Ready Set Collaborate with Wanda Pearson
Ready Set Collaborate is a podcast with a wealth of knowledge on networking, collaboration, and partnership, unlocking the secrets to successful teamwork and Innovation. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a creative professional, or just someone who can understand the power of networking and collaboration. This podcast is your go-to resource. Join us as we explore the stories, strategies, and insights from experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who have experienced the magic of networking and collaboration to achieve successful results.
Ready Set Collaborate with Wanda Pearson
Transforming Talk with Dr. Shinah Russell: Mental Health and Community Connections
Join us for an enlightening episode with Dr. Shinah Russell as she explores the critical importance of mental health and its often-overlooked issues. Dr. Russell, a seasoned mental health professional, brings over two decades of experience, sharing her insights on how mental health affects us all, from children to adults. We will delve deep into recognizing and addressing the stigma tied to seeking therapy, clarifying that mental health care is essential for emotional well-being, not just reserved for those in crisis.
As we navigate common misconceptions, you'll learn how a simple conversation about mental health can pave the way toward healthier relationships and communities. We discuss actionable tips and strategies for managing stress, recognizing warning signs of mental distress, and putting your well-being first. This episode provides valuable discussions on early intervention, building trust in therapeutic relationships, and why caring for your mental health is a proactive step toward a fulfilling life.
Dr. Russell's heartfelt anecdotes and professional expertise create a warm environment where listeners can feel seen and heard. Engaging, informative, and incredibly relevant, this episode encourages dialogue around mental health, making it accessible to everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how prioritizing your mental health can lead to profound personal growth. We encourage you to subscribe, share with friends, and engage with us!
Connect with Dr. Shinah Russell
https://beginninganewcounseling.com/
Phone: (404)538-0683
Email: shinah@beginninganewcounseling.com
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Welcome to Ready Set Collaborate podcast with Rhonda Pearson, where we will dive deep into the world of networking, collaboration and partnership, unlocking the secrets to a successful team working within innovation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative professional or just someone eager to understand the power of networking and collaboration, this podcast is your go-to resource. Join us as we explore the stories, strategies and insights from experts, entrepreneurs and thought leaders who have experienced the magic of networking and collaboration to achieve successful results.
Speaker 2:Tune in to Ready.
Speaker 1:Set Collaborate podcast on a journey towards achieving your goals with host Wanda Pearson.
Speaker 3:Welcome. Welcome to the Ready Set Collaborate podcast with Wanda Pearson and my guest, shaina Russell. I am so excited to have her here and I said, shaina, I'm going to have you on my podcast. So when I talk to people and see that's a good fit for us to be educated and learn stuff, this is where I get my grill on. So, shani, say hello to the audience.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone, it is a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much, ms Wanda, for inviting me, and I'm looking forward to our conversation.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, absolutely. It's a conversation. It's about educating and empowering people and letting them know what's available out there. So let's get right to the chase. I'm going to actually talk about Shaina's bio, doctor, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:Dr Shaina is a dedicated mental health professional with over 20 years of experience in education and counseling as a licensed professional counselor, national certified counselor and approved clinical supervisor. She specializes in supporting children, teens, young adults, women and families. Her expertise includes anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, family conflict, school-related issues, stress and women issues. Dr Russell takes an integral part approach to therapy, providing a nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions and behaviors while developing practical solutions to live a life-fulfilling life. Beyond her clinical and educational work, dr Russell is the daughter of Cheryl and late Billy C Quinn Jr, wife of Russell Sr, mother of Shana, victoria and the late Ryan Russell and Gigi to Hassan. She is actively involved in her community, serving on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations, volunteer and an active mentor. She is a member of American Council Association, aca, american School Council Association, asca, partners in Education, pie, american Business Women's Association, abwa, douglas County Chapter and Toastmasters of West Georgia. She has been a lifelong member of New Covenant Missionary World Outreach Center and, for almost two decades, world of Faith Family Worship Cathedral. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, exercising, watching HGTV and helping others grow personally and professionally exercising, watching hgtv and helping others grow personally and professionally.
