What’s it Like to be a Mental Health Therapist? How to Manage Challenge
May 23, 2024
On this episode, Andy is joined by Ciani Young, LAC and Rachel de Groh, LCSW, LCADC. As therapists, all the three of them have overcome challenges they experienced when they started working. They discuss self-care, managing burnout and what they all enjoy about being therapists.
Expectations for New Therapists: Imposter Syndrome
May 16, 2024
On this episode, Andy is joined by Ciani Young, LAC and Rachel de Groh, LCSW, LCADC. The three mental health clinicians discuss challenges they experienced when they started working, lessons they’ve learned that cannot be taught in a classroom, how to measure success in treatment, and how they have all managed imposter syndrome.
How Tween Parents Can Support Themselves
May 9, 2024
It can feel selfish to take off to the gym or shut the door and do some yoga when your tween is riding a rollercoaster of emotions. But Dr. Jody Kashen tells host Andy Dean that self-care can not only help you, but can be an important model for kids learning how to regulate themselves and become healthy adults. Tune in to find out how to take care of yourself and have fun with your kids.
What Separates a Teen from a Tween?
April 25, 2024
The teen years can be tough, but the most profound changes are happening to tweens—kids in 5th – 8th grade. Host Andy Dean speaks with Dr. Jody Kashden, a psychologist with extensive experience working with kids, about the changes that seem to be happening lightning fast to tweens, and how they and their families must adapt to this confusing time.
What’s it like to call a behavioral health program/hospital and ask for help?
April 18, 2024
It might be intimidating to take the first step and call a program and ask about treatment for yourself or a loved one. Today Mind on Mental Health talks to an experienced admissions clinician from Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, Eileen Rodrigez. Andy and Eileen take the mystery out of the call so that you can feel more confident when you call for yourself or a loved one.
A First Responder Shares His Recovery Journey
April 11, 2024
It was July 25, 1991 when Marine veteran Dave Clauser first entered treatment for substance use disorder, convinced he was different from everyone else there. Both the straightforward staff and the members of his recovery groups gradually changed him from an isolated man to a man in recovery, making connections with others. “You don’t make that change in 96 hours,” says Dave. Tune in to hear Dave’s conversation with host Andy Dean, and to learn about the ongoing process for a person in recovery for three decades, and who is now a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
The Six Most Important Words a Marine Veteran Ever Learned
April 4, 2024
For this special episode, host Andy Dean interviews Dr. David Clauser, a US Marine Corps veteran. After his time in the military, Dave had a full career in secondary education, and holds a doctorate in education. Today, Dave is a Certified Peer Response Specialist who works with first responders at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s inpatient hospital. He talks with Andy about something he tells all of his peers who are in the hospital for treatment: the six most important words he’s ever learned: “I don’t know. I need help.” Those are harder than you would think for first responders to say. Join Andy and Dave as they talk about how loved ones can help the first responder they care about get help.
The Importance of Parental Acceptance of LGBT Kids
December 6, 2023
Andy Dean speaks with therapist Nina Narang about the difference parents can make in their children’s lives when they are supportive. Being gender divergent or LGBT are not illnesses—rather, therapy helps kids and families deal with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and other effects of being different from others while coming of age. Parents can help their kids feel safe and validated, and even powerful knowing that it’s US against the problems, rather than the child struggling alone.
Navigating the Coming-Out Process with Parents of LGBT Kids
November 29, 2023
Even when kids have come out to their peers about their sexuality or gender identity, it may be harder for them to tell their parents. Andy Dean and Nina Narang talk about way the therapist can help with that interaction, including helping parents understand and hear what their children are telling them, and supporting parents sort through their grief.
Therapy Goals for LGBT Youth
November 22, 2023
While the world has unique challenges for LGBT kids, all teens with major depression have much in common, and therapy aims to help strengthen coping skills, to build feelings of safety, and to turn hopelessness and helplessness into action. Nina and Andy also discuss the body issues and eating disorders among LGBT teens as a means to control their own bodies.
Current Challenges for LGBT Youth
November 15, 2023
Despite broader acceptance than ever before, it’s still not easy to navigate both adolescence and becoming part of the LGBT community. Senior Primary Therapist Nina Narang works with teens and families at Princeton House Behavioral Health, and she speaks with fellow licensed clinical social worker and host Andy Dean. Andy and Nina discuss the how the American culture affects LGBTQ teens and when they might need help.
