In today's episode of Psych Talk I discuss different ways we reply to situations or comments, namely the differences between reacting, responding, and repressing. We all react, respond, or repress in different situations or contexts; however, if we take time to acknowledge and evaluate how to reply to different situations we are better able to make changes, if we desire, to learn how to respond more frequently, rather than reacting or repressing. I discuss the differences between responding, rea...
Oct 19, 2020•22 min
In today's episode of Psych Talk I speak with Kate Mumey about normalizing mental health treatments beyond the traditional outpatient therapy. Kate shares her story with mental health struggles, specifically obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), including her time in intensive outpatient (IOP). Kate discusses misconceptions about IOP, what she wish she knew before entering, and what she learned. She provides advice on what to do if someone feels like they may need a higher level of care, as well ...
Oct 12, 2020•42 min
In today's episode of Psych Talk I discuss money and mental health care, specifically therapy. Discussing money and therapy can be a controversial topic, but the reality is that therapy costs money and can be a barrier to accessing therapy, whether you have insurance or paying out of pocket. Our mental health care system is broken, I think we can all agree on that; however, my hope for this episode is to provide information in a non-biased format on the ins and outs of money and mental health ca...
Oct 05, 2020•38 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk I talked to Natalie Ribble, ACSM, CPT, EIM Level 2, a certified personal trainer, about the integration between mental and physical health. Natalie shares her story of getting into fitness, as well as her experiences with mental health, and how she has integrated the two in her personal training career instilling confidence in women through strength training. We discuss not only the benefits of fitness for mental health, but how fitness and exercise can be harmfu...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 4 min
September means we are over 6 months into the pandemic. Although we have gained a little sense of normalcy back, there is still a lot of disruption in our daily lives. At the beginning, and throughout most of the pandemic, the news and talk was (and still is) focused on physical health - wash your hands, wear your mask, keep yourself healthy, protect those who are immunocompromised. But what about mental health? We know from past viral outbreaks that when people experience a disruption like COVI...
Sep 21, 2020•31 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk, I talk with Stephanie Straub, a licensed clinical social worker in the state of New York who specializes in treating mental and emotional issues surrounding childbearing. Stephanie shares her insights and knowledge about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), which goes beyond just post-partum depression that we typically hear about. Stephanie goes into detail about signs and symptoms of PMADS and what to do if you feel that you are experiencing a PMADS. ...
Sep 14, 2020•46 min
September is National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. The goal of NSPM is to promote awareness, start a dialogue about suicide, and initiate change, with World Suicide Prevention Day falling on September 10th. In this episode, I go back to suicide basics. I discuss language, warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide. I also discuss how to assess for suicide, resources for you, as well as those who may be in need of help, and how to get involved in National Suicide...
Sep 07, 2020•38 min
In today's episode, I talk with Dr. Laura Copley, a certified trauma therapist, about post traumatic growth and creating pathways to happiness. Post traumatic growth is the positive psychological change that some individuals experience after a traumatic event. Dr. Copley discusses how people can transcend from a place of deep wounds and trauma to a freeing state of self-evolvement. Dr. Copley integrates positive psychology, focusing on the positive aspects of human life that make life worth livi...
Aug 31, 2020•44 min
Diet culture convinces people that their bodies need to be smaller and equates thinness and food to morality and health. In today's episode of Psych Talk I discussed the psychology of diet culture. Specifically, how diet culture convinces us to believing that thinness and certain foods hold moral value, how diet culture disguises itself as health through the use of language, and where you can find diet culture (spoiler alert: it is everywhere). Additionally, I discuss how diet culture impacts ou...
Aug 24, 2020•39 min
In today’s episode I speak with Esther Gomez, a registered Mental Health Intern in Florida. Esther has a passion for working with survivors of abuse and trauma and, more specifically, a passion for empowering survivors of human trafficking. Human trafficking, specifically child trafficking, has been a hot topic conversation on social media recently in the context of the pandemic and mask wearing. However, human trafficking is not new concept, nor is it a political concept, and whenever the pande...
Aug 17, 2020•41 min
Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities; however, many of us struggle with low self-esteem or feeling that we are not worthy enough. In today's episode of Psych Talk, I discuss low self-esteem, where it comes from, and how it manifests. Low self-esteem can come from a multitude of places, starting in early childhood, and even being able to identify where one's low self-esteem may derive from is a step in the process of overcoming low self-esteem. I also provide information on h...
Aug 10, 2020•29 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk, I speak with Sophie Gray, the founder of DiveThru, a guided journaling app which helps you DiveThru what you go through. Journaling is such a powerful tool for managing anxiety and stress, and that is what DiveThru aims to do through their guided journal prompts and mindfulness practices. Sophie shares her story own mental health journey of anxiety, self-harm, and a maladaptive relationship with her body. We have a real and raw conversation about mental health, ...
Aug 03, 2020•40 min
In today's episode of Psych Talk, I talk about anxiety. What it is, the difference between experiencing anxiety and meeting criteria for an anxiety disorder, as well as tips to help reduce anxiety. I have noticed an increase in anxiety in both my personal and professional life during the pandemic, so not only do I provide tips to help reduce anxiety regardless of the situation, but I also provide insights on how to reduce anxiety during a pandemic. Anxiety is different for everyone, which means ...
Jul 27, 2020•25 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk I chat with Jess Gronas, a health and mindset coach for future and new moms. Jess talks about her past with disordered eating and exercise obsession, as well as her journey to motherhood and what it is like to be a new mom. Jess provides tips and insights on how to balance being a new mom with all the other responsibilities and demands of life. Additionally, she discusses how to take care of yourself as a mom by re-defining self-care, getting in movement every da...
