Humans Are Dope | Mental Health, Trauma Healing & Personal Growth

Michele Bolona is a compassionate guide on your journey to self-discovery. Trained in Neuro Somatic Intelligence and Neo Emotional Release, she provides a supportive space for others to explore their depths. Her mission is to help others reclaim ownership of their bodies and minds, dissolving tension and resistance to achieve true self-connection and awareness.

In this conversation, Michele discusses her journey of personal growth and healing. Michele shares her experience as a somatic healer and how she combines emotional release with the nervous system. She talks about her own journey of understanding her emotions and the importance of regulating the nervous system. Michele Bolona discusses her journey of learning to create safety within herself and how it has transformed her relationships and emotional well-being.

We discuss:

• The power of combining emotional release with nervous system regulation for healing and personal growth
• The importance of creating safety in the body
• Developing a personalized toolkit for nervous system regulation
• The connection between movement and embodiment
• Movement can be a way to distract from internal experiences, but it can also be a tool for connecting with the body and releasing energy
• Relying on others to keep us safe and control everything in our lives can lead to anxiety and a lack of vulnerability
• Somatic work and connecting with our emotions can help us set boundaries, communicate our needs, and have compassion for ourselves and others
• Feeling and processing emotions is crucial for healing and creating a deeper connection with ourselves and others

Michele’s resource links:

https://michelebolona.com

https://www.youtube.com/@MicheleBolona?app=desktop

https://www.instagram.com/embodyingmichele/

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

In this episode, I share my own personal experience with burnout and discusses the contributing factors and consequences of burnout. 

I discuss:

• Burnout’s physical, mental, and emotional consequences.
• The impact of needing to prove yourself.
• The value society places on productivity and success, often at the expense of personal well-being.
• Steps to prevent and recover from burnout.
• The importance of reconnecting with yourself, setting boundaries, and learning to say no.

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

Jaclyn V, The Anxious Therapist, is a licensed therapist specializing in trauma & she openly shares about her own mental health struggles. She believes everyone deserves a safe space to be vulnerable & heal.

In this deeply relatable conversation, Jaclyn shares her mental health journey and the importance of creating safe spaces for healing. 

We discuss:

• Creating safe spaces for healing is essential in the therapeutic process.
• Healing beyond just learning to cope with symptoms.
• Recognizing unmet emotional needs.
• Taking ownership of your healing journey.
• Hard truths about childhood trauma.
• Shifting mindset and conscious thought can help break free from harmful patterns.
• Stepping into power and choosing one's own life to transform.
• And more

Jaclyn’s resource links:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-anxious-therapist/id1364823376

https://www.instagram.com/theanxioustherapist

The Anxious Therapist | Podcast on SpotifySpotify

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

In this episode, I discusses the concept of process versus content in relationship with ourselves and others. This impacts the way that we finding joy and happiness and connect with others.

I discuss:

• The conflict cycles that keep us stuck in relationships.
• How to break out of patterns of disconnection in relationships.
• The importance of understand the underlying emotions and needs.
• Building meaningful connections through vulnerability, communication, and allowing yourself to be seen.
• The process of finding joy and happiness.
• How your connection with your own needs and emotions shapes your life.
• Tangible tools for connecting with yourself and communicating more effectively.
• And more

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

Shenikka Moore-Clarke is a licensed holistic psychotherapist and transformational coach, she operates within a trauma-informed, culturally conscious, and anti-oppressive framework. With close to 20 years of experience, her personal journey with trauma and chronic illness has been her most valuable teacher, guiding her to appreciate the significance of nervous system regulation, somatic therapy, EFT (Emotion Freedom Tapping), and inner child modalities.

In this episode, Shenikka Moore-Clarke shares her personal healing journey and the importance of holistic healing and connecting with your body. She discusses the impact of trauma on the body and the need for collective healing. Shenikka emphasizes that healing is possible and that there are various modalities to support the healing process. 

We discuss:

• Healing is possible and can be achieved through various modalities.
• Trauma can have a profound impact on the body.
• The power of Holistic Healing.
• Self advocacy in navigating the healthcare system.
• Somatic practices and tools.
• Vagal activation exercises.
• Nervous system regulation.
• The importance of true rest and self care.
• And more

Shenikka’s resource links:

Www.thehealingvibetherapist.com. 

