State of Mind with Debra Sloss

Episode 67: Research reveals that in a group of 20 children, five girls and one boy will experience childhood sexual abuse before the age of 18. We’re joined by survivor and author Alreen Haeggquist, along with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma specialist Stefanie Klein, to discuss the complex journey of healing from such trauma. Find valuable insights, support, and resources crafted for...

Episode 66: Join us for an enlightening discussion on adult autism with Lou Ursa and Jasmeen Miah, both psychotherapists and self-advocates on the autistic spectrum. In this conversation, we confront stereotypes, share personal stories, and offer heartwarming examples of thriving with autism. With diagnoses on the rise, we all can engage in meaningful conversations about autism, explore how societ...

Episode 65: Join us to explore the growing significance of Yoga Therapy in mental health treatment. With a cultural shift emphasizing the mind-body connection, yoga has become something crucial for holistic well-being. Our guests, including integrative mental health practitioner Dr. Juko Holiday and survivor Melaney Seacat, share insights into its therapeutic benefits that are aiding veterans and...

Episode 64: Dive into the pressing reality of the youth mental health crisis. In this episode crafted by teens, for teens, we explore how youth can lend support to their peers through mental health education, community engagement, and advocacy. Join 17-year-old guest host and mental health advocate, Niku Sedarat, as she leads a discussion featuring four teen guests from diverse Monterey Bay area h...

Episode 63: Delve into the intricate world of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a widely misunderstood psychiatric condition rooted in profound childhood trauma. Join clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Alisa Brady as she sheds light on DiD and the serious mental health symptoms associated with it. DID survivor Clay Whitten shares their firsthand experiences and the transformative...

Episode 62: Gender-based violence is an umbrella term that includes the more familiar descriptors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and dating violence. It’s a significant problem across our country and around the world, impacting one in every three American females under the age of 18. Teens and college students are particularly vulnerable. For survivors, the menta...

Episode 61: At present, nearly one in three adolescents will meet criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18. In this episode, we’re joined by college student Elena Shain, who courageously shares her story of navigating severe anxiety since childhood. She tells how, together with her family and her service dog, she has gained knowledge about herself and developed skills to better manage her...

Episode 60: Anorexia Nervosa is a dangerous eating disorder and the deadliest mental illness, second only to opioid overdose. Eating disorders affect people of any age, race, gender, and sexual orientation and they are common. Joining us for this inspiring story of recovery is biomedical writer Evelyn Strauss and psychotherapist Jeanne Willis, LMFT. Evelyn shares how she worked her way out of the...

Episode 59: In recent years, there’s been growing interest in the role that psychedelic drugs, including ketamine, can play in treating mental health conditions. In this episode, we discuss a new treatment approach called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) that is a promising treatment for patients with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Joining me for this conversation is Spenc...

Episode 58: How do parents go on after their child’s death? In this episode, we talk with father and author Colin Campbell about how he’s finding ways to live “with hope and purpose” after his two teen children were killed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. Two other parents contribute stories about their grief after losing children to suicide and overdose. Also with us for this conversation...

Episode 57: Psychotic symptoms, often collectively referred to as psychosis, can be part of many illnesses and are when the brain has trouble distinguishing between what is real from what is not. Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness, and as many as 3 out of every 100 people will experience an episode of psychosis in their lifetime due to either a medical or a mental health condition. It is commo...

Episode 56: About one third of people who have a mental health condition also develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives. In this episode, we discuss the complicated intersection of these problems, a combination that currently afflicts nearly 17 million Americans. Joining us for this conversation about co-occurring disorders is psychotherapist Cynthia Nollenberger and artist-mus...

Episode 55: People have been moving their bodies through dance for thousands of years, and there’s a reason. Movement and dance offer many benefits for mental health and brain function. Joining me for this conversation about the therapeutic benefits of movement and dance are Dr. Rachel Jordana Horodezky, a licensed psychotherapist, yoga instructor, and dance instructor; entrepreneur and dancer Sha...