Speaker 3:She holds a doctor's degree in counselor education and supervision from I would say, I didn't say that obviously university, a master's in counseling education from florida a&m university and a bachelor of science and business education, florida a&m university. Well, you got a lot of bachelor's and stuff you're doing. When do you have time for yourself? But this is very impressive. I am so proud of you, what you do and help the people in the community, because, I tell you, I'm a social worker.
Speaker 3:I don't have my master's in social work because I actually end up going to IBM, so I have my education at IBM, let's put it that way but I still did mentoring. Well, thorn Shine, I am so happy to have you on the podcast and it's a pleasure to really know what you do and know that's health out there, Because mental health is very important. We don't know about a lot of things that we keep to ourselves. Just like when I wrote my book, I didn't realize it was mental health that I actually held in. So when that happens, when you hold it in and then finally it's released, what do you do with clients that does that?
Speaker 2:That's where a lot of people are. We don't normally think about mental health every day. People focus on physical health Let me go get my physical this year but people don't take time to think about their overall mental well-being and it's something that we deal with every day. When we think about mental health, it impacts our relationships with others, how we show up for them, our family, our friends at work, how we respond to people in certain situations Just all around. Everything we do is based upon where we are mentally and a lot of times people do not see that in that form.
Speaker 2:I know there's a negative stigma related to mental health and sometimes people think mental health, you're going to be in a psych ward and things of that nature, and that's not it. That's like the extreme. And when I think about how I even chose mental health, I chose school counseling first because I had that negative stigma, like I didn't want to work in a mental hospital with people who were having those extremes. But stuff happens before it even gets to that point. How can we prevent that? So that is something that I want to continue to educate people on, to make sure that they're aware, because there's little things that can lead up to those big breakdowns and things that you didn't even know you were struggling with. And it started just a little thing oh, I'm tired today, or I'm a little irritable and moody and then it turns into something bigger later absolutely.
Speaker 3:You explained it well. I'm actually going to add, actually to tell us about the journey and becoming a mental health professional and why, and I remember writing my book. I wrote it but I did not know. So my daughters actually told me, mommy, you need to go see a therapist. What I need to see a therapist. Well, I don't need to see a therapist, and that's the thing when that we, as african-americans, as we grow up, that we don't need to see anybody. But actually that helped me to be able to complete my book and write, even though it was hard, because I pushed so much down inside my soul that I did not realize that was affecting me as far as my mental health as well. So thank you for saying that. So what inspired you to become a mental health culture therapist?
Speaker 2:For me. I got pushed into the mental health side. Like I said, when I was in my master's program they had two tracks, so it was a school counselor and auto-clinical mental health. I chose school. My undergrad was in business education. Then I can work with the students in school center. So let me go into school counseling.
Speaker 2:And when I was pursuing my doctorate degree, I had a professor, and thank God that he did. He pushed me and said you know a lot about school. We want you to get some experience because you never know where you're going to end up. And so he encouraged me to go to medical mental health and I ended up in an agency where I met a lot of great people Someone who is still my mentor today after all these years. But they introduced me and let me see different aspects of mental health. So it wasn't that I was working in like a psych ward or anything of that nature. So I got to experience it and that's how I ended up on this side.
Speaker 2:I didn't get licensed as a mental health counselor until 2019, but I was a school counselor since 2004. So I basically the training is the same, except the clinical experience was different. So I have been in the industry for a really long time. But focusing on the clinical side now is where I am and being in a school setting, seeing a lot of things that come with children and families and you're limited on what type of support you can provide to them because their main goal there is for education, so you're not really addressing those other concerns. So now that I'm on the other side, I have my private practice where I can help and focus more on those things that show up in the school setting or something that people never really want to talk about but they need support working through. So that's how I ended up in this space.
Speaker 3:That's awesome because I tell you they really need it. I do mentoring at the middle schools for middle school girls and a lot of things. You don't know what's going on at home that can affect them at school. So what you're doing, I applaud you for that because I tell you it definitely does take patience with doing that. I remember my college professor told me want to go back and get your master's in social work? I said no, want to go back and get your master's in social work. I said no, I want to go back and get that. But it's my life experiences that actually helped me to be able to share what I do today. So I am so proud of you. So what's the biggest lessons you learned in your journey?
