Healing Through Advocacy

This episode delves into the unique experiences of first-generation individuals as they navigate the path toward healing and personal growth. With guest speaker Anissa Juarez LCSW, who sheds light on the challenges and strengths inherent in breaking generational cycles. The conversation explores the complexities of navigating cultural expectations, educational barriers, and the emotional weight of being the "first." This episode offers perspectives on fostering resilience, building self-compassion, and creating new narratives for oneself and future generations.--Anissa Juarez is a proud Mexican American, first-generation therapist, and daughter of hard working immigrant parents. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she is passionate about supporting first-gen individuals navigating college, career, and healing. In this episode, Anissa shares her own first-gen journey, from navigating college to finding her career path and embracing healing. Through storytelling and meaningful conversations, she reflects on overcoming imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and redefining success on her own terms.Contact InformationInstagram: @anissawellbeing--For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

This episode explores pleasure in long-term partnerships, moving beyond approaches to intimacy. Rebecca, a MA, LPC, somatic, and queer coach and therapist provides insights into reconnecting with physical sensation through somatic awareness, challenging traditional notions of pleasure, and fostering authentic communication. The conversation addresses navigating and cultivating lasting connection through playfulness and vulnerability. This episode offers practical tools for deepening intimacy and reigniting desire in committed relationships.--Rebecca (MA, LPC) is a Denver-based somatic and queer coach and therapist. Rebecca completed her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling specializing in Somatic Counseling: Body Psychotherapy at Naropa University in 2019. Additionally, she is trained in Somatic Sex Therapy Training for Counselors through The Embodied Relationships Center.Contact InformationInstagram: @pleasurewithrebeccaResources mentioned:Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brownCome Together by Emily NagoskiFeel It All: A Therapist's Guide to Reimagining Your Relationship with Sex by Casey Tanner--For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In the final episode of season one, host D'Andrah Almanzar, LMSW shared her experiences navigating her career as a hospital social worker. She discuss the challenges and rewards of working with diverse patient populations, including individuals living with HIV and members of the LGBTQ+ community. She speaks on the realities of working in healthcare, including the systemic barriers and the importance of advocacy for vulnerable populations. She also talks about and reflects on the complexities of navigating her own queer identity within the social work field especially in Latinx spaces and answered some questions in a Q&A. -- For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In this episode, we explore the intersection of therapy and the Muslim American experience, highlighting the distinct challenges faced by the community. It delves into topics such as the stigma surrounding mental health in many Muslim communities, the importance of culturally competent therapists, and the role of practicing from a social justice related lens when working with the Muslim population. Additionally, guest speaker Daniya Ahmed touches upon her own personal journey seeking therapy and how she practices it with her clients. Daniya Ahmed (she/her) is a Pakistani-American trauma therapist located in Los Angeles, CA. She completed her graduate education at the University of Southern California, and immediately after entered the private practice world. Both in her graduate studies and now in her therapy practice, Daniya openly and proudly advocates and aims to highlight the Muslim American experience and its intersection in mental health and social justice through projects, papers, presentations, and trauma treatment. Daniya also embodies an activism approach to therapy treatment which has a specialization in racial stress/trauma and experiences of oppression amongst minoritized identities. Contact Information Instagram: @therapywithdaniya -- For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In this episode, we learn how to incorporate Movement, Wellness and Breathwork into your daily routine to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance overall well-being. Guest speaker, Shaina McGregor discusses and explores the benefits of different movement styles, wellness techniques, and breathing exercises, and how she incorporates these practices with her clients. -- Shaina McGregor is a proud multi-faceted creative, movement, and wellness professional. She is a certified life coach and a certified breathwork facilitator. Shaina is the founder of Inward Space, a wellness community focused on educating and empowering people to take care of their well-being. Her mission is to bring more awareness to the power and importance of connection, movement, and holistic wellness. Shaina is passionate about creating spaces for people to feel heard, seen, and valued. She is currently getting a Master of Social Work at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.  Resources: https://iambiancaharris.com/ Contact Information: Instagram: @shaina.mcgregor and @inwardspace -- For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In this episode, we delve into the critical role of macro social workers in shaping a more equitable and just society. Discover how they advocate for policy change, promote community development, and empower individuals to address systemic issues. Guest speaker, Rosita L. Marinez joins this conversation on how macro social workers play a vital role in transforming communities by advocating for social justice, promoting equity, and empowering individuals and groups to address systemic issues. -- Rosita L. Marinez is the Senior Vice President of Supported Housing at the Institute for Community Living. She oversees the nation’s most extensive NY OMH housing portfolio for individuals with Serious Mental Illness and co-occurring disorders. Her focus areas of practice are mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, and housing. Throughout her career, she has been part of different initiatives in housing, HIV/AIDS, and workforce development. This includes the New York State AIDS Institute: Positive Housing for ALL, Robin Hood: SEEDCO: Single Stop Initiative- Earn Benefits, and she opened the first housing resource center using a clubhouse model at Fountain House. Rosita is a published award-winning author for Latinx/e Social Work Vol 2. She has received awards from the Latino Social Work Coalition Scholarship Funds, Marquis Who’s Who, and Manchester’s Who’s Who. Rosita is a board member of Housing Solutions of New York and Siembra Today. She is a steering committee member for the Social Worker Equity Campaign. Rosita is an executive mentor for the Supportive Housing Network -RELISH Program, which prepares Black Emerging Leaders in supportive housing to acquire leadership positions. Rosita has a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University and a Master of Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work. She also has a postgraduate degree Contact Information and Social Media: Email: rmarinez41@outlook.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosita-marinez-a1443966 Instagram: Instagram.com/rosita.marinez -- For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In this episode, it explores the unique challenges faced by Latinx families when dealing with trauma. Paola Leon, LMFT discuss how cultural beliefs, historical context, and intergenerational trauma can impact their experiences. We also examine barriers to seeking help, strategies for healing and resilience, and the importance of preventing the transmission of trauma to future generations. -- Paola Leon is a Latina Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CA who specializes in assisting children, teens and young adults with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and other behavioral issues. Paola is passionate about serving the latinx community and BIPOC individuals. Paola is an advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community. She integrates cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed care into her practice alongside other evidence-based treatments such as CBT, EMDR, and Play therapy. Paola earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Development from Cal State University, Fullerton. She obtained her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University.  For podcast updates: @healingspacewithdandrah on Instagram

