It’s common for people to feel intimidated when hearing the term ‘psychological testing’. Having a more concrete measure of your psychological wellbeing can sometimes bring the same anxiety as medical testing, the concern that you might find out that something is wrong. Today’s guest, Lauren Pasqua, hopes to alleviate the stress around the process by providing some context about the benefits of psychological testing and when it might be the right fit for you. Lauren is a psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of the Connections Child & Family Center in The Woodlands, Texas. In this episode, you will learn about the categories of testing that Lauren and her team do and she outlines the process, from intake and evaluation to the types of referrals, recommendations, and resources that she provides. She also shares some of the benefits of early intervention, even offering her perspective on the cost-benefit analysis of testing. As always, the episode ends with a story of hope, and you’ll find out more about the incredible research that Lauren is doing on autism in girls, so make sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Find out a bit about Lauren and her psychology practice.
• Lauren explains what it means to be a psychologist and the focus of her studies.
• The categories of testing at the Connections Child & Family Center, starting with educational.
• From testing to diagnostics: how Lauren determines what the right course of treatment is.
• Some issues or symptoms that might lead someone to consider having their child tested.
• Lauren’s view on the timing of testing; how early intervention can prevent long-term problems.
• The benefits of testing, from guiding treatment to education planning and simple relief.
• Hear about some of the fears that people have that prevent them from pursuing testing.
• Advice for parents who want to have the conversation about getting their child tested.
• Lauren outlines the process for testing, from intake to evaluation and recommendations.
• Learn a bit more about the types of referrals, recommendations, and resources that Lauren provides to her clients.
• The difference between testing via the school district versus private evaluations.
• How testing can help you save both money and time in the long run.
• Lauren shares her story of hope; the positive outcomes of her research on autism in girls.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lauren Pasqua, Psy.D. on LinkedIn

Connections Child & Family Center

The Power of Different

Postpartum depression and anxiety are increasingly common, yet there is still so much shame and stigma around them. Today's guest, Lorissa Eichenberger, is the Co-Associate Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health, where she works with the motherhood population to create nurturing and safe places for clients to feel heard, validated, and empowered. As a mom herself, and someone who struggled with postpartum mental health, Lorissa is well-positioned to help clients work through their perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. In this episode, Lorissa unpacks what postpartum depression is and shares how the definition has expanded. We hear about some of the signs to look out for and the role that partners or family members can play in encouraging moms to get help. Many moms who struggle with perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety falsely believe they are bad mothers for feeling this way. Lorissa demystifies this myth, along with the other common ones she encounters in her practice. Our conversation also touches on partner postnatal depression, how the pandemic is affecting and potentially exacerbating postpartum depression, and the importance of giving moms permission to feel what they are feeling. Finally, Lorissa shares her own story of hope and how she worked through her postpartum mental health challenges and birth trauma.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know Lorissa and the work she does at The Center for Postpartum Family Health.
• Defining postpartum depression and how it differs from the baby blues.
• When left untreated, postpartum depression can manifest anytime within three years of birth.
• Indications that moms might need to see someone about depression.
• Hear about some of the interventions Lorissa uses to treat postpartum depression.
• The effects of maternal shame and how it is exacerbated by social media.
• Insights family members or the mom’s support system can give around postpartum issues.
• Debunking some of the most common myths around postpartum depression.
• There is nothing wrong with changing clinicians if you feel you are not being heard.
• The relationship between mental health issues before pregnancy and postpartum depression.
• When Lorissa would recommend a woman see a mental health professional prenatally.
• Postnatal depression in partners and how it differs from the mom’s postpartum depression.
• How the pandemic is exacerbating the challenges of new motherhood.
• Some of the ways to support moms and dads both prenatally and postpartum.
• What toxic positivity is and how we can avoid it when moms voice how they feel. 
• Hear about what Lorissa’s postpartum care plan for her clients looks like.
• Support groups in the Houston area and other available resources.
• Lorissa’s story of hope, overcoming her postpartum mental health struggles.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lorissa Eichenberger

Lorissa Eichenberger on Instagram

The Center for Postpartum Family Health

The Center for Postpartum Family Health Contact Number — 713-561-3884

The Center for Postpartum Family Health Email — [email protected]