Interpersonal Effectiveness During Cancer
November 8, 2023
Can there be sun and rain at the same time? Yes! Being open to “both/and” can make your life more effective and enhance relationships with others. Recognizing that there is more than one way to do or see things can be useful. As time has passed since her treatment for cancer concluded, therapist Danielle Bellina reflects on ways DBT skills helped her to remain engaged with others, even when their attitudes or situations differed from hers.
Emotion Regulation During Cancer
November 1, 2023
Being in charge of your own emotions sounds easier than it is. Sometimes you have to do the opposite action than your emotions want you to do in order to solve a problem. Therapist Danielle Bellina talks about this and other DBT techniques that she used to cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatment with host Andy Dean. They delve into anxiety, how to tell people about the diagnosis when your instinct is to protect your friends and family.
Distress Tolerance During Cancer
October 25, 2023
Everyone has a different cancer journey, and you can make better decisions about your health if you use the distress tolerance skills outlined in DBT as STOP (Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, and Proceed Mindfully) and Radical Acceptance. These are not easy and take practice to use. Join Danielle Bellina, a therapist trained in DBT, and host Andy Dean as they discuss how she used these skills in her own experience and worked through her emotions to take action to protect her own health.
How I Used DBT in My Cancer Journey, Danielle Bellina
October 18, 2023
No one knows when they might suddenly face a major health issue. Senior Primary Therapist Danielle Bellina found herself relying the dialectical behavior therapy skills to get her through breast cancer treatment just a few years ago. Danielle and host Andy Dean discuss the reaction to shocking news and how to navigate the health decisions that need to be made during a very stressful time.
Grief and Substance Use Part 2
October 11, 2023
After losing a brother to substance use disorder and ultimately an overdose, Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Sarah Devries talks about how complicated the grieving process can be. Grief is messy, and letting grief go can feel like a loss in itself. Over time—and each person grieves at their own pace—you can find enduring connection with the deceased in your new reality. Listen in as Andy Dean interviews Sarah and her colleague, Sarah Carstens.
Grief and Substance Use Part 1
October 4, 2023
Whether or not a person with a substance use disorder succumbs to their addiction, there is much grief along the way. Loved ones mourn the loss of the future they imagined for that person, and everyone regrets that life is harder than they imagined. Sarah Devries and Sarah Carstens, both Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselors, discuss grief and acceptance with host Andy Dean.
Substance Use by the Numbers
September 27, 2023
There were more than 100,000 overdose deaths in 2022 in the US. So far this year, 2023, there have been 15,878 overdose deaths in New Jersey. One Princeton House therapist was directly affected when she lost a loved one. Join Andy Dean, LCSW as he interviews Sarah Devries, Senior Therapist and Team Coordinator, and Sarah Carstens, Clinical Director for Addiction Services, of Princeton House Behavioral Health. Carstens and Devries are both Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselors.
Sounding the Alarm about Loneliness
June 22, 2023
Loneliness can have the same effect on the body as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and yet, there’s no place to put a Surgeon General’s warning. Host Andy Dean speaks with Jamie Winters, LCSW, senior primary therapist at Princeton House Behavioral Health, about how to address loneliness and purposefully interact with other people.
Managing Micro-Aggressions in the Workplace
June 15, 2023
“I don’t see color,” say many people about their co-workers.
“You are so articulate.”
“Is that your real hair?”
Microaggressive comments might be said without malicious intent, but they have an impact on the receiver. Therapist Nicole Glover speaks with Andy Dean about how she coaches her clients to respond to micro aggressions in the workplace, using the skills of DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy. Plus, they discuss why receiving microaggression is exhausting.
Guest Nicole Glover, LPC, LCADC, is clinical manager of the Women’s Program at Princeton House Behavioral Health and owner of Restoring Pieces, a private practice serving primarily people of color.
What is Codeswitching? Racial Trauma in the Workplace
June 8, 2023
What’s a bigger divide between people in a workplace—being a man working with all women, or being a person of color working with all White people? What’s code switching and what is its impact on the person who uses code switching? We continue our exploration of racial trauma with host Andy Dean and guest Nicole Glover.
