BeREAL

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana and Ednesha are hopping on this week to talk a little bit about the importance of a break. In honor of this, BeREAL is also announcing a short hiatus until the end of March.    The duo talks about how they are needing to pivot yet again after two year in the pandemic. When fatigue begins to set in, it is important to slow yourself down before your body makes you slow down. In honor of this, and her 40th birthday approaching, Ednesha announces that she needs a little vacation soon. Diana and her brainstorm where she could go on her Eat, Pray, Love adventure. They discuss different beaches and mountains around the globe that could make amazing destination spots.    Diana talks about what she has learned about herself from traveling solo. She shares a story about her first trip by herself to Paris, and offers Ednesha many options of what to do on her solo trip.    Lastly, the women discuss the break they will be taking until the end of March. We wish all the listeners an amazing few months until then, and want to express our deepest gratitude for tuning in for these past two years.    For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to the Indigo108 takeover for BeREAL. This week, Liz is joined by Shamina Rao to talk about the role of a full spectrum care throughout the journey of pregnancy and birth. Shamina is a Full-Spectrum Doula, a Certified Lactation Counselor, & a very soon-to-be IBCLC (Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and a Prenatal Yoga teacher. Shamina introduces herself as a full-spectrum doula, lactation consultant, and a prenatal yoga teacher. Full-spectrum work entails support through all parts of birthing and all forms of birthing. Full-spectrum doulas work with mothers by offering non-judgemental care in situations when the mother intends to keep the baby, and in situations when they don't. Shamina looks to demedicalize parts of the birthing process, because overly medicalized births often overlook the mother's needs. Demedicalizing birth also allows non-medical practices, like skin-to-skin, to have a space in the birthing room.    Shamina next explains the importance of full spectrum care as a doula. Every mother is different. They have different values, different medical history, different life stories and their birth process should be respective of this. Holistic doulas look to know and treat the whole person, instead of treating every mother the same. Shamina's goal is to help mothers move with the world around them, much like Ayurveda strives to do.    Shamina also believes a part of being a holistic doula is helping those around the mother as well. This means helping partners, family, and friends through the pregnancy and birth which will in turn uplift the mother as well. Creating this strong support network for the mother is also important because things can change so quickly during birth. You can plan as much as possible for a birth and then everything changes at the last minute because the mother finds herself in a place she never expected while in labor. Doulas are there to acknowledge when changes occur during birth, because sometimes the mother cannot identify their own internal change in the moment.    To finish off the episode, Shamina discusses the importance of the healthcare providers you choose. Some providers do not work holistically and then the mother's wishes are not heeded in the birthing process and they are left out of their own pregnancy. It is important to find a provider that shares similar values and will not overshadow your desires during birth. Lastly, Liz guides listeners through a practice she picked up from Shamina.   Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for more episodes in the new year. In the meantime, make sure to check out the previous episodes of the Indigo108 takeover.    For more information on Shamina and her practice, visit the links below:   Website: https://www.shaminarao.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaminarao/   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Liz is joined by registered nutritionist and women's health expert, Emma Bardwell to talk about sleep and the Winter solstice.    Emma begins the episode by introducing herself and her spiritual signs. She is a Pisces. She then proceeds to tell listeners about how she got into her work as a nutritionist. When she began, she noticed that women's health was severely under researched. Lot of women coming into her clinic were not adequately helped by their previous doctors. This made them resort to googling their conditions, which never ends well.   Her current program looks to make nutrition easy and accessible to all women. Her program lasts at least three months, so she can start to create lifestyle changes with her patients. She also posts a lot of information on social media, so women who can't afford a three month program have access to help as well. She makes sure to give a variety of information to her many clients because she realizes all women are not the same. She wants her clients to have options so they don't feel constrained.    Next, the women move onto talking about sleep and the Winter solstice. Emma highlights that there are no magic solutions to food and sleep. When crafting a healthy diet, make sure to consume an appropriate amount of aminoacyl tryptophanes. These are found in poultry, greek yogurt, etc. and are a precursor to melatonin. Meaning they will help foster a healthy sleep routine. Also, be sure to eat lots of B vitamins. If you are vegetarian, you can get them through supplements, however, Emma does not recommend supplements unless necessary. Lastly, magnesium aids with sleep as well.    Outside of diet, there are other ways to craft a proper sleep routine during this Winter solstice. Taking epsom salt baths is one option. Also, listening to your body's circadian rhythm. Emma recommends exposing your eyes to lots of light in the morning, and little at night. This means limiting screen usage at night. Instead, Emma recommends listeners journal before bed. This way they can set wellness goals and write about what they're grateful for all while following their circadian rhythm. Emma believes these small changes will make big differences in sleep quality and mood.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Make sure to check out an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Tonie Warner.    For more information on Emma or her work, visit the links below:   Website: https://www.emmabardwell.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.bardwell/   Book: The Perimenopausal Solution   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to the Indigo108 takeover of BeREAL! This week, Liz talks to Tonie Warner, a Brooklyn-based yoga teacher, about wellness for Black women.    Tonie found empowerment and refuge in Yoga in over 15 years of practice and teaching.  She believes that Yoga is a liberation practice, dependent on the liberation of BIPOC.  She did not see this tenet being upheld in dominant studio culture, and with the desire to extend her practice in alignment with her beliefs, she founded Yuja Soul, a dedicated space offering Yoga for Black Women.  Tonie also serves as one of the Practice Coalition's Principals uplifting trauma-informed Yoga, and also devotes her offerings to The Connective, a cooperative, teacher-owned platform challenging the standards of the wellness industry.  Her classes are known for their physical rigor and open brave space for self-inquiry at the intersection of Yoga philosophy and social justice.    Tonie begins the episode by introducing her spiritual self. She is a Kapha/Pita dosha, as well as a libra sun. She is an immigrant from Dominica and works in Brooklyn as a career yoga teacher and career guide. Her goal is to offer people the bravery that she herself was never offered. She came to her work and her purpose while searching for mothering energy. She found a community through yoga, but also found that she was one of the only Black women in the wellness field.    Tonie talks about how she lets her work “unravel her.” When Liz asks her what conditions make unraveling yourself possible, Tonie says that showing up as her full self means having her blackness and womanhood seen. However, she also highlights the importance that she should not be expected to announce Black excellence and instead she should be able to just be. Her practice allows this by offering silence in the yoga space for all the Black women who attend. She wants women to make sure their labels are authentically theirs and not placed upon them by others.    Lastly, Tonie discusses a bit more about how her actual practice came to be. She traces her history back to working at a fitness clothing start-up that was not a great work environment. She found herself struggling and realized that if she was going to struggle she should at least do what she loves. So, she began teaching yoga. She wanted a space just to practice wellness for Black women and because there were none previously, she created it herself. To close off the episode, Liz leads listeners and Tonie through a meditation practice as always.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL. Be sure to check out a new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to catch last week's episode with Diana.   Find out more about Tonie through the links below:   Website: yujayoga.com   Instagram: @yogitones   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Hello and welcome back to BeREAL! BeWELL's Health and Wellness counselor, Liz Buehler Walker, will be taking over the podcast for the rest of 2021 to talk about the new wellness initiative Indigo108. For the first episode of the takeover, she will be interviewing BeWELL founder, and the usual host of BeREAL, Diana Gasperoni.    Liz begins the episode by asking Diana about her spiritual chart placements. Diana explains that she is a double Virgo as well as a Pitta dominant guided by Vata. As a fun fact, Diana throws out that every room in her apartment has hot pink incorporated into the decor somehow. Liz picks up that color is a way to express our spirituality and the hot pink appeals to Diana because of the fiery nature of Pitta.   Liz continues by asking Diana to talk about why the two of them founded Indigo108. Diana traces the practice all the way back to when she was a yoga teacher in college. She is a big believer of “the body keeps score” and has always encouraged numerous ways through work through trauma both physically and mentally. In therapy sessions, she would ask patients about their pain and what the pain would say were it able to speak. Many patients had a hard time talking about experiences in their bodies. However, it is important for Diana that her patients can find freedom in both body and mind to help them expand their emotions and move forward with life.   Next, the two get into a conversation about how therapists usually just connect with psychiatrists outside of the office. However, there are so many types of wellness practitioners, yet they never communicate together if they are seeing the same patient. It is important for both Diana and Liz that their patients have a treatment team supporting them. Having the Indigo108 within BeWELL allows patients to engage in multiple forms of wellness care and have their practitioners actually communicate and work together for the patient. When you have a team behind you, BeWELL believes that you will notice that you “do” life much more often, instead of letting life be done to you or over-focusing on planning.    To finish off the episode, Liz begins a new tradition: a portable practice. She leads listeners and Diana through an abridged version of what they can expect in Indigo108 sessions while on the journey to feel safe within themselves.    Thank you so much for tuning into the Indigo108 takeover this week. Be on the lookout for another episode next Tuesday!   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana and Ednesha come together for their final episode of the season to look back at all their favorite BeREAL 2021 Memories.   Diana starts off by telling her favorite episode, which is episode 59 with Vanessa Risetto. Diana really appreciated her views on diet culture and her holistic nutrition approach. Ednesha's favorite was with Riana Milne. Riana spoke about love trauma. She outlined the top ten childhood traumas and spoke on addition and abuse within families. Don chimes in to tell Jess' favorite episode which was with Dr. Carlton Green. She appreciated the way he bridged education, psychology, and religion. Diana adds on that she enjoyed how passionate and compassionate he was on the subject.    Diana's next favorite episode was with Michael Lee Scott. Michael came to celebrate Pride Month and talk about the work he does with Broadway Cares and Broadway Bares. Jess also really loved this episode because of her connection to the theatre world through her dance past.    Another one of Diana's favorites was with Michelle Kuei. Diana liked this episode because it highlighted how different she and Ednesha are. Ednesha was not there that day and Diana came completely unprepared. When Michelle began telling her amazing story, Diana was fascinated because she hadn't done her research. Despite the lack of preparation, everything still turned out nicely. Another one of Ednesha's favorites was with Melody Pourmoradi the founder of GiRLLiFE. Ednesha appreciated was Melody had to say about empowering woman, but also about empowering yourself. She resonated with Melody's message to know what your services are worth.    Lastly, Jess's third favorite episode was her own episode in the “My First Time” series. She enjoyed promoting therapy to everyone. Diana and Ednesha join in to talk about how much they enjoyed the series as a whole because they heard a variety of reasons why people come to therapy for the first time.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this year and we hope you have your own favorite 2021 memories with us! Be on the lookout for Liz Buehler Walker's takeover for the rest of the year.    For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week Diana and Ednesha recap the mental health trends of the year and talk about the learned lessons from 2021.   The two begin by talking about what they've been up to recently as New York gets colder. Both have been back to Broadway and talk about what that experience was like. Ednesha also tells listeners about the workbook she is in the process of making.    When they begin to talk about lessons from 2021, the biggest topic is relationships. Over the pandemic people grew apart. As things slowly returned to normal many people still felt disconnected and began to question their friendships. It was hard making time to see others, especially if you were working from home and never got alone time. Ednesha acknowledges that keeping relationships felt like another burden on top of the already stressful year.   Working from home also posed issues to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Without having a commute, there wasn't time to shift mindsets from work to home and the two quickly became one. For some jobs, like therapists, it could also indefinitely remain a virtual service. Even though both Diana and Ednesha have returned to the office, they still see many of their clients online.   To remedy the work/life imbalance, people began picking up new wellness routines. Some people found new hobbies like baking or playing an instrument. Others, like Diana, began to meditate more and practice more yoga. Ednesha suggests a wellness app that hosts more trainers of color for those interested. Diana also talks about how influential her Peloton was to her mental health.    