Sherry Duson

Postpartum Support International

Hope Pieced Together Episode 36: Men's Mental Health with Kyle Sommers

And Baby Makes Three

Today we sit with survivor and thriver Gabbi Sorensen to talk about her triumphs over both an eating disorder and her turbulent relationship with social media. Gabbi currently uses the lessons from her past to help other women who are experiencing similar, if not the same, problems. We open the show by hearing about Gabbi’s early life as a ballet dancer and how ballet became a way of life for her. Yet, she grew far taller than her peers, and the space that once made her feel safe now left her stranded and insecure. As our conversation continues, Gabbi tells us about how her mental health began to deteriorate faster than she could realize. So she pursued a career in modeling, only to have the rug pulled from under her feet as she witnessed the unhealthy realities of the industry. Gabbi then talks about the effects that social media had on her life as she began to see that she was becoming part of the problem for herself and other girls. With the gift of hindsight, Gabbi explains how she got her world spinning on its axis again. She emphasizes how seeking the correct help was vital, as well as changing her social media habits so her feed would only give her positive content. She goes on to tell us about her endeavors with an online holistic health school, and why it has been pivotal in helping her turn the corner. To hear more about her candid and inspiring story, do join us today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Gabbi Sorensen.
• Gabbi gives us a background on her experiences.
• Some of the triggers that contributed to Gabbi’s eating disorder.
• Hear about the combination of factors that led to Gabbi’s troubles.
• The role that ballet has played in Gabbi's past.
• Gabbi tells us how she thought modeling would be an answer to her insecurities.
• Why Gabbi’s trip to Asia was a turning point for her as a model.
• Find out about Gabbi’s evolved relationship with social media.
• Steps that helped kick-start Gabbi’s healing process.
• How Gabbi would change her past if she could.
• Ways Gabbi has found support for herself.
• Gabbi tells us about how she is helping others.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Gabbi Sorensen

Gabbi Sorensen on Instagram

University of Oklahoma

Good mental health is crucial. We all need it to survive, but there are a number of reasons why men are less likely to speak up about mental health issues like depression. For many men, struggling with their mental health means suffering in silence. Stigmas around acknowledging mental health struggles and old-fashioned ideas of masculinity often play heavily into men’s reluctance to seek help. Today, we hear from The Bro Therapist, Kyle Sommers, about his experiences of working with men and some of the red flags, coping methods, and responses he has seen in his clients. Find out how exercise is sometimes used to escape painful feelings, why sport is often so important to young men, and how anger can mask depression, and hear Kyle’s advice for helping men buy into the idea of therapy. He also has some suggestions for starting conversations about mental health, helping men better understand themselves, and fostering emotional awareness in their sons, as well as breaking the dangerous stigma that exists around masculinity and mental health. Tune in today to hear Kyle’s advice, success stories, and a whole lot more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Sherry shares some statistics about men’s mental health issues in the US.
• Kyle – also known as The Bro Therapist – talks about burnout and his private practice.
• How Kyle dealt with his emotions growing up and some of the coping methods that men use.
• Physical and mental health are both important, but exercise can also be used as an escape!
• Seeking worth or fulfillment in achievement and how Kyle sees it in the men he works with.
• Find out why sport can become such a big part of a young man’s identity.
• Learn about some of the early warning signs that a man is struggling with their mental health.
• Depression and anger: Kyle shares how men oftentimes act out when depressed.
• Persistent physical ailments are also a common symptom of mental health struggles for men.
• Help men buy into the idea of therapy by highlighting how it can positively affect their children.
• Hear Kyle’s advice for starting a conversation about mental health with a man in your life.
• The different methodologies that Kyle uses with men in his practice, like cognitive behavioral therapy and brainspotting.
• Why identifying your values is key to better understanding yourself.
• What are the benefits of counseling? Kyle says the biggest one is being honest with yourself.
• The importance of slowing down and being mindful, according to Kyle.
• For counselors that want to work with men, Kyle suggests having a straightforward approach.
• How men can foster emotional awareness in their sons, starting with modeling it for them.
• Creating a sense of safety around difficult conversations can create openness – try talking with your children on a car ride.
• Breaking down the stigma around mental health by starting at home with your family.
• Do away with toxic masculinity! Men can be “in control” while still being vulnerable.
• Ending the show with some stories of success: With even the most stoic alpha males, Kyle has seen positive growth and vulnerability.
• Kyle's last tip for men struggling with depression is to get their testosterone checked.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kyle Sommers on LinkedIn

