at some of the best comedy clubs in New York City. She has performed at comedy clubs such as Comix, the famed Caroline's Comedy Club and garnished weekly laughs at "Hot Pudge Sunday's" comedy special at Laugh Lounge. Jori is a rising star among local comedians. She attended Comix Comedy School before performing at multiple comedy circuits in New York City and here on Long island. She is a fantastic performer, but more than that, she understands how to keep a crowd engaged and has over 12 years experience consulting and training.

 

Jori begins the episode by recalling how she got into comedy. Sarcasm and humor were a big part of her upbringing, and having many siblings definitely helped craft her comic skills. Jori describes what her comedy was like pre-COVID, and then goes into how her shows have changed during the pandemic. Now with everything going virtual, Jori and her husband have formed a production company that produces a comedy show out of their basement.

 

Jori’s reason for founding a new show at this time was that she couldn’t find any clean comedy shows that were available to view during quarantine. Jori explains the thought process behind many of her business endeavours by saying that if she can’t find something, then she must create it. She explains how she used comedy as a mental health aide when she was younger, and how she is now becoming that aide for others.

 

Lastly, Jori elaborates on her plans for the future. She has started transitioning back to in-person shows (that heed COVID regulations of course), and would like to grow those shows as well.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday, but in the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode with Allie Beach of Broadway Dance Center.

 

For more information on Jori and her comedy shows, visit the links below:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jori.oneale/ 

 

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

 

YouTube: IYH Network

 

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

 

To schedule an 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, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Allie Beach to discuss the arts, virtual learning, and being a parent during a pandemic. 

 

ALLIE BEACH is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and has been a proud part of the Broadway Dance Center family for over 15 years as the Director of Youth Programming. She was a competitive dancer since the age of 6 and still enjoys taking classes regularly. Allie received her Bachelor's degree in Communication from Marymount Manhattan College and her Master's degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University.

 

Allie begins the episode by walking Diana and Ednesha through the process Broadway Dance Center has undergone to transfer to virtual learning. She then lays out their plan to return to hybrid classes in the Fall. Diana and Ednesha explain how safe social interactions will be very beneficial for kids in the coming months, and Allie shares how she plans to socialize her two kids outside of dance classes. The three women all offer advice on how to keep kids engaged in their learning and lives while still living life virtually away from their friends and classmates.

 

Next, Allie explains her decision to continue virtual learning for her kids, when there is an option for hybrid classes in the city currently. She explains the importance of paying attention to the needs of those around you. She realizes that she is in a lucky position to be able to work from home, but other parents don’t have that option. Since some families are forced to send their kids back to school, it is important to make the school environment as safe for those students as possible.

 

Lastly, Diana and Ednesha explain the benefits the arts can have on children’s mental health and social lives. Allie expresses her concern over the fact that the arts are widely underfunded in the US, and the two therapists offer reasons why that could be harmful to growing kids.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, remember to check out last week’s episode on couple’s therapy with Veronica Vaiti.

 

For more information on Allie Beach and Broadway Dance Center, visit the links below:

 

Website: https://www.broadwaydancecenter.com/

 

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

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allie_beach1

 

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

 

To schedule an appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

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

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Veronica Vaiti to discuss all things couples counseling, both in and out of a pandemic. 

Veronica Vaiti, LCSW-R, CCATP is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Bhava Therapy Group, a group private psychotherapy practice with offices in Midtown Manhattan and Riverdale, NY and now also providing Teletherapy. Veronica deeply values and respects the unique life journey each and every person she encounters is on. Whether working with a couple, an individual or a team of professionals at an organization, Veronica provides a safe and open space in which her clients can explore their truths, gain clarity around core issues and discover new, healthier ways of relating to themselves and the others in their lives.  Forever curious, grounded and accepting, Veronica brings a sense of attuned empathy and playful yet practical approaches to her work as she strives to inspire and challenge her clients to be their best selves. 