Jul 20, 2020•37 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk I discuss how changing your opinions, beliefs, and behaviors over time shows growth. I talk about the psychological construct of cognitive dissonance and the Stages of Change Model and how they relate to opinion change. I also discuss how to change your opinion over time, why it is important as humans that we continue to grow and evolve over time, and how we need to normalize changing our opinions rather than shaming ourselves and others for doing so. Sign up for...
Jul 13, 2020•27 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk I interview Taylor Odom, RCSWI about being a young professional in the mental health field. Taylor provides tips and insights on how to achieve a work-life balance, particularly after the transition from graduate school to the professional field. We discuss how to engage in self-care or take a break when we constantly feel the need to be productive or perform, through specific actions and by re-defining what productivity means to us. Additionally, Taylor discusse...
Jul 06, 2020•33 min
June is Pride Month. A month where we celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ identities. On June 12, 2020 the Trump administration finalized a rule that would remove discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people when it comes to health care and health insurance. Three days later, on June 15, the Supreme Court rules that LGBTQ+ workers are protected from job discrimination. In this episode I discuss the history of Pride Month, provide some clarity on LGBTQ+ terms and definitions, discuss the impact of these ...
Jun 29, 2020•28 min
In today’s episode of Psych Talk I speak with Emily Johnson, the co-founder of Buddy, a tool aimed to make mental health care more accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it by extending the reach and impact of every mental health provider. In this episode, Emily shares her own experiences with anxiety which lead her to develop the app to help others going through similar experiences as herself. Emily and I discuss the barriers to seeking out mental health care, including affordability ...
Jun 22, 2020•31 min
Emotions are high in the United States right now. Not only are we still experiencing a pandemic, but protests are being held all over the country (and the world) for Black Lives Matter, against police brutality, and as a call for anti-racism reform and change. This episode has been weeks in the making, mainly because I have been taking time to soak up as much knowledge as I can, while recognizing there is so much more to learn. In this episode I define the different types of racism, talk about i...
Jun 15, 2020•29 min
In this episode of Psych Talk, I talk with Becca Newbold, a psychotherapeutic life coach about how to find beauty in everyday things, as a means to increase your mood and overall happiness. Becca shares her story, how she came about practicing finding beauty in every day things, and the impact it has made on her life. Additionally, Becca provides us with different steps we can take to start noticing the beauty in everyday things and integrate this practice in our daily life. Connect with Becca: ...
Jun 08, 2020•41 min
In this episode I dive into my word of 2020: Boundaries. Having healthy boundaries are essential to our overall wellbeing, yet, so many of us find it difficult to set healthy boundaries. In this episode I discuss healthy vs. unhealthy boundaries, different areas of our lives where boundary setting is necessary, and how to set boundaries. Ways to Work With Me: 1:1 Coaching Mind Over Matter Follow me on IG @jessicaleighphd . Join my Facebook community: Grow Through What You Go Through Sign up for ...
Jun 01, 2020•27 min
In this episode of Psych Talk I chat with my friend Megan Boisclair, an Emotional Eating Mentor for female perfectionists, about all things emotional eating. Meg defines what emotional eating is, why it is not innately "bad" like society tends to tell us it is, how the pandemic has impacted emotional eaters, and how to cope with emotional eating if you believe your emotional eating is unhealthy or unhelpful. Connect with Meg: Instagram: @megboisclair Facebook: Emotional Eating Support for Female...
May 25, 2020•38 min
The term "mind over matter" frequently refers to a situation where someone is able to control a physical condition or problem by using the mind. In this episode, I discuss how our mind is one of the most powerful things we have when it comes to our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all interconnected and when we find ourselves stuck in a negative thought pattern, it perpetuates our experience of negative emotions and behaviors. Personal growth and chang...
May 18, 2020•22 min
May is Mental Health Month. Mental Health Month aims to raise awareness about mental health. Throughout the month, mental health professionals, non-profits, advocates, and those who have experienced mental illness fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. In this episode, I emphasize the difference between mental health and mental illness , describe how we all have mental health that we need to take ca...
May 11, 2020•20 min
This episode is the third of three episodes that dives deep into each of the three components of self-compassion. In the context of self-compassion, mindfulness involves purposeful acceptance of one’s suffering in such a way that allows a balanced awareness of thoughts and feelings, rather than an over-identification with or suppression of suffering. In this episode I share ways to take a mindful approach to your thoughts an emotions, the benefits of incorporating mindfulness into your daily pra...
May 04, 2020•23 min
This episode is the second of three episodes that dives deep into each of the three components of self-compassion. In the context of self-compassion, common humanity is the recognition that all human being experience suffering and that, even when we feel alone, we are always part of the larger human experience. In this episode I share personal examples of ways I have embraced my common humanity when faced with difficult situations, as well as provide information and examples of how you can recog...
May 04, 2020•21 min
This episode is the first of three episodes that dives deep into each of the three components of self-compassion. Self-kindness, the first component of self-compassion, involves using kind, gentle language with ourselves in times of suffering. As humans, we tend to be highly self-critical and self-judgmental, which can results in feelings of shame, depression, guilt, and lower our sense of self-worth. In contrast, responding to ourselves in a kind, caring manner can help us self-sooth and increa...
May 04, 2020•19 min
Welcome to Psych Talk! This trailer episode provides you with information about my vision and plans for the podcast and a little bit about who I am. Follow me on IG @jessicaleighphd . Join my Facebook community: Grow Through What You Go Through Intro/Outro Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod Music License Support the show...
May 01, 2020•7 min