Kyle Sommers on Instagram

Kyle Sommers on Facebook

Sommers Counseling

Although the holidays are a beautiful time, they can also be difficult for many reasons. Whether it’s unmet expectations, not having the picture-perfect Christmas, or dealing with tricky family dynamics, this period can cause struggle, stress, and shame. Joining us today to talk about how to navigate the holidays is Licensed Professional Counselor, Kate Turner who has recently closed her private practice and will be joining us at Mosaics of Mercy in 2021! In this episode, we talk about reframing expectations and getting to the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, gifts and cookies are great, but if they are causing so much stress and taking you away from your family, is all this trouble really worth it? Kate talks about communicating expectations with your family and how this will likely lighten your load. Another stressful part of the holidays is scheduling, which is why it is so important to set boundaries early on. We hear about how to gently yet firmly communicate our non-negotiables, and why we need to fill our cup before we make any commitments. Our conversation also touches on managing our expectations of others and remembering to laugh during this time. Stay tuned until the end for a special song to ring in the festive season!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some exciting news: Kate is joining Mosaics of Mercy as a family navigator and school liaison!
• How our mindset about what Christmas means to us impacts our perception of this time.
• Why we should not compare our celebrations to others’.
• Katie’s advice on how we can reframe our expectations, particularly during this difficult year.
• Ask yourself how you want to feel at the end of the festive season and work back from there.
• How family dynamics can affect this period and the importance of setting clear boundaries.
• We have more time to make decisions than we think we do.
• What those of us who have children or loved ones in treatment can do this festive season.
• Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t!
• How we can reflect and work on our expectations of others during the holidays.
• Tips on how we can be gentle but firm in communicating our boundaries.
• Remember to find things to laugh at during this time; it brings us closer together.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kate Turner on LinkedIn

Kate Turner Counseling

Kate Turner on Twitter

Sam Allberry

Yellowstone

Loving My Actual Christmas

The Best Yes

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Elf

Song For My Children

Mosaics of Mercy

Many people living with mental illnesses often use medication to help manage their symptoms and, while it certainly helps many address the issue, it can also cause side effects and mask the root cause. Today’s guest is Bibi Ladipo-Ajayi, a medical writer and pharmacist turned counselor that operates at the intersection of counseling and medication therapy for mental health challenges. Bibi helps people realize that medication doesn’t heal them, it just masks their symptoms, and she uses a wide range of methods to help her clients reduce their dependence on pharmaceutical medications and transition to a functional wellness lifestyle.. Find out how Bibi makes use of pharmacogenetic and nutrigenomic testing and hear how she suggests we become our own best advocates. She asserts the importance of listening to our bodies, having a team approach to our health, and recording our own medical history, as well as doing research, advocating for ourselves, and having the courage to step out of our comfort zones. Make sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Bibi introduces herself and shares what she does as a medical writer.
• How a program at The King’s University launched Bibi into the counseling world.
• The intersection of counseling and medication therapy for mental health challenges.
• How Bibi helps people realize that medication doesn’t heal them, it just masks symptoms.
• Using pharmacogenetic and nutrigenomic testing to treat medication dependency and individualize diet and exercise recommendations.
• The importance of listening to our bodies and communicating with our doctors.
• How to best advocate for ourselves – get a second opinion, ask questions, do research.
• Having a team approach to your health by finding functional medicine practitioners.
• The benefits of recording your own history with medication – what works and what doesn’t.
• Bibi’s advice for asking your doctor the right questions about prescribed medication.
• Why you should never just stop taking medication with just your own opinion – do your research, talk to your doctor!
• Everything we do is important and makes up a part of who we are and how we function.
• By advocating for ourselves, we advocate for others – being empowered to take charge of our health helps us shine a light for others.
• A story of hope to close: how Bibi got out of her comfort zone and found her passion.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bibi Lapido-Ajayi on LinkedIn

