Mental Health Minutes with Melissa

Are you one of the 3% of people who are satisfied with your body? If you aren't included in this group, this episode is for you! We are talking with Jess Connolly about her new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame. ​​ Jess Connolly is a gal who wants to leave her world more in awe of God than she found it. She is the author of several books, including You Are the Girl for the Job, and coauthor of W...

In this episode of Counselor-on-Call* we are discussing body image. If you struggle with an eating disorder or have struggled with an eating disorder this could be triggering for you. Today, I want to tell you a little of my story of body image and how this led to my eating disorder and then give you some practical, tangible strategies to help you have a healthier body image. Here are 7 practices...

If you struggle with body image, you aren't alone. Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with what they see in the mirror. Research shows that the higher the body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress, and the risk of unhealthy eating behaviors and eating disorders. How we view and treat our bodies matters. This week, I sat down with Amanda Cunningham...

On this episode of Counselor on Call, we will continue the conversation from last week's episode. We talked with Ginger Sache about finding wonder and chasing joy. She talked with us about the practice of tuning in to the present and how this created more meaning and purpose in her everyday life. Are you finding yourself distracted, scattered, or stressed? If so, it may be because you're living in...

Hey Friends!  We are continuing our series on mental health to help you slow down, grow a practice of mindfulness, to help you feel less stressed and frazzled. Today, we are talking with my new friend, Ginger Stache.  Ginger is the Chief Creative Officer of Joyce Meyer Ministries. She has worked in television for over 35 years, and, in that time, has interviewed Joyce and many influential Christia...

We are starting a new series to help you slow down, grow a practice of mindfulness, to help you feel less stressed and frazzled. Today, we are talking with Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer Dukes Lee is a storyteller and a grace dweller. She is the author of It's All Under Control, The Happiness Dare,  and Love Idol.  Once upon a time, she didn't believe in Jesus.  Now He's her CEO. She writes and spea...

Today, on this episode of Counselor-on-call*, we will conclude the conversation about making mistakes. During this series, we've talked about shame, slip-ups, and falls. In this episode we discuss: How perfectionism is a vicious cycle? Why do we become stuck when we make a mistake? How our inner critic sabotages? Ways to build trust Helpful notes: 10 surprising facts about trusting yourself: Helps...

This month we are taking a deep dive into what happens when you make mistakes. We've all been there. We somehow do things we never intended to do. When we make a mistake, we have the opportunity to learn and grow or walk in guilt and shame. As we explore this critical topic, I hope that you'll find rest from guilt and shame, hope instead of weariness, and growth instead of stuckness. Because of th...

We are taking some time over the next few weeks to discuss what happens when you make a mistake. Last week, we heard from Hope Carpenter . Hope shared how she nearly destroyed her family, her church, and her ministry by living a double life, but then God did something miraculous. Out of her brokenness, He made something beautiful. If you didn't get a chance to listen to the episode, go back and gi...

Hey friends!  Welcome to Thrive and The Art of Living Free Podcast! This month we are taking a deep dive into what happens when you make mistakes. We've all been there. We somehow do things we never intended to do. When we make a mistake, we have the opportunity to learn and grow or walk-in guilt and shame. As we explore this critical topic, I hope that you'll find rest from guilt and shame, hope...

This week on Counselor on Call, we are talking about exhaustion and weariness.* According to the American Psychological Association , Americans are more stressed and tired than ever. Here are some symptoms you may experience when feeling weary and exhausted: Isolating for people or activities Foggy brained Experiencing physical symptoms like heart palpitations, headaches, difficulty sleeping Lacki...

Welcome to Thrive: Mental Health and the Art of Living Free This week we are dispelling myths and gaining a critical understanding of the female brain! Tracy Packiam Alloway, Ph. D., is an award-winning psychologist, professor, author, and TEDx speaker. She has published fifteen books discussing the brain and memory. Dr. Alloway shares her insights about the brain with Fortune 500 companies, and h...