Guest Nicole Glover, LPC, LCADC, is clinical manager of the Women’s Program at Princeton House Behavioral Health and owner of Restoring Pieces, a private practice serving primarily people of color.
How Racial Trauma Affects Mental Health
June 1, 2023
In the previous podcast [or Now that] host Andy Dean and guest Nicole Glover have defined what racial trauma is, and in this episode they will talk about its effect on mental health. Depression, anxiety, and acute stress can result from racial trauma. Listen to hear how and why.
Guest Nicole Glover, LPC, LCADC, is clinical manager of the Women’s Program at Princeton House Behavioral Health and owner of Restoring Pieces, a private practice serving primarily people of color.
What is Racial Trauma?
May 25, 2023
Given everything that has been going on in recent years, racial trauma is a term that most people have heard. But what does it mean, exactly? Host Andy Dean starts a series on this important topic with Nicole Glover, LPC, LCADC, clinical manager of Princeton House’s Women’s Program in Hamilton, and owner of Restoring Peaces, a private practice where she works mainly with people of color. They will define and discuss the impact of systemic racism, interpersonal racism, and internal racism, and talk about how you can take responsibility for educating yourself on racial trauma.
Working with Muslims on Mental Health
May 18, 2023
Cultural issues, immigrant status, and religion inform all of us. Join host Andy Dean, LCSW, and Jawad Bayat, Associate Director for Clinical Pastoral Education at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, as they discuss mental health in the Muslim community, the hopeful view of all illness in the Koran/Quran, and ways to avoid “spiritual bypassing” for both the therapist and the person seeking help.
How Spirituality and Mental Health Overlap
May 11, 2023
This week we are examining the many ways that spirituality and mental health overlap. Andy and guest Imam Jawad Bayat discuss the importance of relationships, mindfulness and self-talk and how they affect mental health as well as spirituality. Jawad works with the staff and clients of Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in his role as Certified Educator and Associate Director for Clinical Pastoral Education.
Why Spirituality Matters in Mental Health Care
May 4, 2023
Spirituality is belief in something bigger than yourself. It’s not necessarily related to religion. Learn how Princeton House Behavioral Health Chaplain Jawad Bayat uses a spirituality group to make the concept of spirituality accessible to every person seeking mental health treatment. Bayat is one of the few hospital chaplains who is also an imam, but his groups are for anyone and are a forum for connection and healing.
Talking to Kids When the News is Scary
November 24, 2022
What do you do when the child in your life worries about the world? We’ve had no shortage of tragedies, both natural and human-made over the past few years, and kids of all ages have access to an unrelenting news feed via social media, the news, and peers. Andy speaks with Dr. Chirayu Parikh, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with Princeton House Behavioral Health, about how to help your child (and yourself) cope with scary news.
Gay Men and Trauma
November 16, 2022
Both little ‘t’ trauma and big ‘T’ trauma can affect anyone, but for gay men, finding experienced therapists or safe therapeutic groups can be difficult. Host Andy Dean interviews fellow therapist Kyle Bonner, diversity specialist at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, about why there are oftentimes more barriers for gay men seeking compassionate mental health treatment.
Self Care for Helping Professionals
November 10, 2022
Working in a helping profession can be both wonderful and emotionally draining. In this episode, Heather Lynch, LPC sits down with Andy to discuss how helping professionals can learn to prioritize their self-care and what they can do to manage their stress so that they can continue doing what they love.
Work/Life Balance
November 3, 2022
Whether spend your work days on your feet sitting in front of a computer, at the end of the day it’s often hard to separate work from home, or your profession from your life. Andy Dean, LCSW and Heather Lynch, LPC, Clinical Manager for Adult Services at Princeton House Behavioral Health discuss ways to be fully present at work and at home. Listen for tips that can help you, whether you work from home or at your employer’s location.
Weight Bias in the Media, and the Origins of BMI, Part 1
October 20, 2022
Dr. Rebecca Boswell again joins Andy Dean for a discussion of our attitudes towards body size, including the myth that body size is a determinant of health. Andy and Dr. Boswell also delve into the history of body mass index (BMI), who created it, its original purpose, and its real value in health assessment.