To close off the episode, the women talk about what still could improve. They focus specifically on the importance of a good sleep schedule. Many people still aren't sleeping enough even while working at home. The duo suggests some ways to practice both a better night routine and a better morning routine to make the most out of every day.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. If you haven't already, go check out last week's episode on the mental health impacts of caregiving.    For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week Diana and Ednesha pay tribute to a friend of the show, Rick. Rick sadly passed away this past week. Something very important to him was caring for his mother. So, Diana and Ednesha are here to talk about the mental health impacts of taking care of aging parents.   Ednesha begins the episode by talking about Black Woman Be Whole. The team is hosting their first in person event very soon. So, if you are interested in attending a Black Woman Be Whole brunch, visit the link here.    Diana's weekly update revolves around the passing away of her friend Rick. She tells stories about him, and how the suddenness of his passing is affecting her. She talks about how important Rick's mother was to him, and how he devoted much of his time to her. This leads the women into talking about taking care of aging parents in general. Ednesha shares some statistics about how many hours Americans spend caring for their parents and/or relatives. Most of these people are also working other jobs, because caring for family is not a paid position.    Diana shares her experience with caregiving in her family. Her parents are currently taking care of her uncle. She talks about how it has been difficult for her parents, because her uncle was a very social person and lately has been deprived of most social interaction. Ednesha joins in to talk about her experience caring for her father. She notes that needing assistance can lead many older people into states of depression. This places yet another burden on the caregiver, who is responsible for brightening their day regardless of their personal circumstances.   Next, Don joins the therapists to talk about the differences between raising a child and taking care of aging parents. Don points out that the elderly have already lived a life of freedom and therefore know what they are missing out on - children do not know this freedom yet. Diana adds on that the goal of raising a child is to prepare them for the world, while raising a parent is to give them a better life in the moment.    To finish off the episode, Diana and Ednesha reflect that society is not currently set up for aging. The professional caregiving systems often fail the elderly. However, despite all this our live expectancy is growing.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. If you haven't already, go check out the previous episode with our dear friend Rick.    For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL and another installment of our “My First Time” series. Today, Ednesha interviews both Diana and her friend Marvin about their first time in therapy.    Ednesha and Diana begin the episode by talking about the recent shift into Fall. They talk about how the cold weather has affected their daily routines (and their heating bills). Soon, Ednesha gets into asking Diana about what initially brought her into therapy. Diana says that her first time in therapy was because she was broken up. She found herself asking questions like “why would I let someone treat me that way?” So, at the suggestion of her roommate, she sought a therapist for clarity. She found therapists through the phone book, and met with a few until she found one that fit her style.    Once with her therapist, Diana did not hesitate to spill everything to her clinician - nothing was off the table. She soon realized she was in a pattern of quitting things and had a hard time accepting compliments. She was looking for a big change in behavior through therapy, but had to realize that it is hard to make big changes. She acknowledged that it is still sometimes hard to go to therapy weekly nowadays. However, she took her own advice of sticking it out and has found lots of personal insight in the therapy office since.    Next, Ednesha brings on her friend Marvin to talk about his first time in therapy. Marvin first went to therapy because he has always been interested in self improvement. In that period of his life he felt out of control and quick to anger and wanted to understand why. His first therapist was a white woman, and that relationship did not last long because he quickly realized she would “whitesplain” this to him. Now realizing that race and gender is important to him in a therapist, he is currently seeing a Black man therapist. He finds this relationship especially helpful because he can say what he wants without having to explain the meaning behind it that often. His therapist already understands.   Like Diana, nothing was off the table for Marvin. He also notes that a lot of therapy has been helping him realize an answer he already knew deep down. Ednesha asks him about the taboo in the Black community that seeking therapy means you're crazy. Marvin says he used to feel that pressure on him, but upon seeing how beneficial therapy can be he doesn't feel that anymore. Ednesha also asks if he sees therapy as a “want” or a “need.” Marvin says he sees it as a need because it is important to have a voice of reason in your life that isn't a friend. Marvin concludes the episode by echoing Dianas advice, stick it out. Change won't come with one session, it is a process that you should not be scared ro endure.  Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for a new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Paige! For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! Continuing the series from last week, Ednesha brings on another member of the BeREAL team, Paige, to talk about her first therapist   Ednesha begins the episode with Diana, who recently got back from a trip to Philadelphia. Diana talks about how the vacation was very much needed and about how she spent her time relaxing. The duo also talk about Ednesha's objection to get a PhD at the moment, and her sparse habit of listening to the podcast after it is recorded. Don joins in to close out the intro to ask some Halloween themed questions.   Paige joins in and immediately gets into the story of her first time in therapy. She outlines how she was pushed into therapy by her family after the passing of her grandpa. She was 18 and felt shame seeing a clinician because to her that meant she was “imperfect.” However once the shame subsided, Paige, a self-proclaimed “motor mouth” found it easy to talk to her therapist. Some topics were off limits, such as her relationship, but she didn't feel uncomfortable being the center of focus.    Paige compares her first therapist with the therapists she has seen since then. She explains that overtime she better understood what relationship she wanted with her clinician. She wanted to see her clinician almost as an “aunt figure” - one that is close to her but not overly involved in her life. She also notes that when she returned to therapy later in life, she was less motivated to do the work needed to succeed because she was in a bad place in life. However, once she put in the work her expectations of therapy were met.    To close off the episode, Paige gives some advice to listeners. She says that during the process of finding a therapist and seeking wellness support, be kind to yourself. Times like these can be riddled with negative opinions of oneself, so limit critiquing yourself.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode in this “The First Time” series next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's with Jessica!   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Ednesha is hosting without Diana. However, she is joined by BeREAL's very own Jessica! Jessica is here to talk about her first time in therapy and all the emotions involved with the process.   Jessica begins by telling how she found her first therapist. She talks about the database she used (Zocdoc), and discusses the variety of databases there are and the benefits of each. Before she even met with a therapist she was nervous. The task seemed daunting and there were so many labels and credentials for the different clinicians. However, she was able to find one that she developed a good professional relationship with.    Jessica first went to therapy because she was recently engaged and the process was straining her relationship with her parents. Right from the start she had the mindset that she was going to get her money's worth each session. So, she was very open with her therapist from the start. However, Ednesha adds that some people need to build trust with their therapist before they open up. She also notes that her first therapist specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is a short term form of therapy, so she didn't veer off topic much during sessions.    After ten sessions with her first therapist, Jessica was told she was cured. Although she enjoyed the woman, Jessica felt that the relationship wasn't very personal. Because her first experience didn't meet her expectations, it took her a while to see another clinician. Yet, after starting work at BeWELL she began virtual therapy over the phone. She explains why she likes the dynamic of virtual therapy because she can take the calls whenever and feel more comfortable. The new therapist also has a different relationship with Jessica, as they aren't working towards something specific and therefore there is less work outside of sessions.    To close out the episode, Jessica talks about how her first time in therapy has impacted life outside the counseling office. First, she likes that there is a designated space where she can be the priority. And second, she has come to realize most of her friends were in therapy but kept quiet about it.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for our next episode. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode about change!   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, in a more casual episode, Diana and Ednesha tell listeners about who they are outside of the BeREAL Podcast and also about upcoming change.   The conversation starts with the two discussing their favorite things about fall. For Ednesha it is apple picking and Halloween time. They talk about haunted houses and how Diana does not like scary things but Ednesha loves them. Then they move on to discuss the not so fun parts of Fall. The darker days sometimes weigh on Diana, and she doesn't understand the reach of the pumpkin spice craze.    Next, the duo moves on to talk about what other initiatives they have going on outside of BeREAL. At Black Woman Be Whole, Ednesha has an upcoming brunch for either late Fall or early Winter. She also has a wilderness retreat planned for herself this coming weekend, where she hopes to learn how to survive in the wild. Over at BeWELL, Diana talks about the upcoming parenting workshop. This monthly wellness talk this month will be hosted by BeWELL's very own Susan Miller.    After a short break, Diana and Ednesha return to discuss upcoming changes to the BeREAL podcast. After much deliberation, the team has decided to switch to a seasonal format. Each season will consist of 20 episodes and there will be two seasons in a year. This change comes as an effort to practice what they preach. Diana and Ednesha have noticed that the weekly format is too stressful on both of them. They talk about their fears surrounding this change, but also explain how relieved they felt when it was decided. Ednesha noticed that she has a hard time saying “no” to things, and that led her to pile too much on her plate. Having this change forced upon her actually came as a blessing.   To finish off the episode, the women talk about other ways change can be beneficial. They highlight scenarios in which you might want to change therapists or change directions in a relationship. They highlight that change keeps things exciting, even though it is often looked upon with dread.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Look for our upcoming episodes on the holiday season and personal experiences with therapy coming soon. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode on Seasonal Affective Disorder.   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! Ednesha is back this week and is joining Diana to talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder. They discuss the definition, the symptoms, and treatment forms for the specific form of depression.   The duo begins the episode with a new segment. They don't normally discuss what they have going on outside of the podcast, but now they're ready to share! Ednesha talks about what is happening over at Black Woman Be Whole.   Next, the therapists move on to discuss Seasonal Affective Disorder. After defining what the disorder is, Ednesha begins to talk about what it is like to live with someone with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Ednesha notes that she used to think her partner was being rude to her when winter came along. However, she soon realized he was battling severe bouts of depression when it got cold and dark. Which leads the women to talk about whether it is the cold or the dark that brings on these depressive episodes. Figuring out what your specific trigger is is an important step of figuring out how to lessen the impact.    After a short break, Ednesha brings in her partner, Aldrin, to hear a first hand experience with Seasonal Affective Disorder. He talks about what he does to help ease the mental health impact of SAD. He likes to travel in the winter months, and when that is not available, he likes to look at pictures of sunnier places. He also discusses how COVID affected his mental health. He found it actually helped lessen the impact of his Seasonal Affective Disorder. However, it was still important that he was getting outside and he did that by taking their new dog on walks.    After Aldrin leaves, Diana and Ednesha are left to talk about possible treatment plans for Seasonal Affective Disorder. BeWELL's newest wellness initiative, Indigo108, helps examine how people's sleep and diet change throughout the seasons. This knowledge can help those suffering with SAD to see where they might need to reshape their routine. There are certain foods and meditative exercises that serve as mood booster and help combat depressive episodes.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode on Indigo108.   For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week we are rebroadcasting BeREAL's second live show all about mental and emotional wellbeing. Diana and Ednesha were joined by wellness experts Liz Buehler Walker, Amina AlTai, Krishna Dholakia, and Jennifer Kurdyla to answer the question: What does it mean to be well?   After introductions, Ednesha jumps in to ask each of the women what it means to be well in regards to their specific disciplines. Diana says that wellbeing starts with putting thoughts and feelings into words so you can communicate your needs and wants. Amina defines wellbeing as a conduit to clarity. Jennifer adds on that the term “wellness” has been commercialized and prefers to use the term “holistic health.” She prefers this term also because it shows that wellbeing is so much more than the absence of illness.   