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It's Therapy Thursday!!

The air still hums from a room that felt brave enough for everyone. We unpack what happened at our women’s conference where a Muslim practitioner, a Christian voice, and someone who practices magic shared a stage without defensiveness—and why safety, not sameness, made the healing real. The stories that poured out, the tissues that ran thin, and the look on faces walking out lighter reminded us: when people feel held, they release what they no longer need.

From that high-frequency moment, we trace the everyday threads that carry healing forward. Snow the next morning felt like a season turning, and two fearless kittens named Marco and Polo taught us how to enter change with curiosity instead of fear. We talk about service that restores dignity—hotel rooms for unhoused families, turkey giveaways—and how helping becomes a place to practice our humanity. We also wrestle with bringing kids into service: intention, consent, and the heart posture that keeps respect at the center.

Parenting and reparenting meet in real time as many of us teach emotional skills we never received while rebuilding our own. We talk boundaries that protect home, the risk of over-giving, and the relief that comes with aging into acceptance over performance. Then we zoom out to mental health and the power of labels, revisiting the Rosenhan study to ask for nuance in diagnosis without dismissing real care. The practical medicine we keep returning to is gratitude: one line in a journal, one quiet thank you, one mindful breath that anchors the day.

Come for the conference recap; stay for the honest look at community, service, parenting, and the small daily practices that make healing stick. If the episode resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find this space. What’s one thing you’re grateful for today?

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Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
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visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

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It's Therapy Thursday and Season 5 begins!

Season five opens with honesty, tears, and a surprising kind of joy. We step straight into the heart of grief and come out with tools you can use: how to honor good memories after a painful divorce, how to receive support you couldn’t accept years ago, and how stillness can surface the truths that keep you stuck. You’ll hear a mother reflect on the loss of her son and what changed when she stopped managing pain and let herself feel it. Together, we map the shift from anger to acceptance and the freedom of letting two truths stand side by side.

We also explore the idea of “faith in the fire.” Whether your language is God, Spirit, or simple presence, the fire can be the safest place to stand still and grow. We share practical ways to sit in the heat—breathing, journaling, community witness—so fear loosens its grip and meaning emerges. That same openness shapes our approach to healing at scale: a live, multi-generational conference that weaves spoken word, music, dance, guided meditation, journaling, skin care as self-respect, and trauma-release movement. The arts aren’t decoration; they are proven ways to regulate the nervous system and unlock what words alone can’t reach.

Parents and educators will find plenty here too. We challenge the myth that quiet equals learning and offer simple shifts for kids who think better in motion or speak answers before they write them. With stories of confidence-building, one-on-one support, and learning through creativity, we make a case for classrooms—and homes—that honor different brains. And threaded through everything is gratitude: the daily choice that slows time, deepens connection, and makes space for legacy without clinging to it.

If this conversation moves you, follow along for more stories, practical tools, and guest insights this season. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs gentle courage today, and leave a review to help others find this space. Then tell us: which moment lit a new path for your healing?

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

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It's Therapy Thursday and Season 4's wrap!

What if conditions like ADHD, autism, and OCD weren't permanent disabilities but rather brain imbalances that could be corrected? Dr. Robert Melillo, a pioneering functional neurologist with over 30 years of clinical experience and author of eight bestselling books including "Disconnected Kids," joins us to completely reshape how we understand developmental disorders.

Dr. Melillo's groundbreaking approach starts with a fundamental insight: most neurodevelopmental conditions reflect an imbalance between brain hemispheres rather than damaged or defective brains. He explains that the human brain develops primarily outside the womb, with right-brain development dominating the first three years of life. This critical period builds emotional intelligence, attachment capabilities, and self-regulation - foundations that can be disrupted by premature left-brain stimulation from excessive technology exposure.

The conversation takes a particularly fascinating turn when Dr. Melillo discusses the gifts often associated with these conditions. "Most people that end up with some developmental neurological issue are actually gifted with an area of their brain," he explains. Rather than dulling these talents with medication that merely manages symptoms, his comprehensive Melillo Method aims to balance the brain through targeted physical exercises, cognitive training, nutritional support, and dietary modifications.

