BRCA and mental health with Karen Ford, M.S. Ed., C.L.C.

What happens when we don’t hug people for a while? In this episode, we will explore the science of hugs and why they are so important for our mental health. We will also explore ways in which we can continue to care for ourselves when hugs are not available - whether it’s because we are practicing social distancing, we feel uncomfortable hugging someone, or hugging just isn’t our thing.   Email me at [email protected] with any feedback! Our practice, Taproot Therapy, has openings for incoming clients. If you are interested in starting your mental health journey, let us know! www.taproottherapynyc.com.

Have you ever noticed that you feel good after a long run? Or after a hard cry? That's because our brain is constantly balancing our levels of pain and pleasure. After a painful experience, our brains are meant to increase our dopamine levels to help us feel better. In this episode, we explore the positive painful experiences we can have, such as taking an ice-bath, working out, or watching a sad movie, that are meant to help us feel better. We also talk about how we can feel our painful feelings without letting them take over, and actually feel better as a result.   Follow us on Instagram: @taproottherapynyc Email us at [email protected]

n today's episode, I speak with Tanya Cole-Lesnick, LCSW and coach since 1995. Tanya's practice focuses on group therapy, and how the power of group can transform our therapy experiences. She has extensive experience in outpatient hospital mental health, private practice, and wellness center settings. From those experiences over the years she has identified her most important focus—helping people to live lives that light them up. She does this by helping clients to access and honor their truth, to change habits that don’t serve them, and to heal faulty narratives so that they are living in alignment inside and out. Her work revolves around intimate groups as the sharing of inner worlds and being human together in a safe space is what she finds to be the most powerful way for lives to transform.   Follow Tanya on Instagram @tanyathetherapist.   To learn more about our groups, including our upcoming DBT groups in April, visit our website at www.taproottherapynyc.com.  

Imposter Syndrome is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot these days. But what exactly does it mean, and do we all actually suffer from it? In this episode, we talk about all of the ways we can experience Imposter Syndrome, and ways that you can combat it.   Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram (@taproottherapynyc) or Facebook (@taprootN).  

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps us create lasting behavioral change. In this episode, we explore the development of DBT, the creator Marsha Linehan, and what it looks like to be a member of a DBT skills group.   Taproot Therapy has its upcoming Spring DBT groups starting! If you are interested in learning more about our groups, visit our website at https://www.taproottherapynyc.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-skills-group.html.   Follow us on Instagram @taproottherapynyc

Building Mastery is a DBT skill that helps you recognize what you are already doing well. It also helps you recognize how good you feel when you are learning new things. It is important to keep track of all of the things we are doing well!   Join our next DBT group! Our next 10-week skills group will start Tuesday, April 12! Email Erin at [email protected] for more information.   Follow us on Instagram: @taproottherapynyc

We use terms like grounding and mindfulness often, but what do they actually mean? In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Alixandra Blackman, a psychologist in New York City. We speak about what these terms mean, and how to integrate them into our routines to enhance our wellbeing, and our mental health journey. Towards the end of the episode, she leads us through a grounding exercise.   You can find Dr. Blackman on Instagram @dr_alixandra_blackman. Follow us on Instagram: @taproottherapynyc Send us an email at [email protected]

Testing positive for the BRCA gene requires people to make challenging decisions regarding their physical health. Being a BRCA carrier means your rate for various cancers, including breast, ovarian, and melanoma, greatly increase. It requires ongoing medical care. As a result, people often feel anxiety, depression, and a range of other emotions. After her own experience of being a BRCA carrier, Karen Ford, coach and mental health provider, specializes in supporting others who are BRCA carriers. In this conversation, we speak about the mental health concerns that arise with a positive BRCA test, and the dwindling mental health support needed. For more information, email Karen at [email protected]. Send us an email at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @taproottherapynyc

There are many types of pregnancy losses one can experience. Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) is a type of pregnancy loss that often goes undiscussed, and the impact on one's mental health can be noticable. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Julie Bindeman, owner of Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington. We talk about TFMR and how to navigate trauma that comes with loss.   You can find Julie on her website: https://greaterwashingtontherapy.com/julie-bindeman-psyd/   Join us for our new podcast coming out later in February, The Miscarriage Therapist!    Please rate and review our podcast. We love your feedback!

In today's episode, I share a conversation with professional counselor and perinatal mental health clinician, Jana Glass. Jana is the owner of Supportive Solutions in Atlanta, GA. She specializes in birth trauma and Brainspotting. New information about the Brain is being discovered every day. Services are built on the implicit belief in the brain’s ability to change on a neuronal level and heal itself from past trauma and difficult events. Some of the helpful interventions that may be used in your healing process include Brainspotting, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), relaxation skills to manage stress and anxiety, expressive therapist such as art, play, storytelling, and examining how your thoughts lead to emotions lead to behavior and creating healthy patterns (also known as Cognitive Behavior Therapy).     You can find Jana at her website: https://www.supportivesolutionsga.com   Follow us on Instagram: @Taproottherapynyc Email me at [email protected]