Mental Health Minutes with Melissa

If you feel burned out and helpless, this episode is for you! Today, we are sitting down and talking with Katherine May. Katherine offers advice from her new book, Enchantment: Awaken Wonder in an Anxious Age, on how to reignite wonder in our everyday lives. She shares stories of her journey to rekindle her sense of wonder at a time when we so often feel burned out and helpless.   Katherine May is...

This episode tackles the all-too-common issue of body image struggles, including shame and insecurity. Joined by fellow counselor and podcast host Rachael Gilbert, they dive into a body image renovation, exploring biblical perspectives on eating, fitness, and godly self-confidence.   We also discuss the impact of addressing body image issues on our relationships and the importance of self-care, wi...

Are you dealing with stress and anxiety? If so, this episode will be like a breath of fresh air for you! My special guest today,  Bonnie Gray, is here to help bring the calm but also shares her practical tools to eliminate the chaos! Bonnie is a soul-care mentor, inspirational retreat speaker, and author of several books, including her most recent,   Breathe: 21 Ways to Stress Less & Restore Chaos...

Today's episode is so important as we dive into the topic of unresolved trauma. Unfortunately, each of us will or has encountered some trauma in our lives.  When we don't process past experiences, we unknowingly get tied to the past when we don't explore and process past traumatic experiences.   Dr. Elizabeth Stevens discusses PTSD, barriers to overcoming trauma, and her new book, Unshackled.   T...

This week on Thrive, we discuss an important path to your freedom: Forgiveness. Unforgiveness impacts not only your relationships but also your mind, body, and spirit. In today's episode, we are talking with Rev. David Peterson about his new book: Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom.   Listen in to learn about:  Rev. David's past abuse ( *trigger warning: he does talk about his childh...

T his week on Thrive, we are talking with Amy Seiffert about making changes to your diet, your spiritual diet.    Amy helps us see that we consuming, we're filling up, we're taking in, but at the end of the day, our souls are still starving. So many of us feel dissatisfied and empty—emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. Our lives are rushed, and overflowing, and we're low on joy, fulfillm...

This week on Thrive, we are tackling a tough but important topic: suffering.    The theology of suffering is something most of us wrestle with at some point in our lives. Asking questions like, if God is good, then how can He allow bad things to happen? Or, why does God allow good people to go through bad things?    In this episode, we sit down with Pastor and past Thrive guest, Mike Novotny discu...

This week on Thrive, we are talking with Dr. Amy O'Hana about burnout. According to a new report, more than half of American workers (59%) experience at least moderate levels of burnout. In mainstream medicine, burnout is now recognized as a legitimate medical disorder with its ICD-10 code.   In this episode, we discuss the following:  The definition of burnout How burnout is different from depres...

This week we taking a fresh look at self-care.    If you've been listening for a while, you know I'm a big believer in self care. Many people confuse self-care with bubble baths and manicures. These are great! Nevertheless, they only give a glimpse into the true meaning of self-care.   Self care is simply caring for yourself.    This sounds simple, but in reality, it's pretty complex. This definit...

Last week, we talked with Lisa Boucher about her steps to recovery from alcoholism. Today, we are continuing the conversation about addictions with my guest, Colleen Ryan Hensley It's no surprise that we are struggling emotionally. A recent study   found that 40% of participants suffered symptoms of depression or anxiety (up from 11% in 2019) while more than 23 million Americans reported having a...

Although alcohol is often viewed as a way to be social or unwind after a long day, alcohol can have devastating consequences when abused. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption is linked to 95,000 fatalities annually in the United States. This makes it a leading preventable cause of death in the country.    More than 14 million adults have...

Challenges in any relationship are inevitable. Abuse, however, has no place in relationships , whether the couple is dating, engaged, or married. Karla Downing is an award-winning best-selling author, speaker, Bible study teacher, and licensed marriage and family therapist. Karla's passion is to see individuals, marriages, and families set free from the chains of dysfunction, scriptural misunderst...

If you are struggling with disappointment and devastation,  this episode is for you! It's easy to get stuck in the blame or shame game when things don't go as planned. It's common for disappointment to morph into despair.  Today's guests, Fox and Rob Richardson , are no strangers to devastation and setbacks.  Fox & Rob Richardson, subjects of the Academy-Award-nominated documentary TIME , defied a...

