You Too?

Erin Craw's father was a police officer. When she was a young girl, she remembers her father being very different when he came home from a shift. The loving man she knew when he left the house was in stark contrast with the quiet and moody man who came home. She didn't understand the horrors he witnessed every day. Over the years she learned that what he dealt with on a daily basis at work had a profound effect on all facets of his life.

But no one said a word. The mental health of first responders was not ever discussed at this time.
Fast forward to today, where Erin shares her frustration that "mental health" has become the buzzword offering empty promises and programs that are not being used. She is on a mission to change all of that. Here is her story.

About:
Erin Craw is a third-year doctoral student at Chapman University studying communication with an emphasis on health and interpersonal communication. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in health communication from Fairfield University. Erin received her First Responder Support Certification in January 2021 and is currently working toward a certificate in Police Mental Wellness and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing through the College of Certified Psychophysiologists. Her research interests are at the intersection of health and interpersonal communication. More specifically, communication as it relates to social support, stigma, and resilience. Her master’s thesis focused on the barriers and facilitators of mental health-related disclosures in police departments. As the daughter of a police officer (37 years on the job in CT) and granddaughter of a firefighter (40 years on the job in CT), she has a true passion for research that informs mental health-related interventions for first responders, enhances communication surrounding mental health, and improves access to support.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-s-craw
https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

Doug Paul is an expert on cravings and talks to Serena and Liz about the difference between normal human cravings and cravings for substances. Here is Part 2 of this series!
Bio:
Doug Paul, LPC, LMHC has been working as a clinician with substance use disorders since 2007. He completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida in 2002. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University in 2007. During his graduate training, he participated in and presented University-sponsored research findings at the American Counseling Association’s Annual Convention in Montreal, Quebec; then went on to present at over 35 national and regional professional conventions over the next 16 years. While at two nationally-recognized treatment programs in the Atlanta area from 2007-2019, he gained skills in both clinical and leadership acumen. Currently, in private practice, he continues to provide therapy, consultation, and program development. Doug continues to practice his own recovery program over the last 22 years.

The definition of craving is a strong or uncontrollable desire. Craving is a universal phenomenon and is part of the recovery process. Doug Paul is an expert on cravings and talks to Serena and Liz about the difference between normal human cravings and cravings for substances. There is so much to learn in this area so join us for part one of this discussion.
Bio:
Doug Paul, LPC, LMHC has been working as a clinician with substance use disorders since 2007. He completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida in 2002. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University in 2007. During his graduate training, he participated in and presented University-sponsored research findings at the American Counseling Association’s Annual Convention in Montreal, Quebec; then went on to present at over 35 national and regional professional conventions over the next 16 years. While at two nationally-recognized treatment programs in the Atlanta area from 2007-2019, he gained skills in both clinical and leadership acumen. Currently, in private practice, he continues to provide therapy, consultation, and program development. Doug continues to practice his own recovery program over the last 22 years.

Christy Plaice has dedicated her life to helping those struggling with numerous mental health issues. She has a heart for the LGTBQIA+ community and helps people find their true selves. This is our continuing conversation with her from last week's episode.


http://www.raisingryland.com/
https://doorofthesoul.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722

Serena and Liz talk to Christy Plaice about the mental health struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community and how her company Door of the Soul is helping both the families and the person struggling. She teaches us that compassion, empathy and inclusivity are ways in which we can support those on a journey of self-discovery. Christy and her company are educating the world on how to be a true advocate and ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.
BIO:
Christy Plaice is a creative light in the therapeutic community. As a licensed professional counselor in private practice she works with adolescents, adults, families, and groups. Her personalized approach and gentle honesty is rooted in humanistic, somatic attachment re-patterning, enriched in neuroscience, polyvagal theory, & experiential psychologies. She has extensive education & clinical experience working in substance abuse/addiction, PHP/IOP settings, experiential therapeutic communities, residential wilderness therapy, department of juvenile justice, and non-profit work with human sex trafficking.

In addition to her private practice work, she has completed a year-long masters class advanced program – somatic experiencing using touch therapy with complex trauma survivors.

Jeni Cain is more than just the owner of an extremely successful boutique in Greenville, SC. Although she is quite impressive with her business acumen and top-notch fashion sense, you will learn from today's podcast that she can also play the part of therapist and cheerleader, winning you over with her infectious sunny outlook on life. She always says what you didn't even know you needed to hear. I personally always feel better after our conversations. So it's no wonder that she is an open book about her struggles with bulimia and anxiety. She is in recovery and openly talks about her journey in order to help others. Behind her smile, there is a depth of strength and experience that I wish I had access to when I was in college and struggled with an eating disorder. But like SUD, no one wanted to discuss it as it was deemed a moral failure or a sickness to be kept secret. If you have teens or young adults, let them listen to this one!

Here are some stats from the South Carolina Department of Mental Health
-Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
-Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents
-95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
-50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight
-80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight
-studies show that about two-thirds of people with eating disorders also suffer from an anxiety disorder
@monkeesofthewestend
@jenicain

Did you know there is a right and wrong way to breathe? Perrin White teaches us that we can change the way we are feeling just by focusing on our breath. Listen to this podcast and find Perrin at her website and learn how breath work can calm your mind and body during periods of stress.

Perrin P. White, MSP, CCC-SLP, COM®, RTY® 200 is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). She has extensive training in the identification and treatment of orofacial myofunctional disorders and is certified through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). In December 2020, Perrin became a registered yoga teacher (RYT® 200) and later became a Certified YOGABODY Breathing Coach and Certified OxygenAdvantage Functional Breathing Trainer.

Perrin’s mission is to inform, empower, and support others through their breath, movement, and thought patterns utilizing breathwork, stretching, and meditation practices. Combining both her professional and personal background, Perrin loves most helping clients find their deepest, truest breath through better learning about their own bodies and what it is capable of. In February 2022,

Perrin founded Breathe Well Be Well which provides support for everything from anxiety to sleep apnea using breathing re-education and healing through functional breathwork, meditation, and the lens of curiosity over criticism.



Perrin also speaks to various groups on the benefits of breathwork and meditation, teaches weekly yoga, breathwork and meditation classes and offers various workshops locally in Greenville, SC, where she is from.




Perrin White, MSP, CCC-SLP, COM®, RYT® 200
Breathe Well Be Well, Owner
www.breathewellbewell.info
[email protected]
@breathewellbewell (IG)
469-261-4046 (Cell)



Live with intention. Move with gratitude. Breathe with purpose.

Losing her mother, father and the love of her life within a 2-year period, Annalynn shares how she survived intense grief. Talking with others who have survived catastrophic grief was the biggest help to her. So, she now takes her experience and uses it to help others as a coach. If you have ever experienced grief, don't miss this episode!