Mind Ya Mental Podcast

Dr. Raquel Martin helps a listener navigate the search for a therapist, breaking down how to find a provider who understands your background, goals, and needs.

An active-duty soldier opens up about balancing identity, service, and family. Dr. Raquel Martin unpacks what it means to be Black in the military while raising LGBTQ+ kids, and how self-awareness and purpose help maintain connection.

Dive into the intriguing psychology of white curiosity and racial dynamics. Discover how historical power structures shape behaviors and create cultural entitlement. Hear strategies for addressing over-policing in professional settings and the role of systemic racism in inherited attitudes. Explore the historical practices that enforced justifications for Black presence and labor. Finally, learn how to set personal boundaries against intrusive behavior and the importance of distancing from those who over-police your life.

Discover how to rebuild love after trauma with insights on self-compassion as the first step. Explore the importance of self-love and personal worth in fostering healthy relationships. Learn about setting boundaries and the difference between respect and obedience. Raquel emphasizes the need for trust, honesty, and nonviolence in love, while offering practical steps to create shared experiences. Dive into how love should feel like safety and freedom, paving the way for healing and connection.

Grief isn't linear, and it's not something you just "get over." Dr. Martin discusses the long arc of grief in Black communities, from personal loss to generational trauma, and how we can make space for its full expression.

Discover the pitfalls of spiritual bypassing, where prayer can suppress real suffering. The discussion reveals how therapy and faith can coexist harmoniously. Learn about Mount Zion's innovative mental health integration within faith practices. Raquel Martin highlights generational shifts in attitudes toward therapy, emphasizing mental health's ongoing significance. Practical steps for advocating mental wellness in church communities are shared, alongside reassurances of therapy's safety. The emphasis is on self-compassion and building a dual support system for spiritual and mental well-being.

The podcast dives into the adultification of Black children, exploring how they are often treated as mini-adults, impacting their mental health. It connects historical roots of dehumanization to modern-day consequences in schools and families. Dr. Martin advocates for emotional sensitivity at home and emphasizes community support as essential in healing. She highlights the need for positive representation in media, the balance between protecting children and allowing joy, and suggests reparenting as a path to reclaim humanity.

What happens when being "Black enough" becomes a performance? Dr. Martin unpacks the mental health cost of masking, code-switching, and respectability politics, and why reclaiming your identity is an act of liberation.

Explore the transformational shift from obedience to respect in parenting. Discover how historical trauma influences parenting practices in Black families. Learn actionable strategies for modeling emotional regulation and accountability to foster strong relationships. Understand the importance of teaching consent and encouraging children to express themselves. Raquel emphasizes prioritizing a child's feelings over societal expectations, urging parents to embrace their own growth while breaking harmful cycles.

Black youth suicide rates have surged over 50% in recent years. In this episode, Dr. Raquel Martin debunks the myth that Black people don't die by suicide and explores the impact of racial trauma, stigma, and silence in families and schools.