The Mind Grind Podcast

What We've Learned as Therapists - Part 2

Hi Mind Grind Fam! Welcome back to Part 2 of What We've Learned as Therapists! These personal episodes have been fun for us to record and hopefully, fun to listen to. To get the fully feel of this episode, be sure to listen to Part 1. You can listen to this episode for learning purposes or strictly entertainment. There is something we can all gain from learning about the professional ethics in a job that's all about relationships and the hard stuff. We come back to Part 2 with where we left off, looking at codependency, what we've learned from our clients, how we "turn it off" and how we handle our own biases that show up in this work. We get vulnerable in a way that is difficult and uncomfortable at times, but important for speaking to the truth of what it is like to be in this industry. Find the time, come and unwind, to the Mind Grind! - Beth and Dana

What We've Learned as Therapists - Part 1

Hi Mind Grind Fam! Want to see inside the mind of a therapist? Well in this episode, you get to do that more than ever before. We share questions that have been asked to us as therapists regarding what it's like to be a therapist and what we've learned as therapists. We broke the questions down into early career, later in our career and, as we recorded this episode (and realized how long this was getting) broke it down into a Part 1 and Part 2... so you'll have to come back for our next podcast release for more information on this. This episode is great for future therapists, for people who want more insight about what it's like to be a therapist, providers who might be feeling a bit burnt out and need a re-juice on why we do what we do, and for anyone curious about "the mind of a therapist." We hope you enjoy this podcast and if you have any questions/comments please feel free to write us or reach out at themindgrindpodcast@gmail.com or our instagram at @themindgrindpodcast. Don't forget to come back for part 2!!!! Find the time, come and unwind, to the Mind Grind! - Beth and Dana

Interview with Self Care is for Everyone

Hi Mind Grind Fam! Dana and I had the pleasure of interviewing the owners and originators of Self Care is for Everyone, a company that sells extremely comfy, cute, impactful, and aesthetically pleasing sweaters (and shirts) with empowering mental health content with sayings like "don't quit, rest" or "your feelings deserve to take up space." They also work behind the scenes to do as much as they can for the mental health cause. They "donate 10% of our annual year-end net profits to support nonprofits & organizations that work to help stop suicide," provide mental health resources and collaborate with mental health organizations. They have a mission to "normalize conversations around mental health and to provide gentle reminders to our community of their inherent self-worth, by emphasizing the importance of self-care." In this podcast, we interview Sasha and AJ, the creators of this company who started this business in 2018. They talk to us about who they are, what inspired this kind of work, share about their own mental health journeys, and what it's like to run this kind of business as partners and husband and wife. They are a sweetheart couple with a beautiful story and vision for how they can help de-stigmatize mental health. Take a listen and share with others!!!! Check out their merchandise and information/resources at https://selfcareisforeveryone.com/ and IG @selfcareisforeveryone Find the time, come and unwind, to the Mind Grind! - Dana and Beth

Reproductive Mental Health With Heidi Lengel

Hi Mind Grind Fam! ****Trigger warning!!! ⚠️ - This episode contains content of a more sensitive nature related to trauma and birth trauma.**** On today's episode we interview Heidi Lengel, MMT, MT-BC, PMH-C, CD(SBD), CCTP-II, EMDR-I (she/her) and talk about how challenging it can be to navigate maternity mental health pre and post partum, and how working with a therapist, doula, or other mental health support can be incredibly instrumental for those on this journey of reproduction. Heidi shares her immense knowledge related to the impact of pregnancy on the birthing partner and supportive partner, the role that trauma and hormones play on this process, and how a family can work at preparing for parenthood without repeating history. This episode can be helpful to those currently pregnant, preparing for pregnancy/family planning, needing to feel less alone on the journey of reproduction ups and downs, and for those who want to better understand the role that pregnancy has on mental health (and why professionals like Heidi are so important and needed in this field). Find the time, come and unwind, to The Mind Grind. - Beth and Dana More about Heidi: Heidi has been a therapist for almost 20 years, and has a dual Master’s degree in Music Therapy & Professional Counseling. She maintains certifications as a perinatal mental health counselor, a complex trauma practitioner, and birth and bereavement doula. Heidi incorporates a wide variety of trauma recovery support techniques such as EMDR, somatic psychotherapy, and holistic nutrition for mental health and trauma recovery. Heidi has attended over 60 births and has offered childbirth education and perinatal loss trainings to hundreds of families and healthcare professionals around the world. She is the founder of The Music Therapy Alliance for Reproductive Wellness, a training organization that offers trauma informed, anti-oppressive trainings to therapists who specialize in reproductive mental health & trauma recovery. Heidi deeply believes in the brain and body’s inherent regenerative ability to recover from stress and trauma and is passionate about offering healing to families experiencing reproductive challenges. Resources (provided by Heidi): Reproductive Health Online Resources  Postpartum Support International (English & Spanish support for parents; training for professionals, hotlines)  Maternal Mental Health Now (Support for parents; training for professionals)  https://www.mommasvoices.org/ (Fighting reproductive systemic inequity)  https://www.sistersong.net/ (reproductive justice)  https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/ (Stillbirth Resources)  https://www.todayisagoodday.org/ (NICU resources) Reproductive Mental Health Books Infertility  The Trying Game  Fighting Infertility  Unsung Lullabies: Understanding and Coping with Infertility  How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup  Queer Conception: The Complete Fertility Guide for Queer and Trans Parents-to-Be  Baby Making for Everybody: Fertility and Family Building for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents Pregnancy/Infant Loss  I Had a Miscarriage  Whole: Navigating the Trauma of Pregnancy Loss  Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss  The Baby Loss Guide  From Father to Father: Letters From Loss Dad to Loss Dad  Healing Your Grieving Heart After Stillbirth: 100 Practical Ideas for Parents and Families  Stillbirth, Yet Still Born Motherhood  Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts  This Isn’t What I Expected  Mindful Motherhood: Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your Child’s First Year  Awake at 3 a.m.: Yoga Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Motherhood  Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood and Trusting Yourself and Your Body  The Recovery Mama Guide to Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Cannabis and Mental Health

Hello Mind Grind Fam! Dana and I try to make a point, as therapists, to talk about things that we feel the general public could benefit from understanding, especially those who may not be able to afford or prioritize therapy right now. Even our clients who are in therapy can benefit from today's controversial episode on a very commonly used substance: Cannabis. We hope that this is educational and insightful, as we recognize most people personally use or are associated with people who use weed for recreational or medicinal purposes. Over the years that Dana and I have worked as therapists and in addiction recovery, we have watched Cannabis go from being seen as a stigmatized drug that only certain people do or hide, to a more commonly used substance with state law changes and advancements in medical marijuana. While there are good things that have come from the availability and decriminalization of cannabis, we also want to acknowledge that there isn't much conversation happening right now about an educated use of Cannabis. With more heightened and visible use has come more support around the benefits of Cannabis and less openness to talking about the risk factors; as often can happen with policy changes, the pendulum has swung from "all bad to all good." In today's episode, we are hoping to tackle this directly and educate. As therapists, we see the policy changes on the ground level. We have witnessed our clients, family members, and friends' change in attitude towards Cannabis and hope to incite curiosity about our relationship with Cannabis. Our intention isn't to act as medical personnel or further enforce a black and white belief(s) about Cannabis, as we also acknowledge the benefits. We are merely hoping to create open and non-judgmental discourse about use and to help invite self-inquiry about our beliefs and behaviors. We hope this episode opens up dialogue and conversation. Feel free to reach out to us, share your insights or opinions. And as always... Find the time, come and unwind, to the Mind Grind! - Beth and Dana