 

Veronica begins the episode by telling the hosts how she got into couples counseling. She traces it back to her own parents relationship, and how everything grew from there. Remembering the past is a common theme throughout the episode. Veronica explains how couples have to focus not just on the present relationship, but the past relationship too. How did the relationship come to be like this? What brought these two people together originally? Veronica suggests that looking to the past can help couples look at their relationship in a more positive light. 

 

Next up, Veronica talks about how behaviour in couples has changed during the pandemic. She explains the roadblocks to conducting couples counseling sessions virtually. This is especially present in couples who have kids in the house. Despite the difficulties, Veronica shares how she remedied these issues to make couples counseling just as effective out of office. She also points out some ways that the pandemic has helped couples. Mainly, she highlights how a couple’s sex life could be more lively now that most people are working from home. 

 

Lastly, Diana and Veronica discuss the importance of body language during a couples counseling session. It is important for therapists and couples to pay attention to the body language of each person in the room. This is important in understanding the meaning of each thing said during the session. Veronica calls this the “landing and launching” of a statement. Body language can be very hard to interpret through a screen during virtual counseling sessions, but Veronica also explains the ways that she has worked around that roadblock.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode with Andrea Dresser on Sex Therapy.

 

For more information on Veronica Vaiti and her practice, visit her website here.

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

 

To schedule an appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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Welcome back to BeREAL. This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Andrea Dresser to discuss sex therapy, both what you can expect as a therapist and as a patient. 

Andrea Dresser has spent over twenty years involved in community health as a Health Educator, Consultant and Mental Health Advocate. Since graduating with a Masters Degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy in 2009, she worked in various agency settings and started a private practice in 2011. She continued her education to become a Certified Sex Therapist through AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists). Married, Andrea has two grown sons, and is a grandmother to two little girls.

 

The episode begins with Andrea giving the listeners a little backstory as to how she got into sex therapy. She recalls the ill structured classwork and her beginnings as a marriage counselor. Ednesha tells Diana and Andrea how she would love to be a licensed sex therapist, but how, for the time being, she incorporates sex discussion into her individual or couples’ psychotherapy sessions. Ednesha then asks Andrea what can be expected from courses on sex therapy, and how they differ from the classes she rpeviously took on psychotherapy. 

 

Andrea then goes into some details of her work. She gives examples of ways to treat common sex issues, and the many physical and emotional conflicts that can lead to roadblocks in one’s sex life. She goes over the different ways men and women view sex, and how these viewpoints often come to be. She then explains the importance of religion in sex therapy sessions, as she has many clients who became sexually confused due to their upbringing. 

 

Andea finishes the episode by discussing what her work looks like today. She explains how COVID-19 has made some bonding activities and sex therapy practices a bit difficult when done virtually. She also talks about the issues that are brought up when she is seeing transgender patients.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week’s episode on communication during quarantine if you haven’t already.

 

For more information on Andrea or sex therapy, visit the links below:

 

Website: www.counselinglascruces.com

 

AASECT: https://www.aasect.org/

 

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

 

To schedule an 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/

 

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by a third member of BeWELL Psychotherapy, Arianna Eisenberg. Ariana is here this week to discuss communication during COVID-19. She focuses mainly on communication between significant others, but also offers tips on how to better communicate with your friends and family. Arianna is a Psychotherapist and Clinical supervisor in New York City- at BeWell- working to help people find their best selves in therapy so they can further their lives outside of therapy.

 

Arianna begins by explaining some common roadblocks to communication that people are likely to experience anytime, not just during a pandemic. She elaborates on how important it is to acknowledge that we all process conversations differently, whether it be because of the words or tone used. She then describes some situations where these roadblocks would lead to conflict during quarantine. 

 

Ednesha furthers this idea by reminding listeners of some basics of communications. Techniques such as “I” statements may seem obviously, but they are easy to forget the longer an argument persists. This is especially important today, because Arianna tells the listeners about some changes she has seen in couples during the past few months, and one of those changes is that agitation seems to last much longer than usual.