Do you struggle with motivation? Feeling insecure before a big meeting? I have some great resources for you this week on Counselor on Call. I'm  sharing all about body posturing and smiling. Even if you don't feel confident, practicing confident body posturing can increase your self-esteem, confidence,  and can make you feel better about yourself. Body posturing can lower your cortisol levels (str...

This week, I'm talking with Dr. Sasha Shillcutt about cultivating confidence through our failures, mindsets and being our authentic selves.  Like Martina McBride sang, this one's for the girls. If you've ever felt like too much and not enough, this episode is for you. Sasha K. Shillcutt, MD, MS, FASE is a renowned cardiac anesthesiologist.  Sasha is also a wife, mother, well-published gender-equit...

Welcome to Counselor-On-Call*! I have another episode for you inspired by my amazing Instagram audience. I posted a graphic about the alternatives " I did nothing!" It mentioned resting, taking a nap, took a mental health day, etc. Something other than you did nothing and "wasting" the day! In this episode we talk about: How we are all craving more rest What does rest mean from a spiritual perspec...

Welcome back! This week we are talking with Crystal Paine about parenting from a place of peace, her new book and the meeting our kids where they are.  Crystal Paine is the founder of MoneySavingMom.com , host of "The Crystal Paine Show" podcast, New York Times bestselling author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, and author of Money-Making Mom. Her desire is to help women across the globe live with...

Last week on Instagram , I posted a graphic about the fight, flight, freeze, and newly added fawn response. This post struck a nerve*. In today's Counselor on Call, I'm going to briefly share these responses and ways to regulate to calm down your body, mind, and emotions. Here's a quick overview of the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn response. Fight: Aggressive, controlling, narcissistic behavior...

Hello Friends! I'm really excited about this epiosode. You know I'm a nerd for all things scientific and related to the brain. This week, I sat down and talked with Michael Easter about the dangers of comfort, how we've gotten away from experiencing discomfort and discussed his new book, Comfort Crisis. Michael Easter is a contributing editor at Men's Health magazine, columnist for Outside magazin...

On Today's episode of Counselor on Call , We are talking about triggers. If you've been stuck trying to change a behavior or habit, identifying your triggers is key to your success. Knowing what triggers you is going to build awareness. When we are more aware, we can begin to take responsibility for the way we manage our emotions , as opposed to letting them control us. Mental and emotional trigge...

Have you ever wondered if your words matter? Maybe you feel like your story doesn't matter because of what someone told you. If you struggle with feeling not enough, this interview is for you. I sat down and talked with Caitlin Crosby about the power of words. Caitlin Crosby is the founder of The Giving Keys , a social non-profit jewelry company with the mission of helping its employees transition...

In this episode of Counselor On Call , we are talking about how God designed your brain. Understanding how God designed your brain will help you better understand yourself and why you do the things you do. Learning about the brain also creates a deeper connection with others and with God. Here are 4 parts of the brain we discussed today, based on a model created by Dr. Dan Siegel . The brain stem...

I'm so excited about the show today. Drs. David and Donna Lane are a husband-wife counseling duo who specialize in trauma, grief, and loss as well as family relationships. While qualified by education, their life experience shapes much of their current-day work, as they have experienced first-hand the horrific death of their own son, who had a neurological disorder throughout his 17 years on earth...

In this episode of Counselor On Call, we are talking about the power of journaling and how it helps you get to the heart of what is really going on.  Journaling may seem like it takes up a lot of time, stirs up emotions, and isn't worth it. I understand why you feel this way! I hear something along these lines whenever I talk to my clients about journaling. Journaling helps you to: Process Emotion...

I'm so excited about the show today. My special guest on the show today is the amazing, John Eldredge. John Eldredge is a bestselling author and counselor. He is also president of Wild at Heart , a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God and recover their own hearts in God's love. John and his wife, Stasi, live near Colorado Springs, Colorado. John and I discuss take a deep di...

Today on this episode of Counselor on Call, we are discussing self-care. Self-care is so important. Doing so will lead toward a better balance among the different wellness types and guide you toward improved overall good health. You are worthy and valued. Let's take care of ourselves well.  We are called to practice self-care as well as to practice stewardship. "Or don't you know that your body is...