In this podcast episode, it focuses on the significance of self-care for social workers and human services professionals. The conversation fosters around personal experiences and research on the inclusion of self-care in educational curricula. It emphasizes the need for greater attention to self-care in these fields and the importance of creating space for self-care practices. -- Farah Reynoso was born in the Dominican Republic and migrated to the United States in 2014. She did not know any English and had to adapt to a new living situation and school. Farah admits that assimilating to the culture, language, and even the food was challenging, but she does not regret her decision to migrate to the U.S. Farah completed her Bachelor's in Social Work with a Minor in Sociology at CUNY Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in May 2021, and her Master’s degree from Fordham University in May 2024. She is a Yoga Alliance-certified 200-hour Yoga Teacher and a Trauma-Informed and Restorative Justice-aware Wellness Practitioner, integrating holistic approaches into her practices as a school social worker for the NYC Department of Education. She is currently pursuing a Post-Master’s Bilingual Extension in Spanish as a School Social Worker at Hunter College. Farah enjoys working with individuals who are in the same place she was when she came to the U.S., guiding them to tell their own stories. -- Research article mentioned in episode: https://journalhumanservices.org/article/118909-self-care-pedagogy-in-the-undergraduate-curriculum-a-post-pandemic-faculty-survey -- For podcast updates: @healing.throughadvocacy on Instagram