Next, Ednesha asks about how their work supports the mental and emotional wellbeing of clients. Amina says that changing mindsets is a big part of connecting business and wellness into one practice, as often they are viewed as opposites. When asked about the mental and emotional wellbeing of clients specific during the pandemic, Amina talks about her “minimal viable wellness plan”. There are many activities that are unavailable to us at the moment due to the pandemic, so setting big expectations of wellness for ourselves can actually add more stress into our lives. That is why Amina is looking to simplify wellness so it is easy to integrate into a daily routine without feeling overwhelmed. Some of these plans she has said are as short as 90 seconds.    Diana continues the conversation about the pandemic by talking about returning to “normal life.” She has noticed that many people who lead big lives before the pandemic are hesitant to go back to that lifestyle now that restrictions are easing up. A lot of people found comfort with being at home, and that is a form of wellness they can bring into the future with them. It is important to be mindful that people have changed over this past year and should not be pressured to act or perform as they had prior to COVID.    To finish off the episode, Ednesha asks about how the women practice wellness in their own daily routine. The guests tell their stories with yoga, with outdoor walks, and with various forms of rest and relaxation. Lastly, they all share their upcoming initiatives.    Thank you for tuning in today! We are very happy to add Liz Buehler Walker to our team as the new director of Health and Wellness. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday.   For more information on our guests, please visit the links below:   Amina AlTai: www.aminaaltai.com   Jennifer Kurdyla:  https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkurdyla/   Krishna Dholakia: https://omandspice.com For more information on Indigo108, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), and BeWELL (our psychotherapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana is hosting on her own again this week, but she is once again joined by a special guest. Michelle Kuei is here to talk about all things confidence coaching as well as to share her amazing story.   Michelle Kuei is a motivational speaker, author, and visibility coach who helps women coaches and entrepreneurs to courageously & confidently tell stories to get seen, heard, and hired. She is the Founder of Elevate Life Coaching and the author of the memoir “Perfectly Normal-an immigrant's story of making it in America.” Michelle was born in Taiwan and grew up in New York, but today she lives in Los Angeles with her ginger short-hair tabby cat-Toby, who is working his way to take over the social media publicity.   Michelle begins the episode by getting right into her story. Before immigrating to the United States, Michelle lived in Taiwan, where one day she was crossing the street and got hit by a taxi. She can barely recall the event, but she has been told by witnesses what happened. After the accident, Michelle was seriously injured, she now needs to walk with crutches and alter her clothes.    Michelle struggled to remain confident when others would ask her “What's wrong with you?” She began to take this in and believe that something truly was wrong with her. It wasn't until she was fourty that she realized that she had enough of feeling uninspired and wishing that she wasn't where she was in life. That is when she learned that asking for help was okay. So, she set goals for herself and asked for help to achieve them. One of those goals was to climb Machu Picchu.   Michelle then proceeds to tell the story of her going to Peru and climbing Machu Picchu. She recounts getting sick the night before the hike, the initial ascent, and when she was told to abandon her goal and go back down. The leader of the group she was in decided that the climb was too dangerous for Michelle and advised her to descend the slope before she had reached the top. However, Michelle made a hard personal decision. She decided she wanted to finish the climb or die climbing.    After a short break, Michelle returns to tell about reaching the top of the mountain. She describes the feeling of seeing the sign designating she had reached the peak. She tells about the many people who congratulated her at the top. However, the climb was not over, she still had to make it back down.    After finishing her story about Machu Picchu, Michelle tells listeners about the confidence coaching services she provides at Elevate Life Coaching. The mission of the program is to have people realize their confidence so they can tell their stories just as Michelle has learned to do.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, check out last week's episode with LaTanya Tolan on how to Do Single Well.   For more information on Michelle or Elevate Life Coaching, check out the links below:   Website: http://elevatelifecoaching.org   Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elevatelifecoach   LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/michelle-kuei   Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lifecoachingbyelevate   Twitter: http://twitter.com/coachbyelevate For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! While Ednesha is not here this week, Diana is joined by returning guest LaTanya Tolan. LaTanya is here to discuss her new book “Doing Single Well: 31 Days to Transforming Your Thoughts About God's Plan for Your Season in Singleness.”   LaTanya Tolan, LCSW, MA Ed. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Life Coach and is the Founder and CEO of Soul Care for Black Clinicians. Since 2011, she has maintained a private mental health practice devoted to healing Black people. LaTanya has always been and will always be committed to inspiring and empowering Black people towards healing, growth, change and goal attainment, so they can ultimately reach their optimum potential.   Diana starts off the episode with BeREAL's Jessica to discuss what everyone has been watching the past week. Jessica talks about binging reality TV as she waits for her husband to return from a trip. This is the perfect segway into this week's guest, LaTanya Tolan. LaTanya is here because she wants to discuss how to “do single well” so that you can have a healthy, sustainable relationship in the future.    LaTanya begins by telling Diana how the book came to be. Not even Diana knew about the book before, because LaTanya said she wanted to keep the process between her and God. When the concept of the book first came up in 2018, LaTanya did not want anything to do with it. That is because she thought that “doing single well” would mean that she wouldn't be single anymore, and instead be in a happy marriage. However, she soon discovered that “doing single well” meant using the time when you're single to become your best self, which in turn will lead to healthier relationships in the future.    So how do you become your best self? LaTanya's book includes a 31 day process, and each day consists of reflection questions and journaling spaces. She notes that the book is targeted towards Black women, however, there is information in it that can be used by everyone. The advice in it ranges from learning how to recognize challenges that keep arising and understanding why they keep coming back to how to manage mental health when you make big revelations.    Diana and LaTanya each share anecdotes about their past revelations they've had while single and how they changed their self view. One important mindset shift LaTanya talks about is learning to know that you are a catch; you are not a problem. Just because a relationship doesn't work out does not mean there is something wrong with you. Also, it is one thing to say affirmations like that one, it is another to believe them. Diana finishes off the episode by emphasizing how you must believe you are deserving of a good relationship.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL! Make sure to check out last week's episode about depression. Also, stay tuned for an all new episode next Tuesday.   For more information on LaTanya and her new book, visit the links below:   Website: www.soulcareforblackclinicians.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcareforblackclinicians/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! Today, Diana and Ednesha are alone to tackle the very pressing issue of COVID depression and what the Delta variant means for the future of mental health.    The therapists begin the episode by discussing the mental health trends they've seen over the past year, but also over the past few months. They talk about why many people have fallen into a mental space where they would prefer to stay with their pain rather than push through it. This is because in times like these, it is hard to imagine what the freedom on the other side will look like. To many, the unknown is scarier than the pain they are currently facing.    Next, they discuss the importance of finding someone to talk to when you are experiencing COVID depression. If you don't talk to others, you can become set in your emotions and become unwilling to change your perspective. Hearing another person's viewpoint can shift your perspective while also not trying to ignore the past. Here, the two take a slight detour to talk about why moms get harsh treatment when they are discussed in therapy sessions. Moms are put on such a high pedestal in society that it is almost impossible for them to achieve all that is expected of them.    Getting back on track, Diana and Ednesha give stories about what they have said to patients in the past who had become too stuck in their perspectives. Many people would excuse their negativity by claiming that that is “just who they are.” However, Ednesha points out that you can always choose to be someone different, to act differently. Having this mindset will prevent you from growing from your experiences.    To finish off the episode, the duo tell listeners about where therapy comes into the picture in situations like these. It can be extremely difficult to actually hear someone when they are challenging your viewpoint. That is why it is important that there is a trust built between a therapist and a patient. This trust doesn't come in one session, but through a long, sustained relationship. Only then will patients actually listen to their clinicians and together they can shift the patient's perspectives. Therapists are also there to help quell your inner critic. Many people are harder on themselves than they are on others, and that is especially true for people who are experiencing COVID depression. Therapists help you be reasonable and forgiving of your own actions.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode on podcast creation.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) or BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are at a loss about what to talk about, and so they talk about the podcast themselves and the emotions involved in podcast creation. The two answer questions from BeREAL's very own producer, Don.   The two begin the episode by discussing how today's show came to be. They retell how there wasn't a planned topic, and when put to the task of thinking of one last minute, everyone drew a blank. The two women approached this unknown in very different manners. Ednesha tells about her routine of taking down notes and research before an episode and therefore being completely thrown off by the last-minute show. Diana on the other hand talks about winging the conversation each week and not being too anxious about today's show.   This brings the two therapists to discuss their experiences with clinical exams. Ednesha spent days as well as the morning before studying for the exam. Diana didn't study, and when she just barely passed she got a burst of motivation to study. Diana relates this back to the podcast because she never knows what the guest is going to say, and therefore can't fully prepare for it. The same is true for therapy, as you never know what your patient might say, but you have to trust that you are a good therapist and will make it through. However, sometimes the two are still thrown off.   After a short break, the women return to discuss their journeys into mental health care. Diana tells about the anxiety she faced about not looking the part of the therapist. Ednesha echoes this idea, adding that as a Black woman she fears she has to come off as more professional to her white counterparts. When starting the podcast the same fear was present, except this time they were asking: “what does a therapist sound like?”   To finish off the episode, the two discuss their struggles with the podcast. They elaborate on why they are hesitant to share a lot about themselves in case patients are listening. They also cover the shift they noticed when they went from being active listeners in therapy sessions to being active speakers on the podcast. They conclude by talking about what they have learned through podcast creation.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Liz Buehler on Inidgo 108.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) or BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week Diana is joined by Liz Buehler Walker to discuss BeWELL's newest initiative, Indigo 108. This holistic Ayurvedic healing program is designed to finally answer the question: what does it mean to be well? Liz Buehler Walker is a mom, yoga teacher (specializing in Pre- and Post-Natal) and most recently a labor organizer with Unionize Yoga. With 20 years of experience teaching yoga in NYC, Liz has been around the block more than a few times -- as a teacher in small community and corporate studios, co-founder and co-director of Yoga High with Mel Russo, teacher trainer, mentor, and one of the organizers of the first ever yoga union.   The duo begin the episode by discussing the benefits of the holistic healing approach. They view it as a way to positively release emotions. Diana recounts a story where, after a break up, she found herself seeking both therapy and yoga practices to heal. She found that the yoga studio was a place where she felt safe to express her heart break and the complex emotions surrounding it. Liz began yoga for entirely different reasons. She was a dancer and through that found her way into a yoga studio.    Next, Diana and Liz discuss what it was like to start working again and how Indigo 108 came to be. The two noticed that yoga students have been not showing up to the practices as their full selves in recent years. They note that it is hard for a yoga studio to be a transformational practice if people are not being open with themselves. Indigo 108 looks to make people feel comfortable in their own bodies, so that they can bring more of themselves to all their work.    After a short break, the two return to discuss how Indigo 108 will help answer the question: what does it mean to be well? They note that the answer is different for everybody and Indigo 108 reflects that. It is a one on one practice that compassionately looks at the obstacles in your life. The work will continue until it becomes intuitive in daily life, and is not meant to simply be a checklist to complete every day.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode about COVID and the Delta Variant.   Liz Buehler Walker can be found on:   Her website: www.brooklynyogalife.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizbyogalife/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizbyogalife/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/ Indigo 108 begins on Sep 21, 2021. Attending the first look live-webinar on August 17th.

