Hello there and welcome back to Well, Not Perfect! I’m so excited to introduce this week’s guest, David Gray. He is a fellow therapist and good friend of mine. He is a licensed psychotherapist and owner of Gray Matter Therapy, a private practice in the Chicagoland area. 

He is a trained therapist who assists clients who use psychedelic medicine for therapeutic purposes and contributes to the growing evidence that psychedelic medicine is a promising option in the field of mental health treatment. 

This treatment modality is up and coming in the therapy world, with groundbreaking research being done for its uses in treating major depressive disorder, PTSD, addiction, and so much more. Listen in to hear what David has to say about his professional and personal experiences with this type of treatment.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

1. How psychedelic medicine improves people’s biological and psychological well being 
2. Where and why the stigma of psychedelic medicines came to be 
3. And the importance of educating and empowering yourself to find the treatment method that work best for you

So without further ado, please listen and learn from my good friend David Gray. Welcome to another episode of Well, Not Perfect.

To connect with David and his practice, you can find him at: https://graymattertherapy.net/.

Resources:

• California Institute of Integral Studies: https://www.ciis.edu/ 
• Multidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies: https://maps.org/ 
• Books:
• • The Fellowship of the River by Joseph Tafur
  • Sacred Knowledge by William A. Richards
  • Consciousness Medicine by Françoise Bourzat and Kristina Hunter
  • How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

Today on Well, Not Perfect, I sit down with Kati Wax. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner of Lincoln Park Psychology. Her passion is to affect others to make meaningful change. She is an extraordinary therapist and leader in the field of psychology in the Chicagoland area.

Listen in as she explains the power of boundary setting during the holiday season and how we can approach this time of year more skillfully. 

In todays episode you will learn:

1. How to set boundaries with others and within yourself
2. Why it's important to stay non-judgmental during the holiday season
3. How to go from a negative thought pattern to a productive and healthy reframing of those thoughts 

To connect with Kati and her practice you can find them at www.lincolnparkpsychology.com and on Instagram @lincoln_park_psychology.

Welcome to another episode of Well, Not Perfect. Today, I want you to prepare yourself because this is a conversation most of us dread, and that is discussing our financial health. 

Now before you turn off this show, I want you to just take a moment and think about why this is one of the most important elements of your well being.

On today’s show, you will learn

1. How finances affect your mental & physical wellbeing
2. The importance of financial tools, like budgeting
3. And learn tools to cope with your anxiety while working to attain your financial goals

Today I sit down with Angel Arnold, LPC and therapist at Simply Bee Counseling. During this webinar you will learn how financial wellness affects our mental health. When your relationship to money and finances is positive, then you can free up time, mental space and energy to focus on growth in other areas in your life. 

If your goal is to increase your overall wellness, but you’ve been unsure of how to balance your basic needs with things that feel like “extra”, such as therapy, taking a yoga class, cooking class, etc, then check out this conversation with Angel.

Today she will provide you with tangible skills to overcome your fear, anxiety, shame and avoidance around your financial situation so that you can boost your self-esteem, your confidence and thrive in your life. 

TW / Trigger Warning

Welcome back! This is your host and therapist, Audrey Grunst. Boy do I have a good episode to share with you today! It’s a story that most of us could never imagine—yet somehow throughout this story, there's an interconnection between what my guest went through and what we experience everyday. 

Today I sat with Elena Breese. She is a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. I was struck by her openness to talk about something that most people could never imagine. Elena helps us understand that life’s biggest moments have long term impacts on our mental well being and how it’s never too late to recover. 

In today’s episode you will learn: 

1. How to find hope after hardship
2. How to tap into your natural strengths 
3. And the value of mindfulness 

Listen in as she candidly shares her story of recovery and trauma. Her story gives us an insider’s look into the resilience of the human spirit. Welcome to another episode of Well, Not Perfect. 

To connect with Elena, you can find her at: 

• Website: www.stillbloomingme.com
• Instagram: @stillbloomingme

Today on Well, Not Perfect I have a guest who doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk. I would like to introduce you to Mason Spector, the Co-Founder of Madhappy, a global lifestyle and apparel brand on a mission to create a more optimistic and inclusive world. Mason has been named Forbes 30U30 and is changing the world through his platform and lifestyle brand. Sit down, get cozy and join us as we talk about our personal missions to continue to disrupt the stigma of mental health and use our platforms to make this world a more optimistic place.  

Today you will learn:

1. The benefit of therapy
2. Why it’s important to see mental health as a social issue
3. And how businesses like Madhappy are using their platforms and brands to disrupt the mental health stigma 

For tons of great, free resources, check out https://www.localoptimist.com/ and be sure to listen to The Madhappy Podcast for more conversations about mental health - available on all platforms. 

Follow along on instagram:

• @masonspec
• @localoptimist 
• @madhappy

Hello hello and welcome back to another episode of Well, Not Perfect. Today I sit down with Whitney Reynolds, and let me tell you that my conversation with her left me feeling empowered to say the least. Whitney is the Emmy nominated host of The Whitney Reynolds Show, a talk TV show that is dedicated to being a safe space for delicate life stories. 

Along with the production of her show that went national this year, Whitney is an author, podcast host, and entrepreneur who is passionate about giving back to the community. 

Today, Whitney gives us a real look into her life off the big screen. We get deep into what makes her life meaningful and how she finds balance through the many seasons of life.

In today’s episode you will learn:

1. Why the timing of life is important 
2. How she balances being a host, mother, and an entrepreneur
3. And what brings purpose into her life and her show

To keep up with Whitney and her show, you can find her at:

• Instagram: @whitney_reynolds 
• Website: www.whitneyreynolds.com 
• TV Show: The Whitney Reynolds Show
• Podcast: Pop & Positivity on iHeartRadio

Welcome back to Well, Not Perfect. Today I sat down with an extremely wise, humorous, and lovely guest who I absolutely admire in the field of counseling and entrepreneurship. I can't wait for you to meet her. Sarah Buino is the CEO, Founder of Heart Heart Therapy in Chicago, and podcast host of Conversations With A Wounded Healer. If you are someone who is on a journey of healing then listen in because Sarah takes us down a path of her own healing in conjunction with helping others heal. Sarah combines her own personal experiences with her clinical expertise to give us a refreshing look into the ways in which our behavior and identities are related to past traumas. Most importantly, her message shows us how we can find growth and joy beyond the pain of trauma. 

In today’s episode you will learn about:

1. Common trauma
2. How to heal from painful life experiences 
3. And How to maintain hope and seek recovery 

Make sure you check out the show notes and see where you can connect with Sarah to get inspired and continue to learn from her wisdom as I did throughout our conversation. Welcome to another episode of Well, Not Perfect.

Show Notes: 

Sarah is the Founder and President of Head/Heart Therapy and podcast host of Conversations with a Wounded Healer. Here’s where you can find her: 

• Instagram: @headhearttherapy
• Facebook: @headhearttherapy and @woundedhealr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2UuMEyXcij3oK7qpT1K1A
• Website: www.headhearttherapy.com 
• Podcast: Conversations with a Wounded Healer

Sarah’s article “Your Therapist is Hurting”

Today October 10th, 2021, is World Mental Health Day. 

On behalf of Simply Bee and our relationship with MTV Entertainment and Mental Health Is Health, we are using this opportunity for you to get inspired and take action towards mental health in your life and your community. This is on the heels of May 20th, the first inaugural Mental Health Action Day, where we along with 800+ other brands influenced the world to see mental health as health. This momentum is just getting started and we are back again today to inspire you to take action. 

In this special edition episode, I sat down with Brent Draper, a MasterChef Australia contestant who is the BEST example of someone who took action towards his mental health and never compromised his well being for a winning title. In a world filled with competition at any cost and the fear of missing out, most people would hide their pain and suffer through a mental health crisis: but not Brent. 

Listen in as Brent describes how it felt to raise his hand on national television and tell the judges that he was going home to take care of himself and why he never regretted his choice to choose mental health over all else. 

On today's episode you will learn:

1. Why action is required if you want to get better
2. How to ask for help even when you don’t feel like it
3. What men can do to break the mental health stigma amongst one another

Please enjoy this special episode powered by simply bee and MTV Entertainment and Mental health is health. Welcome to another episode of well not perfect. 

To connect with Brent, you can find him on Instagram @brentdraper_ or his website https://brentdraper.com.au/.

Welcome back, everyone! I have an AMAZING show for you today. I sit down and vibe with Lola Wright. When I mean vibe, I mean I sit down and find myself immediately absorbed into the conversation with her. 

She is incredibly smart, insightful, and in tune with the world today. Every guest I have on the show is special in their own way and Lola is special because she is incredibly aware of the bigger picture that we often lose when we live our day-to-day life. She pulls the lens back and helps us see what it means to be part of a bigger system on a global scale and how we need to recalibrate and reconnect to others and build up a sense of community again after the impact of COVID-19. 

If you are a personal growth junkie then this episode is for you. Sit back and enjoy as you listen to Lola’s uplifting advice on how to achieve the life you’ve always envisioned for yourself. 

In today’s episode you will learn:

1. How our individual experiences are connected to so much more than just ourselves
2. How to find congruence between your internal and external world; and
3. How to breakthrough old narratives to find growth for yourself and your community

For more thought-provoking insight from Lola, you can find her at:

• Instagram: @lolapwright 
• Facebook: @lolapwright
• Podcast: Find Your Fierce & Loving

Website: www.lolawright.com - be sure to check out her ‘Our Circle’ membership community!

TW // Trigger warning: This episode contains sensitive topics.

Welcome back to Part II of the episode with Morgan’s Message. I now sit down with Dona and Aberlee Rodgers, Morgan’s mom and twin sister. Dona and Aberlee share their own experience and what they’ve learned through their tragic loss. 

In Part II of this episode you will learn:

1. How to talk about suicide
2. The barriers athletes face when it comes to mental health 
3. Why mental health is as important as physical health

Morgan’s Message strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. They aim to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone. Here’s where you can find Dona, Aberle, Clare, Kat & Morgan’s Message:

Instagram: @morgansmessage 

@aberodgers

@clare_kehoe

@katzempolich

@dkrodgers5

Twitter: @morgansmessage

LinkedIn: @MorgansMessage

Website: morgansmessage.org

To become an ambassador for Morgan’s Message, visit morgansmessage.org/education-program 

Podcast: The Mental Matchup

Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor for free, 24/7
• Trevor Lifeline: Call 866-488-7386
• SAMHSA National Helpline: Call 800-662-4357 for treatment referral and information
• NAMI Support & Education: Visit nami.org/Support-Education