MyNOW Wellness

MyNOW Wellness on Instagram

MyNOW Wellness on Facebook

True North Counseling

Grief is a natural response to loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or a way of life, like many of us are experiencing during COVID. Today's special guest is Bridget Caletka, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York. Bridget has ten years of direct counseling experience within academics, agency, and outpatient mental health settings, and a particular focus of her practice is working with grieving clients. She helps clients with end of life issues, those coping with serious or chronic illnesses, and provides crisis intervention for individuals and organizations in the aftermath of tragedies, such as the sudden death of a loved one. In this episode, we talk about grief – the five stages of the process, some misconceptions about it, and understanding when to get professional help. Bridget shares some words of advice for those in bereavement, including turning towards feelings of grief rather than suppressing them and, while grief never fully goes away, hope and transformation are possible. Listeners hear about the power of fully inhabiting our grief, creating micro-rituals, and Bridget shares some of her favorite resources, as well as what to do to help a bereaved loved one. Learn more about grief and grieving in today’s episode of Hope Pieced Together.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Bridget introduces herself, her practice, and shares a bit about her background.
• Living in a grief-avoidant culture, and how that makes grief more difficult.
• Why Joanne Cacciatore says the world is not a safe place for grievers.
• How the five stages of grief inform us about the grief process – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
• Sometimes, individual family members can experience different stages or forms of grief.
• Grief often coincides with trauma, and trauma can be the result of big or small losses.
• Death, loss, and grief are universal, but some people may feel it more deeply than others.
• The importance of turning towards difficult feelings rather than resisting or suppressing them.
• Understanding that grief never fully goes away but rather transforms over time.
• When to seek professional help – grief becomes problematic when it is not attended to.
• Bridget talks about the intensity and duration of what she calls “normal” grief.
• What to look for in a counselor to help you navigate the grief process.
• Bridget explains why it’s important to tell your counselor when they mess up.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bridget Caletka on LinkedIn

Bridget Caletka on Facebook

Forge My Path

On Death and Dying

On Grief and Grieving

Center for Loss & Life Transition

Bearing the Unbearable

All Our Losses, All Our Griefs

Anyone who has lost a loved one as a result of substance abuse knows that society treats this loss differently than a death from any other cause. Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP) was created to offer understanding, compassion, and support for those who have lost someone they love through addiction and overdose. Too many times, they suffer not only the death of the person they love but also become isolated in their grief. Today’s guest is Kathy Posey, who lost her own son, Josh, to substance addiction at the tender age of 23. In this episode, Kathy speaks candidly about her experience, her son’s struggle with addiction, and his untimely passing. She shares what she wishes she knew at the time, how she managed to take care of herself – both before and after Josh’s death – and the importance of realizing that there is no shame in addiction or overdose-related death. Kathy also explains that every person grieves differently and how starting a GRASP group helped her with her own grief process, and she shares some words of hope and advice for those dealing with grief or those who wish to support them. Tune in today! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Kathy shares a bit about her family, herself, and her background.
• Talking about Kathy’s son, Josh – she describes his path and his personality.
• The signs Kathy and her family noticed in Josh and when they first sought treatment for him. 
• What stands out to Kathy from her journey and what she wished she knew at the time.
• Kathy explains that addiction is a disease that brings a lot of shame and anxiety for parents.
• What Kathy found was that talking about it and educating herself helped her take care of herself.
• The importance of realizing that there is no shame in having a child with addiction – it has nothing to do with parenting.
• Kathy talks candidly about Josh’s passing and the few months prior to his death.
• Starting the journey of walking through grief – Kathy shares some of her key takeaways.
• Everyone grieves differently, and each approach is valid and understandable.
• Starting a GRASP group for families and how it has helped Kathy with her own grief process.
• It’s human nature that sharing our experience helps us feel less alone.
• Realizing the reality of having a child with addiction is different from the dreams of their future.
• Being ready for a group, finding a local group that works for the individual, and how GRASP has been affected by COVID.
• Advice for friends and family who want to come alongside those grieving: be there.
• Kathy’s story of hope: even though loss is incredibly painful, you will recover and laugh again.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing)

GRASP Facebook Group

Mosaics of Mercy Support Group Resources

Memorial Hermann Prevention and Recovery Center (PaRC)