Treating Chronic Eating Disorders
October 12, 2022
For some people, anorexia nervosa is a chronic disease. Dr. Rebecca Boswell, Supervising Psychologist for Princeton Center for Eating Disorders at Princeton Medical Center, explains to Andy the medical complications of eating disorders, the similarities and differences between this illness and other chronic medical and psychiatric conditions, and how those with enduring eating disorders cope with their illness.
Why Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use Oftentimes Go Together
October 6, 2022
Both Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders can have serious consequences on an individual’s well-being. But what happens when someone is struggling with both types of disorders at the same time? On this week’s episode, Sarah Carstens, LCSW, LCADC - Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Addictions Clinical Director and Andy Dean, LCSW discuss why these types of disorders oftentimes go hand in hand.
Harm Reduction Myths
September 29, 2022
The Harm Reduction Model of care is becoming mainstream among the substance use treatment community. However, many myths about this type of treatment persist. In this episode of the Mind on Mental Health podcast, Andy Dean, LCSW, discusses these myths with Sarah Carstens, LCSW, LCADC - Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Addictions Clinical Director.
What is Harm Reduction in Substance Use Treatment?
September 22, 2022
More and more, professionals and treatment facilities who work with those with substance use disorder seem to be embracing a Harm Reduction Model as opposed to Abstinence-Only Based Treatment. But, what does Harm Reduction really mean? Listen in on Sarah Carstens, LCSW, LCADC - Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Addictions Clinical Director and Andy Dean, LCSW on this week’s Mind on Mental Health to learn more.
Minding Your Own Mental Health at Work
June 16, 2022
In this episode, Andy talks with Donna Kiley, who in addition to being a licensed clinical social worker, directs an outpatient behavioral health site with 60 clinical and administrative staff members. Their conversation: tips on how individuals (including bosses) can prioritize their mental health during the workday.
PTSD in Star Wars : Beyond Fight or Flight
June 2, 2022
In part one of our look at PTSD responses in Star Wars, we learned about fight, flee, and freeze, three common reactions to perceived threats. In this episode, Mind on Mental Health’s Andy Dean and therapist Aracely Reyes resume the discussion. Listen in to hear more about how Anakin Skywalker and C3PO cope with PTSD. Remember: When dealing with PTSD, all responses are valiant if they protect you in the moment.
PTSD Responses in the Star Wars films
May 26, 2022
In this episode, Licensed therapist Aracely Reyes joins host Andy Dean for another dive into pop culture by explaining human reactions to PTSD, and how the characters of Star Wars exemplify the different responses to perceived threats.
What is the Best Diet for Your Mental Health?
May 19, 2022
In this second episode focusing on nutrition and mental health, registered dietitian Rachel Daddio discusses different diets and how they can affect mental health. Rachel also discusses different vitamins and minerals and what roles they play in mental health.
Nutrition Hacks for Your Mental Health
May 12, 2022
In this episode, registered dietitian Rachel Daddio sits down with Andy to discuss the connection between nutrition and mental health. Rachel talks about different nutrition considerations she discusses with her clients at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health as well as how making different nutrition decisions can affect one’s mental health.
Insurance Considerations for the Different Levels of Care in Mental Health Treatment
May 5, 2022
In this episode, Erica Munger, senior utilization management reviewer at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health sits down with Andy to discuss the discrepancies between the different levels of care in mental health treatment. Erica also breaks down the different insurance considerations for each level of care and gives practical tips on how to determine approximately how much money will be coming out of your pocket when you access mental health services.
Making Sense of Health Insurance
April 28, 2022
Does reading a statement from your health insurance company feel like reading hieroglyphics to you? In this episode, Erica Munger, senior utilization management reviewer at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health sits down with Andy to discuss what to consider when selecting a health insurance plan. Erica also explains how to make sense of health insurance premiums and deductibles.
Intergenerational Trauma in Encanto: Navigating Trauma in Your Family
April 21, 2022
When someone is part of a family that experienced trauma in previous generations, they may adapt to that trauma much as Abuela’s grandchildren did: taking on roles they didn’t necessarily want, and making choices to please the family rather than being true to themselves. It’s a lot of pressure. Mind on Mental Health’s Andy Dean and therapist Aracely Reyes wrap up this deep dive into the topic in this week’s episode.
