The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history. It has affected students, teachers and professors from elementary to universities. School closures and distance learning brought new challenges and/or exacerbated learning problems that were already there for students.  With no clear end to this pandemic in sight, it’s fair to say anxiety is high in the education system as we figure this out as we go. This episode sheds light on the challenges we’re facing. 

In this episode we revisit the idea that faith and religion are often used to mask underlying mental health concerns. This happens both consciously and unconsciously, due to the stigma of having mental health issues. Celebrities, in particular, may be in a category of their own with respect to advantages they have which allows them to mask their mental problems. We present the idea that fame, money, and power can oftentimes transcend the stigma associated with mental health problems.

 Faith and spirituality can provide strong and effective strategies for promoting a healthy wellbeing. The practice of mindfulness is the ability to be present and fully engaged in any activity you’re doing by using your senses. Mindfulness in mentioned in scripture, as well as a widely used tool in therapy.  In this episode, we discuss what mindfulness is, its’ relation to meditation, and how they can both be powerful tools to use in difficult time from both a faith and therapeutic perspective.

Faith, spirituality and religion is important to many of us. For some, it may even guide your lifestyle and how you may approach seeking or not seeking healthcare. This episode discusses how mental health providers are prepared to incorporate or not incorporate faith when treating patients/clients. We also discuss our own experiences with this and how we have come to address faith. If you can relate, this unedited and unoffended topic is for you!

Faith, religion and spirituality play a vital role in the lives of so many.  The church acts as more than a place of worship.  In many cases it also acts as a safe haven, hospital or therapy office. In this first episode of our faith and mental health series we discuss how having faith in a higher being, attending church, and having a therapist can all coincide with each other. We also detail why seeking mental health services/advice within the church may not be beneficial for someone dealing with mental health concerns.

Our personal research and clinical experiences have shown us that faith has a profound impact on mental health. Faith can impact how individuals and their families conceptualize the cause of mental health problems, how they cope with mental health problems, and their willingness to seek professional mental health services. Faith can also influence how mental health providers evaluate and treat individuals. Our upcoming series sheds light on these rarely discussed topics, as faith impacts the mental health of people all over the world.

Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith have been all over the media after addressing Jada’s extra-marital affair, which she referred to as an “entanglement”. The cliche is true - we all have "baggage" and bring into relationships a history that can be a mirror into our mental health issues and past trauma. This episode uses the “entanglement” to discuss the importance of addressing such conflict and healthy approaches to having needs met in efforts to promote healthy relationships. 

Talking about mental health problems has been taboo in the U.S and around the world forever, but this taboo is slowly changing as mental health is gaining attention and  more people are seeking out treatment than ever before. The millennial generation has been dubbed the "Therapy Generation" as people in their 20s and 30s are seeking therapy and changing the stigma. Hospitals and clinics around the country have started Integrated Behavioral Health programs that treat both mental and physical health problems. This episode provides some basic information about what to expect from therapy. If you have been thinking about seeking a therapist or wondering about what therapy is like, this one is for you!

Summer is here! And although 2020 has been met with barriers and restrictions due to COVID-19, warmer weather undoubtedly brings about the dreaded pressure of wearing less clothing and looking sexy. From television, magazines, IG models and work out junkies to the "snap back culture", women (and a growing number of men) are constantly bombarded with fictitious images and messages of having the perfect body or "body goals".  This episode asks the question - To Nip & Tuck or Not?....from a mental health and wellness perspective.

This year's Covid 19 pandemic has had a traumatic effect on our lives. The way we live  changed in a quick and radical way, in an unprecedented way around the world. These changes forced many of us to take a deeper look at how we were living our lives prior to the pandemic and how to cope with the changes we don't want......or want. With that has come lessons that can be used to enrich our daily lives and mental health. This episode discusses some of the lessons that have come up in our personal and professional work.