Speaker 2:The biggest lessons I learned is more and, if you want to keep it aligned to like mental health. A lot of times, people are suffering in silence. They can look like everything is together and also not being aware of things that are happening that could impact you in a bigger way. You can be successfully running your business, or a CEO of a company doing really well, but struggling with how do I handle my own thoughts and emotions. I'm feeling overwhelmed. Do I have appropriate coping skills? I'm having challenges in my family, conflict with my husband or my children, just different things that can happen. That at some point in life you're going to deal with things like grief and loss. Everybody is going to experience that at some point. What are we doing with those things, and are we so in tune or we try to be so busy that we don't experience the loss and grief and then it shows up in other areas as well? So that's where I am on that.
Speaker 3:And that is so true because we're going to like. I just lost a niece about three weeks ago. She's only 38 years old and that's why I was talking about that was really hard to grieve. And then my brother died last year and we're still grieving that. So that is so true and we need you actually, with your profession, to help us with that. But a lot of us, like I said, are very leery of that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And understanding that I think about educating our community Because in African-Americans we're like we pray. We I think about educating our community because in African-Americans we're like we pray, we're going to pray and we're also going to use the people that God has placed here to help us work through those things. And I think that was a big wake-up call for me too, because I'm a woman of faith and I lost my dad in 2019 to cancer and before that, a great friend who introduced me to my husband, and he was young, not even 40 years old, and married four kids and passed away from cancer. So that was like a big shocker for us, thinking, okay, why did God allow this to happen?
Speaker 2:But even being able to experience the grief and also understanding the grieving process because, okay, I'm a therapist, I know the grieving process, I know the five stages, the grieving process because, okay, I'm a therapist, I know the grieving process, I know the five stages but to actually work through those things and also knowing that it's not a time frame around when you're going to experience those things it can be a cycle, you can go back, but to ignore it and pretend that it's not something that's happened to you, that's where we fall into a lot of trouble. And so, dealing with that, yes, we're going to pray, but we're also going to use tools that are available to help us work through these times.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, absolutely. I love that what you said. So what are some of the common misconceptions about mental health and stress?
Speaker 2:had this thing right. One of the things is that therapy is only for people with serious mental illness, and that's what we talked about at first, but the truth is therapy is for everyone. It can help us with stress, relationships, life transitions and even personal growth. So it's not just about a diagnosis of a mental illness. It's about how are we dealing with life on a day-to-day basis. Another one that I wanted to, that I want to share, since you asked that question that mental health issues are a sign of weakness and that does not mean that you are a weak person. Actually, it takes strength to reach out for help, that you are a weak person. Actually, it takes strength to reach out for help. And again, it goes back to showing that, okay, I cannot do this alone. Let me use my tools and resources to help me work through it, and it takes a lot for people to do that.
Speaker 2:Something else is children and teens don't experience mental health issues and with that, when we think about it, children start to have issues. They can have issues early on Family going through a divorce, if they lost someone, if they have to move, if something happens that they don't understand who's talking to them. They're learning how to deal with life issues early on. And sometimes we just think they're kids and they're not being impacted by these things, when they really are. So, again, children and teenagers they are experiencing and they got a lot of stressors that we didn't have when I was growing up, with social media and the influence and how they're feeling about themselves. So all of those things impact the children and teens as well.
Speaker 2:And another myth I'm going to share. This last one, and this is if I just think positive, my mental health issues will go away. And I'm all for positive thinking, right. But look, I want to be positive, I want to see the glass full instead of half empty and those things. But sometimes we have to deal with that and it could be that we are experiencing like a chemical imbalance. That could be it, but it could be we're just overworked or overloaded with responsibilities and haven't taken the time to evaluate those things that are causing stress. When people seek therapy, you can take time to explore what are the sources that's causing this, so you will know how to fix it. You might not know how to fix it, but you can gain tools to help you to work through that process.
Speaker 3:And it's so true, not just for children, it's for adults, anybody that are going through that. So what are some of the warning signs of mental health struggles?
