Mental Health: Hope and Recovery

Gratitude and celebration are fundamental building blocks of mental health; both practices have figured frequently in previous episodes. This time, Helen and Valerie take their own advice and stop to recognize recent landmarks for the podcast. Mental Health: Hope and Recovery has just reached its five-year anniversary and the completion of its 65th episode. They provide a portrait of their goal to educate and inspire an increasing audience of people who are fighting for recovery, and those who love and support them. With candor they explore the highs and lows of their journey, express their immense gratitude to many individuals and organizations who’ve provided encouragement and insight, and celebrate the achievement of their dreams fulfilled. Find Valerie and Helen at https://www.mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.comThis podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast NetworkVisit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

This is an indispensable look at why individual and community relationships are the cornerstone for healing and recovery. As old as humankind, the great necessity for human connection is nowhere more critical than in the battle for mental health. The flip side is the dangerous, sometimes lethal, impact of isolation on mental and physical health. The episode examines why human relationships are critical for survival; where to find people and cultivate connections; how to grow and maintain relationships over time. The hosts explore potential connections to be found in treatment, family, friends, work, interests. Valerie and Helen give intimate examples of the people and communities that became their means of achieving health, recovery and a life worth living. Find Valerie and Helen at mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.comThis podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast NetworkVisit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Episode Title: How Helen and Valerie (Mostly) Outsmart Negativity Episode 63 | Duration 47:45 Hosts: Helen Sneed & Valerie Milburn EPISODE OVERVIEW On the brink of the new year, Valerie and Helen do a deep search into the reasons why new year’s resolutions so often end in failure and negativity. From their exploration, the ways to outsmart negativity and to pursue something better with a positive outcome become clear and doable. They discover that the strongest course for outsmarting negativity is to replace resolutions with goals. As they bring their insights and examples to the table, the path forward with strategic goal-setting becomes clear.  The objective of the episode is to educate and equip the listener with a large body of information that informs and inspires the creation of a manageable path to achieving a heartfelt goal. Included are strategies, skills, methods, and examples from their own lived experiences. Particular focus is on the mechanics of goal-setting: how to build and sustain a feasible plan with manageable steps. How to overcome procrastination, self-doubt, and setbacks. Mindfulness, acceptance, flexibility, and relationships are critical building blocks to outwitting the negativity and doubt that can stop all forward action. For our hosts, the single greatest way to outsmart negativity is to develop a brain that can create optimistic thoughts, nurture the positive, and develop new techniques to dismiss negative expectation. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ·      Why resolutions often fail and goals often lead to real progress  ·      How SMART goals can be a conduit to commitment and success ·      How skills such as mindfulness and acceptance keep you on track and engaged in the positive ·      How to navigate setbacks without abandoning your goals or the capacity to fight negativity TOOLS AND TAKEAWAYS ·      Resolutions vs. Goals:  Resolutions are strict decisions without structure; goals require action, planning, and flexibility ·      SMART Goals provide a framework for effective goal setting with the following criteria. The goal should be: o   Specific  o   Measurable o   Achievable  o   Relevant  o   Time-bound  ·      Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT provides a wide range of goal-seeking skills ·      Mindfulness and Acceptance: They offer many options and activities for overcoming negativity and the positive pursuit of goals. ·      Relationships: Support through individuals and community provides accountability, encouragement, and improved self-image. MEMORABLE QUOTES “Big ambition without an achievable plan is a setup for failure.” – Helen “Acceptance is not endorsement—it’s simply recognizing reality as it is.” –Valerie “Goals bring values from theory into practice.” – Helen RESOUCES AND LINKS MENTIONED Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 9: Goal Setting: A Necessity for Recovery https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/goal-setting-a-necessity-for-recovery Mindfulness exercise adapted from https://MindfulnessExercises.com Website: https://MentalHealthHopeAndRecovery.com CONNECT WITH US Website: https://MentalHealthHopeAndRecovery.com Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms RELATED EPISODES Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 9: Goal Setting: A Necessity for Recovery https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/goal-setting-a-necessity-for-recovery Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 60: Dialectical Behavior Therapy—The Journey from Pain to Purpose https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/dialectical-behavior-therapy-the-journey-from-pain-to-purpose  DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any health-related questions.This podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast NetworkVisit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

In this in-depth and hope-filled episode of Mental Health: Hope and Recovery, hosts Helen Sneed and Valerie Milburn welcome DBT expert Penny Kruger, LCSW-S, for a powerful conversation about Dialectical Behavior Therapy and why it continues to change lives. Building on their previous DBT episode, Helen and Valerie explore how DBT works in real-world clinical settings, why it is more than just a therapy model, and how it provides practical, life-saving skills for people struggling with intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and chronic despair. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Penny shares her knowledge and insight on DBT treatment, why validation and transparency matter, and how people can stay engaged in treatment even when they feel demoralized or ready to quit. The episode closes with a guided mindfulness and opposite action exercise led by Valerie. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN What Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is and why it works The core goals of DBT: balancing acceptance and change How DBT helps manage emotional dysregulation and impulsive behaviors What “life worth living” means in DBT Why DBT skills are action-oriented and practical Why validation and transparency are central to healing How DBT fosters long-term hope and recovery Find us on Facebook RESOURCES AND LINKS Crisis Support:  Call or text 988 (U.S.) for immediate mental health help or dial 911. Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha Linehan Available at  https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Listen/Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible Find Helen and Valerie here : Mental Health Hope and RecoveryThis podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast NetworkVisit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

In this special solo episode, Valerie shares her favorite mindfulness exercises from the past year—practices that support calm, clarity, and emotional balance in recovery. She explores what mindfulness truly is, how to build a simple and successful meditation habit, and four guided exercises drawn from listener-favorite episodes of 2025. You’ll learn how to: Personalize your meditation practice Use breath + intentional words to shift your mindset “Raise your sail” by reconnecting with inner strengths Accept thoughts without judgment using mindfulness Combine DBT reality-checking with present-moment grounding Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.comThis podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast NetworkVisit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm