Connecting Badgers

In this week's episode of the Connecting Badgers Podcast, the hosts share strategies for proactive wellness, focusing on setting intentions for academics, social life, and self-care at the beginning of the semester.

Learn more about Black History Month and events on campus and follow the BCC on Instagram

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook throughMyUHS

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

In this week's episode of the Connecting Badgers Podcast, Eating Disorder Services Coordinator Andie Schwabe, LPC, explains body neutrality—what it is, what it isn't, and how to practice it. She shares techniques for cultivating a mindful, non-judgmental relationship with our bodies, and offers tips for navigating conversations about body image with friends and family.

Mentioned Podcasts

- Maintenance Phase Podcast

- Full Plate Podcast

- This is (Not) About Your Body Podcast

Mentioned News Articles

- How to Shift from 'Body Positivity' to 'Body Neutrality' - and Why You Should

- Why Body Neutrality Works Better Than Body Positivity

UHS Mental Health Services

To schedule an Access Appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600 (option 2) or visit MyUHS

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

Winter break is approaching, which means holidays, food, and fun. It can also mean is exposure to family conflicts, isolation, and time away from your support system. In this episode of Connecting Badgers, hosts will share helpful tips to enjoy your holidays while taking care of yourself.

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS⁠

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through ⁠MyUHS ⁠

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

Today we’re covering something that everyone needs, and many people struggle with – sleep. With it getting darker earlier, exams and assignments bringing stress, and general life issues getting in the way, poor sleep is a topic on a lot of people’s minds right now. Today we have Tess Hoese with us from Mental Health Services to help us talk about sleep.

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through MyUHS

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

Living with roommates can be one of the most fulfilling or the most challenging experiences of college life. In this episode, we are talking with Molly Willihnganz, LMFT, UHS mental health therapist and embedded provider through housing, about roommate relationships, particularly in navigating conflicts and difficult conversations.

Office of Student Assistance and Support

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS

Let’s Talk schedule and information

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or through MyUHS portal

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

In this episode we chat with Serena Cisneros, MS, LPC, who is Ojibwe from the Lac Courte Oreilles, and one of the UHS embedded mental health providers at the Indigenous Student Center. Listen in to learn more about her role and services at the ISC as well as upcoming Native November events.

ISC’s website

Native November events

ISC’s Instagram: @indigenous.uwmadison

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through the MyUHS

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

Today we would like to address the upcoming election and associated stress which may not be present in your everyday routines, but continue to impact us and others around us. The political climate in the US and in many other places around the globe has become very divisive in recent years. This can have an adverse affect on our mental health and wellbeing, so in today’s episode we will be talking about how to support yourself and others around you, while you navigate these times while still trying to be a student.

Let’s Talk

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS:

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through MyUHS

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

MHS offers focused services for students with underrepresented identities who express a need to work with a provider with shared identity/cultural background or language similar to theirs. MHS has focused counseling services for students of color, LGBTQ+ students and trans and gender diverse students, and for students who speak Mandarin and/or Hindi. We talk more today with Geetanjali Deole, LPC and Mariessa Robles, PsyD about these services and what UHS has to offer.

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/mental-health/

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through the MyUHS portal: https://myuhs.uhs.wisc.edu/

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com

Today we talk with Dr. Ritu Bhatnagar about Psychiatric Services at UHS and answer basic questions on what to expect in a psychiatry appointment, how to get connected to services, and more!  

At Psychiatric Services, we believe that medications can be a part of the answer. If you are looking only to the medications to solve your problems, you may overlook opportunities for the other 23.9 hours of your day. Here are some recommended links and resources Dr. Bhatnagar shared out: 

Sleep hygiene  

Free resources about sleep practices and guided meditations: 

From MIT: https://mindhandheart.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2019-05/Cheat%20Sleep_word%20format_2019.pdf  

From Dartmouth: https://students.dartmouth.edu/wellness-center/wellness-mindfulness/mindfulness-meditation/guided-recordings/progressive-muscle-relaxation   

Center for Healthy Minds has a free meditation and wellness app which also includes tools for insomnia: https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app. You can learn more about the Center for Healthy Minds and the other programs they have here: https://centerhealthyminds.org 

Breathing exercises:  

https://www.projectxfactor.com/post/the-3-most-effective-breathing-exercises-to-combat-stress  

Pick one and use it every morning and during the day for a week whenever you notice your thoughts taking over. 

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/mental-health/   

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through the MyUHS portal: https://myuhs.uhs.wisc.edu/    

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com 

At this time a lot of students may be thinking about coming to therapy. Today we answer questions about how to know if a therapist is a good fit, what to look for, and provide some helpful tips and resources in your search for a therapist.

General information on Mental Health Services at UHS: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/mental-health/

To schedule an Access appointment, please call us at 608-265-5600, option #2 or webbook through the MyUHS portal: https://myuhs.uhs.wisc.edu/

Our intro and outro music is ‘Storybook’ by Scott Holmes: scottholmesmusic.com