Episodios

  • A Conversation About: Choosing Peace to Protect Your Mental Health

    A Conversation About: Choosing Peace to Protect Your Mental Health
    Jul 24 2024
    In this episode host Xiomara A. Sosa and guest JRoc discuss the importance of choosing peace for your mental health when life’s trials and tribulations come your way.
    Más Menos
    56 m
  • A Conversation About Life Transitions and Mental Health: Episode #24

    A Conversation About Life Transitions and Mental Health: Episode #24
    Nov 7 2023
    In this episode host Xiomara A. Sosa and co-host Lisa A. Early discuss where they have been and life transitions for Xiomara that have kept them away as she focused on her own mental health.
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • A Conversation About Burnout and Mental Health Episode #23

    A Conversation About Burnout and Mental Health Episode #23
    May 10 2023
    May 10, 2023Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversation About Mental Health A Conversation About Burnout and Mental Health Episode #23In this episode host Xiomara A. Sosa and Co-host Lisa early discuss burnout, how it happens, what to do about it, and how it doesn’t only apply to work environments anymore. They get into their own personal experiences as well as their professional experiences with burnout. Xiomara and Lisa not only get personal about this topic but also encourage listeners to really pay attention to the seriousness of burnout. Burnout can cause significant challenges with your mental health whether it is work related or something that happens because of things going on in your personal life. Both hosts are open about their own experiences with burnout. They talk about what happened, what they wish they had known at the time, how they recovered from it and offer words of wisdom to listeners who might be experiencing burnout now. In addition, they provide resources and references that listeners can refer to if they need to explore this topic further. They also encourage listeners to support loved ones or coworkers who are starting to show the tell tale signs of burnout. They provide examples on how listeners can support others while appropriately maintaining their own boundaries and protecting their own mental health and wellbeing. What is burnout? Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout can be difficult to describe. However, it’s not a medical condition. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, burnout is defined as “physical, emotional or mental exhaustion, accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance and negative attitudes towards oneself and others.”It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life—including your home, work, and social life.Burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. Because of its many consequences, it’s important to deal with burnout right away.You may not realize you’ve hit burnout until it’s too late when you’ve crossed the line between “really tired” and “too exhausted to function.” Alternatively, you might be the type of personality who likes to stay busy, and might not recognize when you’re doing too much.Burnout also happens when your work-life balance gets out of sync. This has been a common occurrence in the last few years, with the rise in remote work and technology permeating our daily lives.Are you on the road to burnout?You may be on the road to burnout if:Every day is a bad day.Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy.You’re exhausted all the time.The majority of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming.You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated.Is burnout the same thing as depression?The symptoms of burnout can often resemble the symptoms of more serious medical conditions. These can include mental health-related mood disorders.“Oftentimes, burnout and depression can mirror each other,” explains Dr. Borland. “However, depression is a diagnosable mental health condition, whereas burnout is not.”That’s not the only difference. In contrast to depression, burnout tends to be a response to a specific environment or situation — say, working more hours than usual, or dealing with something specific going on in your life. “Depression doesn’t have to be in response to one specific trigger,” Dr. Borland says. Causes of depression tend to be broader in general, whereas with burnout, we can really pinpoint what is causing these types of symptoms.Depression’s symptoms also tend to be more general, he adds. “Imagine you’re experiencing depression and visit a villa in the South of France,” Dr. Borland says. “The reality is, those depressive symptoms are going to accompany you on that trip.”If you’re dealing with burnout, however, you’ll have a different experience visiting that same villa. “Once you detach from work or whatever it is that’s causing the burnout, you’re going to be able to enjoy that vacation and relax,” he explains. “If you’re feeling depressed, you most likely will not.”Signs and symptoms of burnoutMost of us have days when we feel helpless, overloaded, or unappreciated—when dragging ourselves out of bed requires the determination of Hercules. If you feel like this most of the time, however, you ...
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • A Conversation About Bigoted Comments and Posts and Mental Health