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week Diana and Ednesha talk about the reemergence of COVID, the Delta variant, and the anxiety faced by even vaccinated people. Ednesha begins the episode by telling listeners about her experience of close friends and family contracting COVID even though they are vaccinated. Diana adds on her own personal experience of having COVID come into her household. The two therapists reflect on their previous decision to return to full time in-person therapy in September. Now, the two are giving pause to their previous plans. They are unsure if they are comfortable with the decision, and they are unsure if their patients are comfortable.    Next, the two talk about what it would mean to go back to in-person work. Not only would they be seeing multiple people face-to-face for the first time since March 2020, they would also be having to commute. Being on the New York Subway at the moment is scary. As the Delta variant becomes more widespread, the women want to limit their exposure to other people, and the Subway is packed with people. They also discuss that some of their new clients have never met with them in person. As Ednesha says, some patients find it weird that their therapists know so much about them even though they haven't met face to face before. There would have to be yet another acclamation period for these patients. One benefit they mention, is that COVID has demonstrated to insurance companies that virtual therapy works and should be covered.   After a short break, the women return to talking about the logistics of taking time off of work. They discuss how American culture has cultivated shame and guilt around the idea of taking time off of work. Businesses push productivity and not mental health preservation. When returning to work, it is important to advocate to your employer your anxieties about in-person work. To close out the episode, the duo talk about respecting people's boundaries when returning to work. Ask peers before touching or hugging them, etc.   Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to catch last week's episode about In Treatment on HBO.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are finishing their conversation about In Treatment on HBO by discussing parent/teen/therapists relationships, therapy for therapists, and loneliness during quarantine. The two begin the episode by outlining the remaining characters to be discussed. Laila is a high school student struggling with her sexuality. Rita is Brooke's AA sponsor for her alcoholism. Adam is Brooke's current partner.    When discussing Laila and her struggles as a teen in high school, Ednesha brings up the dynamic of teens in therapy and their parents. Unless the minor is in immediate danger, the patient can expect therapist confidentiality for what is said during their sessions. However, the therapists talk about the option teens have, which is letting their parent sit in on a session if the teen feels comfortable and wants to discuss a specific topic with a therapist present.    The conversation about Leila also leads to a discussion about how upbringing affects one's view of themself. Laila has been brought up being told she is “spoiled” and believing she has not been affected by the traumas that other Black Americans speak on due to her class status. However, Diana and Ednesha dig into the circumstances surrounding her family to find that racism has played a part in her upbringing regardless of what Laila believes.    After a short break, Diana and Ednesha return to discuss how the show portrays the life of Brooke outside of sessions. Ednesha says that one benefit of social media is that patients can look up their clinician and see that they are real people who exist outside of the office as well. This is especially beneficial during the pandemic because therapy/the relationship with a therapist may be the most constant and consistent thing in the patient's life due to the chaos of COVID.   Lastly, they tackle the conversation of Brooke's alcoholism. Because she does not seek therapeutic help for her drinking problems, Brooke sometimes falls out of her role as a clinician and lashes out in sessions with her patients. This helps debunk the myth that therapists should be able to treat themselves, and that they have all their answers for their own problems, by showcasing the issues that arise when therapists are not in therapy themselves.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you catch last week's episode on Minority Mental Health Month.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Ednesha is continuing her conversation with the BeWELL team about Minority Mental Health Month. Joining her once again is Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, Suhailey Núñez, Divya Robin, Teanika Chamberlain, and Tamika Covington. The conversation picks up where last week's episode ended: about police involvement in mental health emergency calls. The women discuss how it feels to be BIPOC in a space that is not affirming of their identity. This does not mean that they want to be surrounded solely by those from a similar background. Instead, it means they feel comfortable in spaces where they do not have to explain culture, slang, etc. This comfort diminishes when police become involved. Ednesha retells times when she had to bar police from going into her office when she made mental health emergency calls about her patients. She would also escort them to the ambulance if need be, never leaving them alone in a space that was not culturally competent.    Divya changes the conversation by discussing how therapy should not be seen as a last resort. This originates from the ‘tough it out' mindset that was discussed in last week's episode. Tamika discusses how mental health challenges are inevitable in one's life, so why not start therapy right now before they strike versus after. The women discuss how preventative care is emphasized in medical care, so it should be just as important in mental health care.   To close off the episode, the women begin discussing the finances involved in mental health treatment. Ednesha brings up how there should be financial incentives to enroll in social work school after the pandemic due to the influx of mental health issues. She brings up her own student debt and how it is hard to live off a therapist's salary in a place as expensive as New York City. She also discusses the challenges that come with putting a price tag on your services. Many therapists question if their services are worth enough money, and if there are people who are actually willing to pay. Ednesha assures clinicians of color that there are patients who wants to see them, because their work is so important.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to tune into last week's episode which included even more discussion of Minority Mental Health month.    For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Ednesha is joined by some other members of the BeWELL team to discuss the importance of Minority Mental Health Month. Joining her is Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, Suhailey Núñez, Divya Robin, Teanika Chamberlain, and Tamika Covington. Victoria starts off the episode by talking about why it is important to acknowledge Minority Mental Health Month. She says that there are many minority communities that don't discuss mental health needs for a variety of reasons. Tamika adds that having a whole month to highlight minority mental health care is better than having a single day because it sustains focus on the topic and shows that this is not a trend by a long conversation that must be had. Divya chimes in to bring up the fact that there is a general Mental Health Month in May. However, during that month everything is talked about in blanket terms that don't address the specific needs that minority communities face to gain access to mental health resources.    Teanika shifts the conversation to talk about women of color specifically. She notes that many people in her life associate a woman in therapy with craziness or illness. Ednesha adds on that when she talks to members of her community about her work, they are often surprised by what she does and that therapy is for everyone. This is also why she urges medical doctors to refer their patients to mental health treatment facilities when their physical illnesses could have underlying mental causes. She believes people are more likely to take up the referral if done by a doctor.    After a short break, the women return to discuss if mental health resources are harder to access for than the average person. Divya says that as a child of immigrants, there is a guilt that is brought into the therapy room when seeking mental health care. This is because the mental health resources were not available to their parents. The women also discuss the mindset many were raised with of “what happens in the family stays in the family.” They also address the idea that therapy is thought of as a treatment for white people, it is extremely costly, and state sanctioned mental health care can lead to more distress. For example, some mental health calls to authorities are answered by police officers, which causes more stress for patients of color.    Thank you for tuning into the first part of this conversation on Minority Mental Health Month. Be on the lookout for the second part dropping next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode about In Treatment on HBO.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), or any of these amazing clinicians visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Transformational Coach Cathy Mckinnon. Cathy is here today to speak about Wellness Warrior Coaching. Cathy begins the episode by telling her story. She experienced, what she calls, the trifecta: infertility, divorce, and cancer. All three of these events changed the way she wanted to live, and now she uses them as the building blocks in her business at Wellness Warrior Coaching. Her goal with her coaching is to help women step into their power. She does this with 90 day programs that are designed so the client can go off on their own and succeed.   Cathy continues by stressing how important it is for women to ask themselves what they want their life to look like and what message they want to leave behind. For Cathy, she wanted to be the best mom possible for her son (who she calls her miracle baby). Part of this journey requires an assessment of your current situation. Many women hold onto their old lifestyle (their 9-5 jobs, etc.) because there is comfort in the familiar. However, breaking the paradigm is what paves the way to a better life.   After a short break, the women return to discuss what a consultation with Cathy looks like. She runs Diana through a mock intake. She asks Diana about BeWELL and its many platforms, and Diana discusses how she is uncomfortable with success. Success can be scary because it also means things can then go wrong. Cathy introduces the idea that everything can go wrong at all times, what's important is asking yourself, “what happens if this goes right?” She then goes on to explain the next step of the journey is drawing (literally or figuratively) how you want to present yourself in the future.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode on Money Emotions.    For more information on Cathy and Wellness Warrior Coaching, visit the links below:   Website: https://www.wellnesswarriorcoaching.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswarriorcoaching/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesswarriorcoaching/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week we just have the BeREAL team here, and Diana and Ednesha are discussing In Treatment on HBO. The two begin the episode by explaining the premise of In Treatment on HBO. They talk about how it used to feature a white male clinician and now it features a black female clinician. They go over the cast and their characters and compare them to situations they encounter daily in real life. They also note that the show takes place during COVID times, and the clinician sees her clients in her home.    The first note they give the show is that it doesn't depict a therapist who sets boundaries with her patients. They call her at unreasonable hours and she always responds to their beck and call. It also is set during COVID but hardly addresses the mask/vaccine question that many clinicians are asking themselves as they return to in person sessions. A good thing the show outlines, however, is a realistic depiction of the cost and payment methods of therapy. One patient struggles to afford her rates while another is seen pro bono due to legal reasons. Ednesha points out that this highlights an important quality therapists must have. They must be able to take money and believe that their work is worth the money they are given.   Diana also notes that the show speeds up treatment for a narrative purpose. The work that is accomplished in the show's four weeks would take at least a year, if not more, in real time. One example of this is the character of Eladio is challenged to view himself beyond his bipolar disorder diagnosis. Having worked in a clinic, Ednesha is aware that clinicians are made to diagnose patients so that Medicaid can cover their session fees. However, she also notes that clients can then cling to those diagnoses when therapists care more about relationships than medical conditions.    Diana also notes that In Treatment on HBO is a great example of why therapists should be in therapy. The therapist depicted lets her past flood into her sessions with patients. It also changes the relationship the therapist has with her patient. Clinicians should have their own therapist so this doesn't happen, and they can remain an unbiased third party in the patient's life.    After a short break, they return to discuss another patient depicted in In Treatment on HBO. Colin is a white man who recently was released from prison for white collar crime. He comes into her home inebriated and angry. Ednesha says that that is the exact reason she would not hold sessions in her home. However, with COVID and Zoom, patients are slightly let into the lives of their therapists. They can see their living rooms or offices and hear background noise. Diana and Ednesha discuss how this has altered some relationships they have with clinicians. Lastly, they debunk the fantasy that you want your therapist to be your close friend. In reality, you want them to remain unbiased and outside your personal life so they can truly be told anything.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode on Money Emotions.  For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Money Emotions Manager Vivi Schenk. As a Money Emotions Manager and Money Coach, Vivi Schenk helps millennials get unstuck with money, teaches them how to have a healthy relationship with it and equips them with financial knowledge so they can build lasting wealth.   Vivi begins the episode by explaining the financial mistakes she made when she was young. She states her goal is to help millennials to avoid making the same mistakes she did. One reason why money is such a hard concept to grasp when young is because it is often viewed as taboo. Because it was so hard to learn about, money began to affect Vivi's lifestyle and even her relationships. She claims she only knew how to spend, and not how to save.    Vivi then discusses how mindsets about money exist on a spectrum. On one end, money can make people very anxious, and on the other end it can be too heavily relied upon to make people feel better. This spectrum lends itself to a cycle. People will spend money, feel guilty, spend more money to feel better, and then the cycle repeats. Vivi highlights that it is important to set goals for yourself. She emphasizes that you need short term goals as well as long term. Without short term goals, you will not enjoy life and want to give up on the long term goals.    The most important thing young people must learn is how to make financial sacrifices. You must make sure you do not trade what you want most (a long term goal) for instant gratification. Ednesha brings up the point that people in their twenties don't want to make sacrifices, they want to take the world by storm. Vivi points out that this is the best time for people to evolve their financial understanding.    To finish off the episode, Vivi talks about her work. She tells listeners how they can work with her, and what they can expect from a consultation. The process usually takes about three months and during that time Vivi works with her clients on both emotional and strategic relationships with money. Vivi also has free finance tools available on her website for everyone!   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with the women of Root and Nourish.   For more information on Vivi and her work, visit the links below:   Website: http://www.vivischenk.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivischenk/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivischenk1/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vivischenk   Linkedin: Vivi Schenk   For more information on BeREAL (our psychotherapy podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana and Ednesha are joined by Ayurvedic cooking specialists Jennifer Kurdyla and Abbey Rodriguez, the co-authors of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness. Jennifer Kurdyla is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, yoga teacher, and writer. Plant-based since 2008, she learned to love food by experimenting with vegan and Ayurvedic cooking in her tiny New York kitchens. She is the co-author of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness (Tiller Press, 4/6/2021), and lives in Brooklyn, New York.   Abbey Rodriguez is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, herbalist, and food content creator. Over the last five years, she has been developing recipes for women and young families on her food and wellness blog, The Butter Half. She is deeply passionate about the power of plants and nutrition, and teaching others about holistic wellness. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children.    To begin the episode, Jennifer talks about how she came to love Ayurvedic cooking. Her journey started with her love of the environment, and she started a vegetarian diet to combat the environmental harm done by the meat industry. Abbey came into Ayurvedic cooking because she has celiac disease and came to holistic eating through gluten free foods. Their philosophy is that plant based foods taste good on their own, and they highlight that vegans/vegetarians should not fall into a diet of solely carbs or vegetables. Instead, they seek to create well balanced meals for all diets.    Next, the women discuss their journey together. Jennifer was working in publishing and Abbey was a blogger. Initially, Jennifer wanted Abbey to create a cookbook for her publishing house. However, now the two women are both bloggers and they collaborated on their first cookbook. They discuss how their book subtly weaves in Ayurvedic herbalism to make it easily accessible to many people. They also discuss the book's focus on digestion. Digestion is often overlooked in nutrition discussions, however, digestion is a key process to how nutrients are used in the body.    Outside of the book, the women are also planning a four week herbal mastermind course. The course will have similar teachings to the book. Both will capture the importance of the divine feminine, seasonal eating, and digestion in Ayurvedic cooking.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday, and don't forget to check out last week's episode with LaTanya Toland of Soul Care for Black Clinicians.   For more information on Jennifer, Abbey, and their work, visit the links below:   Website: https://www.Benourished.me   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkurdyla/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebutterhalf_/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootandnourishbook/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! We're back with another minisode, where Diana and Ednesha are joined by BeWELL's very own, Suhailey Núñez. Suhailey is here to talk about experiencing impostor syndrome.  Suhailey begins the episode by talking about where she feels impostor syndrome the most, in academia. She discusses how she got into academia, and how throughout the whole process, she didn't think she was as fit for the job as those around her. She sees this reflected in her patients, as she notes most people she sees experience impostor syndrome in educational or workplace settings. She also notes that many believe impostor syndrome is most common in women, but the reality is most everyone experiences it in some form or another.   Next, Suhailey moves on to discuss comparison. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she warns. The truth about comparison is that you never compare yourself in a fair way to those around you. Suhailey highlights that most people compare their deepest, darkest parts of themselves to only what others portray on the surface. This makes it hard for people to accept that they have accomplished a lot, because accomplishments are not easily internalized. It is especially hard to internalize achievements that do not fit the established narrative. Suhailey talks about her experience in academia, and how she only had one Latina professor. This might be why she experiences impostor syndrome so prominently in academic settings.   Diana and Ednesha chime in to discuss how therapy fits into the picture Suhailey has painted. Therapy is a great resource for those experiencing impostor syndrome, because there is a fear people will discover your “secrets.”  Therapy provides you with a space to talk through your secrets and let them still remain anonymous. Suhailey points out that talking out your feelings of impostor syndrome will also help you realize that it is a very common experience for many.    