Parents will find particular value in Dr. Melillo's insights about the brain-gut connection, explaining how brain immaturity affects digestion and immune function, potentially leading to food sensitivities and inflammation. He also addresses how his approach differs from conventional medication-based treatments, noting that most patients begin seeing significant improvements within just weeks of starting treatment.

Whether you're a parent seeking answers, a teacher working with neurodiverse students, or someone personally affected by these conditions, this episode offers hope beyond symptom management – a pathway to true neurological balance that preserves unique gifts while reducing limitations. Check out Dr. Melillo's resources at drrobertmelillo.com to learn more about his revolutionary approach to brain health.

Links:

Website: https://www.drrobertmelillo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-melillo-a287b618b/
Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/DrRobMelillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertMelillo/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/DrRobertMelillo 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drrobertmelillo

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us a text

It's Therapy Thursday

Authenticity begins in the mirror, but what happens when the reflection others see doesn't match your self-image? In this deeply reflective conversation, I'm joined by my mother to untangle the complex web of perception, identity, and the courage to be truly seen.

We start by examining those uncomfortable moments when we hide parts of ourselves that feel too vulnerable, only to discover these very traits are plainly visible to everyone around us. My mother shares wisdom about doing our best each day, whatever that means in the moment, while I confess my tendency to overthink how I'm perceived by others.

The discussion shifts to social media's role in creating artificial hierarchies based on follower counts and polished presentations. We talk candidly about how easy it is to look at someone's professional website or content and assume their life is perfectly together – and how we've both been guilty of making these assumptions about others while knowing the complexities behind our own public personas.

One of the most powerful segments explores our community service work, specifically community baby showers we've organized. We discuss the importance of maintaining people's dignity through meaningful giving rather than performative charity. My mother shares heart-wrenching observations from her years working with vulnerable populations, highlighting how even well-intentioned help can feel humiliating when not approached with genuine respect.

What emerges is a powerful conversation about staying rooted in purpose over popularity, focusing on meaningful connection rather than validation, and the courage to show up authentically despite the risk of judgment. We explore how family relationships shape our self-perception, with touching reflections on intergenerational wisdom from my great-grandmother to my own daughter.

If you've ever felt the tension between your authentic self and how others perceive you, this conversation offers compassionate insight and practical wisdom for bridging that gap. Listen now to discover how aligning your internal compass with your external presentation might be the most powerful form of healing available.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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It's Therapy Thursday!

What happens when life breaks you completely? After losing her teenage son to a violent crime and surviving an attack by a serial killer just months later, Sylvia Moore Myers discovered a profound truth that transformed her understanding of trauma: we aren't designed to heal—we're designed to scar.

This realization sparked her journey to become a traumatologist and author of "Gold Scars," where she shares how trauma and grief can become beautiful parts of our story rather than permanent sources of pain. Drawing from Japanese Kintsugi—the art of mending broken pottery with gold—Sylvia teaches that proper mending actually makes us more beautiful and valuable than before.

Throughout our conversation, Sylvia dismantles common misconceptions about grief recovery. She explains why touching someone during emotional sharing disrupts the healing process, how our culture "broke grief" by making death sterile and ceremonial, and the importance of supporting the bereaved long after the funeral. Her practical wisdom offers hope without minimizing suffering—a rare combination in trauma recovery.

Most powerfully, Sylvia shares her personal miracle story of beating cancer during pregnancy against medical advice, demonstrating how faith sustained her through impossible circumstances. Her "seven H's" framework for healing provides actionable steps for anyone navigating their own trauma journey.

Whether you're personally working through grief or supporting someone who is, this episode offers transformative insights that honor pain while illuminating the path forward. As Sylvia explains, "I didn't need a way to forget what happened—I needed a better way to remember."

CONNECT WITH SYLVIA
linktr.ee/goldscars

[email protected]

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

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Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
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What would our lives look like if we had learned financial literacy from an early age? Sean Lax, who joined us on Essential Mental Healing, answers this question through his remarkable journey from childhood homelessness to successful real estate agent.

