Open Minds

With the story of Ray Rice and his act of domestic violence caught on camera, this is a great time to hear from my colleague, Kathryn Wagner, who has worked with victims of domestic violence for years. Sometimes it's hard to say which group in our society is most stigmatized, as sadly, many vie for … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #017 →

(Part 2 of my interview with Dr. Daniel Siegel. Part 1 of this interview is available here.) “You're out of your mind!” “I'm losing my mind!” “Uh-oh, I'm not in a good frame of mind today.” These are all sayings we've heard many times, yet, if someone asked you to define your “mind,” could you? … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #015 →

“You're out of your mind!” “I'm losing my mind!” “Uh-oh, I'm not in a good frame of mind today.” These are all sayings we've heard many times, yet, if someone asked you to define your “mind,” could you? You can probably easily describe your brain as that mass of grey matter in your head, but … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #014 →

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Alina Kislenko, who is not only a therapist and coach here in Guelph, but also a bit of a mentor to me in the world of radio! Long before I began Open Minds, I listened to her amazing show, Strange Brains which is a fabulous resource for those … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #012 →

When I moved to Canada in 1999, my very first job was running a support group at the amazing Sheena's Place in Toronto. Fifteen years later, I was lucky enough to be invited back to speak during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and the building and the people are just as wonderful as I'd remembered! In … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #011 →

Here in Guelph we are fortunate to have an extremely active community dedicated to supporting those who struggle with eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction. Last week, several members of that community came together in a unique event called the Body Image and Eating Disorder Expose at the University of Guelph. Sponsored by the Wellness … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #010 →

When you think about treatment for mental illness, therapists, psychiatrists and medications could all come to mind, but you probably don't think of dieticians! That may change after you listen to today's guest, Lindzie O'Reilly, dietician at the University of Guelph, as she talks about what an important role nutrition can play in restoring and … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #009 →

In my interview this week with Marie, you get to hear from someone who has experienced mental health issues since childhood, and who has used those experiences to become more – not less! – hopeful and powerful in and about her own life. She talks about negative judgments and experiences that could have very understandably … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #008 →

This week I talk with Siobhan, a University of Guelph student who experiences trichotillomania – an uncommon name for a surprisingly common condition that leads people to compulsively pull their own hair as a form of comforting or self-soothing. Notice I said she “experiences” trich, not that she “suffers from” trich. One of the most … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #007 →

Many people think they know lots about addicts and think of them in derogatory, demeaning ways. But listening to Stephen, a University of Guelph student, and Sonia Waters, an addictions counselor with Homewood in Guelph, who are my guests on the show this week, may open your mind and challenge some of what you think … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #006 →

This week my colleague, Elisabeth Schramm, speaks about her experiences as a therapist who incorporates talk therapy and yoga and mindfulness training to help people who suffer with worry, self-criticism and other mental health issues. Elisabeth shares how she promotes the concept of self-compassion, and helps clients decrease their isolation by helping them determine how they … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #005 →

Following a shocking suicide attempt in a residence on the UOG campus that was streamed online, I invited two guests to speak about the impact and the resources available to support anyone struggling. Andrea is a student and volunteer at the CFRU radio station. This event prompted her to join other students who are exploring … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #004 →

My guest this week is Melissa Beacom, occupational therapist with the Centre for Students with Disabilities at the University of Guelph. Melissa knows firsthand how many students are impacted in their academic career by struggles with mental health issues. Luckily she and her colleagues also know how to offer the support that will help these … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #003 →

This week I interviewed fellow psychotherapist Karen McGratten. Not only is she dedicating her professional life to helping those who experience mental illness, she's gone a step further and shared some of her own struggles in a graphic novel she's written, called wiTHIN. In it she tells her own story of life with obsessive compulsive … Continue reading Open Minds – Show #002 →