Human First with Dr. Courtney Tracy

Join Dr. Courtney Tracy, aka The Truth Doctor, a licensed psychotherapist and doctor of clinical psychology, as she discusses Seven Aspects Every Mental Health Community Should Have to ensure it's a safe and validating environment. Dr. Courtney discusses recent life events and how her experiences led her to creating her own mental health community for her global online audience. There's also a discount code in the episode for those who want to join! We think this episode could help people who want to learn what to look for in a supportive community and those who experience traits of or are diagnosed with borderline personality, autism, and/or ADHD. We'd love to hear from you via screenshots on social media by tagging us at @the.truth.doctor and @truthdoctormedia. Thank you, and enjoy. The main message of the episode: You deserve a community that helps you heal, and that teaches you what it means to be a human while treating you like one. Follow Dr. Courtney on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @the.truth.doctor. Learn more about Truth Doctor Media at thetruthdoctor.com. LISTEN TO EPISODES ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS! Timestamps: 00:00 - 00:49 - Intro and Starting the Truth Doctor 00:50 - 04:17 - Dr. Courtney's outpatient center and job interviews re: BPD stigma 04:18 - 05:20 - How stigma lives on the internet and social media too 05:21 - 08:24 - What is a "Validating Environment"? and What is "Community?" 08:25 - 08:30 - Seven Aspects of A Healthy Mental Health Community 08:31 - 11:04 - 1) A safe and supportive space 11:05 - 11:39 - 2) Accessible mental health resources 11:40 - 12:26 - 3) Empowerment and advocacy 12:27 - 13:22 - 4) Holistic mental health approach 13:23 - 14:49 - 5) Embracing diversity and reducing stigma 14:50 - 16:33 - 6) Community engagement and connection 16:34 - 17:47 - 7) Mental health education and awareness 17:48 - 19:54 - The Truth Doctor's three slogans 19:56 - 20:19 - Dr. Courtney's Validating Environment: her new Glad You Exist community 20:20 - 22:42 - The Glad You Exist community 22:43 - 24:16 - Glad You Exist community mental health and BPD healing offerings 24:17 - 25:16 - Why did Dr. Courtney create the Glad You Exist community? 25:17 - 26:35 - Learn more at thetruthdoctor.com/gladyouexist (discount code: HFPOD) 26:36 - 30:29 - Upcoming Glad You Exist events and the six principles of Glad You Exist 30:30 - 33:05 - Outro and "so glad you exist" COMMUNITY WEBSITE: https://www.thetruthdoctor.com/gladyouexist Starter Membership (3 months w/ discount): https://www.thetruthdoctor.com/offers/H248cT6e?coupon_code=HFPOD Annual Membership (12 months w/ discount): https://www.thetruthdoctor.com/offers/UZ7eFo3X?coupon_code=HFPOD #mentalhealth #community #borderlinepersonalitydisorder --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

(cw: suicidality, abuse) Join Dr. Courtney Tracy, aka The Truth Doctor, a licensed psychotherapist and doctor of clinical psychology, as she compares the three diagnoses she's been clinically given over the last ten years as a client. Dr. Courtney discusses what the research says about the relationship between these mental health conditions and more specifically, how autism and BPD may show up through the lens of Borderline Personality Disorder DSM criteria. We think this episode could help people who have borderline personality, autism, ADHD, and/or simply have multiple diagnoses. We'd love to hear from you via screenshots on social media by tagging us at @the.truth.doctor and @truthdoctormedia. Thank you, and enjoy. The main message of the episode: The most important part of getting a diagnosis is looking beneath the labels and seeing the human being. Follow Dr. Courtney on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @the.truth.doctor. Learn more about Truth Doctor Media at thetruthdoctor.com. LISTEN TO EPISODES ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS! Timestamps: 00:00 - 03:06 - Intro and Receiving multiple mental health diagnoses 03:07 - 06:01 - Autism Spectrum Conditions and mental health diagnoses vs. symptoms 06:02 - 06:45 - Overview of BPD, ADHD, and Autism 06:46 - 07:17 - The biggest overlap between the disorders: Emotional dysregulation and Impulsivity 07:18 - 09:20 - 2018 study on BPD and Autism, autistic traits, and empathy 09:21 - 10:43 - Increased suicidality and risk of sexual and physical abuse with multiple diagnoses 10:44 - 15:09 - Co-occurring disorders and prevalence - ADHD, ASD, and BPD - and also CPTSD 15:10 - 18:40 - Causes and how to prevent BPD or other traumatic behaviors 18:41 - 19:44 - Treatments for Borderline Personality, ADHD, and Autistic Spectrum Disorder 19:45 - 22:41 - Not all mental health symptoms are a result of trauma 22:41 - 26:23 - BPD criteria 1 and 2 vs. Autistic symptoms: unstable relationships & fear of abandonment 26:24 - 28:48 - BPD criteria 3 and 7 vs. Autistic symptoms: identity disturbance & feelings of emptiness 28:49 - 31:45 - DSM BPD criteria 4 vs. Autistic symptoms: Self-damaging impulsivity 31:46 - 33:15 - DSM BPD criteria 5 vs. Autistic symptoms: Self-harm/suicidality & self-mutiliation 33:16 - 35:17 - DSM BPD criteria 6 and 8 vs. Autistic symptoms: Affective instability & uncontrolled anger 35:18 - 36:39 - DSM BPD criteria 9 vs. Autistic symptoms: Transient stress-related paranoid or dissociative symptoms 36:40 - 38:00 - Rejection sensitivity in all three disorders 38:01 - 39:29 - Outro and "so glad you exist" 2018 Study about Autism Spectrum "Conditions": https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184447 #adhd #autism #borderlinepersonalitydisorder --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