Intergenerational Trauma in Encanto: Family Roles
April 14, 2022
In our second episode working through the Disney movie Encanto, we’ll explore family roles in intergenerational trauma. Mind on Mental Health’s Andy Dean and therapist Aracely Reyes dig into the movie a little deeper to discuss how the Madrigal family each react to the matriarch’s trauma, and how that can relate to real-life families.
Intergenerational Trauma in Encanto: What is Intergenerational Trauma?
April 7, 2022
What can a Disney movie teach us about trauma? It turns out, quite a bit!
In this series, Aracely Reyes, LSW primary therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, sits down with Andy to discuss the role intergenerational trauma plays in the film Encanto. Aracely breaks down how trauma has affected the different characters in the film as well as the real-world implications of these concepts.
Managing Holiday Stress
December 20, 2021
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes, and probably the most stressful, too. Host Andy Dean and licensed social worker Chrissy Isaac explore ways to minimize stress and maximize meaning this holiday season.
How to Support Those Struggling with Grief During the Holidays
December 17, 2021
Someone you love is hurting. It’s the holidays. You want to help. What should you do? Host Andy Dean is joined by licensed social worker Chrissy Isaac to explore how to be supportive of a friend or loved one who is grieving during this usually festive time of year.
Mental Health Misnomers: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
December 8, 2021
Have you heard someone say "Oh, that's my OCD kicking in"? In this third episode of the Mental Health Misnomers series on Mind on Mental Health podcast, Andy and Pete discuss what obsessive compulsive disorder is really like, and why we tend to categorize ourselves with the traits.
Supporting Seniors’ Mental Health During the Pandemic
December 1, 2021
Covid-19 pandemic has impacted older adults’ mental health in many ways. This week, we’ll talk about the changes the pandemic has wrought, and how caretakers can best support older adults during this time. In this episode, Andy interviews Jamie Winters, LCSW who is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in North Brunswick, NJ. Jamie has worked with older adults for more than 10 years.
Mental Health Misnomers: Depression
November 24, 2021
Small d depression is something we all experience now and then—the blues, or sadness related to a specific event or circumstance. Big D Depression, or Major Depressive Disorder, is something very different. In this week’s episode of Mind on Mental Health licensed Clinical Social Workers Andy Dean and Peter Maclearie deconstruct our misnomers.
Mental Health Misnomers: Bipolar Disorder
November 9, 2021
Have you ever heard someone say that a person is “bipolar” or describe themselves as “OCD”? In the Mental Health Misnomers series, we discuss what these terms actually mean in a clinical mental health setting and compare that to how people tend to use the terms in everyday life. Each of the three episodes focuses on one singular mental health issue including Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Licensed clinical social workers Andy Dean and Peter Maclearie deconstruct our misnomers. Guest Pete Maclearie, LCSW, is Clinical Manager of Adult Outpatient Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, NJ.
How to Build Mental Health Resiliency in Retirement
November 9, 2021
Resiliency is a word we hear often these days. For those who are retired (or getting ready to retire), developing adaptability is important as this phase of life is very different from the working years. Andy and guest Jamie Winters discuss how discusses how retired people can build mental health resiliency during their golden years.
Why Retiring Can Take a Toll on Mental Health
November 3, 2021
Retirement is a marker in life that most people look forward to, yet many are taken by surprise when this supposedly perfect time is accompanied by depression, anxiety or loneliness. In this episode, Andy and Jamie Winters, LCSW discuss why retiring can come with significant mental health challenges and why building back structure is vital to good mental health. Jamie Winters, LCSW is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in North Brunswick, NJ. Jamie has worked with older adults for more than 10 years.
The Many Layers of Eating Disorders
October 27, 2021
Oftentimes, having an eating disorder may be the most visible of several problems people face. Many people don’t know that eating disorders are often accompanied by anxiety, depression, or trauma. Sometimes the eating disorder is a way of coping with the relentlessness of other afflictions. Therapists and doctors take a team approach—working together to help a patient and working on multiple issues at the same time.
Three Common Eating Disorder Misconceptions
October 20, 2021
“Just eat!”
