Beyond the Smile

Ever get lost in a spiral of Tik-Tok or maybe Instagram?  Before you know it hours have passed!   It is more common than you think.  Even mental health professionals are capitalizing on the social media platforms (both of us included!) but is that a good thing? Or can there be harm in seeking guidance or diagnosis via social media?

Check out Episode Two as we dive into this relevant topic and as always, we are curious to know what you think!

Resources Referred to in Episode:

Tik-Tok Apologized to Black Creators

Understanding the Role of Social Media

Your Brain Gets a Dopamine Hit

Digital Crack Cocaine:  The Science Behind Tik-Tok

How Tik-Tok is Affecting Your Brain and Mental Health

Tik-Tok & Psychology

We are finally back!  Welcome to Beyond the Smile: Real Talk with Real People SEASON TWO!  

A few changes this year:

1.  We are in video so you can see our smiley faces!   Today's episode has a minor glitch, but I promise you it has been worked out, and starting with episode two it is a dual screen.

2.  I have a co-host!!!!   Tune in each week to see my fabulous new co-host and learn from each of us as we discuss some important topics when it comes to living your best life.

As always, reach out with any questions and I cannot wait to dive in and tackle another season with you - Melissa (& Melissa!)

You have heard about her all season long and it's now time for my guru, the one, the only Corry Mendoza.  She is real, she is amazing and she has had such an impact on my personal life, professional life and overall view of how I view me.   Looking for a coach?   Check her out and drop my name - she truly rocks.

Her official info...

Corry Mendoza has been inspiring audiences for over twenty years. In her engaging talks, she addresses the limits and liberations of belief systems, using personal stories to drive home positive leadership practices in a powerful way.

She is Founder of Volition, a leadership training and coaching firm and author of Monday Motivations: 52 Weeks to a More Purposeful You. Her passions, at work and at home revolve around people and her clients include Sutter Hospital, UC Davis, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, Women’s Council of Realtors, Boys and Girls Club and various government agencies thru-out California.

Corry was born and raised in Atwater, California and has four children. She and her husband, Rusty, live in Roseville, California. They are active members in their faith, family and community.

If you would like you or your team to break free from a discouraged or negative outlook and step into positive mental fortitude, call her. She will inspire you. She will challenge. She will cause you to grow!

Resources:

Whole Again / Jackson Mackenzie

Fierce Conversations & Fierce Leadership / Susan Scott

Drama Triangle/TED principle: check out on TED talks and YouTube

What can I say about my friend Barb?  She was my first exposure to how intelligent, organized and fun a psychiatric nurse can be.   My inpatient days straight out of grad school would have never been the same without her and my KP crew that I miss greatly (reunion anyone listening?!?).  Our chat was just as fun as our work together.   Mental health can be draining, but you do not have to lose your fun side or not enjoy your life.   Barb is an excellent example of this fact and someone I cherish deeply in my professional, as well as my personal life.

Barbara Hinds RN, PMH-BC

BH UR Reviewer

EFD BH Centralized UR

HCA Healthcare East FL Division

Working at HCA since August 2007

Language confusing for you?  Yep - me too and she explained it all to me!  Reach out and I will connect you with Barb so you can learn all about her side of the mental health community.

Take care everyone and let me know what you think!  Only one more episode after this one and Season One is a wrap.

Melissa

Check out my interview with one of my favorite people - Nina Johnston.    She has been amazing to collaborate with professionally, as well as be privileged to know on a personal level.    She is a gift to the field and overall a very humble, generous individual.

Nina Johnston, LICSW has spent the last 35 years working with children and families in school, home, hospital, and group care settings, in the Boston, MA area. Prior to entering the field, Nina earned her MSW from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Her primary focuses today are on consulting with schools and childcare centers to provide services to children, families, and educators, both in person and virtually; and on her work as an adjunct professor within the online MSW program and on-campus BSW program at Simmons University.

