Bright Minds, Brighter Days. A Pawnee Mental Health Podcast of Hope!

Starting your therapy journey can be intimidating, especially when it comes to finding the right therapist.  Finding your therapist is a unique journey for everyone that is built around your personal goals and experiences. What does it mean to not only start therapy, but also find care that is aligned with your needs? Terry Pfannestiel, licensed clinical psychotherapist, joins us today to give per...

What does it mean for children to have access to mental health care? Children now are growing up with access to technology their whole lives, arising new experiences and views on the world that increase anxiety, depression, and present new socialization issues. How do we ensure they have adequate support and mental health care while ensuring their education isn’t impacted? Colleen O'Connell a...

Last episode we navigated what the world of mental health looks like for active duty and retired military, but what does that look like for their loved-ones and families? We brought in Sarah Hinrichsen who is a teacher, military spouse, and mom to explore those experiences. She shares what it meant to be the family still at home while her husband was deployed, the transition as he comes home, and...

Even when society recognizes the mental health struggles that active duty military and veterans experience, what does that experience look like? Today we are taking a look at veterans’ experiences with mental health including the culture when you’re active duty, how that translates to civilian life, and the resources they can utilize. Tyler Vela, Pawnee Mental Health’s Military Treatment Coordinat...

How does diversity impact and change the way we think about mental health care? In this episode we are exploring what diversity means in the mental health space, specifically how the experiences we have in life change the way we approach that care. We are joined by guest Dr. Jurdene Coleman, Owner & LCMFT of Sage & Summit LLC, who explores the space where diversity and mental health meet....

In a world full of obligations and distractions, how do you stay in the moment? Today we are exploring what presence practice means and how it can improve your day to day life. Hall of Fame inspirational speaker, a Best Selling author, and a highly acclaimed comedic entertainer Patrick Combs joins us today to share about presence practice. He will explore what the practice means to him and how he...

Whether medication is prescribed for mental or physical ailments, why do we experience hesitancy around taking medication? For many, medication for chronic illness can feel overwhelming including finding the right medication and the long-term commitment. We invited physician assistants Cshandar Lamb and Dan Krause to discuss what starting medication looks like, the management after, and other trea...

In a world focused on trending self-care, making time for that care can feel overwhelming and hard to know where to start. We are opening up May is Mental Health month talking about self-care, exploring the impact of grounding and sleep in your routines. We open with guest Terra Upham, Pawnee Mental Health’s Therapy Services Director, to talk about the importance of sleep and the routines you buil...

With Summer just around the corner, what does routine mean for kids? Today we are taking a look at the importance of Summer routines for children, focusing not only around the transition back into school but how these routines impact long term. We sought insight from Shannon Gilds, the Director of Programs for Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan. Together we explore not only the offerings of Boys &...

When it comes to raising a family, people tell you it takes a village. Within this episode we are going to explore the importance of that community for children. Kaydee Tran, Match Support Advisor of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Michelle Sink, Area Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, help us understand what that village means to kids and how it impacts them. They talk us through how Big Brother...

Substance use and addiction are more than what you expect, and so is the path to recovery.  In this episode we are exploring what addiction means and what recovery looks like behind the scenes. Eric Martin, Pawnee Mental Health’s Recovery Services Manager, helps us navigate this conversation by expanding expectations and showing us the reality of recovery. We will touch on topics such as relapse,...

When mental health symptoms present physically, how do you get the right treatment? Family Nurse Practitioners Karen Culbertson and Josh Schell join us this episode to help us navigate the wonders of how your mental and physical health connect. We will explore common connections, mental health symptoms felt physically, and even when the physical becomes mental. Have questions, thoughts, or stories...

Crisis does not have a universal definition, what crisis means to each person is unique. We are exploring the crisis we see in daily life and how crisis falls outside of stereotypical expectations. The episode’s special guest is Corey Hunter, Pawnee Mental Health’s Crisis Operations Manager. Corey manages crisis, both in the field and behind the doors of Pawnee’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU). H...

Before we explore all things mental health, let’s start at the beginning. Meet Michelle & Jon, co-hosts of Bright Minds, Brighter Days—Pawnee Mental Health's Podcast of Hope. Listen to learn more about their history with Pawnee Mental Health, what keeps them motivated to care for their communities, and their journeys with mental health. Have questions, thoughts, or stories you want to sha...