    A Conversation About Bigoted Comments and Posts and Mental Health
    Mar 16 2023
    March 16, 2023Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental HealthA Conversation About Bigoted Comments and Posts and Mental HealthSeason 2 Episode 9In this episode our host and co-host discuss how mental health is affected by bigoted comments and posts on social media. They also discuss some of the implications about what to do about it when they as mental health professionals experience bigoted comments from colleagues, friends and family. The discussion covers this difficult issue and makes an effort to bring it home to the reality of the people who are directly or indirectly affected by them. Host Xiomara A. Sosa leads the conversation with host Lisa Early. She provides a recent painful and difficult encounter with a friend and what she perceived as a bigoted comment posted on social media by her friend. She discusses why she was affected in a negative way. She disclosed what she chose to do about it and why. The hosts have an honest and open discussion regarding this subject matter and invite the listeners to share their stories with them in the comments. As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with bigoted comments and posts that impact their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.comVisit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.Mental Health Resources:https://www.thex-studio.org/resourcesReferences:https://www.splcenter.org/20150125/speak-responding-everyday-bigotryResponding to Everyday BigotryWhat Can I Do Among Family?What Can I Do About Sibling Slurs?What Can I Do About Joking In-Laws?What Can I Do About Impressionable Children?What Can I Do About Parental Attitudes?What Can I Do About Stubborn Relatives?What can I do about my own bias?What Can I Do Among Friends And Neighbors?What Can I Do About Sour Social Events?What Can I Do About Casual Comments?What Can I Do About Offended Guests?What Can I Do About Real Estate Racism?What Can I Do About Unwanted Email?What Can I Do About My Own Bias?What Can I Do At Work?What Can I Do About Casual CommentsWhat Can I Do About Workplace Humor?What Can I Do About Sexist Remarks?What Can I Do About Meeting Missteps?What Can I Do About Boss Bias?What Can I Do About My Own Bias?What Can I Do At School?What Can I Do About Negative Remarks?What Can I Do About Familial Exclusion?What Can I Do About Biased Bullying?What Can I Do About In-Group BigotryWhat Can I Do about A Teacher's Bias?What Can I Do In Public?What Can I Do About Biased Customer Service?What Can I Do About Bigoted Corporate Policy?What Can I Do About A Stranger's Remarks?What Can I Do About Retail Racism?What Can I Do About Racial Profiling?What Can I Do About My Own Bias?Six Steps to Speaking Up Against Everyday BigotryStudio Talk Podcast contact: studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.comLearn more about our hosts: Host Xiomara A. Sosa https://www.swmhs.net/Co-host Victoria Lockridge https://www.wildvioletcounseling.com/Co-host Lisa Early https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lisa-a-early-summerville-sc/1044400Studio Talk Podcast and the information provided by Xiomara A. Sosa, Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early are solely intended for educational and social change advocacy purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although they are licensed mental health counselors, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate mental health provider before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.Copyright XAS Consulting, LLC DBA Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental HealthPLEASE READ: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • A Special Message from our Creator and Host Xiomara A. Sosa

    A Special Message from our Creator and Host Xiomara A. Sosa
    Mar 1 2023

    March 1, 2023

    Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

    A Special Message from our Creator and Host Xiomara A. Sosa

    Season 2 Special Message

    In this episode our creator and host sends out a special message about a teachable moment she experienced. Enjoy! 

    Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ 

    Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

    Visit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/

    Mental Health Resources:

    https://www.thex-studio.org/resources

    Studio Talk Podcast contact: studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

    Learn more about our hosts: 

    Host Xiomara A. Sosa https://www.swmhs.net/

    Co-host Victoria Lockridge https://www.wildvioletcounseling.com/

    Co-host Lisa Early https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lisa-a-early-summerville-sc/1044400

    Studio Talk Podcast and the information provided by Xiomara A. Sosa, Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early are solely intended for educational and social change advocacy purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although they are licensed mental health counselors, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate mental health provider before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

    Copyright XAS Consulting, LLC DBA Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

    PLEASE READ: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
    Más Menos
    5 m
  • A Conversation About When to Switch Your Therapist