Having an eating disorder involves so much more than wanting to be thin. Andy is joined by Dr. Kristyn Pecsi, attending psychiatrist at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders, who demystifies eating disorders and discusses common misconceptions surrounding the illness.
How to Build Your Own Self-Esteem - Part 2
October 13, 2021
How can you build your own self-esteem? There are incremental steps you can take, including finding ways to “fail safely”. Andy’s guest, Peter Maclearie, LCSW, is Clinical Manager for Adult Programming at Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, New Jersey.
Three Tips to Help Your Child’s Mental Health as They Return to In-Person School
October 6, 2021
Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals suspected kids might have a hard time with the transition back to in-person school. In this episode, we’ll learn about three different ways parents can improve their child’s mental health in this season of change. Andy continues his conversation with Dr. Madhurani Khare who is the Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Heath as well as the Medical Director of Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Hamilton outpatient site.
Mental Health Challenges Facing Kids as They Return to In-Person Learning
September 29, 2021
Going back to in-person school is a huge step for kids who have been learning at home for more than a year. How can you tell if your child is having trouble with the transition? What are some of the obstacles kids are confronting now, and how is are they affecting kids’ mental health? In this episode, Andy interviews Dr. Madhurani Khare who is the Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Heath as well as the Medical Director of Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Hamilton outpatient site.
Why Therapy is a Great Place to Work on Self-Esteem - Part 1
September 22, 2021
Have you ever thought about your self-esteem? In this episode guest Pete Maclearie, LCSW, discusses self-esteem and how it relates to mental health. Peter is Clinical Manager for Adult Programming at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, New Jersey.
Mental Health Strategies for Healthcare Professionals During the Pandemic - Part 2
March 22, 2021
In this episode Andy interviews Nicole Orro, LPC, LCADC (Site Director of Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health – Hamilton) and Christine Isaac, LCSW, LCADC (Community Liaison with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health). Since the start of the pandemic, Nicole and Christine have been volunteering to meet with frontline healthcare workers at multiple hospitals within the Penn system for ongoing counseling sessions. They discuss different mental health tools they have been encouraging Penn's healthcare professionals to use to cope with the stressors of the pandemic.
Healthcare Workers' Mental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic - Part 1
March 10, 2021
Healthcare workers: this is for you. Anyone in healthcare—from environmental services staff to nurses to therapists to physicians—has lived through trauma this year. And even if you didn't contract the virus, the pandemic crept into every aspect of your wellness. This might be the best 19 minutes you spend on self-care this week.
Managing Winter Blues: Go Outside and Get Off Your Phone!
February 24, 2021
Andy and Jessica are back, each providing more tips to help you beat the blues. More than just common sense ideas, these are based in their clinical experience in working with adults with depression and anxiety.
Three Tips for Managing the Winter Blues During COVID-19
February 17, 2021
Winter is full-on showing itself lately. Winter blues can happen any year, but since we are working, learning, and eating at home, and only socializing virtually, they might have come on stronger this year than ever before. Host Andy Dean is joined by Jessica Levy, LCSW, to provide tips that you can implement TODAY to keep the blues at bay.
How to Tell When Changing Eating Habits During COVID-19 are Becoming Problematic
February 10, 2021
Princeton House Behavioral Health's Emotional Eating Program helps women and teens with both disordered eating patterns and mood disorders understand the connection between emotion and eating behaviors. Registered Dietitian Katie Gaffney and Licensed Professional Counselor Lauren Brader join host Andy Dean to talk about hunger cues, when the change in habits is a problem, and how to support someone with an eating disorder during the pandemic.
Three Eating Disorder Triggers During COVID-19 and How To Manage Them
February 3, 2021
Going to the grocery store, once a necessary chore, is now sometimes the biggest outing of the month. Food shopping is always more difficult for those with eating disorders, and now there are added safety concerns. There may also be additional triggers in the home environment. Host Andy Dean discusses eating disorder triggers and ways to manage them with dietitian Katie Gaffney and therapist Lauren Brader.
