Heart and Practice: Heart-lead conversations about mental health

Season 2 closes out with a conversation that is close to home. Host Dr. Lakesha Roney is joined by Jamal Kelly, a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and her coparent for their son Cairo, to talk about coparenting in real life, not the version people post about. Together they unpack how their communication has grown over the years, what it means to lead with your heart instead of reacting, the per...

In this episode of Heart and Practice, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with Daryl Fraser, LCSW, owner of Fraser and Associates Complete Therapeutic Services and a father of four, for an honest conversation about the emotional weight fathers carry every day. Daryl shares their journey from growing up in Queens as the child of Caribbean immigrants to becoming an African centered healer devoted to servin...

Mothers carry entire worlds. Schedules, emotions, decisions, fears, and hope, often without acknowledgement. In this episode of Heart and Practice, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with Felicia Bowman Chandler, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor and Somatic Practitioner, to name the invisible labor of motherhood and offer real tools for holding both heart and capacity. Felicia is the Founder and CEO of Soul Gui...

Caregiving is love in action, but it can also be exhausting, isolating, and overwhelming for the person giving that care. In this episode, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with her own mother, Gwendolyn Goode, a retired educator of 38 years and lifelong caregiver, to talk honestly about what it really takes to support aging parents, navigate Alzheimer's, manage hospice and rehab transitions, and avoid...

Season 2 of Heart and Practice is here, and we're opening with a conversation every caregiver, parent, and mental health professional needs to hear. Host Dr. Lakesha Roney is joined by Chanetta Booker, a resident in counseling with over 15 years of experience in substance use and trauma recovery, to talk about how to recognize when a loved one is struggling — and how to respond with compassion ins...

What does it look like to hold a boundary and keep a relationship intact? In this episode of Tuesday Talks, Dr. Lakesha Roney explores the framework of compassionate boundaries — a research-informed approach that balances warmth with structure for young people across home, school, and mental health settings. Dr. Roney breaks down how compassionate boundaries: Reduce shame while reinforcing account...

Conflict is inevitable—but punishment doesn't have to be the default response. In this episode of the Heart and Practice podcast, Dr. Lakesha Roney explores how teaching conflict repair builds resilience, accountability, and trust in young people. Dr. Roney breaks down the essential soft skills that help children and teens navigate conflict in healthy, productive ways—including listening, emotiona...

Wellness as a Shared Responsibility | Tuesday Talks with Dr. Lakesha Roney Wellness is more than just self-care—it's a collective effort that involves routines, relationships, support systems, and environments that help us feel calm, connected, and ready to learn or heal. In this episode of Tuesday Talks, Dr. Lakesha Roney, founder of Heart Practice Inc., explores what wellness truly means across...

In this episode of Tuesday Talks, Dr. Lakesha Roney, founder of Heart and Practice Inc., breaks down how to set healthy boundaries with young people in therapeutic and caregiving settings. Boundaries aren't about control. They're about creating safety, respect, and consistency. Whether you're a therapist, school counselor, mental health professional, or caregiver, this episode offers practical gui...

Welcome to Tuesday Talks: Our mini-episode series keeping you connected while we prepare Season 2 of the Heart and Practice podcast! Join Dr. Lakesha Roney, founder of Heart and Practice Inc., as she explores the soft skills that create emotional safety for young people in schools, mental health settings, and at home. In this episode, Dr. Roney breaks down why skills like listening, empathy, self-...

Welcome to Tuesday Talks—a little break between seasons of the Heart and Practice podcast! While we're preparing to bring you thoughtful, in-depth conversations with mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, and leaders in the helping professions, I wanted to stay connected with you through these weekly moments of reflection. I'm Dr. Lakesha Roney, founder of Heart and Practice Inc....

This episode is for the helper who's great at holding space for everyone else. But, what happens when you need support? Dr. Lakesha Roney closes Season 1 with Dr. Marquita Garrett (PhD, LPC, ACS, RPT-S) in a conversation about vulnerability that goes beyond the surface. This isn't about performing vulnerability for points—it's about showing up on purpose, with heart and boundaries. You'll hear: •...

Have you ever looked up midweek and realized you're living a life you didn't actively choose? One day you're trying to help people and be a decent human, and the next you're saying yes to things you don't even remember agreeing to. If you've ever asked yourself "How did I end up here?"—congratulations, you're a fully functioning adult on autopilot. In this episode of Heart and Practice, host Dr. L...

In Season 1, Episode 3 of Heart and Practice , Dr. Lakesha Roney and guest Mecca Williams, LPC explore what it means to live and work authentically. From aligning your values and voice to understanding the risks of performing wellness, this episode reminds us that being ourselves is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Learn how truth-telling, boundaries, and alignment protect against burnout and foster...

Heart-Led to Handle Others, Use Your Heart: Difficult Conversations for Therapists with Mecca Williams, LPC In this powerful episode of Heart and Practice, Dr. Lakeisha Roney sits down with Licensed Professional Counselor Mecca Williams for an honest conversation about having difficult conversations with heart, intention, and authenticity. Being heart-led doesn't mean being soft—it means being pre...

Welcome to Heart and Practice, the podcast where mental health professionals, educators, and caregivers come together for honest, heart-led conversations about the real experiences in our field. Hosted by Dr. Lakeisha Roney, a counselor, supervisor, educator, and advocate with over 20 years of experience, this podcast creates the space we've been missing—one where we can be vulnerable about our ch...

Welcome to Heart and Practice , where evidence-informed training meets heart-led conversation. This podcast empowers therapists, educators, caretakers, counselors, and therapy students with practical tools for well-being, trauma-informed care, inclusive practice, and emotional resilience . Hosted by mission-driven educators and mental health professionals, each episode blends compassion with actio...