You Need a Counselor Podcast

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Nicole Leth, artist and writer working to integrate compassion and artistic kindness into public spaces in free, accessible, and anonymous ways to offer mental health support to real human beings. Impacted as a teenager by the suicide of her father, Nicole has spent the last decade writing tender yet honest poem-like affirmations and imbedding them publicl...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Simon Rinne, all the way from Australia! Simon runs his own private practice and podcast, Mindful Men and  the Mindful Men Podcast. In this episode Simon shares what his continual journey with mental health has looked like and his passion for providing a space for men to find healing and growth. Connect with Simon online at: Online: https://mindful-me...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Kyla Jo, a Heart and Solutions BHIS Counselor out of our Ames office. With a background in psychology and criminal justice, Kyla is passionate toward the intersectionality of mental health and the justice system. Prior to working with Heart and Solutions, Kyla worked in a residential treatment facility as a youth specialist, BHIS group facilitator, and int...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by returning guest, Dr. Skip Mondragon. As you may remember, Skip is a proud medical doctor, Army vet, husband, father, grandfather and author of “Wrestling Depression is not for Wimps!” In this episode, we learn more about Dr. Skip's life in the Army and how he and his wife Sherry have worked together as a team through their challenges as a military family....

This week Julie and Chirssa are joined by Angela Downing, a Cedar Rapids and Director of Programs and Events at Families Helping Families of Iowa.  Families Helping Families is a small nonprofit that serves Iowa's Children in Foster Care.  Angela is responsible for ensuring children have access to shoes, clothing, haircuts, activity scholarships and more.  She is also responsible fo...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Kristyn Darmafall and Emma Morgan, handlers of Becker, the Heart and Solutions therapy dog. Kristyn is an orthopedic surgeon and Becker’s owner. The two have been doing things together since Becker was 8 weeks old. While at work Kristyn saw an opportunity to join the Caring Canine volunteer group, and from there proceeded to certify Becker as a registered...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Kate Hudson-Hall, a psychotherapist, podcaster, and author of “Bulimia Sucks!” and “Anxiety Hacks.” At the age of 18, she began her bulimic career in earnest! Fifteen years later and after much help she eventually freed herself from the clutches of anorexia and bulimia. She then stepped out and decided to take a different bulimic pathway. Feeling the great...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Chase Norris, LPC, founder of Clock, Inc, a LGBT+ Community Center in Rock Island, Illinois. Chase earned his Masters in Counselor Education with an emphasis on Clinical/Community Mental Health Counseling at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities in December 2018. Chase has both personal experience with the LGBT+ community, as well as professional experie...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Heart and Solution BHIS Provider, Kaytlin Ahn. As an Iowa native Kaytlin grew up in Newton and then graduated from Iowa State University, where she received her BA in psychology in 2020. As a BHIS Provider she works out of the Waterloo and Grundy Center areas. Kaytlin intends to pursue a Masters Degree in social work or mental health counseling in the near...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by return guest Marta Payne, the editor of the You Need a Counselor Podcast. Marta first began interacting with, and seeking out content around mental health in 2010 after being introduced to To Write Love on Her Arms by a concerned friend. From there, she sought stories and content, similar to the You Need a Counselor Podcast, that gave verbiage and understa...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Heart and Solutions’ Vice President of Therapy, Dr. Colleen Grote. Dr. Colleen Grote is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). Colleen is the Heart and Solutions' vice president in charge of the therapy department. Colleen joined the Heart and Solutions' team in 2015. Colleen completed her PhD in Couns...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Advanced Grief Specialist, Dr. Victoria Wilson-Crane. As an educational innovator and leader, Dr. Vic used her academic writing skills and love of words as therapy while she faced significant bereavements in 2020. She has since published her memoir and self-help book titled Sixteen Days. This book provides advice for those supporting others in shock and gr...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Megan Eddinger. Having married and started a family young, a few years in, Megan and her husband found that they weren’t often on the same page for important, daily decisions. As things progressed and the rift between them grew larger, the couple sought counseling as a last ditch effort. In this episode we get to hear Megan share what that counseling journ...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Lexxis Onken, BHIS Counselor at Heart and Solutions. Lexxis shares about her own counseling experience, her passion for working with you and adults on the Autism spectrum, and why she’s often drawn to the “tough” kids. To start behavioral or mental health services in Iowa, with a provider like Lexxis, call Heart and Solutions at (800) 531-4236. Connect wit...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Donald “Skip” Mondragon, MD. Colonel Mondragon is a twenty-six-year Army veteran who has practiced Internal Medicine and Adult Medicine for over  thirty years. During his last year in the Army, Skip became a casualty of depression. As he recovered, he became a transformed tough guy. This led to his calling to help men struggling with this dark disease...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Kyira Wackett, passionate therapist, facilitator and creator. Currently she, her husband Jordan, and daughter Everly, live in Portland OR. She is also the founder of Adversity Rising, a company with the mission to empower people to live a life on purpose. She has been speaking on topics related to mental health and well-being for over 10 years and focuses...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Deborah Driggs, former Ice Skater, Covergirl, Playboy Centerfold, Actor, Insurance Professional and current Coach, Author and Creator. While pursuing her own healing and transformation, Deb has shared what she has learned with others through coaching. Currently she is creating and preparing a 90-Day group coaching course where participants will uncover and...

