The Mental Health Coach | Coping Skills, Boundaries, Grief, Trauma, Marriage Counseling

As we close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025, this final episode of the year is all about celebrating progress, reflecting on what matters most, and embracing the power of pivots. Join me as I share: Why celebrating small wins can boost your motivation and mental wellness. The importance of taking time to reflect and set intentional goals for the year ahead. How to make decisions that align with yo...

In this episode, we’re joined by the insightful and refreshingly relatable Dr. McCarthy, a clinical neuropsychologist, psychologist, and school psychologist with a knack for putting people at ease. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life and navigating anxiety from an early age, Dr. McCarthy brings both personal and professional wisdom to the table. We dive into her no-nonsense yet compassionate approac...

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Erin Williamson, the Chief Programs & Strategy Officer at Love146, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking and exploitation. With over 20 years of experience working with victims of crime, Erin has become a leading voice in the fight against child exploitation. At Love146, she has developed and implemented prevention education and surv...

At just 14 years old, Nick Prefontaine faced what most of us can't even imagine—a life-threatening snowboarding accident that left him in a coma, with doctors telling his parents he’d never walk, talk, or eat on his own again. But Nick wasn’t about to let that be his story. Not only did he defy the odds, he set a goal to run out of the hospital—and he did. Named a 'Top Motivational Speaker' by Yah...

The holidays are here—and while they can be magical, they can also take a real toll on our mental health. Between the Hallmark-worthy fantasies and the messy realities of family drama, unmet expectations, and endless obligations, it’s no wonder so many of us feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even downright depleted during the “most wonderful time of the year.” For some, the season brings an even deepe...

With the holiday season around the corner, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of events, obligations, and expectations. But what if there was a way to feel more grounded, more connected, and less overwhelmed through it all? Today, we’re talking about the power of knowing your values—both personal and family values—and how they can serve as a compass to guide you not just during the holiday...

We’re kicking off a series on navigating mental and relational health during the holiday season. For many, the holidays can bring anxiety, sadness, grief, and loneliness. Today, we're diving into something that many of us feel but don’t always talk about—holiday stress. Why can this season, which is often advertised as "the most wonderful time of the year," feel so challenging and emotionally drai...

Today is National Stress Awareness Day – a day to recognize the effects of stress on our lives and learn how to recognize, manage, and reduce it. This episode will help you define stress, understand the impact of chronic stress, encourage you to create a self-care plan as part of your normal routine to promote resilience, and teach you ways to help your body move into safety once you are in stress...

Conflict is inevitable in any close relationship. What's important isn't that we avoid rupture but the desire, skillset, and ability to repair. In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to experience rupture and repair in relationships—and how this can build resilience, deepen intimacy, and foster personal growth. We’ll explore why ruptures happen, how to recognize when they occur, and outl...

Did you know that the U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health crisis, with risks as serious as smoking and obesity? Loneliness affects millions of adults, posing real risks to both mental and physical health. In this episode, we’ll uncover why loneliness is so prevalent, how our fast-paced lives and digital connections can often make things worse, and, most importantly,  steps t...

Welcome to this episode of The Mental Health Coach podcast! This week is OCD Awareness Week, and we’re diving into an important conversation about obsessive-compulsive disorder with a special guest, Carrie Bock. Carrie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in helping people navigate the challenges of OCD. Together, we’ll explore the difference between OCD and anxiety, what exacerbat...

Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year? For many, that translates into daily struggles with conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, among others. And yet, nearly 50% of those with a mental illness don’t receive treatment. Stigma, lack of access, or simply not knowing where to begin keeps many people from seeking the help they need.   In this episode,...

Last week on the podcast, we had my long-time mentor, friend, and colleague, Juliane Taylor Shore on to talk about her book, Setting Boundaries that Stick . Since that conversation, I have continued to think about boundaries and wanted to highlight a few takeaways from our conversation and also share some other thoughts I have been having about how boundaries are so important, especially as we nav...

We know that boundaries are important, but figuring out what those boundaries should be—and how to enforce them—can be challenging. In this episode, I’m joined by my long-time mentor, friend, and colleague, Juliane Taylor Shore, therapist and author of Setting Boundaries That Stick. Together, we unpack the neuroscience of changing your brain, break down the four types of boundaries, and share a pr...

Did you know that nearly 50% of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, often leaving parents and children emotionally overwhelmed?   In this episode, I’m joined by family law attorney and advocate Charles Jamieson to explore actionable steps to help save your marriage, collaborative approaches to navigating divorce that reduce conflict and cost, and important options you need to know when facing th...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to break the silence around a topic that often feels overwhelming. In today’s episode, we’re addressing suicide head-on—dispelling common myths, recognizing key warning signs, and offering actionable ways to support yourself or loved ones during a crisis.   As parents and caregivers, it’s also important to know that suicide is the second lead...

In this episode, we are doing a Q&A where I address three questions from listeners of the podcast:    1. How do I help my college student who is spiraling on the phone with anxiety?    2. I feel paralyzed in my creative endeavors due to perfectionism and fear of failure. What do I do?    3. How do I balance accountability and compassion both in parenting and with myself?    If you have a quest...

National Grief Awareness Day is August 30th and is dedicated to raising awareness of the many ways in which individuals cope with loss. It offers resources to those going through personal losses and reminds us to support people we know who are grieving.    Guest Kimberly Byers, author of Grief Almost Had Me! Peace Brought Me Out: 7 Steps From Grief to Peace , shares her story of her relationship w...

Change is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn't make it any easier. Whether you're sending your little one off to school for the first time, settling your kid into their college dorm room, or navigating a major life shift like a new job or moving homes, transitions can be tough. In today's episode, we're diving into the messy, often emotional journey of navigating life's big changes. In thi...

Do you feel like you spend a lot of time thinking about your body or your weight or what you should or shouldn’t be eating? If so, you are not alone! We live in a society that is obsessed with thinness and dieting. We know that ruminating about our food intake or our body or how we look promotes low self-esteem and ties our self-worth to a number on the scale or how we look in a bikini. Even worse...

Many studies over the past decade have found that people who consciously implement gratitude into their lives tend to be happier and less depressed. While it may sound cliché, there is science to support that practicing gratitude positively impacts our physical, social, emotional, and mental health!    Resources: The 4 A's of Appreciation According to Brian Tracy:  Appreciation: Actively recognizi...

Do you ever feel stuck or unmotivated in working toward a goal despite your best efforts? You're not alone. This episode explores common obstacles that hold us back. From procrastination and self-doubt to burnout and fear of failure, we'll talk through effective strategies to overcome these challenges and also tips for giving yourself compassion and grace when things feel hard.   Resources and Rel...

It can be hard as an adult to prioritize and find time to take care of our own wants and needs. As a parent, it can feel even harder. The consequences, though, of not identifying and prioritizing our own needs are dire. We might be more on edge with our kids and partners, we might experience chronic unhappiness, and we might experience greater symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Today, we are g...

Did you know your brain holds the key to transforming your health?  By retraining your brain, you can calm your nervous system and promote healing from within.   Brain Retraining Coach Katie Nickerson shares her knowledge of the nervous system and practical exercises to help move our nervous systems back into a felt sense of safety. She also offers her story of moving from chronic illness back to...

Did you know your brain holds the key to transforming your health?  By retraining your brain, you can calm your nervous system and promote healing from within.   Brain Retraining Coach Katie Nickerson shares her knowledge of the nervous system and practical exercises to help move our nervous systems back into a felt sense of safety. She also offers her story of moving from chronic illness back to...