2023 is finally here! I don't know about you, but I'm excited about the new year and its possibilities.  Let's fill it with intentionality.  Many of us are caught on a hamster wheel of life. Working hard but feeling like we can't get anywhere.  We need intentionality in our life. Living intentionally means pursuing the life God has called you to live purposefully. Intentionality requires deliberat...

Hey friend, We did it! We made it to the end of 2022! I don't know about you, but 2022 was a hard year for me personally.  If that is you as well, I see you and understand what you are going through.    This time of year can be pretty tricky, especially when we look at social media. We look at the perfect pictures, smiling faces, and everyone having a good time. What we sometimes forget is that be...

Hi Friends! Merry Christmas y'all! This week, I'm sitting with my real-life friend, Michelle Nietert , to talk about helping our kids end the year well. We also talk about what it is like to be a parent and some of the struggles that each of us has gone through this year. Michelle Nietert, M.A., Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, has provided therapeutic interventions to children and thei...

Can you believe we are winding down 2022?! If you are like me, you want quiet and rest during the typically busy holiday season. Quiet and rest don't just happen. It takes intentionality to find a restful rhythm to living.  Today I am talking with Jamie Grace . She is a t wo-time Grammy-nominated singer , songwriter, and actress. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, OCD, ADHD, and anxiety at a young...

How is your self-care? These soul-restoring practices lead to a rich, satisfying life. Have you tried self-care but you still feel overwhelmed, anxious, fatigued, and burned out? The most effective self-care efforts aren't desperate last-ditch attempts but practiced daily— moment to moment and hour to hour. Today, we are sitting down with Janice McWilliams, a therapist and spiritual director, she...

Every one of us has experienced some type of trauma in our lives.  Unfortunately, many will minimize their traumas because they don't seem " significant" enough. We compare our experiences with others. This comparison keeps us trapped from moving forward.    In today's episode, I am sitting down with a trauma expert, Danny Greeves to discuss trauma and how to overcome past experiences so you can e...

When we are going through time s transition and change, it can impact all the areas of our life. One of the hardest transitions we go through is aging, especially for women. Today's guests, Carolyn Castleberry Hux and Shayne Moore, are all about helping women to thrive at halftime of our lives. They want to show you how to discover how to reignite your dreams and renew joy for your next season!  ...

Do you want to be more present? You may be wondering, "yes, but how? "   Today's guest, Andrew McConnell, wants to help you get out of your head to help you live with more joy and purpose.   Listen in to learn more about the great things we discussed:  Practical, tangible ways to practice presence How can you create more joy and purpose in your life…today Creative ways to silence daily distraction...

Have you ever had a panic attack?    I have. They are terrifying!   Did you know that around 10% of people have panic attacks yearly?   While symptoms you may experience during a panic attack are: shaking, feeling disorientated, nausea, rapid, irregular heartbeats, dry mouth, breathlessness, sweating, and dizziness .   On this episode of Thrive and the Art of Living Free, I sit down and talk with...

Have you been disappointed or knocked down that you felt guilt, shame, and feel so defeated?? If so, this episode is for you! On this episode, Jay and I sit down to talk about his new book, the Path of an Eagle : a God-given unique healing path to help anyone soar in their life and the power of telling your story and practical tips to help us take flight and move forward.    Listen in to learn mor...

We've all experienced times of rejection, from breakups to being overlooked professionally. Whether the rejection is "small" or "big," you likely feel a range of emotions.  Today we are sitting down and talking with my friend Rebecca George. Rebecca is an author, speaker, and host of the popular podcast Radical Radiance . Her greatest joy is helping women pursue their passions in a way that builds...

If you've ever felt like it is selfish to care for yourself or to acknowledge your own needs and desires, then  today's episode is for you. I sat down with Dr. Alison Cook to discuss her new book, The Best of You . Most of us struggle with confidence and trusting ourselves.    Dr. Alison Cook is a psychologist and writer who has earned the trust of thousands of women through her practical, wise, a...