EP 72: “Pour From A Full Cup” featuring Keitha Rhoden, Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene

In this episode, Keitha Rhoden, LCSW shares her tips on self-care and self-love during these tough times. Here are six tips to help adults and children adjust return to workplaces and schools as the Covid-19 pandemic persist:  1. Focus on the things you can control to stay safe.  2. Create space for regular check-ins about feelings and thoughts about experiences with loved ones.  3. Start a gratitude practice  4. Use affirmations or positive self-talk  5. Review and practice coping skills that work for you.  6. Review and practice healthy habits / self-care practices that bring you joy and leave you feeling rejuvenated.  Note: Reach out for help from a mental health professional if you are implementing steps 1-6 regularly and feelings of burn out, depression or anxiety persist. Please see all the resources Keitha referred to during the show in the links below:  NYCwell - MH and Substance Abuse Helpline 1-888-NYCwell 1-888-692-9355  Text: ‘Well’ to 65173 National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255  Keitha Rhoden graduated from The City College of New York (CCNY)  with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in sociology with a minor in psychology and decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) at New York University. Since graduation she has been a practicing Social Worker in Brooklyn, NY.   Social work is her chosen career and she  uses a strengths based, trauma focused, developmental, anti- racist  perspective in her practice”. For 14 years her professional focus has been on children, youth and families and mental health services in community and school-based settings.  Currently, Keitha works as a mental health specialist with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in public schools where she promotes all things mental health through presentations and discussions with teachers, parents, paraprofessionals and administrators.   She enjoys working with children and families in her church community in a youth enrichment program for children ages 5-10. As a member of the church’s health ministry, she periodically promotes mental health with articles for the weekly newsletter.   Keitha is also an active  member of the Spartans Sunday's running club and has completed spartan races and other races of varied distances up to Half marathons. This year she will be completing the NYC marathon with a group of her fellow Spartans.  Keitha has a love-like relationship with running and it has become  one of her self care practices.   As a mental health and self-care ambassador in different spaces, there’s one saying that reminds her of the importance of promoting self care : “ you can’t pour from an empty cup”.  She believes that everyone  must take care of themselves first  before they can give themselves to others and engage fully in social interactions.