Episode 54: Artistic self-expression of any kind, even making “ugly" art, can help us process emotions and create a profoundly healing process. We’re joined by psychotherapist, art therapist, and registered nurse Mary Welschmeyer, artist and cancer survivor Lisa Handley, and childcare professional and abuse survivor Elena Stenger to discuss how accessing their creative process has catalysed their...

Episode 53: Writing and telling our stories can be powerfully healing. To honor National Poetry Month, we look at how the simple process of writing or journaling can be used to support mental health and wellness and lead to healing. We’re joined by writer, poet and teacher Patrice Vecchione and two of her former writing students, diversity trainer Erin-Kate Escobar and high school student and writ...

Episode 52: We’re joined by ACA Program participants Bill Trimpi and Birch Curry to discuss their childhoods in dysfunctional families, the lasting mental health impacts of those experiences, and how they found support and growth in the 12-step program Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA). Community member Patrice Vecchione tenderly describes the confusion and heartbreak...

Episode 51: People, including men, are utilizing therapy now more than ever. We’ll explore what therapy is like for men: the barriers, the benefits and the types available. Guest Host Lisa Herendeen is joined by guests Joey Fino and Mark Vanderhoof, who share their personal experiences of therapy. Also joining us is psychotherapist Tim Hartnett, who describes how therapeutic work, in and out of th...

Episode 50: We’re joined by Laura Vollset & Maggie Muir to discuss Perinatal Depression & Anxiety (PPD). While this is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, it is often unrecognized and under-diagnosed. Laura shares her experience of having had debilitating PPD after the birth of her twins. She sought treatment, found support, and wended her way back to wellness and joy in par...

Episode 49: This episode features a collection of nuanced and highly personal stories about making reproductive decisions and how these choices impact mental health. Some of what you’ll hear may be difficult, but we urge you to listen and challenge yourself to hold the complexity, the diversity, and the common humanity in each tale. Our feature story is by writer, teacher and poet Patrice Vecchion...

Episode 48: While Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (commonly called HIV and AIDS), has been transformed from a deadly disease to a chronic, manageable condition, there is still stigma, discrimination and misunderstanding that can have a significant impact on the mental health of those living with it. Guest host and psychotherapist Kaleo Kaluhiwa is joined by mental health counselor Bryan Golson to d...

Episode 47: To honor Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re turning our attention to bipolar disorder, a serious mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. If not treated and managed, bipolar disorder can be dangerous and cause great disruption in a young adult’s life. Guest Allyson Makuch shares her experience of living with and managing bipolar disorder throughout her college and gra...

Episode 46: An inside look at traumatic brain injury, or “TBI,” and how these injuries influence mental health. People of all ages get them in a variety of ways—from sports injuries to car accidents to domestic falls and many of these individuals develop mental health symptoms that can last for months or even years. Our guest and author JoAnne Jones talks about recovering from a severe traumatic b...

Episode 45: People all over the world are experiencing mental health issues in response to climate change, including trauma, anxiety, and grief. In this episode, we’re joined by Gen Zer Chloe Rosen who talks about growing up with climate change awareness and its impact on their mental health. Also with us is Paula Wild, a Millennial Yoga Therapist and Outdoor Educator who shares some healing pract...

Episode 44: Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Judith Ain and Family Medicine Physician Assistant and Integrative Medicine Specialist Dr. Cynthia Quattro to discuss tick-borne Lyme Disease and the mental health effects associated with it. Judith shares her personal story of trying to figure out what was happening as her health deteriorated and how she got diagnosed, sought treatment and lear...

Episode 43: Join us this month as we take a deeper dive into the question “What’s Your Soul Food?“ We continue to explore the many ways our listeners take care of their bodies and minds. We’ll learn more about how these self-care practices help us work through traumas and find resilience when facing life’s many challenges. Joining your host Debra Sloss is psychotherapist and trauma specialist Kara...