Ig @the.healingvibe 

https://thehealingvibetherapist.com/store/my-practice-somatic-and-mindfulness-deck-cards-pre-order

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

In this episode, I share my experience with my first four ketamine assisted psychotherapy sessions. 

I discuss:

• What to do before your first dosing session.
• The dosing process.
• The experiences that I have personally had with ketamine assisted psychotherapy.
• The roles of intention setting and music.
• Things to expect after a dosing session.
• The process of ketamine assisted psychotherapy.
• The unseen shifts that happen in the body during ketamine therapy.
• It is important to connect with oneself and relieve the pressure to be in any other way.
• The importance of listening to one's body and working with therapists and prescribers is crucial in determining the right approach to ketamine therapy.
• Various options for engaging in ketamine assisted psychotherapy.
• And more

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

In this episode, I explore the concept of self-regulation and its importance in relationships. I explain that self-regulation is not about being calm, but rather about processing emotions and experiences in a way that allows us to handle them effectively. The episode emphasizes the importance of self-regulation in conflict resolution and the need for repair in relationships.

I discuss:

• What self regulation really is.
• The role of co-regulation in early childhood.
• How attachment styles impact self-regulation in relationships.
• The difference between auto self regulation and self regulation.
• The role of self-regulation in conflict resolution and the repair of relationships.
• And more.

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

Tara Montazeri is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist - born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Tara currently works under supervision at a family treatment center and a private practice in the San Fernando Valley, where she has the privilege of working with families, adults, teens, and kids. On her page and podcast, Trust & Thrive, Tara shares vulnerable content related to boundary setting, people pleasing, breaking cycles, being a therapist, and showing up authentically. With her honest, sometimes humor-focused posts, Tara hopes to remind others that they are not alone on their journey of being human.

In this episode, Tara shares her own personal experiences with mental health. We also explore the impact of sharing on the healing journey and the validation that comes from connecting with others who can relate to similar experiences. 

We discuss:

• Vulnerability and authenticity allowing for deeper connections and relatability
• Setting boundaries being crucial when sharing personal experiences, ensuring that the content shared is intentional and genuine
• Deciphering personal desires from external influences
• The impact that sharing personal experiences can have on your healing
• Navigating people-pleasing tendencies and cultural expectations
• Following your own path and being true to yourself
• Accountability and having uncomfortable conversations at the right time
• Embracing change
• And more

Tara’s resource links:

https://www.instagram.com/trustandthrive/

https://www.tiktok.com/@trustandthrive

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trust-thrive/id1440223708

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

In this episode, I explore a quote that I read a few weeks ago about the health of our society and its measurements for success. 

I discuss:

• How society's definition of success often leads to disconnection.
• Questioning societal norms and expectations is important for finding true fulfillment.
• The importance of connection in a fulfilling life.
• Sustainability over speed.
• And more

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.

Mollie Birney is a Clinical Life Coach in private practice, she works with high-achieving professionals seeking efficient, authentic transitions and behavioral change. Her coaching style has been described as “compassionate straight-talk with therapeutic roots” and draws upon her years as a therapist in a variety of treatment environments, as a private consultant and interventionist for families in crisis. These clinical underpinnings are now the foundation of her work as a personal coach for folks looking for a clearer understanding of the mechanics of their mind.

In this episode, Mollie discusses the freedom that comes with embracing what is unique and authentic to you. We explore the challenges of perfectionism and fear, and the importance of questioning societal expectations. 

We discuss:

• Embracing authenticity allows for a more genuine and effective relationships.
• The role of fear and perfectionism in personal growth.
• The power of curiosity and unlearning in personal growth and self-discovery
• The importance of questioning shame and judgment, the limitations of societal boxes, and the power of expanding possibilities and self-connection.
• The blind spots that shame and fear create.
• The revolutionary power of relatability.
• The power a regulated nervous system has on our relationships.
• And more

Mollies’s resource links:

https://molliebirney.com

https://www.instagram.com/molliebirney/

Let's connect:

Follow along on ⁠Instagram⁠ + ⁠TikTok⁠

Email: [email protected]

Website: ⁠deanapanza.com

Reminder: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy or individualized mental health or medical care.