Being a parent to a teen can feel almost as tumultuous as being in adolescence itself. This crucial developmental stage where children are supposed to experiment and explore can be conflict-ridden when parents respond in a critical, controlling way. According to today’s guest, Adam Bertoch, parents have to move past the idea of ‘stop behaviors’ and instead look at what ‘start behaviors’ they can encourage in their teenage children. This is just one of the incredible insights this Woodlands, Texas-based Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) shares with us. In this episode, we talk about the trauma that comes from unmet expectations and disappointment, which is something every human being will face. Rather than trying to shield our teenagers from this inevitability, Adam believes that parents have to be reflective guides, being transparent and vulnerable, and modeling healthy coping mechanisms. Adam stresses the importance of honesty over perfection, something a lot of parents struggle with. We also discuss being curious about emotions rather than judging ourselves for feeling whatever we may be going through. As the gateway into adulthood, the adolescent years are filled with inner conflicts, so we unpack how parents and teenagers can establish expectations of the relationships to meet their respective needs. The conversation also touches on self-esteem struggles and establishing value, dealing with addiction or mental health challenges as a family, and why anyone can overcome any trauma they have faced. Be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know Adam and what his Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor qualification entails.
• Why unmet expectations are considered traumatic and how they influence mental health.
• The purpose of adolescence and why experimentation and exploration are crucial to this developmental stage.
• How parents can understand the turbulent teen years and find a connection with their children.
• Adam’s five guidelines for parents of teens to consider.
• How parents and teens can get on the same page about their expectations of one another.
• Why a curious rather than a critical approach helps parents respond to difficult emotions.
• Questions to ask to cultivate a sense of curiosity about what you are feeling.
• The benefits of being honest as a parent rather than trying to be perfect.
• Avoid rhetorical questions; they usually evoke defensive or self-deprecating responses.
• How the levels of dependency between parent and child evolve over time.
• Trying to control emotions is harmful, so teach your children how to cope with their feelings.
• Navigating self-esteem issues as a parent while guiding your children through theirs.
• Tips on establishing value and building up your own worth.
• What the zone of proximal development can teach us about our capabilities.
• Why Adam believes that human beings can overcome any trauma.
• How parents of teens struggling with addiction or mental health problems should approach parenting.
• Acknowledging your limitations as a parent and sharing them with your children.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

On The Mend Counseling

Adam Bertoch on LinkedIn

Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

True and the Rainbow Kingdom

Brené Brown

Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding

One of the miracles of recovery is the opportunity to serve as a tangible example of hope. Today, we’re speaking with Sarah Bolton, an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery services, to hear her story of recovery, and how she found beauty in the brokenness in her life. As the founder of Sarah Lenee Creative & Consulting, Sarah supports providers with Business Development, Public Relations, and Event Planning Services, and she is also training with Mosaics of Mercy to become a facilitator for our Beauty in Brokenness Workshops. In this episode, Sarah shares her experience of finding God in recovery, going into ministry, and realizing the joy that creating art brings her, as well as the spirituality and healing she has witnessed in facilitating Mosaics of Mercy workshops, finding sober fun, community in sobriety, and the gifts in her life that are a direct result of her recovery. Tune in today to find out more about the miracle of sobriety, and the endless and fulfilling sober fun to be found in recovery.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Sarah shares a bit about herself, her background, and her connection with Mosaics of Mercy.
• Sarah’s experience of Beauty in Brokenness and how she took into treatment centers.
• Sarah shares a bit about her journey of recovery from alcohol abuse and addiction.
• Hearing the loving voice of God helped Sarah to stop drinking and attend AA meetings.
• Coming into recovery, Sarah found Christianity and being guided by a higher power.
• Sarah believes that God is infinitely creative and is there for us in our brokenness.
• Since COVID, Sarah is going into ministry and has sent her son to a military boarding school.
• After getting sober, Sarah realized the joy that creating art brought her and the people who received her works of art.
• There is a spiritual aspect to creating, as Sarah has discovered through facilitating classes.
• Sarah explains the anger and loneliness she felt when she stopped drinking and how she found sober fun in a party she organized.
• Sarah is now able to connect with people more authentically now that she is sober.
• Finding community in sobriety in the rooms of AA, the church, and with artists and organizers.
• How to handle being around alcohol – you have to be honest with yourself and allow your higher power to guide you.
• Sarah describes some of the beautiful gifts in her life that are a direct result of her recovery.
• Sarah’s story of hope, volunteering at her church, meeting the judge from her custody trial.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sarah Bolton on LinkedIn

Sarah Bolton on Instagram

Sarah Bolton Art on Instagram

Sarah Bolton on Facebook

Sarah Bolton

Crown and Ash Event Design

Refuge Recovery

Smart Recovery