Dr. Riley is also an Associate Professor at the Simmons University & University of New Hampshire. She has been a practicing social worker in Maine for 26 years. Previously she was a private consultant working with social service agencies assisting with accreditation, licensing, and the development and coordination of clinical programs. She has extensive experience in providing training and supervision to M.S.W. students and clinical social workers. She has experience in developing, designing, and implementing course content for graduate social work students. Currently, she has a private practice serving children, adolescents, and adults using a variety of treatment modalities. In addition to her social work degrees, Dr. Riley holds a Master's degree in Theology.

Dr Riley can be reached at:  http://truenorthconsultation.com

Check out my chat with Leah Rockwell!   We connected randomly (thank you IG!) and I am grateful to have a peer with such passion, energy, and commitment to those she works with.   Such a delightful conversation and such a wonderful new friend to have in my circle!

Leah Rockwell, LPC, LCPC is a licensed professional counselor in PA and MD, providing online counseling services for women dealing with burnout, with a particular focus on the motherhood experience. She's a lovingly direct counselor and a co-parenting mom of two daughters. In former lives, she was a Spanish teacher, a sex education instructor, a school administrator, a wine vendor, and she is pretty sure she was a mermaid.

Leah utilizes a feminist approach to therapy and believes deeply in the power of healing through connection, both within the therapeutic relationship as well as by reconnecting clients with their own embodied, internal experience. When not working with clients, she can be found writing, cooking, reading, swimming, and introverting. Her future plans include building a space for divorced moms to connect online and Airbnb-ing her 1860-built, former bootlegging cottage in Frederick, MD.

She can be found at https://rockwellwellness.com/ and on Instagram @therapist_for_burnout.

Andy Kerr is beyond one of the most entertaining, engaging and authentic people that I have the pleasure to have in my tribe.  Check out my interview with him and let me know what you think!

Hi! I'm Andy - Speaker/Trainer/Coach

I love stories!  It always inspires me to see the hero of the story fight through impossible odds, gain the skills needed to defeat the enemy and achieve the life he or she has always wanted. I want to help create the event, the team, the business and the life you are dreaming of.  I can help you & your organization get UNSTUCK, have FUN and do WORK THAT MATTERS!!

One of Andy's favorite quotes:

“Life's too short" is repeated often enough to be a cliche, but this time it's true. You don't have enough time to be both unhappy and mediocre. It's not just pointless, it's painful. Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you ought to set up a life you don't need to escape from.” -Seth Godin

Contact Andy through his website HERE

It is time for us to switch to some coaches to weigh in on this important subject!  Check out my discussion with one of my long term friends and travel adventure partner:  Shana Fisk.

A  common description for Shana Fisk is “contagious energy, strength, and  passion.”  She has a unique way of connecting with people that exudes  compassion and allows for direct communication. As a coach, her clients  experience significant movement toward their goals. As a speaker, the  feedback is consistent. Participants want more.  Shana lives in  Riverside, California, with her husband Mark. They enjoy spending time  with their adult children and grandchildren. A day at the beach,  traveling abroad, and simply visiting with family are some of Shana’s  favorite things to do.

With  an extensive background in education beginning in 1996, she  successfully served in roles requiring teaching, training, team  development, and leadership skills. As an

Key  Strategies works with professionals and entrepreneurs who want to  improve their communication, gain work-life balance, and strengthen team  units. Individualized coaching programs create positive change and  significant results.  Shana's goal is ultimately to raise the bar for  how individuals live their lives, how teams function, and how companies  can operate more efficiently.

Contact Shana through her website at:  https://keystrategiescoaching.com/

Talk about a delightful interview with one of my new favorite people!  Tracy was able to be vulnerable, blunt, and quite humorous as she discussed her transition to private practice during a pandemic, as well as finding her ideal client niche.   Such a fun interview and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did speaking with her!

Tracy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey. She has been in the counseling field for over 15 years. Tracy is the owner of Positive Reflections Counseling. She works with clients who feel stuck or who are experiencing obstacles that are holding them back in life. She focuses on helping clients cope with life transitions, self-esteem issues, and stress management. Tracy helps clients feel empowered and motivated to achieve their goals in a comfortable and supportive manner. She likes to incorporate mindfulness into her practice but tailors the sessions to meet the client’s needs. When Tracy is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two rescue dogs exploring different trails and parks.

You can connect with Tracy through her website at:  https://positive-reflections-counseling.com