 

Towards the end of the episode, all three therapists offer solutions to remedy some of the struggles couples may be facing right now. Ariana suggests way to create space between your significant other and yourself while staying in the same home 24/7. Diana goes over the opportunities that are provided to better a relationship now that couples have so much time on their hands together. Lastly, Ednesha gives the listeners some alternate methods of communication that could be beneficial to repairing relationships during the pandemic.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday, but in the meantime, make sure to catch last week’s episode on the Latinx community and mental health if you haven’t already.

 

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

 

To schedule an 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/

 

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Jessica Perez to continue the discussion on Minority Mental Health Month. Jessica is here to discuss the mental health counseling experience of the Latinx community. 

 

Jessica B Perez, Latina from North Philadelphia. Jessica received her  MSW in NYC where she started her career in Social work working with families from Lower East side Manhattan and Bedsty Brooklyn. Jessica moved back to Philadelphia,PA to continue her work in the predominantly Latinx/Hispanic community by managing an at-risk youth program funded by the city of Philadelphia providing supportive and therapy services. In addition, she continued to provide individual and family therapy through mobile services. Currently, she is a Licensed School Social Worker in Camden Nj working with Latinx/Hispanic and Black children in the Charter School system. Jessica is committed to the practice as a school social worker and works with children and families as a certified trauma clinician. She is passionate about her K-8th grade students and contributing to designing and implementing systems within the school system and community to promote mental health and link resources to overcome barriers which limit the success of disadvantaged families.

 

Jessica begins the episode by answering a few questions from Ednesha. Ednesha is interested in knowing what it is like to work in a therapy practice in Camden, NJ, which was once deemed the most dangerous city in the state. Jessica explains how many social work initiatives by the local government have helped re-envision Camden in a new, prosperous light. She tells of her own experience as a school counselor in the area, and the change she witnessed in her students/patients. 

 

The conversation then shifts to focus on the Latinx community and mental health. Jessica elaborates on the different barriers that deter Latinx people from seeking therapy. One issue she highlights is the fear of deportation. The fear that federal institutions, such as ICE, have instilled in Jessica’s community has created a mentality that they must solve all their issues on their own, because seeking help may lead to catastrophic consequences. 

 

Jessica then offers advice for non-Latinx therapists on how to create a safe space for Latinx clients. An overarching theme in her advice is diversification. The mental health field needs to diversify in multiple ways; more practices must hire Latinx clinicians, more therapists must speak a Latinx language, and more therapists must have knowledges of the great diversity within the term “Latinx.” The label “Latinx” does not refer to one culture or people, but numerous different communities that have their own beliefs, values, and customs. 

 

Your hosts finish off the episode by examining the possible mental health implications of online learning in Fall 2020, due to COVID-19. They offer advice on what parents and teachers should look out for, and ways to make online learning exist within an environment that promotes positive mental health. 

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! We look forward to having you with us next week, but in the meantime, remember to catch last week’s episode on Black men and mental health if you haven’t already. 

 

To find out more information on Jessica visit the link below:

 

Instagram: @Ms.perez_socialworklove

 

For more information on The BeREAL Podcast and

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Zakia Williams to discuss her practice, Black Men Heal, and how it furthers a conversation about Black men and mental health.

 

Zakia Williams began her career in the mental health field over 17 years ago after completing an undergraduate degree at Temple University. In 2001, she successfully earned a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Business. She is currently in the second year of her master’s program in counseling. Zakia Williams is the President and CEO of Interface Psych Services. Her mission is to educate and remove the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community. She is dedicated and works non stop helping people find their path to healing with Black Men Heal where she is the Co-founder and Client Liaison.

 

Zakia begins the episode by discussion how Black Men Heal came to be. She points out the ways in which she saw Black men react to the idea of vulnerability. They often shut down and this would negatively impact their close relationships. Black Men Heal creates a space where patients can defy these stigmas and open up to other men about their emotions. Zakia then explains how the program is structured and the transition to seeing a licensed clinical social worker after the cohorts are finished. 

 

Zakia then discusses the ways in which they target intersectional demographics, most recently with their first LGBTQ+ cohort, as a means to create strong allies for a number of different minority communities. She then ties to conversation back to earlier, back to the idea that a lack of vulnerability creates rifts in relationships. She acknowledges that Black Men Heal does not solely address Black men and mental health, it heals the people close to the patients as well.