    A Conversation About When to Switch Your Therapist
    Feb 22 2023
    February 22, 2023Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental HealthA Conversation About When to Switch Your TherapistSeason 2 Episode 8In this episode our host and co-hosts discuss some of the reasons you might want to consider switching your therapist. The discussion covers this rarely talked about  issue and makes an effort to clarify and provide important tips about it. Co-host Lisa Early leads the conversation with hosts Xiomara A. Sosa. She provides tips on how to recognize the signs of when it might be time to switch your therapist and advise on how to go about doing so. They also provide resources and references to check out. The hosts have an honest and open discussion regarding this subject matter and invite the listeners to share their stories with them in the comments. As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with major life transitions that impacted their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.comVisit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.Signs it’s Time to Switch Your Therapist:Is not a good fitCulturally incompetentIt doesn’t feel like anything is changing even though you are committed, compliant and working at itYou can’t be honest with the therapistTherapist doesn't have the particular experience you need or wantInappropriate behavior by the therapistOnly giving advice instead of helping you work through your issues/problems/challengesOnly talks about themselves, discloses too much, etc. Sexists, homophonic, or any bigotry They aren’t listening to youThere’s too much dependence on the therapist/enablingLost sense of why you’re going to therapyCultural competency issuesProgress in your treatment/do they ask about your progressPlan/goals setNot a good fit/don’t clickFeel judged/reprimanded/in trouble/punitiveToo familiar or too impersonalYour needs have changed Outgrown the therapistLanguage barrierWant to see someone who offers a specific type of therapyNeed someone who offers online servicesHave experienced an awkward interaction Feel unsafe  Have encountered a new trauma and need a new perspectiveBe switching from couples counseling to individual (or vice versa)You haven’t been making progress:It’s hard to know what to expect from therapy, but while you shouldn’t expect instant results, you should feel like you’re making progress over time. Ideally, your therapist should be tracking your progress and helping you work towards your identified goals. If you haven’t seen improvements, or if you haven’t been working towards anything specific, changing therapists may help you see results more quickly. Confidentiality problems:Except under certain legal circumstances that require therapists to contact authorities, your care is always confidential. If you have any privacy concerns, ask questions.Too much contact:Your therapist may be crossing boundaries if you’re receiving frequent calls, texts, or social media interactions outside of your formal therapy sessions. Of course, this can be different if you’re engaged in a text- or virtual-based therapy arrangement (such as an online therapy platform like Talkspace), but the contact rules should be clear and consistently enforced, regardless of the modality.Too little contact:On the flip side, a therapist you can’t reliably reach is cause for concern for obvious reasons. Therapists are free to set rules about how you can get in touch with them after hours or outside of sessions, but if you’re following the rules and still can’t get your messages returned, you might need a change.You don’t feel heard:It’s important that you feel like your therapist is really listening to what you have to say. If they’re dismissive or don’t seem to understand where you’re coming from, you might eventually begin to struggle to open up to them. For example, some members of the LGBTQIA+ community have reported experiences where they feel their therapists don’t take their concerns seriously. This can be a clear sign of a bad therapist.Management problems:If there are problems with late or inaccurate billing, late or broken appointments, or any other indicators of practice management problems, consider investigating why. Every practice has busy seasons or staff changes that can cause occasional operational hiccups, but persistent ...
    Más Menos
    45 m
  • A Conversation About Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Abuse

