The Hatherleigh Behavioral Health Podcast

In this episode, host Kortney Yasenka LCMHC speaks with author Geraldine Walsh, whose book Unraveling Motherhood explores postnatal depression, antenatal anxiety, identity shifts, and the pressure placed on modern mothers.Geraldine reflects on her lived experience of maternal mental illness, the silence and shame many mothers carry, and why “connection over perfection” is a healthier, more sustainable approach to parenting. Together, they discuss guilt, boundaries, the mental load, self-care beyond consumer culture, and how clinicians can better support mothers and families.A powerful listen for mental health professionals, clinicians, parents, and anyone interested in maternal wellbeing and authentic parenting.

Psychologist and author Dr. Tracy Stecker joins host Kortney Yasenka, LCHMC to explore why so many people avoid therapy and what truly helps someone choose help. Together, they discuss common fears and beliefs that block treatment, what stigma looks like today, and how active listening and simple conversations can open the door to support. A practical, compassionate look at helping loved ones—and ourselves—take the first steps toward better mental health.

Narcissistic abuse leaves confusion, self‑blame, and a frayed sense of self. In this episode, Grace Being and Claudia Cauterucci, LPC share how survivors can name the abuse, rebuild intuition, and create secure attachment—step by step.Together with host Kortney Yasenka, LMHC, they unpack love bombing, gaslighting, trauma bonding, and why “naming it” matters. You’ll learn practical tools—journaling, somatic work, meditation, nature practices, safety planning, and the empowering practice of “dating yourself”—to restore identity and build healthy boundaries.What you’ll learn:✔ Recognizing narcissistic dynamics (in relationships, families, groups, systems)✔ Why survivors “stay” (and how to reduce self‑blame)✔ How clinicians can use psychoeducation + somatic tools ethically and compassionately✔ Healing while still in the relationship: tracking, safety planning, and support✔ Rebuilding intuition after gaslighting✔ Creating secure internal attachment and non‑negotiables for dating againIf this helped you or your clients, like, subscribe, and share with your community. Content note: This episode discusses abuse and trauma. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number. For support, contact the 988 Lifeline (US) or your regional helpline.

Join us for an inspiring conversation on the Hatherleigh Behavioral Health Podcast, where we explore practical strategies for reducing stress and finding joy during the holiday season and beyond. In this episode, host Kortney Yasenka sits down with Dr. Carrie Johansson, psychologist and author of "Self-Help on the Go", to discuss:Why nearly 90% of Americans feel stressed during the holidays.How Swedish philosophy of Lagom (“just enough”) can help you create balance in life. Simple, actionable self-help tips for managing anxiety, burnout, and unrealistic expectations. Daily rituals like Fika and cozy practices that boost resilience and well-being. The power of small changes—like the 20% solution—to simplify your life.Whether you’re looking for ways to de-stress, embrace contentment, or add more joyful rituals to your day, this episode is packed with practical advice and cultural insights you can start using immediately.👉 Subscribe for more expert-led conversations on mental health, wellness, and resilience.

Chronic pain is more than a physical issue—it’s a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. In this conversation, Dr. Michael Kriegel, a pioneer in interdisciplinary pain management (IPM), shares how a team-based, holistic approach can break the vicious cycle of pain and restore lives.What Is Interdisciplinary Pain Management?Unlike traditional siloed care, IPM brings together physicians, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and nurses to treat the whole person. Programs combine education, movement therapy, psychological support, and group sessions—empowering patients to take control of their pain.Why It MattersChronic pain often spirals into inactivity, depression, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia). Trauma and unresolved psychological distress frequently amplify pain. Dr. Kriegel emphasizes trauma-informed care and innovative techniques like myofascial release to address these root causes.Key ChallengesOpioid Overuse: Long-term use can worsen pain through hyperalgesia, making alternative strategies essential.Insurance Barriers: Current reimbursement models discourage integrated care, limiting access despite proven success.Training Gaps: Few formal programs exist for IPM, creating a shortage of qualified clinicians.Why Group Therapy WorksSocial support and peer encouragement in group settings help patients rebuild trust, hope, and resilience—critical for those failed by conventional medicine.Future DirectionsIPM isn’t just for pain—it’s a blueprint for managing other complex chronic conditions. Early intervention, patient education, and systemic reform could reduce costs and improve quality of life. Bottom LineDr. Kriegel’s vision is clear: treat chronic pain with a comprehensive, team-based approach that addresses body, mind, and social context. It’s challenging—but profoundly rewarding.

Buy Sophia's book: https://a.co/d/2946NjHThis podcast features Sophia Galano, LCSW author of "Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry and Stress". Drawing from her clinical experience, Sophia emphasizes the importance of supporting both teens and their parents in managing anxiety. Sophia Galano offers a compassionate, practical framework for families navigating teenage anxiety. Her focus on empathetic communication, nuanced understanding of anxiety, and modern challenges like social media equips parents and clinicians to support teens effectively. By emphasizing collaboration, self-awareness, and hope, Sophia’s approach encourages families to take small, meaningful steps toward healing.Highlights🌟 Sophia Galano is a licensed clinical social worker and author of "Calming Teenage Anxiety". 🧠 Teen anxiety is often mistaken for typical adolescent behavior. 🎧 Active listening and empathetic communication are key for parents. 📱 Social media and tech are major stressors; modification is better than prohibition. 🏫 School counselors navigate student needs, parental anxiety, and policy constraints. 👨‍👩‍👧 Holistic treatment includes therapy for teens and families, plus parental self-reflection. 🌈 Sophia’s approach centers on hope, patience, and practical strategies.Key Insights👩‍⚕️ Accessible guidance for all parents: Sophia’s book fills a gap by offering clear, non-clinical advice for parents regardless of educational background. It demystifies mental health support and provides step-by-step tools for communication and understanding. 🔍 Recognizing anxiety vs. typical teen behavior: Parents often dismiss anxiety as “teen angst.” Sophia encourages careful observation of frequency, intensity, and impact on functioning to determine when help is needed. 🗣️ Listening over fixing: Teens need to feel heard, not corrected. Sophia promotes active listening—open-ended questions, reflective responses, and non-judgmental dialogue—to build trust and emotional safety. 📵 Managing tech with nuance: Rather than banning social media, Sophia suggests modifying use—following uplifting accounts, muting stressors, and co-creating boundaries. This fosters autonomy and reduces secrecy. 🏫 Schools as support systems: Counselors face resource limitations and policy challenges. Sophia recommends creative strategies (e.g., walking sessions), empathy for parents, and firm boundaries to support students effectively. 👥 Parental anxiety matters: Teens often mirror their parents’ stress. Sophia urges parents to reflect on their own behaviors and seek support, recognizing that family dynamics play a key role in teen mental health. 💪 Resilience through gradual progress: Anxiety management is a journey. Sophia emphasizes celebrating small wins, tolerating imperfection, and empowering teens to take ownership of their coping strategies.

Dr. Towns emphasized the importance of recognizing grief as a universal experience and highlighted the new diagnosis of prolonged grief, which affects about 10% of bereaved populations but rises to over 35% in certain subsets, such as those experiencing unnatural or violent deaths. She also discussed the concept of misalignment between one's worldview and loss view, explaining how this can impact the grieving process and offering an example of how therapeutic intervention can help individuals achieve alignment and move forward in their healing.GRACE Model for Grief CounselingDr. Towns discussed her GRACE grief model, which combines cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and meaning-making elements to address grief. She emphasized the importance of counselors acknowledging and working through their own grief before helping clients. Kay explained that the GRACE model is rooted in evidence-based practices and aims to provide a holistic approach to grief, addressing both the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing.Understanding and Embracing Grief Dr. Towns discussed the nature of grief, emphasizing its cyclical and healing aspects. She explained that grief is a natural process that helps us heal from losses, and that it is not just a feeling but a complex experience. Kay highlighted the importance of relearning healthy grieving practices in Western culture, which often stigmatizes grief. She also noted that our bodies are hardwired to heal, both physically and emotionally, and that understanding this can help people embrace the grieving process. Kortney asked about the appropriateness of discussing how grieving is good in the initial stages of grief work, to which Kay responded that it's important to first establish a clear understanding of what grief is before introducing this concept.Understanding Healthy Grief EmotionsDr. Towns explained that grief is both a physiological and psychological condition, involving brain mapping and remapping when we connect with or lose loved ones. She discussed how clients often feel guilty about experiencing happiness after a loss, emphasizing that grief includes both painful and joyful emotions. Dr. Towns highlighted the importance of helping clients understand that healthy grief encompasses the full range of feelings, including happiness and joy, and that these emotions are not negative in the context of grief.Understanding Grief and Its NatureDr. Towns discussed the concept of grief and its relationship to feelings, emphasizing that grief is not inherently good or bad but rather a natural process that people experience in various forms. She explained that feelings are not chosen but arise naturally, and she advised allowing feelings to be experienced without judgment to promote awareness, validation, and growth. Dr. Towns also addressed the question of whether grief occurs when separating from unhealthy relationships or situations, confirming that it does and highlighting the importance of addressing underlying issues. Kortney asked about managing different grief experiences within families, and Dr. Towns suggested understanding individual grief journeys, acknowledging the biological aspects of grief, and using neuroscience to explain physiological responses, which can aid in the healing process.Narratives of Loss and HealingDr. Towns discussed the process of restoring narratives around loss and grief, emphasizing that while emotions shape our initial stories, expanding these narratives can lead to healthier healing. She advised clinicians to prioritize their own grief work and self-care, as they often deal with both their own and their clients' grief.

Join Kortney Yasenka for an insightful interview with Nicoletta Skoufalos, psychologist and author of "Understanding Autoimmune Disease: A Therapist's Guide to Invisible Illness". This session focuses on creating a warm, welcoming environment for meaningful conversation—centered on autoimmune challenges, mental health, and therapeutic support.📅 Interview Highlights:Autoimmune Disease 101: Nicoletta shares her personal journey with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome, and explains the complexities of autoimmune conditions.Mental Health Connections: Explore how depression, anxiety, and trauma intersect with autoimmune diseases, including the impact of PTSD.Therapeutic Approaches: Learn how clinicians can support clients through grief, cognitive challenges, and identity shifts caused by chronic illness.Advocacy & Resilience: Discover strategies for building agency, navigating healthcare systems, and fostering community support.Family Dynamics: Nicoletta discusses the role of family therapy and education in supporting clients with invisible illnesses."Understanding Autoimmune Disease" by Nicoletta Skoufalos, PhD https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807102/understanding-autoimmune-disease-by-nicoletta-skoufalos-preface-by-cristina-dorazio-phd-foreword-by-sue-gloor/CE Course also available: https://www.hatherleigh.com/courses/autoimmune-disease🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health, resilience, and therapeutic insights.

This Hatherleigh Behavioral Health community call discusses lifestyle medicine, emphasizing the integration of medical practice with a focus on healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connections to treat and prevent diseases.Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka offers practical approaches in promoting a plant-based diet, avoiding "free fats," and culinary coaching to achieve cardiovascular health and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and gout.This insightful conversation highlights the importance of personalizing dietary choices, facilitating patient engagement through negotiation, and goal-setting to overcome resistance to lifestyle changes.*Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka, DPM*, is a Board Certified Physician Diplomate in Lifestyle Medicine. A trained podiatric surgeon who specializes in diabetic limb salvage, she is the founder of DeLand Foot and Leg Center. She is co-author of "The Heart Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook".For more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1578269512#mentalhealth #psychology #behavioralhealth #counseling #lifestylemedicine #medicine #psychiatry

Join us for a powerful session of the Hatherleigh Behavioral Health Podcast where licensed mental health counselor Kortney Yasenka welcomes attendees into a space of connection and collaboration. This episode features Madhur-Nain Webster, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of "Beyond the Pain", who shares transformative insights on grief, disappointment, and emotional healing.☕ In This Session:☑️ How unprocessed disappointment shapes our worldview☑️ Tools for healing: affirmations, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy ☑️ The balance of self-esteem and the dangers of psychological bypassing☑️ Understanding toxic vs. healthy shame in relationships☑️ Faith and mindfulness as anchors in emotional recovery☑️ The 30 stages model for processing emotional drama☑️ Techniques for emotional assessment, feedback, and somatic healing

In this insightful panel discussion, leading experts explore the powerful effects of technology on mental health, relationships, and family dynamics. Featuring Dr. Lori Whatley, a specialist in digital device disconnection, and Taino Bendz, founder of the "Phone Free Day" initiative, the conversation dives deep into the challenges of technology addiction, screen time, and telehealth therapy.Key Topics Covered:🔹 The psychological impact of technology overuse on individuals and families 🔹 Strategies for balancing screen time and fostering real-life connections🔹 How telehealth is transforming therapy and mental health care🔹 Recognizing signs of technology addiction and setting healthy boundaries🔹 The importance of digital wellness and intentional tech use🔔 Subscribe for more expert-led discussions on mental health, addiction, and wellness.