Strong Mind, Soft Life with Dr. Topaz

Justin Hyacinth LMHC

If you have been tuning into Strong Mind, Soft Life with Dr. Topaz, you know she always shows love for the women. This month, Dr. Topaz is intentional about showing lots of love for the men too. June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month which is designed to raise awareness, eradicate stigma, and encourage a focus on mental wellness for men. Listen as Dr. Topaz and Justin Hyacinth, LMHC, explore the intersection of mental health and the Caribbean culture, as it relates to the concept of masculinity. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Justin has a particular passion for supporting men’s mental health and working with clients who feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, burned out, or disconnected from themselves. There is so much to take away from the conversation. We have to encourage our fathers, sons, husbands and brothers to tap into their physical AND emotional strength. There is power in saying, “I love you,” and “I apologize.”  In the words of Dr. Topaz, “We need our brothers to be well.” Father’s Day is coming up. Share this episode with a man who holds a special place in your heart.  Let’s establish an interconnected community that is committed to creating strong minds and soft lives. Listening to this podcast is an investment in yourself. And when you are better, we are all better.  Join us, Sisters…and Brothers too!

Dr. Bryant Keith

Dr. Topaz has a huge heart for women.  She celebrates our victories and empathizes with our struggles. Dr. Topaz views a strong mind as the capacity to think clearly, feel fully and choose intentionally- without abandoning yourself.  This belief supports a soft life which values peace, pleasure and presence without abandoning responsibility or self-respect. If you have been listening to Strong Mind, Soft Life with Dr. Topaz, you know she always shows love for the women. This month, Dr. Topaz is intentional about showing lots of love for the men too. June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month which is designed to raise awareness, eradicate stigma, and encourage a focus on mental wellness for men. Dr. Topaz kicks off the month with a powerful conversation with Dr. Bryant Keith, a Doctor of Psychology.  Dr. Bryant Keith is also a recording artist (yes, you read that correctly!) who fuses artistry and medical expertise to extend his ability to help others.  Listen to their very raw, real, relatable conversation about the mental health concerns of men, and how they present differently than those of women. In the words of Dr. Topaz, “We need our brothers to be well.” Share this episode with a man who holds a place in your heart. It is ok not to be ok. And that is where community can provide the needed uplift. Let’s establish an interconnected community that is committed to creating strong minds and soft lives. Listening to this podcast is an investment in yourself. And when you are better, we are all better.  Join us, Sisters…and Brothers too!

Dr. Chanelle Ramsubick

Are you in a constant state of feeling overwhelmed? Take a breath, and check out this conversation that Dr. Topaz has with Dr. Chanelle Ramsubick, a Trini-Canadian, board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founder of Clearpath ADHD based in California. When many of us think of ADHD, we associate its effects on children and teens. This discussion centers around our need to understand what ADHD looks like in adults and women. Dr. Ramsubick masterfully defines ADHD in terms that are clear, concise, and relatable. If lacking the skills to get through the day in a productive, goal-oriented manner is a long-standing norm for you, maybe its time for you to go deeper. As always, if the topics discussed  on this podcast resonate with you, or could be impacting a loved one, seek the support of a licensed clinician for further evaluation. Do not rely on social media for a diagnosis or treatment plan. Let’s establish an interconnected community that is committed to creating strong minds and soft lives. Listening to this podcast is an investment in yourself. And when you are better, we are all better.  Join us, Sis!

Erin A. Harper, PhD- Part 2

Dr. Topaz has a huge heart for women.  She celebrates our victories and empathizes with our struggles. Dr. Topaz views a strong mind as the capacity to think clearly, feel fully and choose intentionally- without abandoning yourself.  This belief supports a soft life which values peace, pleasure and presence without abandoning responsibility or self-respect. On this #TherapyThursday, Dr. Topaz continues her robust conversation with Erin A. Harper, PhD. They take a deeper dive into political and societal issues that are prevalent today, and the impact they have on our mental health. Collectively, we are not ok. If you think the continuous news loop and never-ending group chat with your family is not impacting your mental health, you are mistaken. Resist the temptation to run and hide. The world needs your light more than ever. Don’t wait for this season of discord to blow over, you need to be a part of the winds of change. Engage with the community that Dr. Topaz and her guests are creating, AND if it will help you, make time to see a licensed, certified mental health professional. The transformation our world needs will not happen without Black women.  Black women who are whole, who are healing, who are putting themselves out there to shift the narrative to one of truth, hope, and love for all.  Let’s establish an interconnected community that is committed to creating strong minds and soft lives. Listening to this podcast is an investment in yourself. And when you are better, we are all better.  Join us, Sis!

Erin A. Harper, PhD- Part 1

Dr. Topaz has a huge heart for women.  She celebrates our victories and empathizes with our struggles. Dr. Topaz views a strong mind as the capacity to think clearly, feel fully and choose intentionally- without abandoning yourself.  This belief supports a soft life which values peace, pleasure and presence without abandoning responsibility or self-respect. “Laughter is the best medicine,” is one of Dr. Topaz’ favorite sayings. On this #TherapyThursday, Dr. Topaz talks politics and mental health with Erin A. Harper, PhD, an award-winning creative, psychologist, researcher, and organizational leader working at the intersection of storytelling, mental health, social impact….and professional comedian!!! The sisterly love abounds as Topaz and Erin are both graduates of Spelman College and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eta Kappa chapter. Listen as they explore political stress and its impact on our collective mental health. This conversation is so rich, it is part 1 of 2 (a first for Dr. Topaz)!  If you are a Black woman, this episode is going to hit different. Our intersections with the political ecosystem are like no other group. Tap in with Dr. Topaz on social media. Share your thoughts. As she says, don’t hold back. Let’s establish an interconnected community that is committed to creating strong minds and soft lives. Listening to this podcast is an investment in yourself. And when you are better, we are all better.  Join us, Sis!