Speaker 2:When I think of warning signs and you guys can pay attention to your family and friends, but even within yourself, but one of the first things that I noticed is that people begin to loss of interest in activities. Sometimes they start to isolate themselves. They are tired or they're either not sleeping enough or they're sleeping too much. Again, irritable moods. I don't know why I'm feeling like this. I'm really angry and not able to control like temper or behaviors. Those are some of the signs that come to mind immediately for me when I think about okay, let's do a mental check. What's going on? What's going on here.
Speaker 3:That makes sense. So how do you especially like a teenager? How do you get them to open up to you doing the therapy? Because that's where my grandson is. I don't want to go there. How do you get them to open up?
Speaker 2:It's like any relationship you have to build trust. So I'm used to working with teenagers. I know that doesn't come naturally, but at the end of the day everybody wants to be heard. They have something that they want to say and maybe they don't know how to communicate those things. So building a trust and relationship is one of the things that we as therapists do, so that our clients can open up to us and talk. And sometimes it happens right away. Sometimes you have to put the work in to get them to open up.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I agree with that because I'm a nana grandmother and I have six grandchildren.
Speaker 3:Like I used to tell my daughters, either let me tell you the truth or you want me to lie to you. I'm going to tell you the truth anyway. So just pulling that out of them makes a big difference. It they can trust is really about trust that you're not going to hurt them or you're not going to put them down. That makes a big difference. And actually getting that trust to start to process Is that right? Yes, yes, yes. Okay, that's great. At least I said it right.
Speaker 2:You got it, you got it.
Speaker 3:So what are simple ways to manage daily stress? Okay, got it. So what are?
Speaker 2:simple ways to manage daily stress. Ok, I hear it all the time like from your medical professions, but exercising, healthy eating, and I also think that having like a social life, like where you're not all business and no play those type of things, play those type of things. So having balance, doing things that fill your cup, especially if you have a high stress job or a lot of stress in your family, finding something that you can pour back into yourself is really important as well when I think about ways to manage it. Therapy, making a commitment that I'm going to go talk to somebody about, whatever it is that I'm dealing with, that can be a way for you to address stress. There are plenty like resources and things that people can read. I always just say let's pull back the onion and see what's the source or the root cause of this stress and seeing how you can adjust some of those things. And that's just my take on the starters to it.
Speaker 3:No, I'm not saying about self-care, about taking care of yourself. But some people don't know about self-care. I remember when I used corporate, the IBM. That's a stressful job because I'm dealing with sales, I'm dealing with making my numbers, I'm dealing with I've done the finance part too. That's something that actually we forget about taking care of ourselves. We even like sleep. It keeps you asleep as well.
Speaker 2:And when you mentioned self-care, sometimes people get that mixed up. Well, I don't want to be selfish. No, you're not being selfish. If you want to continue to show up for others, you got to first show up for yourself. So how are you going to do that If you wore out, stressed out and all those things? So that's something that people need to be mindful of.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that's something that my question was how do you prioritize your own mental health? Oh, yeah, so you want to add something to that?
Speaker 2:No, even for me, trying to exercise, being intentional about the things that, like said that fill my cup. I'm a spiritual person, so prayer, um, and attending church, spending time with my family and friends, exercising, and right now I don't watch a whole lot of tv, but when I do, hgtv, that was my thing, I'm just relaxed, looking at these beautiful halls and what ideas that I have, and that's just it.
Speaker 2:Like finding those things and also evaluating where am I Like I gauge? Okay, I'm not feeling like myself right now, what's happening and what do I need to change. I have learned that not only from my professional work, from my personal life and for, like I said, working with clients as well, that's a good one.
Speaker 3:It really does make a difference. So one final thought, and then we're going to talk about your book too. What piece of advice for someone feeling overwhelmed? What?
Speaker 2:would you recommend?
Speaker 3:And I know you do a consulting and I told you as well.
Speaker 2:Okay. So when people are feeling overwhelmed, first of all, like I said, taking time to evaluate the root causes and the sources and when people are really busy, sometimes they don't even know they're overwhelmed until they get to call, like backed into a corner, and then you have no choice but to pay attention, like I am overwhelmed now, but before you even get to that, identifying like what are some things that will lead you to that place and what can you put in place to prevent those things from happening, Absolutely, absolutely, and that's good.