Lastly, the therapists discuss how impostor syndrome shows up in romantic relationships. They analyze the idea that many people often feel their partner won't accept the “real them.” To close off the episode, Suhailey gives her three tips to nurturing feelings of impostor syndrome:   Talk about your feelings with those around you (will help you realize you are not alone) Write down the positive experiences you have in a journal Find something in your work that you are especially good at   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. Make sure you check out Monday's episode on ______.   Also, don't forget to attend Suhailey's Live Wellness Webinar about the Impostor Phenomenon on June 22nd!   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ), and Suhailey Núñez visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by LaTanya Tolan to discuss Soul Care for Black Clinicians. LaTanya Tolan, LCSW, MA Ed. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Life Coach and is the Founder and CEO of Soul Care for Black Clinicians. Since 2011, she has maintained a private mental health practice devoted to healing Black people. LaTanya has always been and will always be committed to inspiring and empowering Black people towards healing, growth, change and goal attainment, so they can ultimately reach their optimum potential.   LaTanya begins the episode by discussing her calling. She outlines her work at Soul Care for Black Clinicians and emphasizes that “clinicians” does not just mean therapists. She also cares for the wellness of Black massage therapists, coaches, and all types of healers. She traces her work back to being a social worker in the second largest school district in the country. Seeing that there are a minority of Black clinicians in the social work field, she formed a small coalition with the other Black social workers in the district.    Ednesha jumps in to talk more about Black clinicians in education settings. She talks about how social work school does not meet the needs of Black clinicians or Black patients. LaTanya discusses how Black clinicians need to prove themselves outside of their credentials to non-Black patients, but with Black patients their connection is what is most important. However, she also stresses that patients should not worry about their clinicians wellbeing. Even though life happens for therapists as well, many have their own therapists and that allows them to show up to their consultations and focus solely on the patient.    Lastly, LaTanya talks about her work at Soul Care for Black Clinicians and as a professor. She talks about the issues she works on with her clinician clients, specifically self-esteem and anxiety issues. She also emphasizes the importance to lead by example in both fields of her work. She finishes off the episode by telling about how she modeled self care as a professor to her students.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL! Make sure to check out last week's episode about Pride Month 2021. Also, stay tuned for an all new minisode this Thursday.   For more information on LaTanya or Soul Care for Black Clinicians, visit the links below:   Website: www.soulcareforblackclinicians.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcareforblackclinicians/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Diana's good friend, Michael Lee Scott. Michael is here today to discuss Pride month 2021 and Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. Michael starts off the episode by telling the story of how he and Diana met. He then tells of many experiences the two have shared together throughout the years, until he changes to conversation to talk about how he got into the arts. He traces back his creativity to his parents, and tells of how they encouraged his artistic endeavors. These kept with him throughout his career when he ventured into musical theatre.    Next, he talks about his career in recent years and his interpretation of the creative process. He highlights why it is important for artists to carry through with their work. He explains that even though in the middle of a project, you might think it looks terrible, it will come together in the end. Before the break, Michael tells one more of his favorite stories as Diana can't emphasize enough how good of a storyteller he is.    After the break, the trio return to discuss Pride Month 2021. Diana and Michael tell the story of them attending the first pride parade in NYC together. Michael then delves into Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. He retells how the organization came to be. The Broadway Bares event started as a biannual go-go dance night. These nights used to bring in around $8,000 a night. Since then, the organization has grown, and last year the event brought in over $2 million in one night.    Lastly, Michael talks about his work with Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS now. He has since retired from being a performer and now works as a choreographer. BeREAL's very own Jessica chimes in to talk about her experience with the show, since she joined as a performer in 2014. To close out the episode, Michael shouts out the personal work Broadway Cares does as well as an organization that branched off called Broadway Inspirational Voices.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode on brand building.    Also, make sure to check out BeREAL's new merch!   For more information on Michael Lee Scott, visit the links below:   Website:   Instagram:   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! Ednesha is back this week, and she joins Diana in welcoming Lynn Hazan to the show today. Lynn joins today to discuss social media and building an authentic brand. Lynn Hazan is the founder of LynnHazan.com (formerly known as ChicpeaJC). She is a mom, business owner, and lover of life and her community. She started ChicpeaJC.com in 2014 as a hobby and creative outlet, and the rest is history. She prides herself on being an open book and an inspiring person in the community and to her daughter. Lynn is also the founder of AIM Media, a full-service social media and content management company to help small businesses promote themselves to the community.    Diana and Ednesha start the episode by talking about the summer. They discuss returning to in-person therapy sessions along with the rest of the world reopening. They talk about the new BeWELL Psychotherapy Hoboken office, and the grand opening that happened over the weekend.    Lynn joins the call and starts talking about her life as an Instagram blogger. Diana praises her for her rawness and realness that she shows on her account, and Lynn adds on about her journey to where she is today. She started her career in a corporate job in Manhattan. However, she found that she was ot connecting with people the way she would like to. She started on Instagram more as a hobby, but she quickly grew.    Of course, social media comes with some pitfalls. Lynn discusses the hate she receives and more importantly what she does with it. She says that she uses hate to propel her forward. However, sometimes it gets to be too much. She tells about times where people have reached out to her to address local politics in Jersey City. She finds that occasionally her following will hold her to a higher standard then they will their own mayor, and that is because she is simply more easily accessible.    After a short break, Lynn returns to discuss being a mom and an entrepreneur. She talks about how her work allows her to see her children more often then she would have had she stayed in finance. She does reflect on the hardships of being a single mother, but she also shares about the amazing partner she has now. Sticking to her goal of building an authentic brand, Lynn talks about vulnerability and social media. She explains what parts of herself are hard to share, and the lengths she must go when people attack her identity.    To close out the episode, Lynn talks about how mental health is part of building an authentic brand. She uses mental and physical wellness to keep moving forward even when hate stands in the way. Lastly, she talks about how she doesn't have much planned for the summer as she wants to spend the time enjoying life.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with the BeWELL team about Mental Health Awareness Month.   For more information on Lynn Hazan, visit the links below:   Website: https://www.Lynnhazan.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnhazan_/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! While Ednesha is on a vacation, Diana brings in some friends on the BeWELL team. Suhailey Nunez, Victoria Rodriguez, Tamika Covington, Arianna Eisenberg, and Susan Miller all call in today to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month.  The therapists begin the episode by talking about what mental health means to them. Tamika talks about the importance of maintaining both your mental and physical health and how both are equally important. They then talk about the first time they thought about mental health. Through this conversation, the women begin to discuss the generational differences between views on mental health. They realize that mental health came to prevalence at different points in each of their lives greatly because of generational differences.   After a short break, the clinicians all return to discuss how the pandemic has changed people's view of mental health. They discuss the extreme increase in anxiety experienced by people during the pandemic. Tamika brings up the idea that many people have reached out to therapists during the pandemic because they were experiencing crisis. However, she wants listeners to know that therapy doesn't always have to be an end result; it can be important to talk to a clinician during periods of good mental health as well.   Lastly, the clinicians address the weening out of COVID restrictions. Although you may want to rush out and do it all ASAP. The BeWELL team stresses that you go at your own pace. It will be important that you discuss new boundaries with those around you. More importantly, you must be honest about your boundaries with yourself. To finish off the episode, the team tells what they will miss about work from home and what they're excited for about going back to in person life.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL for Mental Health Awareness Month. Make sure to be on the lookout for a brand new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Monica Reinagel about childhood trauma.   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by nutritionist Monica Reinagel to discuss all things about dietary nutrition. Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS is a board-certified, licensed nutritionist and a professionally trained chef. Widely regarded as one of the most authoritative voices in nutrition, Monica's expert advice is regularly featured on television, radio, on the web, and in the nation's leading newspapers and magazines. She's the creator of the Nutrition Diva podcast, which has been in the Top 10 of health and nutrition podcasts since its debut in 2008. She is also co-host of the Change Academy podcast, which focuses on the art and science of behavior change.    Monica begins the episode by discussing how she got into the field of dietary nutrition. She initially was training to be an opera singer, but after discovering a love for nutritional science, she changed her career path. She talks about her podcast (The Nutrition Diva Podcast) and how it is her primary platform to spread information on dietary nutrition. She also touches on the fact that there are loads of bad information out there about nutrition and dieting and how she hopes to debunk a lot of false beliefs people have about food and health.    Monica continues by explaining her work. She says that her work doesn't revolve around telling people what foods are good for them, that information is already well known and easily googled. Instead, she focuses on turning that knowledge about nutrition into action. She recognizes that trying something new introduces the possibility of failure. She looks to minimize the fear of failing that holds many people back from changing their diet. Instead, she tries to show that even though new diets might not always work out, you can always start again. Ednesha hops in to talk about her experience with a nutritionist and how through that journey the way she viewed food and dieting changed drastically.    After a short break, the women return to discuss Monica's work as a chef. Although she did attend culinary school, she hasn't worked in a restaurant as a chef. Instead, she works with restaurants to make their menus more nutritional.    Monica finished off the episode by talking a bit more about her two podcasts (The Nutrition Diva and The Change Academy). She tells listeners where they can find her and how they can start on their journey of changing their maladaptive eating habits.   Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode about love trauma and childhood trauma.   For more information on Monica and her work, visit the links below:   Change Academy Podcast: https://changeacademypodcast.com   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutritiondiva   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nutritiondiva   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenutritiondiva   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by relationship coach Riana Milne to discuss childhood and love trauma. Riana Milne is a Global Cert. Life, Dating & Relationship Coach, CCTP, LMHC, LCADC, CAP, SAC, Certified Mindfulness Coach, Educational Speaker, and #1 Bestselling Author. She has completed over 20 years of research at the core of the Dating to Mating System for Singles and the Relationship Rescue Coaching program for Couples. With the “Mindset for Success,” you will gain the necessary confidence and essential skills to attract and keep an emotionally healthy, evolved and conscious partner. She uses a holistic, individualized coaching approach designed to help every woman, man and couple better understand themselves both emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.   Riana begins the episode by giving listeners insight into her backstory and accomplishments. She explains always wanting to go to counseling as a teenager, but not being allowed to. She gives details on her own experience with love trauma, and shares how that helped shape her career later on in life. She talks about studies that have been done around childhood trauma and how she realized certain groups were excluded. She wasn't seeing studies done around foster children, LGBTQ+ children, and other marginalized groups of children that she was seeing in her practice.    Seeing this, Riana expanded on these studies with her own work and developed her list of top 10 childhood traumas: Addiction Among Caretakers or Parents  Verbal Issues Emotional Abuse or Neglect  Physical Abuse  Abandonment (“fault” and “no fault” abandonment)  Displacement from Family Home Personal Trauma Sibling Trauma  Community Trauma/Family Trauma  Mental Health Issues in Parents    After a short break, Riana returns to discuss her work with couples' love trauma. She walks listeners through scenarios in which a couple would need to claim responsibility for their own feelings. She makes sure couples address issues at an appropriate time, but nothing goes unspoken about for long periods of time. She even throws in some examples of public figures who have faced the issues discussed in this episode today.   Lastly, Riana tells listeners about her coaching practice. She explains how coaching is a bit different than regular therapy and what circumstances it would be best fit for. She says that clients can expect to be with her for about six months, and that she does not do individual sessions.    Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you caught last week's episode with the team at More Joy Parenting.   For more information on Riana Milne and her work, visit the links below:   https://RianaMilne.com https://flow.page/rianamilne/   For more information on BeREAL (our wellbeing podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy practice in Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to the BeREAL Podcast! Continuing on from last week, Diana and Ednesha are once again joined by the team at More Joy Parenting. Dr. Marcella Runell Hall, Nicki Henry, Annaliese Kittrell, Michelle Van-Ess Grant, Dr. Keisha L. Green, and Eden Jeffries call in to discuss the More Joy Parenting Workshops and Coaching Sessions.  More Joy Parenting is a collective of like-minded parents and caregivers interested in creating space to share resources, ideas and support. The passion for centering marginalized, and in particular youth experiences, stems from the lived experiences of all the More Joy Parenting (MJP) team members. The intellectual and creative work to formally create MJP began in early 2019 with a seed of an idea, and the website launched on December 1, 2020. But in many ways, MJP is a culmination of personal and professional work that has been lifelong for most of us. There is a synchronicity of minds, professional experience and shared narrative that creates the heartbeat for this work.   Marcella starts off the episode by outlining all of More Joy Parenting's offerings. She goes over the free resources available on their website, the coaching sessions they offer that focus on support and accountability, and the parenting workshops which fall into three categories. The categories are life changes (trauma, etc.), race and intersectionality, and classes on how to find your parenting voice. The team also highlights the reading material that is available on the More Joy Parenting website through Dreamland with Aaliyah.   To finish the episode, the team explains the ways in which they make their workshops accessible to people of all backgrounds. And after, they close out the episode with one big last hoorah all about reality TV.   Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode which is the first part of our conversation with More Joy Parenting.   For more information on More Joy Parenting and their team, visit the links below:   Website: www.morejoyparenting.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morejoyparenting/   Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/morejoyparenting/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! In the first episode of this two part special, Diana and Ednesha are joined by the whole team at More Joy Parenting. It's founder, Dr. Marcella Runell Hall calls in along with Nicki Henry, Annaliese Kittrell, Michelle Van-Ess Grant, Dr. Keisha L. Green, and Eden Jeffries. More Joy Parenting is a collective of like-minded parents and caregivers interested in creating space to share resources, ideas and support. The passion for centering marginalized, and in particular youth experiences, stems from the lived experiences of all the More Joy Parenting (MJP) team members. The intellectual and creative work to formally create MJP began in early 2019 with a seed of an idea, and the website launched on December 1, 2020. But in many ways, MJP is a culmination of personal and professional work that has been lifelong for most of us. There is a synchronicity of minds, professional experience and shared narrative that creates the heartbeat for this work.   Dr. Hall begins the episode by highlighting the dynamic of the More Joy Parenting team. She points out that they have all been students, mentors, and caretakers of one another in some way and through their history deep bonds have grown. This was integral in the founding of the practice, because much of the work depends on being vulnerable and trusting. The practice was founded during the pandemic last December, and Marcella discusses how being at home with children inspired the women to take action. They had noticed that a lot of discussion about being a parent during the pandemic was around the  things parents lost (alone time, private workspace, etc.). However, More Joy Parenting wants to shift the conversation to be about what you gain from spending much of the day with your kids.    The women all open up about how the joy of parenting was taken away from them when they were stressed about their kids invading Zoom calls or their workspaces. However, they realized that by hiding their kids away from their life at home on Zoom, they were denying that part of themselves. The women want to encourage other parents to own that being a parent is part of your identity, and if a kid interrupts work from home, that is not something that should be criticized or punished.    Eden hops into the conversation to discuss her role as a caretaker to her father. She talks about More Joy Parenting's scope that goes beyond just mothering. The team realizes that it is not always biological parents who raise children. Sometimes it is a biological family, but other times your caretakers could be your chosen family or professionals. These roles must also be uplifted and celebrated so that they can instill joy among all.    After a short break, the women come back to discuss the fears of being a parent. Some of the fears parents are facing around COVID are the debates around whether they should send their child back to in-person learning. A few of the women give anecdotes about their children voicing fears related to going back to school. There is a fear in change and also a fear about one's safety. Another fear that is brought up that is separate of COVID is the fear of raising POC children during the epidemic of police brutality. Michelle talks about finding her parenting voice in moments like these to be there for her son so he can continue to find joy by her side.   To finish off the episode, Eden discusses what you can learn from the people you care for. Diana adds on the idea that children don't hold back their opinions so listening to them could shed light on how you function as a caregiver and as an individual. Thus, showing that More Joy Parenting teaches life curriculum and not solely parenting practices.     Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for the second part of this discussion with More Joy Parenting next Tuesday! In the meantime make sure to check out last week's episode with Dr.