Sean's story begins in suburban St. Louis where his family embodied the American dream – until they lost everything in 1992. At just 12 years old, Sean experienced the devastating shift from comfort to sleeping in the family car. This profound early experience instilled in him a deep fear of financial insecurity that would follow him for decades.

With raw honesty, Sean shares how joining the Air Force at 18 provided stability but not financial wisdom. Despite earning regular paychecks, he lived paycheck-to-paycheck until a Black captain mentored him about homeownership. This pivotal relationship led to his first home purchase at 22 during the 2008 housing crash – the beginning of his financial awakening.

What makes Sean's story particularly powerful is his vulnerability around mental health. He discusses the psychological impact of financial insecurity and advocates for breaking the stigma around therapy in the Black community, especially for men. His perspective on utilizing both traditional therapy and community resources like barbershops, churches, and family elders offers listeners practical avenues for healing.

Now a successful real estate agent with millions in sales, Sean approaches his work with unique empathy, treating clients like family because he understands the profound importance of home. His journey illustrates how financial education can transform lives, while his advice on humility, perseverance, and utilizing free financial resources provides actionable wisdom for listeners at any stage of their financial journey.

Whether you're facing hardship or building wealth, Sean's story reminds us that our past doesn't determine our future. Join us for this inspiring conversation that proves it's never too late to learn, grow, and create financial security.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

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Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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Have you ever noticed how life seems to move in cycles? That's because there truly is nothing new under the sun.

In this soul-nourishing conversation, Janet and Candace explore how ancient patterns repeat throughout our lives while revealing that our unique power lies in how we respond to these timeless challenges. Janet shares her journey back to veganism and how physical nourishment connects to spiritual growth, remembering that "what I put in this body determines how this body is going to be." Meanwhile, Candace reflects on how our trauma responses often perpetuate familiar cycles that feel safe but might be holding us back from authentic healing.

The mother-daughter duo discusses how the parent-child relationship naturally transforms over time – from parents caring for children, to a period of independence, to adult children eventually helping aging parents navigate new challenges like technology. Janet humorously compares teaching parents technology to "changing diapers," illustrating how role reversals are simply part of life's natural progression. Their conversation explores how observation and presence, rather than performance, creates the deepest connections with loved ones.

Most powerfully, they remind us that finding goodness in difficult situations can dramatically change our trajectory. While circumstances may follow predictable patterns, our response to them doesn't have to. As Candace suggests, "magnify what is good and continue to search for those things and you will draw those things to you more often."

Ready to break old patterns? Listen now to discover how ancient wisdom can transform your modern life. Then share your own story of transformation with us – we'd love to feature different perspectives on healing family relationships in future episodes.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

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Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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Michael Pereira's journey from corporate traveler to autism advocate began when his son Christian started showing developmental concerns around his first birthday. Like many parents, Michael and his wife initially struggled with denial – a phase he now recognizes was rooted in focusing on their own feelings rather than their child's needs. "The extent of denial reflects the extent of selfishness," Michael shares with remarkable candor, explaining how acceptance finally allowed them to move forward and create real solutions.

The turning point came when COVID temporarily halted Michael's 80% travel schedule, revealing how his son's symptoms improved with his consistent presence. When travel resumed, Christian's difficulties with transitions, head-banging behaviors, and communication regressions returned, ultimately leading to his autism diagnosis. Rather than immediately seeking external support groups, the family chose to strengthen their internal bonds first – a powerful reminder that healing journeys aren't one-size-fits-all.

What makes Michael's story particularly valuable is how personal challenge transformed into purpose. Frustrated by financial advisors who couldn't address special needs planning without trying to sell products, he created The Autism Voyage, a resource helping families navigate everything from early diagnosis to financial security. His comprehensive approach focuses on three critical areas: income protection strategies, using life insurance to fund special needs trusts, and long-term care planning – protections many families don't realize they need until it's too late.

Beyond practical advice, Michael offers profound wisdom about balancing the needs of both his children (Christian with autism and three-year-old Amanda), choosing positive mindsets daily, and embracing discomfort as necessary for growth. As former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty wisely noted, "Growth and comfort cannot coexist." For anyone navigating unexpected challenges in parenting or life, these words and Michael's lived experience offer both comfort and courage to move forward.

