Mind On Mental Health

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 t...

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.   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behav...

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 the...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes, and probably the most stressful, too. Host Andy Dean and licensed clinical social worker Chrissy Isaac explore ways to minimize stress and maximize meaning this holiday season.   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook...

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.   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Fo...

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 Obse...

The 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...

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 Obse...

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 Obse...

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. Jamie Winters, LCSW is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medici...

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 Pri...

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 issue...

“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.   5:45 Why it’s dangerous to rapidly lose weight 12:00 What do people with eating disorders look like? 13:52 The comple...

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.    4:10 Why therapy is so helpful in addressing self-esteem issues   6:28 How your thought process and cognitive distor...

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 Medicin...

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 Psychiatr...

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 Maclearie, LCSW is Clinical Manager for Adult Programming at Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, New Jersey.    6:12       What is “optimal” self-esteem 13:27     The definition of self-esteem 14:56     Why Therapy is...

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 sy...

In this episode Andy interviews Christine Isaac, LCSW, LCADC (Community Liaison with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health) and Nicole Orro, LPC, LCADC (Site Director of Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health – Hamilton).  Since the start of the pandemic, Christine and Nicole have been volunteering to meet with frontline healthcare workers at multiple hospitals within the Penn s...

This episode features Jessica Levy, LCSW who is the Site Director at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Eatontown, NJ location.   In this episode, Jessica and Andy continue their discussion about how to manage depression during the winter months, especially during the pandemic.   The importance of going outside even when it’s cold (:34)   Why you should limit your own screen time (4...

This episode features Jessica Levy, LCSW who is the Site Director at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Eatontown, NJ location.   In this episode, Jessica and Andy discuss three things people can do to help themselves manage depression during the long covid winter.   The importance of having a routine and building structure throughout your day (2:20).   Why you should take a shower...

On this episode, Katie Gaffney (Registered Dietitian), and Lauren Brader (Licensed Professional Counselor) from Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Emotional Eating Program in Princeton, NJ discuss how individuals can tell if their changing eating habits are becoming problematic during Covid and how to best support someone with an eating disorder through the pandemic.   Changing Hung...

On this episode, Katie Gaffney (Registered Dietitian), and Lauren Brader (Licensed Professional Counselor) from Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Emotional Eating Program in Princeton, NJ discuss three different emotional eating triggers that people are experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic and how to manage them.   Additional grocery store anxieties during Covid (1:20)   Wh...

This episode features Alex Camarda, LCSW who is currently a therapist in private practice in the central New Jersey area.  Previously, Alex worked as the Clinical Manager in the Women’s Program at Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health in Hamilton, NJ.   Collective grief and the loss of normalcy  (:58)   The trauma reponse and it’s connection to the pandemic (4:00)   The importance of v...

This episode features Alex Camarda, LCSW who is currently a therapist in private practice in the central New Jersey area.  Previously, Alex worked as the Clinical Manager in the Women’s Program at Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health in Hamilton, NJ.   Compounding grief during the pandemic (1:45)   How to memorialize loved ones during this time (6:30)   The importance of realizing tha...