The Core Behavioral Therapist

This episode is a discussion with actress and performer Aya Hoja. Aya is a Turkmen-American actor, model, and dancer. Born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, performance art has been a passion of hers since birth. She spent most of her life in Turkmenistan, attending a musical school and learning how to act, dance and play piano. She has lived in San Francisco for over 20 years, received a Bachelors degree in marketing from San Francisco State University and had a successful career working in sales and at a marketing publishing company. Aya discusses mental, emotional and spiritual health for artists during COVID-19. Her views on positive psychology, meditation, mindfulness and living in abundance helps to shed light during crisis. To follow Aya go to her Instagram @hoja.aya and her website is www.hojaaya.com

Born in Harlem, NY, raised in Washington Heights, NY, Hoboken, NJ and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Dr. Lemny Perez is an Afro-Dominican-American writer, poet, international psychologist, filmmaker, painter, cartoonist, actor and founder of Pure Lotus Wellness. Dr. Perez is a Buddhist practitioner in the Jonangpa lineage, and volunteers at The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute. She is the Director of Global Healing at Gratitude Alliance, and volunteers at the NYC Covid-Care Network. Dr. Perez serves as the Chair for Division 52, International Psychology Covid-19 Task Force: Service Delivery group. She is the former Director of Behavioral Health at West Oakland Health Council, a Federally Qualified Health Clinic in The Bay Area, California. Dr. Perez is shooting a documentary “162-Departed" about gentrification in Washington Heights, and is working on a cartoon series called “Dominicana Soy”: Tales of dissertating on ethnic ID, beauty and self-esteem.” She lives in Washington Heights, NY.

Airika Adams works for mega tech company Wix. Born and raised in South Florida, Airika pursued her dreams at the Arts Academy of San Francisco. In this episode we have a conversation about women of color working in tech, social anxiety, Black Lives Matter, relationships and much much more. To follow Airika her IG is @airikaadams and her podcast is called @thefreshmelanin

On this episode author and poet Jameria Blain talks about Black Lives Matter, her book "Blooming Petals" and her experiences with racism. Jameria was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is currently an Art student in San Francisco, California. This is a powerful discussion where Jameria speaks about purpose in pain. Her Instagram is @jameriablain_

Tyler Steinke is a director at Runway Innovations Hub, a startup in San Francisco, California. He hails from a small farming town in Indiana. Tyler discusses what Black Lives Matter means to him. He also speaks about white privilege, and coping strategies to deal with alleviating stress and anxiety. To follow Tyler on Instagram pls go to @TylerASteinke

Debbii Dawson is an up and coming artist and rising star in the music industry. Debbii struggled with social anxiety and used music therapy to help alleviate symptoms. With the Black Lives Movement, she discusses the impact it has had on her. Debbii also talks about her experiences with racism when she lived in Minnesota. Debbii's Instagram is @debbiidawson

This episode The Core Behavioral Therapist has a candid conversation with a NYC, Hudson Professional Mariner. Steven Donoghue discusses how Black Lives Matter has impacted him, the maritime industry and his home. Conversation about white privilege and interactions with police officers was also discussed.

COVID-19 has forced people into isolation. Lack of contact with the outside world has a detrimental effect on mental health. This episode I sat with Shane Martin, a volunteer at the National Suicide Hotline, to discuss signs someone wants to commit suicide. Symptoms of depression was also discussed.