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Dr. Carlton Green to discuss diversity training, racial trauma and mental health. For more than 25 years, Dr. Carlton Green (he/him) has held various roles in higher education settings. More specifically, he has worked in student activities, multicultural services, residence life, academic affairs, athletics, and counseling services in both public and private institutions. Dr. Green's dedication to diversity and inclusion facilitated his appointment as the Multicultural Post-doctoral Fellow in Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Houston.  Currently, Dr. Green is the Director of Diversity Training & Education in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). Prior to taking on this role, he served as a Staff Psychologist at the University of Maryland (UMD) Counseling Center. Dr. Green begins the episode by explaining how he got into his work around racial trauma and mental health. He originally wanted to be a lawyer, but through his university studies he realized that diversity training was a field that interested him more. As a proud Christian he blends his psychology training into the religious space. He has hosted pastoral counseling sessions in the past and other mental health services available to the church goers.  Dr. Green continues by comparing what he has observed about mental health in colleges versus churches. He notes that while they are both institutions that would like to believe they are not places where harm occurs, both places can deal a great bit of mental health harm, especially for people of color. He uses this idea to discuss how he organizes his racial trauma and mental health workshops. He begins by discussing how racism plays out in the outside world, and then brings the conversation into the space where the audience exists.  After a short break, the three therapists return to talk about the therapist-client relationship. The idea that the therapist is always the expert in the room inhibits the therapist's ability to learn and grow from their client's experiences. Other dynamics of the mental health field also create standards that are not optimal for minority clients. For example, the idea that the therapist should be a blank slate is not wanted by a lot of Black clients that Ednesha has seen. Ednesha continues by explaining that sometimes when she breaks the norm (made by white people) to accommodate her minority clients she feels guilty. However, Ednesha points out that it is important for minority therapists to affirm to themselves that they are good clinicians even when they break the traditional rules. Lastly, Diana talks about what she learned from supervising Ednesha for so long. One thing she touches on is that the social work school institution needs to change to accommodate different traditions and cultural differences. The three therapists brainstorm some ideas of what a change in social work school would look like.  Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Vanessa Rissetto about holistic nutrition coaching. For more information on Dr. Green and his work, visit the links below:   Website: www.carltonegreen.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcegreen/   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drcegreen/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below: To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today  www.beher-now.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Vanessa Rissetto, a dietitian here to discuss holistic nutrition coaching and diet culture. Vanessa received her MS in Marketing at NYU and completed her Dietetic Internship at Mount Sinai Hospital where she worked as a Senior Dietitian for five years. She is certified in Adult Weight Management (Levels I & II) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her work in private practice also includes treatment of GI disorders, bariatric surgery, weight management, PCOS, and family nutrition. She is mostly interested in helping clients to take an active role in their health journey, any of her clients can tell you she motivates and ensures that they always achieve success. Vanessa was named by Essence magazine as one of the top 5 black nutritionists that will change the way you think about food and currently serves as the Dietetic Internship Director at New York University.   Vanessa begins the episode by explaining what a dietitian does and how one becomes a dietitian. She stresses how different the job is from a nutritionist. She has gone to through copious amounts of schooling and and training and is hold a degree instead of a certificate (like nutritionists do). Ednesha adds to the conversation by discussing her own experience with a nutritionist (again, not the same as a dietitian). Ednesha describes herself as a fad dieter, and in her work with a dietitian, she was asked to grade her diet each week. Vanessa disagrees with practices like this because it makes people feel guilty for going out and having a good time with friends. And, she adds, it's a practice made by thin white women to dictate how everyone else eats.    Vanessa continues by emphasizing how she doesn't want her clients to be extremely hung up on what they're eating that it takes away from their social lives. More importantly, being an obsessive dieter can make you a burden to those around you. Vanessa is especially concerned about how guilt will manifest after COVID and people start going out to eat more. A sudden change in eating habits can create guilt and unhealthy habits, especially in a social setting.    Vanessa finishes off the episode by outlining what a consultation with a dietitian looks like. She goes over the initial session, what homework clients can expect, and how clients can expect their relationship with food and their dietitian to change over time. Lastly, she addresses the importance of making healthy eating available to all socioeconomic classes. Right now, the dietitian field is very elitist and promotes food lifestyles that not everyone can afford. Through her work she looks to make holistic nutrition coaching available to all people.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode with Kasey Compton about entrepreneurial confidence.   For more information on Vanessa or Culina Health, visit the links below:   Website: www.culinahealth.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culinahealth/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessarissettord/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are back for another minisode with BeWELL's very own, Susan Miller. Susan is here to discuss graduating from college in a pandemic. The episode explores the scenario from both the graduate and the parent's perspective. Susan has extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families who may struggle with anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief & loss, and their relationships. She believes that therapy is a collaborative process and works together with her clients to strengthen their ability to reflect upon and cope more effectively with their current concerns, conflicts, and pain. Her long held view that each person has the ability to change until they take their last breath supports her fluid approach to therapy. She is committed to building a meaningful therapeutic relationship, one that facilitates emotional and behavioral growth for her patients. Susan starts off the episode by explaining her background in the mental health field. She has worked with both parents and children for a while, and today is here to discuss the phenomenon that is graduating in a pandemic. Susan explains how emerging adults can be rational, but are often hyper rational. That means that they look at narrow facts without paying attention to the larger context. This can lead to partaking in dangerous activities or acting against their parent's will. Both these scenarios can create conflict when a graduate's life is intertwined with their parents after graduation.  Susan continues by addressing the shame that many graduates may be feeling at the moment. They may have had a job and an apartment lined up for the coming summer, but due to COVID, they find themselves back in their parent's house. There is a balance that must be found if this is the case. Graduates must ask themselves how they would like to be parented, while also acknowledging that in their parent's home there are certain rules they must follow out of respect.  After a break, the women return to discuss the rift that can occur when emerging adults move in with their parents. Parents may be stuck seeing their children as teenagers and hold them to similar standards as they did in high school. However, their children are young adults now this means that major conversations must be had. Some of these conversations are about finances. If the graduate had an apartment ready for the summer after graduation, they are most likely financially capable to help around the house. If not, what are other ways they can contribute to life at home during the pandemic. These are all important questions parents must consider when their child is graduating from college in a pandemic.  Thank you for tuning into this week's episode of BeREAL! Be sure to check out the previous episode with Kasey Compton about entrepreneurial confidence, and stay tuned for a new episode next Tuesday! For more information on Susan, her upcoming talk, BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    Susan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanbewell/   Susan's upcoming talk: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/your-kid-is-graduating   www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Kasey Compton to discuss entrepreneurial confidence in business and therapy practices.  Kasey Compton is on a mission to help business owners find entrepreneurial confidence. She went from bankrupt to Boss Babe when she took her first company from zero to three million in less than three years without ditching her life to do it. She owns three other businesses that have accumulated assets of over three million and growing by the day.   Ednesha begins the episode by telling Diana all about her survivalist camping weekend that is coming up. Diana is shocked to hear all about Ednesha's new “Naked and Afraid” style era, and also fearful of Ednesha's desire to be “comfortable” while learning to survive the elements.    Then, Kasey comes in to begin talking about entrepreneurial confidence. She retells the story of how she got into business from the therapy field. As a therapist, she specialized in anxiety and panic disorders and her knowledge of fear plays heavily into her work as a business consultant. She has noticed that people have two ultimate fears: failure and being alone. Both of these fears play heavy into people's views of themselves as employees and as entrepreneurs.   Next, Kasey walks Diana and Ednesha through a typical day in her life. She explains how she incorporates her business teachings into her own day-to-day. She emphasizes the importance of taking time for yourself after work and on the weekends. People tend to feel obligated to bring work home with them, but creating a healthy work/home balance is crucial to maintaining wellness within the workplace.    After a short break, the women return to discuss Black Woman Be Whole. Kasey uses Ednesha's business as a case study on what to do as a business owner as your business grows. Kasey asks if Ednesha wants the future of Black Woman Be Whole to be independent of her identity or not. Ednesha says she does, and Kasey advises she distances herself from some of the programming from the beginning of the business. She also explains to Ednesha the concept of currency correlation, and the seesaw of time and money balance. Lastly, Kasey tells listeners about the programs she is currently running that they can be partake in.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for a new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode with Jolene Blackbourn on mental health in the legal field.    For more information on Kasey or her practice, visit the links below:   Website: www.kaseycompton.com   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hikaseycompton   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikaseycompton   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/KaseyCompton   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Jolene Blackbourn to discuss mental health in the legal field. Jolene Blackbourn is a California attorney who left her senior level position at a Fortune 100 company to help students graduate from college and law school in less time, with less debt and with less stress so they can live the life they always dreamed. She has been advising law students since she was one herself and has been giving speeches at universities for 20 years.    Jolene starts off the episode by explaining her stance on law school and the entire legal journey. She looks to promote safety in the application process and financial process. By safety this is both physical safety (student debt can lead to big issues in life) but also mental safety (both applications and finances are stress inducing). Ednesha uses this to jump into a conversation about the cost of law school. Specifically how the high cost of tuition leads to high average student debt which can create a feeling within law students that they must work long unhealthy hours to outrun their debt.   Following this, Jolene gets into talking about how to avoid law school debt. A big myth that she wants to bust is that you need to go to a top ranked law school. This mindset is what gets so many people into debt and it's entirely untrue. In many circumstances actually, depending on what field of law you want to work in, it can be better to have a lower ranked school on your resume. And, on top of that, you'll be leaving your law school years with less debt. Many top ranked law schools don't even serve as gateways to a good paying legal job. Even big law has hidden costs that are often overlooked because of the big salary.   After a short break, the women return to talk about gender in the legal field. Jolene discusses the rise she sees in the number of women attending law school, and how this impacts the field. However, she also points out that many firms are still not family friendly. She offers her own experience as an example that in big law, after she had her first child, she was still expected to work long hours and neglect her role as a mother. Luckily, there are still some firms that are very hospitable to working mothers and some that were even completely remote before COVID.   Lastly, Jolene talks explicitly about mental health in the legal field. She gives examples of many stress inducing practices within law firms and how many lawyers are expected to meet unrealistic goals. To reduce stress, Jolene recommends looking for a practice that accommodates your lifestyle, and looking at ways to reduce your debt. Some suggestions she makes are taking a gap year or taking a lighter course load in law school.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode with Bridget Shannon and Dana Barron about diet culture.   For more information on Jolene or Legal Learning Center, visit the links below:   Website: www.legallearningcenter.com   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legallearningcenter?lang=en   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolene-blackbourn-esq/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legallearningcenter/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Legal-Learning-Center-107193834095918/?modal=admin_todo_tour   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPv_-9VJZ1sJ9hTk-VrJ-Jw/   Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-legal-learning-podcast/id1540380466   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Dana Barron and Bridget Shannon of Wellness Lately to discuss diet culture and its impacts on mental health. Bridget Shannon and Dana Barron are the Founders of Wellness Lately. They help women stop binge eating and obsessing about food every day. Their mission is to reclaim wellness from diet culture. And their work is rooted in body liberation and food freedom, helping women all over the world escape the painful diet-binge cycle and embrace true well-being. Through their coaching programs, events and community they teach the principles of Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size, Body Neutrality and Holistic Wellness.   Ednesha begins the episode by sharing a little history on her experience with dieting. She is what you may call a “chronic dieter” and has tried quite a few diet variations. Diana shares about her partner's new intermittent fasting diet and how it has affected her life as someone who does not diet. Bridget and Dana jump in to discuss how they realized that in their past jobs within the wellness field, they were promoting the concept of an “ideal body.” Now, however, with their work at Wellness Lately, the women look to heal people's relationship with eating and body image.   Dana and Bridget continue by defining the beliefs of their practice. They discuss intuitive eating and what it means to eat in response to your body and not your brain. They also define Intuitive eating (capital “I”) as the framework used to train women to connect with their bodies. These two concepts are utilized to teach how one can eat and still enjoy life without fear of weight gain. They go on to explain where the fear of weight gain originates in society. There are overarching messages instilled in business and advertising that weight loss is a good thing, but many people also have personal experiences that may have amplified a fear of weight gain. Ednesha ties the conversation back to her experiences as a Black woman. Beauty standards in America are all Euro-centric and along with thinness they also promote whiteness.    After a short break, the women return to discuss eating disorders. Diet culture has only worsened eating disorders and it can have numerous other negative effects on mental health. Part of this trend originates from orthorexia. Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating and such an obsession is not healthy within itself.    To finish off the episode, the women discuss why it is so hard to separate weight and health in American society. They talk about how consumer culture has shaped these two into one and some ways to untether them in your mind. Dana and Bridget also emphasize how the coronavirus pandemic has amplified diet culture. Fears of food scarcity and constant self-viewing on Zoom have altered eating habits and body image.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for a new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, check out last week's episode with Melanie from GiRLiFE on empowering women to empower girls.   For more information on Dana, Bridget, and Wellness Lately, visit the links below: Website: https://www.wellnesslately.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellness_lately/   Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellnesslately   Podcast: https://www.wellnesslately.com/podcast/   For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! Diana is back in the studio with Ednesha! Joining the two today is Melody Pourmoradi the founder of GiRLLiFE. She joins the team today to discuss profitable girl empowerment. Melody Pourmoradi is an empowerment coach, author, twin girl mom and the creator of the GiRLiFE Certification Program: A platform that trains women to create profitable girls empowerment businesses. Her greatest goal is for every young girl and woman to find her own voice and live a life that lights her up from the inside-out.    Melody begins the episode by explaining the goals of GiRLiFE. She defines the program as one that empowers women to empower girls. Oftentimes women are compared to each other and it creates tension and competitiveness. Melody wants to put this narrative to rest and instead promote camaraderie amongst women and teach them how to support each other. She traces one reason she got into this work to the observation that men often have lots of confidence. She believes this is because men are taught to take risks, while women are taught to over prepare for everything.   Melody continues on by walking Diana and Ednesha through the journey GiRLiFE students take. The program begins with girls as young as five years old, because Melody wants to catch them before they reach peak self confidence at age nine. These young girls have full lives ahead of them, and their confidence should not diminish as they age in the way it currently does in the world. She also points out that as the GiRLiFE girls age, they become less vocal in workshops. This is because teenagers begin focusing their attention on what they think others are thinking of them, and therefore coax themselves into silence.   After a short break, Melody returns to discuss some messages promoted in the GiRLiFE workshop about the power of one's words. This workshop teaches that we don't always say what we mean, and sometimes what we say can have dire consequences. The workshop also promotes nutrition, with a juice party finishing off each session.   Lastly, the women all discuss the ideas of profitability and passion. Often people are told that their passions should be hobbies. This is especially resonant in the social work field because service work is often expected to be free. However, due to the nature of the world, people cannot devote all their time to an activity that does not sustain their living. That is why GiRLiFE teaches that you should not be ashamed of doing good while also making money and supporting yourself.   Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's episode with the Black Woman Be Whole team and Alex Elle about self care for Black women.    For more information on Melody or GiRLiFE, visit the links below:   Website: Www.getgirlpower.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlifeempowerment/   Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlsempowermentbiz/   Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empowering-her-with-melody-pourmoradi/id1525658264   For more information on BeREAL (our mental health podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken, New Jersey) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week marks the final episode of the Black Woman Be Whole takeover. Ednesha, Kim, and Marquia are joined this week by Alex Elle. Alex was on BeREAL last year, but she is back again to talk more about self care for black women.  Alexandra Elle is an author & wellness consultant living in the Washington, DC metro area with her husband and children. Writing came into her life by way of therapy and the exploration of healing through journaling. Quarterly, Alex teaches workshops and retreats centered around assisting others in finding their voices through storytelling, poetry, and narrative writing rooted in truth without shame. Her mission is to build community & self-care practices through literature & language. Alex is the author of multiple books and journals, most recently After the Rain, Neon Soul, and Today I Affirm: A Journal That Nurtures Self-Care.  Alex begins the episode by talking about what has changed since she was last on the show. Her career has taken off, and her book that was published in October, After the Rain, is already in its sixth printing. She discusses how the pandemic has drawn people to her messages of self care, and how her book withstands the changing mental health landscape during coronavirus. She talks about her experience on Good Morning America, and how she doesn't like being termed an “influencer” because she wants people to listen to her because of her message, not because of her follower account. Marquia asks Alex for some advice on tackling old wounds that resurface. Alex stresses the importance of knowing what you need out of yourself and what you need out of your community and vocalizing both of those ideas. Alex brings up the conversation point that many black women nowadays find themselves as the sole healing matriarch in their family. The quartet discuss the stigma that black women need to be tough and how that impacts their daughters and mothers. The conversation shifts so Alex can discuss her relationship with her mother and how it is addressed in her book. Alex explains how the book is written to show black women that they are not alone and other women are experiencing similar struggles in life. Marquia backs up this explanation by joking that she felt called out by some of Alex's passages.  To close off the episode, Alex recounts a recent experience she had with a white reader. Alex was told to not strictly identify as a black author because it makes her works less universal. Alex goes on to explain how this made her realize that she must hone in on her identity as a black author because self care for black women needs more representation. Thank you for tuning into the final Black Woman Be Whole takeover at BeREAL! Tune in next Tuesday for an episode back with the usual BeREAL team. In the meantime, make sure you go check out Black Woman Be Whole and their upcoming podcast. For more information on Alex Elle and all her work, visit the links below: Website: https://www.alexelle.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_elle/ For more information on Black Woman Be Whole, check out the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomanbewhole/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanbewhole/    For more information on BeREAL (our psychotherapy podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in Midtown Manhattan NYC) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/  

Welcome back to the Black Woman Be Whole takeover on BeREAL! On the penultimate episode of this takeover, Ednesha, Kim, and Marquia are joined by Marla Renee Stewart to discuss sexuality, kink, and sexual confidence in Black women. Good thing Diana isn't here this week (there's a lot of “applesauce” talk)! Marla Renee Stewart, MA is a sexologist, coach, and author who runs her own sexuality education company, Velvet Lips, and is also a Co-Founder of the Sex Down South Conference. She has studied human sexuality for more than 20 years and has given over 500 workshops all over the world. She also has been featured on a variety of media outlets, including Netflix's Trigger Warning with Killer Mike and Love & HipHop Atlanta. She co-wrote her first book, The Ultimate Guide to Seduction & Foreplay with Dr. Jessica O'Reilly, which debuted in April 2020.   Marla begins the episode by talking about her background and how she got into the sexology field. She recounts her coming out when she was 16 and how she would talk to her female friends and learned that they were not having orgasms. Ednesha relates this to the fact that a lot of sex dialogue around women is about pregnancy and STD prevention, and rarely about pleasure and sexuality.    The women move into the topic of sexual communication. Marla addresses when it is beneficial to be direct versus sensitive when talking to your partner about your sexual needs and concerns. They touch on the idea that often women will say something and others will take the statement to be something they must analyze for underlying context. It can create strain on a relationship when someone expects their partner to know things they won't vocalize. Because of this, a simple change in communication can create a big change in a relationship. To make this change, it is important to learn if your partner is a visual, auditory, or tactile communicator.    After a short break, the women return to discuss Marla's Sex Down South Conference. Marla outlines the goals of the conference, and how the coordinators works to uplift black, queer, disabled, and sex worker voices. Kim chimes in to tell about her experience at the conference two years in a row (pre-COVID of course). She tells that past the titillating fun of the sex dungeon and kink demonstrations, Kim sat in on some very informative panels about consent, sexual trauma, and sexual shame.    Lastly, the women talk about how to prioritize joy as a woman of color. Often, sexuality and kink for women of color are overlooked or stigmatized. However, that is what Marla is seeking to change through her workshops and conferences to inspire sexual confidence in black women.   Thank you for tuning into the Black Woman Be Whole takeover of the BeREAL Podcast this week! Be sure to catch the final takeover next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you checked out last week's takeover with Anzala Alozie about domestic violence against women of color.   For more information on Marla or Velvet Lips Sex Ed, check out the links below:   Website: https://www.velvetlipssexed.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1marlastewart/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VelvetLipsSxEd/   For more information on BeREAL (our therapy podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy office in NYC and Hoboken) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL this week… well kind of. The team at Black Woman Be Whole are back for another takeover this month. Kimberly, Marquia, and Ednesha are joined by Anzala Alozie to discuss domestic violence against women of color.  Anzala B. Alozie is a social impact strategist, change maker and executive. Anzala is a recognized  leader on women and girls' empowerment, leadership development and diversity, equity and  inclusion. Anzala's expertise includes organizational development and management, strategic  planning, global policy, DEI culture & systemic change, strategic partnerships, program development and transformational leadership & social change. She is a national speaker and trainer.    Anzala begins the episode by giving listeners a little backstory on her. She's a lawyer that specializes in immigration law. Specifically, she would work cases revolving around the sexual assault of immigrants. She touches on the theme of history, which you already know is big at Black Woman Be Whole. She grew up with only brothers, so she talks about the sisterhood she has formed with her girlfriends, such as Marquia.    Next, Anzala discusses households where domestic violence against women of color occurs. Anzala shares her experience of being in this situation, and Kimberly shares a similar story that happened to a friend of hers. Kimberly brings up the trauma that is imbued within events of this sort, and Ednesha adds that trauma in the Black community is not spoken about often. People believe that trauma is a result of very specific events in one life, but the truth is trauma can emerge from any event, especially ones horrific as intimate partner violence. Adding to this, Ednesha brings up the statistics that 40% of Black women will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and that domestic violence against women of color is the number one health issues affecting Black women.    After a short break, the women return to discuss how domestic violence against women of color has seen an uptick due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not only are couples stuck together for longer periods of time now, but many outlets of support have been closed off. Examples of these outlets are staying at a friends house, or going to a women's shelter. Marquia shares a story of a friend of hers who was socially isolated with her violent intimate partner during the pandemic.   To finish of the episode, the women speak about how to support a friend who opens up about their experience with intimate partner violence. Anzala brings up why phrases such as “why don't you just leave?” are not helpful, because often attempts to flee domestic violence significantly increase the rate of fatality. They also discuss why many Black women may not want to report their partners to the authorities. Black women have to juggle both racial and sex based issues, and they often choose to put race based isses first. This means they would not want to report a Black man to the authorities, because there is an increased likelihood they will die in the hands of authorities.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for another Black Woman Be Whole take over next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure you check out last week's rebroadcasting of our live 50th episode on cultural competence in therapy practices.    If your seeking out resources for victim of domestic violence, for you or a loved one, visit the links below:   National Domestic Violence  https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/local-resources/   800-799-SAFE   National Coalition against Domestic Violence https://ncadv.org/   National Dating Abuse Helpline  1-866-331-9474 www.loveisrespect.org   National Resource Center on Domestic Violence  1-800-537-2238 www.nrcdv.org and www.vawnet.org   For more information on Black Woman Be Whole, check out the links below:  