In this podcast episode, the conversation centers on exclusionary discipline practices in schools and their harmful impact on Black female adolescents. The episode explores how Black girls are disproportionately targeted by suspensions, expulsions, and other forms of discipline compared to their peers. It examines the intersection of race and gender, showing how Black girls face unique injustices and challenges in school settings. -- Brianna Oyeyemi, a licensed social worker and clinician, has dedicated her career to advocating for populations often overlooked in social work advocacy. She has worked with individuals navigating developmental disabilities alongside mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety, supported families experiencing intimate partner violence who seek restoration and unity, and assisted those identified as abusers as they navigate the legal system and work toward healing. Additionally, Brianna has been deeply involved in supporting transitional-age youth of color through their mental health journeys into adulthood. Currently serving as an Associate Program Director, she leads outreach efforts in Midtown Manhattan, working with some of the most invisible members of society—the entrenched unhoused of New York City. A graduate of Hunter College, Brianna is currently pursuing her doctorate in social work, with her research focusing on the access to and outcomes of mental health interventions for Black mothers across generations. -- Books and resources mentioned in episode: ⁠Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools Advocates for Children of New York Black Women's Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability The Restorative Practices Handbook Project Implicit -- For podcast updates: @healing.throughadvocacy on Instagram

In this episode, we delve into the harsh realities of transmisogyny and the violence faced by trans women, especially trans women of color. Our guest, Bo-Andrea Bogats, MSW, shares her insights on the intersectionality of gender, race, and systemic oppression. We explore the roots of transmisogyny, the impact of violence on the trans community, and the urgent need for societal change. -- Bo-Andrea Bogats is a recent Master of Social Work graduate from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service. With a background in youth development, social work, and case management, Bo-Andrea has made significant contributions across various communities in New York City. Throughout the beginnings of her career, she has worked in several impactful roles, including youth development, social work internships, and case management positions. Bo-Andrea is deeply committed to promoting social justice and equity, particularly for marginalized communities. Her work is driven by a passion for addressing health disparities and advocating for the well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, with a particular focus on transgender and gender-diverse populations.  -- For podcast updates: @healing.throughadvocacy on Instagram

This episode discusses the concept of "hyper-independence" among Latina women, exploring how the cultural expectation of strength and resilience can lead to emotional suppression and difficulty seeking support. Natalie Gutierrez, LMSW shares her personal experiences and aims to challenge this narrative, promoting emotional expression and well-being for Latina women. -- Natalie Gutierrez, LMSW (She/ Her) is a Licensed Psychotherapist within group private practice and current doctoral student at the University of Kentucky’s Online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)  Program. Natalie serves as a Part-Time Program Coordinator for Emotions Matter, a Non-Profit dedicated to providing advocacy, fundraising and support groups to individuals and communities living with Borderline Personality Disorder. Natalie is also the host of her own podcast called “Tea Time Podcast” where she meets with other professionals and leaders in the mental health field to discuss Social Work, Mental Health, social justice issues, and more important topics relevant to the field. Natalie proudly identifies as Dominican-American. Natalie is passionate about working with and serving adolescents and young adults, BIPOC individuals, immigrant communities, LGBTQIA+ communities. Additionally, Natalie specializes in working with clients through processing trauma, PTSD and CPTSD, grief, anxiety, depression, life transitions, women’s health issues, women’s reproductive health, and relationship issues.  Natalie received her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services and her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from SUNY College at Old Westbury. -- Books mentioned in episode: https://bellhooksbooks.com/product/all-about-love/ https://www.drmarielbuque.com/breakthecycle The Pain We Carry For podcast updates: @healing.throughadvocacy on Instagram

D'Andrah Almanzar, LMSW is a Substance Abuse Prevention Intervention Specialist with NYC Department of Education and the host of Healing Through Advocacy Podcast. In this episode, host D'Andrah Almanzar, LMSW dives into her journey in graduate school, working full-time and being a student full-time while balancing an internship. For more podcast updates, follow @healing.throughadvocacy