Mental Note

Have you ever felt the need to hide your true self? Shame, fear, and self-hatred are powerful forces, and breaking free from them is worthy of the grandest party you can imagine. In celebration of pride month and the joy of self-expression, we’re sitting down with choreographer and recovery advocate Ryan Walker Page to share his story of coming out, shedding shame, and finding recovery. Along the way, Ryan invites us to reconsider the parts of ourselves we are the most ashamed to reveal. In fact, he counts those "imperfections" as the precious source of wisdom that catapulted his successful career into working with people like Lil Nas X, Renee Zellweger, Samuel L Jackson, and many many more. In Ryan’s world, coming out isn’t just a singular event, but a beautiful lifelong unfolding. Sponsor: Mental Note Podcast is a creation of Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight mood and Anxiety Center. Reach a trained therapist at (877) 850-7199 Register for their online annual conference: www.pathlightbh.com/event/pbh-conference Resources: Website: https://www.ryanwalkerpage.com/

Jen Ponton possesses seemingly boundless energy:  Most known as the fiercely feminist fat activist 'Rubi' on AMC's critical darling Dietland, she is an award-winning actress and body liberation activist. With a television resume that includes 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Law and Order: SVU, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods, she also starred in the late Ash Christian's body-positive romantic comedy, Love On the Run. In 2020, she delivered the TEDx Talk "Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem." She also hosts All the Fucks, a storytelling podcast about caring too much. On top of all that - she's simply wonderful to spend time with. With quick wit and relatable storytelling, she has the rare ability to communicate hard truths while also not taking herself too seriously. She sits down with host Ellie Pike to discuss Fatphobia, activism, Hollywood, and practical ways to push back against the marginalization of fat people.  Links: www.jenponton.com www.mentalnotepodcast.com _____________________ Mental Note is a creation of Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center. To speak with a trained therapist for free to see if treatment is right for you, call (877) 850-7199 Register for the all virtual annual conference below: REGISTRATION LINK  

It’s no secret that a lot of us are uncomfortable with the shape and size of our bodies -thanks in no small part to the $72 billion dollar a year weight loss industry devoted to the thin ideal. Even most health care providers will ask patients to drop weight if their BMI is above "average." But why? The Health at Every Size movement - HAES for short - invites us to reconsider our obsession with weight and instead focus on health behaviors. HAES principles seek to advance social justice, create an inclusive and respectful community, and support people of all sizes in finding compassionate ways to take care of themselves. But what do those principles look like in daily life?  To cut through a lot of the misinformation out there, we’ve invited Meredith Nisbet, L.M.F.T., C.E.D.S. to answer some of our most common questions when it comes to body size. HAES Resources: HAES Website Database of HAES aligned businesses and medical providers Social Media Accounts: @thenutritiontea @bodyimagewithbri @colleenmwerner @therapywithmere Meredith Nisbet Therapy Resources: Eating Recovery Center (877) 850-7199 Insight Behavioral Health (877) 850-7199

In our last episode, Dr. Charlynn Small and Dr. Mazella Fuller took us through some of the history and impact of the mental health profession’s relationship with the black community. While that episode helped set the context for today’s conversation, you can also listen to this episode as a stand-alone podcast. Today is all about exploring practical tools for becoming more inclusive and equitable in supporting mental health. We hope it gives you some ideas for growth! Sources: mentalnotepodcast.com Dr. Mazella Fuller Bio Dr. Charlynn Small Bio Treating Black Women With Eating Disorders: A Clinician’s Guide Treatment Assessment Hotline: (877) 850-7199

How does the history of race impact your mental health? To get a better idea, we’re spending the next two episodes with Dr. Mazella Fuller and Dr. Charlynn Small - two leading thinkers on Black mental health. Today’s show is all about the history and definitions of Black mental health. Part 2 will focus on how to make change happen - whether you’re part of the Black community or not. It will feature practical tools to evolve the mental health community by making it more equitable and inclusive. Sources: mentalnotepodcast.com Dr. Mazella Fuller Bio Dr. Charlynn Small Bio Treating Black Women With Eating Disorders: A Clinician’s Guide Historical Sources “Historical Attitudes on Black Mental Health” Virtual Presentation for Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) Karen Sherry, Ph.D. Curator of Museum Collections, Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) ksherry@virginiahistory.org

Rachael Steil formed an early and joyful bond with running - she loved the movement, competition, and exhilaration it gave her. Yet, within a decade, her drive for perfection demolished that love and replaced it with isolation, an eating disorder, anxiety, and health issues.  Now - as a running coach, author, and speaker - Rachael runs towards being an "imperfectionist". This new practice has transformed her relationship with both herself and the up-and-coming athletes she now coaches. 

Before Colorado Public Radio's Vic Vela launched his own podcast about overcoming adversity, he faced a crippling substance use disorder that threatened to end his career, relationships, and even his own life.   But Vic found a way out and he's here to walk us through the journey. We are also joined by clinician Leah Young to show us how finding recovery is attainable for anyone open to professional help.  _______ To find more Mental Note Podcast episodes, visit our website: mentalnotepodcast.com Vic's Back From Broken Podcast can be found here. Our show is sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center. To receive a free assessment from a trained therapist, call 877-411-9578. 

We’ve all been there: Adult brings child a meal. Child refuses to eat it. Everyone’s anxiety spikes and an epic standoff ensues. Sound familiar? Most of us probably assume that fighting over what kids eat is normal. Not according to Keira Oseroff of The Ellyn Satter Institute. She claims that kids of all ages should be able to feed themselves…and thrive! Doubtful? We were too. So, we sat down with Keira to hear all about how to avoid the dinner table battle of wills and transform the whole family’s relationship with food in the process. Sidenote - this is not an episode about eating disorders. Rather, it’s about everyone’s relationship with food and how to build a more joyful connection to our plates. We’ll unpack what intuitive eating is, why Keira emphasizes the evidence-based Satter Feeding Dynamics Model + Eating Competence Model, and practical steps to make mealtime more enjoyable. LINKS: The Ellyn Satter Institute Keira’s Bio  Mental Note Podcast 

Racism. Equity. Diversity. Inclusion. Bias. Bullying. These are all buzz words that we continue to hear and use in everyday life—but what do they mean?  Dr. Seria Chatters has an incredible personal story of resilience. As an African American with albinism and visual impairment, she managed to rise above persistent bullying to earn a Masters and PhD in Counselor Education. She is now a Director of Equity and Inclusivity and adjunct professor in Pennsylvania.  In this episode, she will teach us how to reign in our own micro-aggressions and outright racism even when we are not aware of their existence. Dr. Chatters will be a featured panelist at the upcoming 12th Annual ERF Conference on Mental Health on Sept 11 & 12. Mental health professionals can earn up to 34 CE credits. To learn more, visit erfcon2020.com. Mental Note is brought to you by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health Centers. Mental Note Podcast ERF Conference on Mental Health Eating Recovery Center Insight Behavioral Health Centers

Gloria Lucas decided to name her mental health awareness and body positivity organization after the Spanish slang term for a big booty - nalgona. She began Nalgona Positivity Pride after her own eating disorder struggles left her feeling like professional resources ignored her experience as a Xicana with indigenous heritage. Rather, it all felt geared towards white Americans. What about people of color? Is recovery not for everyone? Join us as we trace Gloria's journey to create a place of healing for communities suffering from generational trauma and cultural exclusion and racism. Discover ways to support both yourself and the people around you.  Nalgona Positivity Pride Sage and Spoon Support Group Mental Note Podcast  Eating Recovery Center