Joining Julie and Chrissa this week are Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw and Simone Collins, Founder and Board President of How About HOPE (Helping Others and Providing Encouragement). Mikhaya, Miss Iowa 2018, founded How About HOPE to help create and sustain conversations about suicide and mental health. She was quickly joined by childhood friend and Heart and Solutions therapist, Simone Collins. This week o...

Joining Julie and Chrissa this week is Vicki Ailey-Roberson, Ankeny native and founder of Ankeny Family Counseling. In her work, Vicki supports individuals, couples and families who’ve experienced trauma and multiple losses, helping them to better cope with and manage the challenges of daily living. Her vision is to empower people to realize their personal strengths, overcome obstacles and reach t...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Emma Morgan, Clinical Director at the Heart and Solutions Davenport office and group facilitator for Gilda's Club Quad Cities. Gilda’s Club offers workshops, professionally-led support groups, healthy lifestyle activities and social events - all provided at no charge - for men, women and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. The program is des...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Janis Isaman, founder of My Body Couture based in Calgary. She is a highly certified movement specialist, including STOTT Pilates, and a nutrition coach. Janis works with clients to develop practical and sustainable plans to feel better in their body. She is a local and international speaker and presenter, and is frequently quoted as a health expert in pub...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Heather DeWitt, a Heart and Solutions BHIS Counselor in the Grundy Center area. In this episode Heather shares one of her favorite quotes, “If you listen to your body whisper, you won’t need to hear it scream,” and shares her experience of ignoring that whisper. Heather is a mother, BHIS counselor, and student pursuing her masters degree in marriage and fa...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Peer Support Specialist Austin Snell. During Austin’s seven years in the field he has worked in community outreach, various mental illness groups, and the Warm Line, a telephone line for those who suffer. Over the last ten years, Austin has also put in the work for his individual mental health and wellbeing, seeing the same counselor. This has helped him t...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Pam Richardson. Pam is an ex social worker, mom of two, and a self-proclaimed hot mess with money. Over the recent years she has created a career out of helping women become comfortable with money and embracing their financial power. She helps take the mystery out of money and makes it so women can enter the financial arena with understanding and confidenc...

This week Julie and Chrissa are joined by Intuitive Life Coach Stephanie Ressler. In her practice Stephanie combines trauma-informed Psychology with ancient wisdom and spirituality to support her client’s unique life path and help them to realign toward their soul purpose. Drawing from her graduate level Counselor training and continued education in mindset, NLP, EFT, and other healing modalities...