(cw: suicidality) Join Dr. Courtney Tracy as she reviews the last two years of her life. Dr. Courtney and her husband, Max, discuss major life changes, new neurodivergent diagnoses, a traumatic pregnancy, and their renewed relationship. We think this episode could help people who have borderline personality, autism, a traumatic history, and/or are in a relationship where mental health is a daily conversation. We'd love to hear from you via screenshots on social media by tagging us at @the.truth.doctor and @truthdoctormedia. Thank you and enjoy. The main message of the episode: The more you understand yourself and others, the better your relationships become. Follow Dr. Courtney on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @the.truth.doctor. Learn more about Truth Doctor Media at thetruthdoctor.com. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE at youtube.com/@humanfirstpod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, LAST EPISODE OF THE YEAR. Dr. Kristen Casey is clinical psychologist, author, and content creator. She’s the founder and owner of a private practice and consultation company. Prior to her psychology career, she was an EMT for 5 years. Her clinical training focused on health psychology, which sparked her interest in sleep, anxiety, and dedication to utilizing modalities that are rooted in science and research. Dr. Casey is most known on social media for providing mental health and wellness content about insomnia, anxiety, and gender/sexuality concerns. Episode Description and Show Notes: In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Kristen describes herself as a partner, dog mom, connective, and knows all the presidents in order. Kristen’s why for being in the mental health field starts with her career in the ambulance field Defining what sleep is and what our brains do during sleep There are over 70 sleep disorders Answering the question “how much sleep should people get?” and what brain waves are present during sleep? Awakenings are normal, the most “normal” sleeper has about 2 awakenings per night People of color, veterans, and women tend to have more trouble sleeping She specialized in sleep by accident, and ended up falling in love with it. If your soul is tired, sleep won’t fix your problem. Privilege plays a huge role in sleeping habits. One tip is waking up at the same time everyday can be really helpful for sleep regulation “Nobody’s ever going to take you seriously” and other stigmatizing moments for being a therapist with tattoos Sometimes the best thing you learn from clients is the opposite of what you learn in school The nuances of cultural competency and knowing lived experience is completely different Her purpose in life is to learn as much as she can and connect with people Most common themes when it comes to having insomnia and how likely we are to get it. Being able to rest and being able to sleep is a privilege, and your working on your souls energy is key to better sleep You can find Dr. Kristen Casey online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkristencasey/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlbIjiVbZ-IzaFN-3FDRWg Twitter: https://twitter.com/drkristencasey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drkristencasey Learn more about Kristen's offerings at: https://www.drkristencasey.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, we get deep. This episode is about personal loss and suicidality overall so here is your content notice. I am a therapist, a social worker, a wife, a mom, a relatable human, and so much more. Mental health is extremely important to me because I’ve been there. Maybe not in your shoes, but I have been through some really difficult times, and if I can’t relate, chances are I can empathize. Shoutout to my trauma. When I was 10-years-old I lost my mom to suicide and unfortunately, during that experience I saw first hand how stigmatized suicide and mental health challenges can be. So here I am now, adulting like no other, with a passion to break stigmas around mental health and support others along their journey towards personal growth.  