 

Lastly, Zakia recounts how Black Men Heal grew from a small organization to one with over 200 people on its waiting list. With such a large clientele, and a mission to make therapy available to Black men at no cost to the patient, Zakia gives information on how listeners can donate to the organization. If you would like to donate please see the links below!

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! We look forward to having you with us next week, but in the meantime, remember to catch last week’s episode on Black women mental health if you haven’t already. 

 

Here are the links to find out more about Black Men Heal and to donate if you are able:

 

Website: www.blackmenheal.org

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

To schedule an appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

Instagram:

 

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Kimberly Moore to discuss Black women wellness and self-care.

 

Along with Ednesha, Kim is the Co- Creator of Black Woman Be Whole a service that focuses on mental health and self care advocacy for Black Women. BWBW provides services for Black Women to gather and explore their healing, joy, connection and sisterhood in judgement free spaces. She has produced a documentary short film about mental health in the Black community, and her show on Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Convos with Kim, interviews women of color who are doing their part to make the world a better place.

 

Kim and Ednesha begin the episode by explaining how they met. Despite attending the same high school, they didn’t become close friends, and realize their passions intertwined until college. From there they explain how Black Woman Be Whole came to be, and what they saw in the people around that made them realize change was needed. They discuss the common problem of black female voices being drowned out by white voices and male voices alike. BWBW was founded to raise up black female voices and build strong friendships within the community. 

 

Kim and Ednesha then walk Diana through the process they utilize at Black Woman Be Whole. Through workshops and retreats, the two hope to erase the stigmas that infringe upon Black women wellness practices. 

 

At the end of the episode, Kim talks about how she personally cares for herself. She explains how music helps her center herself and develop good self-care habits.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Next Tuesday, get ready for a brand new episode! In the meantime, make sure to listen to last week’s episode if you haven’t already!

 

For more information on Kim or Black Woman Be Whole, visit the links below:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

To schedule an 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/

 

 

This week on BeREAL, Diana and Ednehsa are joined by Carrie Zhang. This episode is continuing on the theme of Minority Mental Health Month from last week, and Carrie is here to discuss Pan-Asian mental health. 

 

Carrie Zhang is the founder of the Asian Mental Health Project, an initiative that aims to educate and empower Pan-Asian communities in making mental healthcare more accessible. Founded in 2019, the project currently uses social media, multimedia content creation and community events to de-stigmatize topics of mental health, critical social issues and provide tangible resources. Carrie is a graduate from the University of Southern California, with a B.A. in Public Relations and a minor in Music Industry. 

 

Carrie begins the episode by discussing her past and how it led her to seek mental health treatment. She discusses the many stigmas that are present in the Pan-Asian community that made her hesitant to seek treatment at first. She points to the lack of discussion around therapy in the Pan-Asian community, and how there is a prevalent idea that you must push through issues on your own. She also points out other characteristics of therapy that make it even harder for the Pan-Asian community to overcome the highlighted stigmas, such as cost. 

 

Carrie offers a few tips for non-Asian therapists to be more culturally competent when treating the Pan-Asian community. The most important idea she put forward is to strike down the idea of the model minority. The idea of the model minority stereotypes non-white commuities in a way that may not be deemed harmful at first glance, but in reality harms the community in a variety of ways. One of those ways is that often mental health practitioners will assume they know the root of an issue before discussing it with the patient, which could direct attention away from the real issue at hand. 

 

Finally, Carrie discusses the project she has recently started up to build a more culturally competent field of mental health clinicians and therapists, and what she hopes to see from it in the future.

 

Thank you so much for joining us this week on BeREAL! Stay tuned for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, if you missed last week’s episode be sure to give it a listen!

 

For more information on Carrie  and her project, visit the links below:

 

Asian Mental Health Project: https://asianmentalhealthproject.com/

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

To schedule an appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today 

 

www.beher-now.com 

 

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

 

Instagram: