In this episode, Alisa Stamps, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joins me to discuss the connection between reality TV shows like the Bachelor and the Bachelorette and eating disorders/disordered eating. This conversation came about because of Jamie's (from The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart) recent article about her experience with an eating disorder and how that has taken over her life since filming the show. Alisa shares some tips for coping with disordered eating and options for help for healing an eating disorder.  Alisa has tons of experience in this area so I was very interested in what she had to say!

Here are the resources we referenced:

Get in touch with Alisa:

Also, I briefly discuss an exciting new offering I am launching in September 2020: a 10 week series about Intuitive Eating principles that will line up with the new season of the Bachelorette! This will be a nice, fun intro to Intuitive Eating concepts. You will get a 5 minute video each week discussing a principle and ways to watch out for it during that week's episode of the Bachelorette. We will have contests, journal prompts, and guided meditations all relating to IE principles. Email me if you're interested! [email protected]

One more thing: Join our Facebook community to discuss this episode and all things mental health + The Bachelor! http://facebook.com/groups/processthejourney

Jamie Gabrielle from The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart recently shared that she has struggled with an eating disorder since she was 14 and since the show, the eating disorder has "taken over her life". On this note, I wanted to bring a guest on that could help provide insight in this world. Brooke Davidson, RYT joins me from Cody, Wyoming to share her experience with anorexia as a teen and young adult. She shares what helped her recover and how she is living her best life now through yoga, teaching, and creative outlets. You can connect with her on Instagram @brooke_being or visit her website at https://brookedavidsonyoga.wixsite.com/wyoyogi! If you are struggling with an eating disorder,  know there is help; please reach out to a local provider and visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for resources.

Joan Baldwin joins me from  Maine, USA to share her heartbreaking, touching, and inspiring story through miscarriage, a stillbirth with her daughter Maeve, and her joy with her now 2 year old daughter, Vera.

We talk about: 

You can follow Joan on Instagram @Joancalzone or her jewelry line @Maeve.with.love.designs -- or on YouTube -- Joan & John

We also mention the way that Joan and I met, which is via the Facebook Group Bachelor Nation for Social Justice!

Please remember to share the podcast with anyone who might find it helpful and follow me on Instagram @draprilwatts or get in touch with me on my website, draprilwatts.com. 

In this episode I am joined by an almost licensed counselor and member of the Black community, Gabbi Davis. We discuss:

You can get in touch with Gabbi via email at [email protected], on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Also please feel free to follow me on Instagram @draprilwatts and join our new Facebook community, Bachelor Nation for Social Justice!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bachelornationforsocialjustice/

In this episode, I am joined by a couples therapist, Krysteena Stephens, LAMFT, LPC. We discuss communication and give examples from Listen to Your Heart and from the most recent season of The Bachelor (with Peter Weber). Krysteena shares her thoughts on some of these contestants' relationships, then, she shares some "rules" of communication that she works on with basically every couple she works with:

1. One person talks at a time

2. Repeat what the other person says back to you, to ensure understanding

3. Do not punish the truth

4. Self sooth during conflict

5. Sometimes going to bed angry is okay

6. Aim for a positive feedback to negative feedback ratio of 4:1 

The book Krysteena mentioned: NON VIOLENT COMMUNICATION by ROSENBERG. You can get in touch with Krysteena at Treecitywellnessid.com or on Instagram @krysteenamft. 

We also touch on the civil unrest that is going on in our country today and how these same communication rules could be applied to our current situation. I truly hope this can be helpful; I know I will be trying out some of these things personally. 

You can get in touch with me at draprilwatts.com or on Instagram @draprilwatts. Thank you, as always, for listening. Though we have fun on this podcast... this is important stuff. 

Lindsay Ralston, LCPC, NCC joins me to discuss the heartbreaking (but relatable) statements contestants often make when exiting the show after rejection-- things like "what did I do wrong" or "I'm never good enough" (we also briefly discuss Hannah  Brown's memorable exit statements when she was on Colton's season of the Bachelor!). Lindsay shares her thoughts about where these statements come from and ways she might help address these things if a client made similar statements. Lindsay is a long-time fan of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, and we often discuss the show, so recording this episode felt familiar in the best way! If you'd like to follow Lindsay, find her on Instagram @andbelovedandbeloved. And as always, you can find me on Instagram @draprilwatts or online at draprilwatts.com -- please remember to share the podcast with anyone who might enjoy it!

In this episode, Hannah gives us an insight into her childhood and how much of an influence reality TV shows (like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and more) had on her ideas of relationships, sexuality, and values. She has come a long way and makes some great points that are very relatable. She also has a few ideas about how to enjoy shows like The Bachelor in a healthy way! As always, thanks for listening! Please share this with others and keep in touch with me on instagram @draprilwatts. :)

On this guest episode, Kara McCutchen and I discuss the world of dating these days and how it sometimes feels like a competition, not unlike what we see in the Bachelor franchise. Kara shares her personal story of forming more intentional friendships, competition for men in the dating world, and how this all impacts her mental health. Kara used to watch the Bachelor and the Bachelorette but no longer does and you will find out why (though she's the first to admit she watches other shows that are similar!). She also offers some great tips for dealing with feelings of inadequacy when in the dating world. You can follow her on instagram (which I highly recommend to see her art and her dating stories) @idahoadventuresart. And as always, please share this episode with anyone who might find it helpful, validating, or interesting-- and you can connect with me via email at [email protected], on my website draprilwatts.com, or via instagram @draprilwatts. 

A short segment about my email series, 10 Lessons we can Learn from the Bachelor During COVID-19! In this episode I share the first 5 "lessons". I hope you enjoy and always please follow me on Instagram @draprilwatts and check out my website to sign up for the email series at draprilwatts.com. 

In this brief solo episode, I share my thoughts about bullying and cyberbullying both on the Bachelor franchise shows and off of them (fans often cyberbully contestants). I explain what bullying is, the negative side effects (there are many) of being a victim and someone who bullies, and give some suggestions for things we can try if we see bullying happening on or offline. As always, thank you for listening! Please subscribe and share this podcast with anyone who might find it interesting or helpful or fun... and follow me @draprilwatts on Instagram or draprilwatts.com!