SUICIDE HOTLINE:  TEXT OR CALL 988 (https://988lifeline.org/) In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Elyce describes herself as a mom to two small kids, a soccer player, and someone who considers herself weird and awkward When Elyce was 10 she lost her mom to suicide, and she feels the universe was one of the reasons her path included social work Elyce helps define in her words suicide, loss, and trauma for the HUMAN first listeners Over 700,000 people die by suicide annually in the world, double than homicide From her mom’s suicide to now, we have more information on what to look for and how to help When Elyce’s mom was a good mom, but struggled with her own traumas even though she didn’t look like it. She describes when she found out about her mom’s suicide and how everything unfolded for her that day Elyce believes in a ‘one more day’ meaning maybe if we can prevent someone from acting on their desire for one more day we can help them find the help they need even if it’s just in the moment Her church community stigmatized her mother and those words hurt deeply a young Elyce Describing the little moments and little ways her mother’s absence has showed up for her in her life Elyce describes her time in child welfare and how working with suicidal parents had affected her The area Elyce is most dedicated to is sitting with someone in there pain and establishing relationships to help them through The balance between the ethical guidelines and clinical discretion of helping clients The reasons worth living inventory can be incredibly helpful in those tunnel vision moments Having constant suicidal thoughts shouldn’t be normal, you deserve to receive help and live in peace mentally Elyce hopes that this conversation gives someone a little more comfort in asking or reaching out for help You can find Elyce Mandich online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thatrelatablesocialworker/?hl=en Learn more about Elyce's offerings at: https://www.bigempathytherapy.org/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Our guests are two of the most fun people I’ve had the chance of interviewing: Dr. Sami and David! This episode is all about being neurodivergent. David Meer is a licensed professional counselor located in Scottsdale, Arizona. David has over a decade of experience and provides workshops and consultation services to corporate clients and schools in the Phoenix Metro area. Dr. Sami Pieknik is a licensed clinical psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona providing individual therapy to children, teens, and young adults. Dr. Sami has 12 years of experience working to support neurodivergent individuals.She has a background in psychological/neuropsychological assessment, autism assessment, and in working with neurodivergent folks across the lifespan and in a variety of settings including inpatient residential, home-based therapies, community mental health, and in private practice. Episode Description and Show Notes: In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Sami describes herself as an adult toy collector, musician, and cat person. David describes himself as an empathetic father of two girls. Sami and David connected on Linkedin and realized there’s a huge shortage of therapists who specialize in neurodiversity They both feel a responsibility to speak up because it’s easy to stay silent You have to be careful with what you share about yourself because the stigma against neurodiversity exists even in the mental health space Sami and David define neurodiversity and affirming in a mental health capacity Judy Singer first coined the term “neurodiversity” in Australia Neurodiversity is a biological fact, not an opinion Neurotypical is considered what society deems “normal” whereas Neurodivergent deviates from what society deems “normal” Some people meet what challenges what they were taught with defenses We expect the same behavior for all children just because they are around the same age, yet most of the structures we place around them are arbitrary like sitting still There are so many different ways people present and the “average” person doesn’t exist Autistic burnout and trauma is real and underlooked What kind of levels of support are you providing your neurodivergent clients, peers, or friends? The double empathy problem: What is it and How do we see it in neurodivergent people? Seeing people for their whole being, not over generalizing, and listening is the key to affirming neurodivergent people. You can find Dr. Sami and David online at: Website: https://www.neurodiversecounseling.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/neuro.pier/?hl=en Sami IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sami.p/?hl=en Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Our guest is Cate Jonsson. Cate is a writer, artist, mother and mental health advocate. In 2017 she published her first collection of poetry as an act of healing through creativity, which lead to being invited to teach writing workshops centered on finding your voice and self expression for youth and women in her community. She is currently writing her first memoir and finishing her Bachelor's in Human Services and Counseling. In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Cate describes herself as an artist which is something she struggled with She has always loved art and poetry which was the basis for her why Because the kids she worked with showed up, that inspired her to show up Cate shares her personal definition of creativity If you feel the urge to create, do it So much of creating is about observing Cate didn’t write in her journal for 10 years because she was afraid she would ruin it’s beauty She didn’t realize that her writing was an act of transforming and understanding her trauma If we feel something and don’t call it what it is, then we won’t truly feel it Cate’s therapist who is also an artist lead her to combining art with mental health Cate describes her calming corner in her home and how it helps her What writing a memoir feels like when you’re actually doing it She had always kept things at a surface level but that changed during her memoir writing Cate reads one of her poems on the podcast! Finding the words can be hard, sometimes it spills out sometimes it’s forced out You can find Cate Jonsson online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/catejonsson/?hl=en Learn more about Cate's offerings at: https://bio.link/cate Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