Welcome to BeREAL's very first live episode! To celebrate our 50th episode, Diana and Ednesha went live a few weeks ago with guests Dr. Nathalie Edmund, Veronica Vaiti, Lyrica Fils-Aime, and Kerrie Mohr. The roundtable is here to discuss anti-racism in therapy practices. Kerrie Mohr has focused her career on seeking out solutions to individual, family, and community problems through clinical work, policy reform, organizing, managing teams, and building nonprofit social service programs.In addition to her 1:1 clinical work with psychotherapy clients, she supervises and coaches clinical social workers; facilitates professional development and training groups, and oversees all aspects of care, training, and fidelity to A Good Place Therapy's various models of service delivery. She also volunteers for ​Sidewalk Talk, A Community Listening Project​, as the NYC chapter leader.   Nathalie Edmond, PsyD, RYT-500 is a licensed clinical psychologist and experienced yoga teacher who takes an integrative perspective to her consultations and trainings.  She believes that transformation happens when we integrate mind-body-spirit and have an embodied dialogue.  She is trained in multiculturalism and intersectional feminism and takes a trauma informed approach to her work.  She believes that anti-racism work includes addressing all marginalized groups and identities and working towards liberation of all beings. She regularly leads anti-racism and diversity trainings for clinical practices, libraries, school districts, corporations, nonprofits, activism groups and yoga communities.     Veronica Vaiti, LCSW-R, CCATP is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Bhava Therapy Group, a group private psychotherapy practice with offices in Midtown Manhattan and Riverdale, NY and now also providing Teletherapy. Veronica deeply values and respects the unique life journey each and every person she encounters is on. Whether working with a couple, an individual or a team of professionals at an organization, Veronica provides a safe and open space in which her clients can explore their truths, gain clarity around core issues and discover new, healthier ways of relating to themselves and the others in their lives.    After the group introduction, these amazing women get right into the discussion of anti-racism in the workplace. As social workers, these women organize trainings for predominantly white businesses on how to make the workplace more accessible and mental health positive for BIPOC co-workers.    This conversation sparks a realization in some of the practice owners, and the conversation shifts to focus on anti-racism in therapy practices. Veronica discusses her experience hiring therapists for her practice and how she has and has not incorporated anti-racism practices in these interviews. One thing the women touch on is what an all white practice truly reflects. It may reflect you as a leader, but more importantly it reflects the mental health field as a whole. The barriers to entry to the mental health field are very high and costly, something that many BIPOC cannot afford due to institutional racism.    Focusing in more on the importance of cultural competence in the mental health field, the women begin discussing education. Teaching anti-racism in therapy settings means teaching the curriculum to address many different dynamics; there could be a BIPOC clinician with an ignorant patient, a white clinician with a BIPOC patient, or a BIPOC patient with a BIPOC clinician. Although this may seem like a lot to learn, it is crucial to move the mental health field in a positive direction. The ladies give excellent examples of what can happen when people invest themselves in the curriculum as well as the downfalls that could occur if people choose to ignore the curriculum.    To finish off the discussion, the women discuss the current state of the mental health field.

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week we mix things up a little and Ednesha is coming to you without Diana. Ednesha is joined by the amazing Kimberly Moore and Marquia Farmer to announce their brand new podcast Black Woman Be Whole! To celebrate the new podcast and Black History Month, the women at Black Woman Be Whole will be taking over the BeREAL podcast for the entire month of February. Ednesha begins the episode by explaining how Black Woman Be Whole will be different than BeREAL. She highlights that she will not be coming to the new podcast as a therapist, instead she will simply come as herself. Along with Kim and Marquia, the group is looking to showcase different versions of what it means to be black.    Marquia continues on by telling listeners about how the three women met. Ednesha and Kim knew each other from high school, but Marquia didn't meet them until much later. Marquia heard Ednesha talk at a conference and reached out in hopes that Ednesha would be her therapist. However, due to financial reasons that did not work out. Ednesha and Kim later asked Marquia to test a group they were forming. From there, Black Woman Be Whole was formed and Marquia joined the team. Now that team is excited to create their next project, the Black Woman Be Whole podcast.   After a short break, Marquia explains how she got into this work. She had found herself in a job position that was not fully utilizing her degree, and she was developing mental health issues. Marquia's story about a specific breakdown she remembers having sparks a conversation around black women and mental health. People often discount the experiences had by black women and that leads to a stigma that they don't face mental health problems. Black Woman Be Whole is looking to break down these stigmas and expose the truth of what it means to be a black woman.   The team wraps up with a discussion of sisterhood during the pandemic and also offers commentary on the presidential inauguration. More specifically, they debate whether or not JLO should be considered an icon.    Thank you for tuning into the Black Woman Be Whole takeover on BeREAL! Be on the lookout for more Black Women Be Whole content next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out the latest BeREAL episode with Kimberly Daniels on adoption and mental health.   For more information on Black Woman Be Whole, check out the links below:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomanbewhole/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanbewhole/    For more information on BeREAL (our psychotherapy podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in Midtown Manhattan) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Kimberly Daniels to discuss adoption and motherhood. Kimberly is a Brooklyn based Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor with a Master's degree in Psychology and over 10 years of professional experience. She is the founder of Wellness by Kimberly, a Holistic Wellness and Mindset Coaching practice that transforms the lives of women through a combination of energy and mindfulness work, practical psychology, and nutritional counseling.   Kimberly begins the episode by giving a little backstory on herself and her partner. Her partner was adopted, and so they planned to have one adopted and one biological child. Kimberly explains how easy it is to get caught up in expectations of family and begin to plan around these ideas. So, when she found out that she wouldn't be able to have biological children, there was a great shock to their plans. From here, she realized how important it was to focus on having children, instead of birthing them.    Kimberly continues by diving into how surprised she was by the adoption process. She found herself having to answer questions she was unsure of how to answer. For example, should she choose an adoption agency or adoption attorney. She also explained the difficulties of creating a profile, especially as a non-married, interracial couple. Her partner and her had to scan every photo to make sure there was no suggestive materials in the background (wine glasses, etc.), that they looked happy, and that it was clear they loved children. While it was all stressful, she also points out how it helped to further bond her and her partner. Through building a book that included letters about each other, plans for their future child, and their views on parenting, the couple learned more about each other.   Kimberly finishes by explaining a bit about her relationship with her son's birth parents. She touches on the differences between her relationship with the birth mother versus the birth father. Lastly, She retells their journey of going down to Florida during the pandemic to experience the birth of their son, including their first moments together.    Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week to hear about adoption and motherhood. Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week's episode on fertility and family planning.   For more information on Kimberly Daniels or her work, visit the links below:   Website: http://www.wellnessbykimberly.com/about-me   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovekimberlydaniels/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.m.daniels/   For more information on BeREAL (our therapist podcast) and BeWELL (our psychotherapy office in NYC) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! In this minisode, Diana and Ednesha are joined by BeWELL's very own, Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, to discuss mental health in the workplace and in positions of leadership. As a psychotherapist, Dr. Rodriguez has experience working with clients facing depression, anxiety, mood disorders, grief and loss, and major life transitions.  In addition to working in private practice, she has also completed her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, is a certified running coach, has worked as an imagine consultant, and is active on the mental health team at her church. Her experiences in these areas allow her to uniquely blend psychotherapy with leadership coaching to assist her clients in achieving their career goals and overcome obstacles in the workplace. Dr. Rodriguez begins the episode by giving a bit of background on her professional and personal life. She focuses on her recently completed doctorate in Strategic Leadership. She explains how she marries her doctorate with her background in psychotherapy to better understand social work in terms of business. One issue she touches on is that many people feel as though they present themselves differently at work and at home. This division can cause anxiety in people's lives, as they might feel as though it is difficult to show up completely to both social settings.  The conversation shifts to a more business focused issue; what separates a manager and a leader? Dr. Rodriguez explains the importance that a boss leaders their employees in the workplace. They lead through example. They should serve as role models for what they want the whole company to look like, and their employees will look up to that and learn. Being a leader also means building trust within a workplace. With trust, a business can produce better, more desired outcomes.  Lastly, your hosts touch on how leaders can improve mental health in the workplace. It is important that leaders acknowledge obstacles to good mental health, and offer solutions so their followers can better their mental health.  Thank you for tuning into BeREAL this week. Be on the lookout for our first ever Live Show next week. In the meantime, be sure to check out Tuesday's episode on fertility and family planning.  For more information on BeREAL (our mental health podcast), BeWELL (our therapy practice in Manhattan), or Dr. Rodriguez visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/

Welcome back to BeREAL! This week, Diana and Ednesha are joined by Dr. Christie Messenger from KindBody to discuss fertility and family planning. Dr. Christie Messenger received her undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia where she then continued on to pursue her medical degree. She completed her residency at Mt Sinai Hospital fulfilling a lifelong dream of living and working in Manhattan. Dr Messenger is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  At KindBody, they believe that everyone should have access to convenient, affordable fertility and family planning. This belief is what unites everyone at Kindbody. Their goal is to make the process of going to the doctor more intuitive and empowering. Their services range from fertility treatments, including IVF and egg freezing, to gynecology, wellness, and LGBTQ+ care. With convenient and welcoming clinics around the country they are dedicated to delivering compassionate care, putting patients and their loved ones first. Dr. Christie begins the episode by giving a little backstory to KindBody. The two year old practice is a one stop shop for women where every need they might have can be fulfilled before, during, and after pregnancy. They have clinics across the US, and Diana discovered them by stumbling across their flagship location in NYC recently.  Dr. Christie goes on to explain the culture of KindBody. Like their name suggests, they place an emphasis on kindness, and staff people who genuinely care about what their doing and the patients they care for. They seek to make patients comfortable with the fertility process and assure that all their questions get answered. Diana notes that she has had negative experiences with OBGYNs who make the office sterile and procedural instead of compassionate. Part of this work includes offering therapy services to some patients.  After a quick break, your hosts return to talk about women taking charge of their future. KindBody looks to deepen the understanding women have of their bodies so they can take control of their reproductive life. This brings the women to a conversation about sex and fertility education in schools. Specifically, how fertility and family planning could be better addressed and tailored to women in middle and high school. To end the episode, Dr. Christie tells her story of how she ended up at KindBody. She also includes what types of services are available for potential patients. A popular service of theirs is the Fertility 101 workshop. This workshop covers egg and embryo freezing to IVF and therapy information. Thank you for joining us at BeREAL today. Be on the lookout for a brand new episode next week. In the meantime, make sure to catch last week's episode with Dr. Kim Andrews on holistic wellness. For more information on Dr. Christie Messenger and KindBody, please visit the links below: Website: https://www.kindbody.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindbody/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kindbody/ For more information on BeREAL (our mental health podcast) and BeWELL (our therapy practice in Manhattan) visit the links below:   To schedule a therapy appointment text BeWELL to 484848 today    www.beher-now.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Be.WELL.Psychotherapy/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewell.psychotherapy/