Speaker 3:So I was going to ask you to recommend any books, but let's recommend your book.
Speaker 2:I don't have a book yet, not yet Still working on that.
Speaker 3:Oh, you got to get the book out.
Speaker 2:Yes, but I thought about several things that I use and I went to a conference and this one it's an app, but it's like a whole life thing and that has been something that I plug into as a therapist to find, because so many things happen with so many people, and I may not have experienced it, but maybe my client has, but this is called Heart and Health, and they have tons of information. This is not the only thing that I listen to, but this is one of the best resources that I have found that has a variety of areas that people can tune into and they do have podcasts or discussions and things. You can go back and watch the recorders if you're not able to attend those live things, but they have a lot of medical professionals and people in the field that share on those types of platforms. I advertise my business on Therapy for Black Girls, but they have a podcast that people can go to and listen.
Speaker 2:It's a lot of information out there, too, and, like I said, when we think about therapy and people lives, there's a vast of things that could be happening, and what I would say, too, is do your research. Also, seek the help if you need it. It's not a bad thing if you need help. I know therapy it is a confidential thing Nobody's going out sharing your deep, dark secrets and the things that you're dealing with and we're here to support. I know I have my private practice, beginning a new counseling, but there are therapists and we're here to serve. So we know that there's a great need to support those who want to address their mental health. And even if you haven't really thought about it, just do a check-in like you do with your home position. Let me just go talk to somebody and see where I am, and that's just what I would say.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I would recommend that they're going to see you.
Speaker 2:Yes, for sure, yes, yes.
Speaker 3:So give us your contact and share with the audience your contact information, how they can get in touch with you.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you can visit our website at beginningthenewcounselingcom, or you can call us at 404-538-0683. And we'll be glad to assist you with any of your mental health needs.
Speaker 3:That's awesome. So can you give us a short success story?
Speaker 2:A short success story. Sure, sure, let's see, because I have a lot, but I'll use because I'll use a success story of myself, just really, where you have accomplished a lot of things in life but then you also experience challenges, but making sure that you're putting yourself first. I have a personal therapist too, and that doesn't mean I'm crazy If people have that stigma. I just want to be able to show up and be my best self in every area of my life. So, again, evaluating what's happening and what tools or resources I need to put in place so I can be the best version of myself, and that's what we do.
Speaker 3:That's awesome. So give us your contact information again and tell us the name of that book or podcast that you say.
Speaker 2:Okay, that podcast, like I said, it's called Heart and Health and we have a variety of resources on it and what was your other question.
Speaker 3:Repeat your how they can get in touch with you.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you can reach us at beginninganewcounselingcom, or you can give us a call at 404-538-0683.
Speaker 3:That's great, and I actually just downloaded that app.
Speaker 2:Okay, good deal, good deal.
Speaker 3:The Heart and Health Medical is what it's called. I think that's what it is right.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay.
Speaker 3:And you'll see a little heart around it with different style of things. So make sure you download that app audience. But thank you, chyna, for being on my podcast. I truly appreciate it and it's a very informative audience. Make sure you, andyna, for being on my podcast. I truly appreciate it and it's very informative. And, like I said, we just think about therapy or counseling as oh. I'm not crazy. It's not about that. It's really making sure you're taking care of yourself. It's about self-care. So, Chyna, thank you so much for being on my podcast.
Speaker 2:You're welcome. Thank you for inviting me. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3:So, audience, make sure you download or listen to Ready Set, collaborate. It is on every podcast platform as well as on YouTube, and we have some great guests, such as Shaina, to be able to listen to, because I'm about educating the power people, and this is 2025. It's time to begin a new start for your life and how you can go on. Make sure you listen, follow and share this podcast. Thank you, shaina, appreciate you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning into this episode of Ready Set. Collaborate. For more information about the host head to WDPearsonAssociatescom and that's P-E-A-R-S-O-N. Want to connect? Send an email to Wanda at WDPearsonAssociatescom and, as always, stay tuned for the next episode of Ready Set Collaborate.