    A Conversation About Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Abuse
    Feb 15 2023
    February 15, 2023Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental HealthA Conversation About Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner AbuseSeason 2 Episode 7In this episode our co-hosts discuss domestic violence/intimate partner abuse. The discussion covers this very difficult and complex issue and makes an effort to clarify and provide important information about it. Host Xiomara A. Sosa leads the conversation with co-hosts Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early. She provides tips on how to recognize domestic violence/intimate partner abuse, what to safely do about it and how to provide resources and support. The co-hosts have an honest and open discussion regarding this difficult subject matter and invite the listeners to safely share their stories with them in the comments. As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with major life transitions that impacted their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.comVisit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.Following are some points for reference/statistics about domestic violence/intimate partner abuse: 33 million people/15% are current or former victims.85% of these victims are women. Annual result of 1,200 and 2 million injuries estimated to be women. 600,000 injuries estimated to men. For every reported incident it’s estimated that 10-30 incidents are not. Acts of DV occur every 15 seconds in the US. 3 women are murdered by their partners every day.Half of all couples experience at least one violent incident and in ¼ of these couples violence is a common occurrence. 95% of men who physically abuse their partners also psychologically abuse them.Psychological abuse is a stronger predictor of PTSD than physical abuse among women. 20% of all murders in the US are committed within families, 13% by spouses. 85% of all spousal abuse are committed by men.Financial abuse occurs in 99% of cases of abuse and is often the main reason why victims stay with or return to the abuser. 37% of women who go to the emergency report DVBattering is the single major cause of injury to women, more frequent than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. 21% of victims of intimate violence lose their jobs. 1 in 4 female suicides were victims of family violence. 2011 SC ranked first in the country with homicide rates for female victims by male offenders. SC’s rate for this kind of homicide is more than twice the national average.Verbal abuse early in the relationships predicts subsequent physical spousal abuse. Children are emotionally traumatized by witnessing violence, many of them grow up to repeat the pattern as a victim or an abuser. Victims of DV are 3 times more likely to be victimized again than are victims of other types of crimes. A boy who witnesses his mother being abused is 10 times more likely to become a perpetrator as an adult.The most dangerous time for a victim is when leaving the relationship. 50% of injuries and 75% of domestic homicides happen after the relationships end. Research suggests it takes up to 7 times of trying to leave to actually leave, and it’s the most lethal time as well. DV is one of the most common crimes. 33 million people/15% are current or former victims.85% of these victims are women. Annual result of 1,200 and 2 million injuries estimated to be women. 600,000 injuries estimated to men. For every reported incident it’s estimated that 10-30 incidents are not. Acts of DV occur every 15 seconds in the US. 3 women are murdered by their partners every day.Half of all couples experience at least one violent incident and in ¼ of these couples violence is a common occurrence. 95% of men who physically abuse their partners also psychologically abuse them.Psychological abuse is a stronger predictor of PTSD than physical abuse among women. 20% of all murders in the US are committed within families, 13% by spouses. 85% of all spousal abuse are committed by men.Financial abuse occurs in 99% of cases of abuse and is often the main reason why victims stay with or return to the abuser.37% of women who go to the emergency report DVBattering is the single major cause of injury to women, more frequent than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. 21% of victims of intimate violence lose their jobs. 1 in 4 female suicides were victims of family violence. 2011 SC ...
    Más Menos
    1 h y 3 m
  • A Conversation About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    A Conversation About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    Feb 1 2023
    February 1, 2023Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental HealthA Conversation About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Season 2 Episode 6In this episode our co-hosts discuss Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The discussion covers this wildly misunderstood condition and makes an effort to clear up some basic misinformation about it. Mental Health Counselor Victoria Lockridge discusses her personal experience with OCD and how she has learned to manage it effectively. She provides tips on how to recognize OCD in yourself or in a loved one and provides resources to find support and treatment for it. The co-hosts, Xiomara A. Sosa and Victoria Lockridge have an honest and open discussion regarding OCD and invite the listeners to share their stories with them in the comments. As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with major life transitions that impacted their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.comVisit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.Following are some points for reference: OCD is one of the most misdiagnosed mental health disorders (Takes approximately 14 years of treatment services until someone is accurately dx with OCD)OCD can be incredibly disabling Important not to make jokes about being “OCD” because you are organized or clean. OCD is more than excessive hand washing and checking behaviors Compulsions do not have to be behaviors- often compulsions are “hidden” mental acts (ie. avoidance, mental rituals, reassurance seeking, rationalizing).Clinical Definition of OCDThe DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) provides clinicians with official definitions of and criteria for diagnosing mental disorders and dysfunctions.  Although not all experts agree on the definitions and criteria set forth in the DSM-5, it is considered the “gold standard” by most mental health professionals in the United States.DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (300.3)A.    Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):1. Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.2.The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion).Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2):1. Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.2.The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive.Note: Young children may not be able to articulate the aims of these behaviors or mental acts.B. The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.C. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not attributable to  the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.D. The disturbance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder (e.g., excessive worries, as in generalized anxiety disorder; preoccupation with appearance, as in body dysmorphic disorder; difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, as in hoarding disorder; hair pulling, as in trichotillomania [hair-pulling disorder]; skin picking, as in excoriation [skin-picking] disorder; stereotypies, as in stereotypic movement disorder; ritualized eating behavior, as in eating disorders; preoccupation with substances or gambling, as in substance-related and addictive disorders; preoccupation with having an illness, as in illness anxiety disorder; sexual urges or fantasies, as in paraphilic disorders; impulses, as in disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders; guilty ruminations, ...
    Más Menos
    55 m