The start of the school year can be a challenging one for many mothers. I can feel anxiety by the end of July, usually. Especially when other moms are saying “oh I’m done with shopping.” Listen  to a conversation I had with a mom, wife, and educator, Yolanda Dugue.

We talk about  how to set yourself and your children up for success,  mothers managing their emotions, and helping their  children manage their expectations and emotions.

This episode continues to connect with women from different parts of the world sharing and connecting with their stories about how they lost their voice; and how it is redeemed!

 The author a psychotherapist and survivor who knows this firsthand, talks with another woman, a single mom, and new author, from Nashville, Tennessee.  

This podcast is for women who have suffered from poor self-esteem all of their lives and want to do something about it. This podcast shares the real-life experiences of professional women who have gone through therapy or doing the work in their lives that have changed the imprints of negative childhood and discovered their real voice instead of the voice of their influencers. The author, a psychotherapist, and survivor know all too well!

"I can't take one more thing." Have you said that lately or anytime this year? This episode is like the "rubber hits the road." This community discussed issues women face in their daily living as well as social conditions that cause us not to want to even get out of bed most mornings. We looked at ways to live daily with hope and support our children and each other.

Women have been oppressed from the beginning of time, particularly women of colour. This episode looks at the historical oppression of women of colour, by their counterparts, in the social, economic, and political contexts, how it shows up today; and how to have a voice to make a change 

This show looks at the “self” at different stages of life and life transitions. While contemplating factors such as culture and environments where lack of communication and proper emotional display inhibits proper social and emotional development. Why?

To gain understanding on how and why there is a silent arrangement to repeat unhealthy communication patterns,  negative relationships, and have difficulty navigating change leading to diminished mental health.

More importantly, begin to rediscover oneself and find more aligned options for self improvement.

Gratitude! The “elixir” for your mental health and overall well-being. Listen to learn the important history behind this practice, real life stories of gratitude, and the practical benefits of gratitude. 

Grief is a universal experience. Grief is not an illness, but it can feel physical and physiological. Let's look at what grief does; but also what we can do to find a meaningful life forward in the midst of pain and suffering.

This episode looks at normalizing grief by:

1. Looking at the different types of grief to allow people to identify what type of grief they are experiencing,( The guest on the show really helped with this normalization aspect by sharing her own grief journey

2. Learning about the different reactions to grief

3. Looking at the traumatic impact of grief on the brain (physiological impacts)

3. Looking at how not to invalidate someone who is grieving 

4. Looking at ways to practice self-care if grieving ( including spirituality)

Negative messages come at us each day with great speed. We unconsciously carry around negative thoughts more than we realize. Causing us much inner conflict, self doubt,mental health problems, and stopping us from reaching our true potential. In this episode we peel the layers back and address it head-on with practical daily steps to overcome this and improve our daily thought life! 

Personal daily struggles, social conditions ( job loss, wars,religion,  racism) can take a toll on us. Self compassion is so counter everything we have been taught. But, self compassion can be learned AND it is needed, especially in the times that we live.