Michael Pereira, Founder of The Autism Voyage®, helps parents of special needs children navigate financial and life-planning challenges. As a financial professional focusing on insurance planning, and autism dad himself, Michael knows firsthand how critical it is to have a proactive plan in place. His mission is to bridge the gap between insurance strategies and real-life challenges, empowering families to secure their future with confidence. No one understands the challenges, wins, and fears quite like another parent walking this path.

• Website: www.TheAutismVoyage.com
• Instagram Personal: https://www.instagram.com/autismdrivendad/  
• Instagram TAV: https://www.instagram.com/theautismvoyage/ 

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us a text

Tired of failed relationships? You might be asking one person to fill too many intimacy needs. In this deeply thoughtful episode, relationship expert Tannaz shares her transformative concept of the six intimacy tanks we all have: physical (non-sexual touch), sexual, emotional, experiential, intellectual, and spiritual connection.

Instead of expecting a single person to fill every tank, Tannaz encourages taking inventory of your relationships to identify who fills which roles in your life. When your partner lacks emotional capacity, who else can you turn to? Which tanks are non-negotiable for your romantic relationships? This perspective removes the crushing weight of expecting partners to "be everything" while honoring our need for community.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Candace vulnerably shares her post-divorce experience with a situationship, revealing how honesty about what she could and couldn't give transformed a confusing dynamic into a nurturing friendship. "When I can't give you what you deserve, I need to be honest about that," she reflects, demonstrating how candor creates safety in relationships.

Tannaz, who left a law career after witnessing too many divorces, explains the crucial components of relationship healing: cognitive understanding paired with somatic bodywork to help our nervous systems feel safe enough for change. "We will always choose familiar chaos over unfamiliar peace," she notes, highlighting why we stay in dysfunctional patterns.

Whether you're single, dating, partnered, or married, this episode offers practical tools to evaluate your relationships and create more intentional connections. As Tannaz reminds us: "Your presence matters — you were born with a unique blueprint to share gifts with the world."

Tannaz Hosseinpour is a certified life coach specializing in relationships—both with oneself and with others. With an academic background in conflict resolution law and counselling psychotherapy, she blends neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness to help individuals regulate their nervous system and build healthy, secure connections. 

Explore more resources at minutesongrowth.com, where Tannaz offers a free ebook on nervous system regulation and consultations for those seeking relationship guidance.

Website: www.minutesongrowth.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/minutesongrowth

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/minutes-on-growth/id1294464255

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L0KjxeqLW0WFMsHVJnQe0

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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It's Therapy Thursday

Your screen time is shaping you in ways you might not realize. Every show, movie, and social media scroll leaves an imprint on your mind, influencing everything from your daily thoughts to how you interact with others.

Candace and Janet take us on a revealing journey through their personal media consumption habits, examining how what we watch creates a "mental diet" that nourishes or depletes us. Candace shares the surprising story of experiencing her first panic attack while watching a television drama during her separation, highlighting the powerful connection between emotional vulnerability and media consumption. Janet explains why she deliberately avoids fear-based news programming, choosing instead content that fosters hope and community connection.

The conversation takes delightful turns as the hosts laugh about their Grey's Anatomy obsession leaving them convinced they could diagnose medical conditions ("I could probably give some surgery!"), while also exploring deeper territory about how religious programming can bring ancient texts to life. The contrast between "trash TV" and spiritual content reveals that it's not about judging what we watch, but rather understanding its impact on our mental well-being.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is the practical wisdom shared. The hosts suggest mindfully observing how different shows affect your mood, behavior, and outlook, then adjusting accordingly. They explore how algorithms shape what appears in our feeds and how we can take control by deliberately curating content that aligns with our values and goals.

Whether you're a binge-watcher, social media scroller, or selective viewer, this conversation will transform how you think about your screen time. Take a moment to reflect on your own media habits – are they feeding your mind with what truly nourishes you? Subscribe now and join our community of mindful media consumers who are learning to harness the power of what they watch to create more positive, purposeful lives.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at [email protected]
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN