Introducing  a monthly wellness series for April 2024 called "Wellness Wednesday" with Dr. Sharon! The goal of this series is to provide tips and strategies for prioritizing physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The focus of the first Wednesday session is on gratitude. Dr. Sharon highlights the numerous benefits of gratitude, including its ability to promote positive emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance relationships, and support personal growth. Sharon also shared her personal experience of utilizing gratitude exercises to improve her clients' mental health.

In this episode Dr. Sharon and Matt Bierds, a licensed counselor in private practice,  discuss the concept of "the perfect job" and how to achieve career satisfaction. They emphasize the importance of career work in therapy, managing career expectations, and finding balance within the work environment. They also stress the significance of self-awareness in career planning, effective communication patterns, and work-life balance. The conversation concludes with the importance of career counseling in helping individuals make informed decisions about their future, promoting career counseling on a broader level, and fostering more fulfilling career paths.

Guest Bio:

Matthew Bierds, MA, LPCC, LPC-S, LSOTP-S is a Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC- NM), Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S, TX), Certified School Counselor (CSC-TX), and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider Supervisor (LSOTP-S, TX), Mr. Bierds has provided counseling services for children and adults in a variety of settings since 2006. Mr. Bierds is the owner of Duke City Counseling, LLC, and Neurocounseling and Consulting Services, PLLC, private counseling practices that also offer training and coaching, helping other mental health professionals and educators improve the lives of clients and students throughout Texas and New Mexico.

Mr. Bierds has enjoyed professional “pivots” throughout his career, starting as a
school teacher and transitioning into the counselor field. As a counselor, Mr. Bierds
has worked in schools, agencies, prisons, and general private practice. Learning to
navigate and explore career choices is part of his personal journey, as well as
helping clients find a career path that offers a healthy/balanced lifestyle. Connect with him at: MattBiers.com

Resources:

• The Good Life [book] - "Lessons from the the world's longest scientific study of happiness"

Checking in ... how is your year going? In this episode, Dr. Sharon and Dr. Monica P. Band discuss strategies for starting fresh and living a healthier life through understanding the importance of self-acceptance, self-love, and acknowledging losses before moving forward. They also highlight the potential drawbacks of disconnecting from one's body and emotions. The discussion includes strategies for helping clients struggling with personal development, emphasizing the importance of understanding a client's priorities and values. Lastly, they share the holistic concept of wellness and the importance of having conversations about wellness with friends, co-workers, and spouses.

Dr. Band is a licensed mental health therapist and mental health justice advocate with a  focus on the strategy, application, and practice of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) in mental health care practice, social impact, and policy. She is also the host of the I Need to Ask You Something podcast series.

Resources

• Wellness Wheel
• Feelings Wheel

In this episode, Dr.  Sharon and Dr. Paul Harris share their personal experiences and passion for sports and express concern for the mental health of today's athletes. The conversation includes potential issues athletes face, the stigma surrounding mental health in the athletic community, and the need for proactive measures to support the mental health of athletes.

Dr. Paul Harris serves as founder of Integrity Matters, LLC, which exists to build a just world through training counselors, educators, governing boards, athletics personnel, and faith leaders in how to cultivate justice and belonging in their organizations. He is also a nationally certified counselor and school counselor, a personal coach, and an instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. He previously served as a tenured Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Penn State University and the University of Virginia, founder and lead pastor of Victory Church of Charlottesville, VA, and as a high school counselor in Newport News and Loudoun County, VA.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health & Physical Education with a concentration in Sports Medicine and his Master’s degree in K-12 School Counseling from the University of Virginia, and his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Maryland. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University. He currently lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and three children.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

Many people encounter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall or winter months as seasons change. In this episode, Dr. Sharon shares her experience working with clients who have experienced SAD, a form of depression that can affect mood, sleep, and energy levels. 

While the cause isn't known, there are some risk factors may contribute to experiencing SAD that you can be aware of. Dr. Sharon encourages listeners who feel they may be experiencing symptoms of SAD to connect with professional medical assistance for an evaluation to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Sharon outlines typical symptoms, a variety of treatment options, and next steps, including the importance of creating a  healthy self-care plan that includes stress management as we move into the holiday season.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, please connect with the national Suicide and Crisis Hotline by dialing 988.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

In this episode, Dr. Sharon Givens continues her reflection on the topic of career trauma. She shares some of the symptoms that may occur with those who have experienced or are experiencing career trauma in the workplace. Dr. Sharon also explores the potential consequences of career trauma events and ends with some specific strategies you can use to not only recognize career trauma and potential triggers, but also address them through making yourself a priority.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

Dr. Sharon and Amanda Chenkin discuss the concept of career trauma and its impact on one's perspective and career satisfaction. They highlight workplace bullying and chronic underemployment as examples of experiences that could cause financial stress and decrease career satisfaction. Amanda, a licensed counselor in Maryland and Colorado, shares her insights on working with clients who have undergone career trauma. 

The discussion includes the impact of bullying and microaggressions in the workplace, which are defined as subtle, often unintentional acts or comments that could cause harm over time. Dr. Sharon and Amanda emphasize the importance of acknowledging mental health impacts in the workplace and coping strategies like mindfulness and visualization. The discussion concludes with strategies for self-reflection, self-advocacy, and career development. 

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

Dr. Sharon presents career satisfaction as a key indicator of career success and personal fulfillment. Approximately 65% of employees report being satisfied with their work, while only 20% are passionate about their work. Personality plays a role in career selection and satisfaction, as people tend to be more satisfied with careers consistent with their personality characteristics. Some traits are advantageous for performance, adjustment, and feelings of satisfaction, regardless of the career path. Learn about the role that personality assessments and understanding specific work environments can play in the process. Dr. Sharon poses a series of questions to help you begin to identify factors related to your career satisfaction.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

Dr. Sharon Givens discusses strategies for managing grief and loss, focusing on key coping methods, such as validating the past, adjusting the present, and redefining the future. She explains that these coping methods help us adjust to a new situation and create a life in the future without someone or something we used to have. Dr. Sharon emphasizes the importance of expressing your feelings to resolve issues and the value of grieving as an expression of love, hope, and authentic self.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.

In this episode, Dr. Sharon addresses the natural experience of grief in our lives, and how it is encountered in different ways. She shares her approach to dealing with grief through establishing systems, applying strategies, and finding support. Learn more about the grieving process and how to give yourself grace when you face grief associated with loss.

Disclaimer: Dr. Sharon Givens provides advice and information that are not intended to replace professional therapy or counseling. Listeners are encouraged to seek assistance in addressing their mental and physical health needs.