The Importance of Validating Your Own Experience During COVID-19
January 27, 2021
Everyone has lost something in the past year—freedom, social connections, jobs, or even loved ones and friends. Together, we share collective grief. Individually, we mourn our personal losses. Combined, these can trigger a trauma response. Therapist Alex Camarda, LCSW, and host Andy Dean, discuss how self-compassion can help to build your own resiliency, even in the face of great loss.
Grief and Loss During Covid
January 20, 2021
Hundreds of thousands of Americans nave lost their lives to COVID-19. We've lost other loved ones to disease, accident, violence, as well. The common theme is that we are not able to grieve in person with others. Alex Camarda, LCSW a therapist in private practice, and host Andy Dean, LCSW, talk about loss, grieving, and different skills people can use when trying to manage a loss and socially distance at the same time.
Three Tips for Managing Anxiety During Covid
January 12, 2021
Dr. Arshad Siddiqui is the Associate Medical Director of Adult Outpatient Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Hamilton, NJ. He was also voted a New Jersey “Top Doc” in Psychiatry for the year 2020. In this episode, Dr. Siddiqui and host Andy Dean each give three simple tips that anyone can utilize to help manage anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pandemic Parenting: Why You Should Take Your Emotional Temperature
September 29, 2020
What is your emotional temperature? Why is it important to know what it is, especially when dealing with children? Therapist Kristy Champignon (Licensed Professional Counselor) and Andy Dean (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) discuss how parents can take their emotional temperature and how to help their children do the same. Please visit us on Facebook for access to a free “emotional temperature” worksheet provided by Kristy and her private practice, Meadowlark CSC.
Two More Skills You Can Teach Your Child Today
September 23, 2020
Here are two more skills parents can teach their children to help them manage interpersonal relationships as well as their own emotions. Therapists Daina Haines, LCSW and Andy Dean, LCSW focus on teens this week, including how important it is to learn to "ride the wave" of anxiety and why doing so helps manage anxious feelings.
Two Coping Skills You Can Teach Your Child Today
September 15, 2020
Kids (and some adults) need to understand how to create a space between emotions and actions, in other words, how to manage impulsivity. Therapist Daina Haines, LCSW, joins host Andy Dean to discuss tools parents can use to help kids tolerate negative emotions, regulate their emotions, and manage impulsivity.
Pandemic Parenting: Finding Balance and How to Create a Parent Empowerment Profile on Social Media
September 9, 2020
How can parents find balance while juggling multiple roles during quarantine? How is social media affecting your mood? Licensed Professional Counselor Kristy Champignon and host Andy Dean discuss creating a Parent Empowerment Profile on social media, making a weekly wellness schedule, and celebrating small victories.
Pandemic Parenting: Tips for Managing Your Own Mental Health
September 2, 2020
Parents are juggling multiple roles, and likely feeling that they are not able to do their best at any one of them. This week, host Andy Dean and Licensed Professional Counselor Kristy Champignon show you how to challenge those guilty feelings, the difference between feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, and how to take a mental break, even when you can't take a physical one.
How to Get Your Kids to Want to Talk to You
August 25, 2020
Heart-to-heart conversations between kids and parents during drives to soccer or cheerleading practice may be a thing of the past, but as parents we want our kids to feel comfortable talking to us. How do we do that, while still making sure kids get the structure they need? Building a feeling of psychological safety can help set the stage for open communication. Host Andy Dean and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Chelsea Mazzara talk about how modeling, using validation techniques, and even light-hearted communication can help foster the deep connection we all hope for with our kids.
How to Use the Six Levels of Validation to Better Communicate With Your Kids
August 18, 2020
Therapists are trained to be effective listeners, but parents--not so much. Therapist Chelsea Mazzara and host Andy Dean share six skills professionals use to make sure kids feel heard and supported. Sometimes it's just as important to listen to what isn't being said as much as what is said.
How to Validate Your Kids Even When You Disagree With Them
August 12, 2020
You don't agree with your child, but you want them to know you are listening and care. Your daughter may be avoiding school (virtual or in person), or your son might be physically or verbally aggressive. One way to let them know their feelings are important is by validating that they feel anxious, or irritable, or whatever emotion is percolating without condoning the behavior. It may sound easier said than done, but Licensed Clinical Social Worker Chelsea Mazzara and host Andy Dean explain it all in this episode of Mind on Mental Health.