Today’s guest is one of my favorite relationship therapists, Patricia Lamas. Patricia is an LCSW, who owns Securely Coupled Therapy, and provides individual, couples, and sex therapy in both LA and NY. She has worked in a variety of different settings and is trained in IFS, Gottman, Brainspotting, and PACT Level 3. She’s a therapy queen. In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Patricia is originally from Spain and that transition was a tough challenge She describes herself as an “anxious ball” Patricia’s struggle with her parents divorce and her parentification lead her to her interest in healthy relationship communication Creating secure relationships can make the world a better place What are attachment styles? We are all babies who are trying to attach or reattach Being wired for connection but also being wired for survival Loneliness is just as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day health wise How many attachment styles are there and what are they? The goal is secure attachment which means 30% of the time your parents got it right What do these attachment styles look like in adulthood Is it possible to have ALL the attachment styles? The goal isn’t necessarily to completely change your attachment style, but to use your understanding of your own to better manage your relationships Couples need to be experts on interpreting each other We don’t heal alone. Community and relationships are vital to healing. You can find Patricia Lamas Alvarez online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/patricialamastherapy/?hl=en Learn more about Patricia's offerings at: https://securelycoupledtherapy.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

This podcast features the founder of Self Decode as he dives into the true way to optimize your life. Joe Cohen,today’s guest, is the founder of SelfDecode, SelfHacked and LabTestAnalyzer is a thriving speaker and entrepreneur that has been independently researching health and science for over 15 years.  Episode Description and Show Notes: In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Joe describes his home that resembles a supplement store and his love for growth and optimization He realized his body wasn’t working and doctors were not helping, this is where his why came from Even at 13 Joe was showing signs of being very interested in his health and wellness Not everything works for the same person the same way Defining genetics and optimization from Joe’s perspective Optimizing your health will help your health optimize your life Life hacking didn’t work for him, only health hacking did Joe’s company Self-Decode and how it can help people Health is a complex topic, Self-Decode is here to help simplify the process of understanding yourself on a genetic level The relationship between genetics and mental health Using genetics has helped him find out he needs certain things for his body vs others Joe’s philosophy of expecting 95% of the things he tries won’t work, but striving for that number to go down Outsourcing your health can be detrimental if you change doctors or change providers in general Your ancestry can affect your predisposition You can find Joe Cohen online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrbiohacker/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8BEtyylhcM1yX_pQ2PNEXw Learn more about Joe Cohen's offerings at: https://linktr.ee/thejoecohenshow Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

Today’s guest is Debra Silverman. Debra is an Astrologer | Teacher | Psychotherapist and Author. She has developed a unique psychological-spiritual model, combining her expertise in Esoteric (soul-centered) Astrology with her extensive education in Psychology to help those going through major life changes, especially in crisis. This episode gets interesting. Get ready to learn about my own astrological chart, the history of the science of astrology, and how your *observer* (the conscious awareness in your mind) is a slut. Ok, ok, yes, we do talk about that in this episode, but it doesn't mean what you think it means. You’ll have to listen to find out.  In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Debra describes her life of almost 70 years as celebrating the possibility of staying awake within in the dream Astrology has helped Debra raise her children in an effective way Debra defines the ancient science of astrology The history of the relationship between astrology and psychology The reason there began a dislike for astrology starts from religion Debra’s difference as an astrologer is her focus on purpose Becoming your own observer and what that means Your observer is a slut ;) Meditation, writing, breathing, and yoga can all help you get in touch with your observer Debra describes each 4 elements and how they translate to your personality Breaking down Dr. Courtney’s birth chart Some astrologers can be harsh and that can lead people away from it Pain is a human dimension, but we are resistant to ever experiencing What was Debra’s life before and after finding and practicing astrology Debra’s word of the year is ‘patience’ How Debra works with astrology and psychology together Astrology helps people change their internal dialogue Debra’s message to the skeptics How to decipher through the real qualified astrologists and the not so qualified ones Debra’s final message for the listeners of HUMAN first You can find Debra Silverman online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/debrasilverman_astrology/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debrasilvermanastrology Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebraSilverman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8h-BJfBv-DzhaUSg_IJzFg Learn more about Debra Silverman's offerings at: https://debrasilvermanastrology.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

This is an interesting pod episode listeners. I interview six clinicians from the amazing California therapy practice, Salinas Counseling. Salinas Counseling is run by Rosa Salinas, is located in Redlands, CA, and specializes in providing cultural competence for each and every one of their clients first before diving into clinical interventions. We discuss everything from the definition of generational trauma and the decolonization of mental health to movies like Encanto and Turning Red, how gender plays a role in reaching out for help, and how representation in the therapy room matters wayyyy more than some people think it does. I mean 86% of mental health professionals are White. This is a discussion we’ve been needing to have. Enjoy! In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Meeting the 6 members of Salinas Counseling and why they got into the mental health space. Defining generational trauma and decolonization Decolonization of mental health takes in account many other people’s cultures Humility is important. Salinas believes “we are not the expert on the person in front of us, but we want to learn.” How movies like Encanto and Turning Red are helping break generational trauma Talking about trauma is so hard when we are taught to do the opposite “family” and the protection of it is more important that truth or healing How gender plays a role in repressing your feelings and later not reaching out for help Reparenting yourself to avoid becoming the parent you had to parent You can love and critique aspects of your culture The military and police culture also impacts how much or how little people believe in therapy The importance of having representation inside the therapy room How you speak, dress, and present yourself can be the difference of feeling welcome or feeling uncomfortable in a space How do we start the process of getting therapy or going to therapy with someone? It only takes one person to break that cycle of generational trauma What it means to be relatability in a world that sets you up to fail 86% of mental health professionals are white The balance between being mindful about disclosure and relating to them to help You don’t have to be in a crisis to reach out for therapy You can find Salinas Counseling online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/salinas_counseling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salinascounseling Learn more about Salinas Counseling's offerings at: https://www.salinascounseling.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

Today’s guest and I bonded on social media back in 2020 after he listened to my first few podcast episodes. Tim Frie is an educator, mental health & health equity activist, and doctoral student exploring trauma-informed care and undoing toxic wellness. He is also the founder of Clove Health, a medical communications company that designs inclusive, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed clinical resources and patient education. On this episode, we dive into topics like what the wellness industry really is, what really contributes to your overall well-being, and how men are sometimes left out of the conversations when it comes to mental health. It’s a great episode. Enjoy! Episode Description and Show Notes: In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Tim describes his small town upbringing and how that shaped who he is today He realized recently that his obsession with fitness and health was actually an ED Grieving the time you lost over not knowing what’s going on within you How to balance needing more from your parents and knowing they did what they could It’s not REQUIRED to forgive people in order to love yourself What exactly is the wellness industry? Healthcare and Wellness industries have differences but BOTH are for profit Disordered Eating can be a big part of the fitness industry The most common misconceptions about eating disorders The educational standards for learning about ED in a masters degree is very limited It’s not your fault if you don't succeed in a diet or program There are HUNDREDS of factors that contribute to our health, diet and fitness are less than 10% You don’t need to stop everything you’re doing, but think critically about WHY you are doing it How do we solve a problem we didn’t cause? What would the wellness industry look like if it was focused on community and society? The new representation in marketing isn't translating to actual policy or change Men can and do also have mental health issues and ED Online communities can be an very helpful tool for recovery and discovery You can find Tim Frie online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thetimfrie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfrie/ Learn more about Tim Frie's offerings at: https://timfrie.carrd.co/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

As someone with a Cluster B disorder, it can be difficult to talk about the harm that actions resulting from our mental health can cause others. Today’s guest is a survivor of categorical Narcissistic Abuse. Her name is Chiara Marullo, and she is here to help us learn about how to recover from such abuse as a victim and/or a survivor. In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: Chiara passions for the mind started at a young age Her strong urge to help others helped fueled her “Why” Chiara's focus on raising awareness on narcissistic abuse comes from her own personal experiences What is narcissism and narcissistic abuse? Who do narcissistic people look for in a partner? How do our vulnerabilities make us a target for abuse? About 0%-6.2% have NPD according to the DSM There were 20,000 women in one Facebook Support Group for narcissistic abuse survivors Chiara was a victim of narcissistic abuse for 4 years What is love bombing? The cycle of abuse and attachment leads to trauma bonds There is a chemical element to trauma bonds What are the signs of narcissistic abuse? Sometimes people with NPD are not intentionally trying to hurt How did Chiara come to know she was a victim of narcissistic abuse A Lot of shame can come up for people finding out they were abuse victims Chiara’s coping skills and road to recovery Running from the pain won’t make it go away, it will resurface if you don’t process it Chiara’s advice for those in recovery entering a new relationship Narcissism is still not fully understood, so it’s important to spread awareness You can find Chiara Marullo online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/chiara_narcissisticabuse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chiara_narcissisticabuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiara-marullo-82a215231/ Learn more about Chiara Marullo's offerings at: https://beacons.ai/chiaratraumarecoverycoach Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

This season we’re really going into the messages I needed to hear when I was on my healing journey and learning from people I would have needed (and still do sometimes) as I was learning to take better care of myself. This conversation I had with today’s guest, Ashley Beaudin, is going to change the way you think about work and business and what it is that you choose to do to sustain your life on this planet. In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses: She’s obsessed with donuts, blankets, and her pink couches Her passion for her work on self-sabotage come from her own story The definition of slow business and self-care Focusing on safety and care as the intention of your business How the internet has impacted business and hustle culture Questions to ask yourself when running a business Ashley’s past businesses and structures that didn't serve her and lead to the path of slow business What do we do when our business triggers us? Layering support and what what means to Ashley What are the ideal feelings to strive for in business? What if your business felt like being held? Business can be a mirror for self growth and personal healing Quitting can be empowering! You are the worthy one, not your achievements You can find Ashley Beaudin online at: IG: https://www.instagram.com/ashley.beaudin/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ashleybeaudin1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleybeaudinofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleybeaudin Learn more about Ashley Beaudin's offerings at: https://www.ashleybeaudin.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney speaks with today's guest Michael Sanchez. Michael is an incredible TikTok expert who’s been one of the biggest names in business and entrepreneurship when it comes to social media, creators, and the internet for the last 7 years. It’s a helpful episode for anyone who wants to know what it’s like to do what I and so many of your favorite online creators experience in their lives. Enjoy! Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: Michael describes his curiosity for life, people, and how things work How Michael would define social media, burnout, and creator The questions to ask yourself as a creator when experiencing burnout How your goals and desires change in social media and why you might need to “fall back in love” with it to reduce burnout. 28% of American kids want to be a YouTuber and here’s what we need to understand about that The history of social media and how we got “here” Michael discusses the very first influencer back in the Myspace days The idea of “you don’t know what you don’t know” can cause creator burnout Community building as a creator is key to finding balance and empathy in this space Creators a lot of the time are people who got lucky and it’s overwhelming Followers are the boss AND the customer Michaels advice of singling in on the idea of one audience member and serving them We need to be our own best boss as self-employed individuals Michaels predictions for the future of social media The fear of A.I. and what that could mean for all of social media The positive impacts of social media Michaels lasting message of “social media/entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, AND THAT’S OKAY.” You can find Michael online at: Website: https://www.michael.consulting/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tiktoksecrets Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.consulting/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelgrowth?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwastaken/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney sits down with an incredible psychotherapist, Dr. Therese Mascardo. Dr. Mascardo is a Filipina-American Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and the CEO and Founder of Exploring Therapy, wellness community with the mission to help all people live more healthy, free, and connected lives that they absolutely love. Get ready to learn how efficiency is great until it removes our humanity. Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: Describes her being happiest cooking for others and being a foodie in Lisbon Why talking about toxic productivity matters to Dr. Therese and how her brothers suicide impacted her and her mission Building a life you don’t need a vacation from (we allll need to do this!) What is toxicity and what is productivity? Toxic productivity is the American Model and it wasn’t always this way How we can blame the lightbulb for our current system (jk…mostly) The pandemic gave those with privilege the ability to walk away and change priorities The 3 main components of toxic productivity How in 2020 women & caretakers were forced to “do it all” We need to feed ourselves before we can feed others (literally and metaphorically) How our culture and society rewards overwork AKA “Hustle Culture” The generational and gender differences between productivity Rest is a part of being productive, not the opposite of productivity How us at on an individual level can combat toxic productivity within our means Don’t make your pain more painful (and how do this!) How being a resident of another country can change your perspective and values American efficiency is great until it removes our humanity You can find Dr. Mascardo online at: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEbJXm3Ytb5LPKNv8Hn-6Mg IG: https://www.instagram.com/exploring.therapy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exploring.therapy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareexploringtherapy Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrThereseM_ Medium: https://medium.com/@drtherese Learn more about Dr. Mascardo's clinical offerings at: https://www.exploringtherapy.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney shares space with a fellow licensed mental health professional who struggles with her mental health, Megan McKernan. Megan is a LCSW in the state of Maryland who owns a practice called Clarity Wellness Solutions. On her website, she says “Everyone has their own trauma. What matters is how we deal with it” and that is essentially what we discuss today! Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: Megan lets us know her astrological sign and who she is as a person Megan believes mental health care is a right, not a privilege Defining PTSD and C-PTSD for the audience As a therapist that struggles, what does that look like for Megan? Setting boundaries while recovering (SO important!) What was it like suffering from childhood trauma and now working with children? How meditation can happen anywhere, even in the car (yessss) What does mindfulness look for Megan Things Megan did that she thought were self care but were actually autopilot Being mindful of the intention of a coping skill (such an important message) Different types of boundaries are there and what worked for Megan Difference between rigid, flexible, and semi-permeable boundaries How showing up authentically validates others inadvertently What fighting the stigma against mental health looks like As a therapist how to push through for your clients Breaking down myths about PTSD You can find Megan on Instagram at: @claritywellness.solutions Learn more about Megan's clinical practice at: https://www.claritywellness.com/ Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney talks with Josiah Sanchez. Josiah, known as The Perspective Mentor, is the creator of the brand Forgotten Mindset and is a mindset coach for people struggling with motivation, emotional awareness, and their life story. Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: Josiah's ability to feel so deeply is what makes him human (so great to hear from a man!) Josiah’s definition of purpose and meaning What is NLP and examples of how to tap into it What is our “life story?” Who determines our life story? Breaking down the difference between emotional awareness and emotional intelligence Diving into your feelings to find the truth behind them Your personality is broken down by how you think, feel, and act Josiah’s perspective on the older perspective of mental health vs now His brand “The forgotten mindset” and how it came to be Emotional intelligence can require anchors and cues and that’s okay What does “rewriting” your story look like? Just start by dipping your feet in the water, don’t worry about diving in Doing things “on purpose, with purpose” How his body building career influenced his life Where do the stories in our head come from? Just because you know about your emotions, doesn’t mean you don’t still feel them The ability to feel is the ability to get closer to your inner freedom Find Josiah on Instagram at: @josiahsperspectives Learn more about Josiah's coaching and additional offerings here: Josiah's Perspectives You can join Josiah's Discord channel here!  Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney gets real about her main mental health struggle, Borderline Personality Disorder, with a fellow person with BPD, Mollie. Mollie is the host of the wildly popular BPD-focused podcast, Back From The Borderline, and the creator of the companion Instagram account, @backfromtheborderline. Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: Mollie discusses her mission to become an emotional grown up (something so many of us need to do...) Realizing your parents are flawed humans like you (yikes!) Dr. Courtney discusses KARMA the group discussion at her old treatment center How BPD has been defined and how it is defined today by Mollie (so helpful!) Why Mollie created her podcast Back from the Borderline How many people have BPD and why you probably know someone who has it (spoiler: you do if you're listening to this podcast) The criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder from the DSM-5 Mollie discusses how the symptoms she experiences are universal but for those who struggle with BPD are chronic (YES) Why it’s sometimes called "EUPD" vs "BPD" Molly shares her experience going to a psychiatrist and how that unfolded Hypersexuality and using sex as self-harm (one of Dr. Courtney's biggest self-harming techniques as well) Suicidal ideation as a result of undiagnosed BPD Medication vs Coping Skills Spirituality as a means of re-parenting and more of Molly’s coping skills You can find Mollie on Instagram at: @backfromtheborderline You can also find her podcasts wherever podcasts are found. Here is a link to Spotify and a link to Apple!  Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney dives back into the topic of food, body, and eating with registered dietician Lauren Dorman. Lauren brings her clinical experience and gives us even more to focus on when it comes to our nutritional wellbeing! Here is a list of the topics/questions they discuss: How Lauren’s purpose as a dietician has changed over the years (important!) Did you know that “health is not guaranteed”? If you don’t know this, you should. What is “disordered eating”? What is “dieting”? How diet culture starts with the shame of our bodies at a very young age (without early knowledge, we’re conditioned to struggle) A MAJOR misconception of how many people with eating disorders are actually ‘underweight’ The “eating spectrum” – from adaptive eating to an eating disorder Important signs of disordered eating How eating disorders and substance use disorders share similarities (super important!) The physical side effects of eating disorders How to view food as morally equivalent, no “good” or “bad” food When do you know it’s time to seek help for a possible eating disorder? Isolation + social media time increase has made eating disorders rise (yes, we needed to go there!) How parents can play an active and passive role in their child developing an eating disorder (sorry but it’s true and we need to know!) Lauren discusses her passion for educating schools and changing curriculum Why you’ve actually never “failed” a diet Lauren shares the biggest myth about dieting and diet culture How to balance medical recommendations and diet culture Find Lauren Dorman on Instagram! @dont_diet_dietician_ Click here to read Lauren's recent article: The Local Moms Network: Monmouth County Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings: Instagram: @the.truth.doctor TikTok: @the.truth.doctor Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor SNAP Discover Show: Therapist Reacts Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525 (just shoot her a text!) Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message