Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast

In this episode, Tree the LPC switches places with her best friend, and special guest host, Erika D. Alexander, LMSW for an in-depth chat about Tree's childhood and the impact that her childhood has had on her mental and emotional health throughout her lifetime.

If you thought Season 1 was amazing, go ahead and grab your popcorn as we dive deeper into taboo topics and hold the mirror to ourselves during those moments where we might question our own sanity.

We all have a Self-Aware and Effed Up story, I was just bold enough to share mine in such a significant and meaningful way with someone who I trust almost as much as I trust my therapist.

It’s often been said that comparison is the thief of joy and that is especially true in the age of social media.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) has explores navigating social comparison with Chelsea Bea.

Chelsea Bea is a chairperson for the Phoenix Children's Hospital Heart Center, she runs a non-profit organization that raises money to assist families with their hospital stays, and she is the host of the Beyond the Picket Fence Podcast. Chelsea shares about her personal journey towards self-love, the trauma of witnessing her son code due to complications with a congenital heart defect and working to overcome social comparison.

Sabbaticals are essential. Sometimes we all need to hit that reset button in order to jump start the next phase of our lives.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) has an in-depth conversation with Felicia Baxley about her personal journey with depression and anxiety.

Felicia Baxley is an author, a mental health advocate, and the founder of a non-profit organization- the Sain d’Espirit Directive Inc. Felicia is also an upcoming YouTuber who uses her channel Fueling Freedom to help break the stigma of mental health.

Felicia discusses her transition into entrepreneurship, her passion for helping teenage girls build their self-confidence, and her recent sabbatical that helped her refocus and rebrand her life.

If you don't make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) has an insightful chat with Kelly Gorham, LPC about her journey towards finding her niche as a counselor, her personal journey with wellness, and her passion for educating others on taking better care of themselves.

Kelly Gorham is a Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of the ASA Centre where she specializes in helping clients who are coping with burnout, depression, grief, PTSD, anger, trauma, and anxiety.

Kelly shares helpful tips for recognizing signs of anxiety and burnout, key strategies for alleviating stress, and the importance of understanding and walking in your purpose.

“Rejection is merely a redirection; a course correction to your destiny.” -Bryant McGill-

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) speaks candidly with Olivia TM Cook (Coach Liv) about her personal challenges with the loss of her father, navigating an abusive relationship, and starting over after losing 80% of her belongings during hurricane Michael.

Coach Liv is a Transformational Success Coach and Neurolinguistic Practitioner who specializes in helping professional woman transform their lives.

Coach Liv shares helpful tips for reinventing yourself, using your menstrual cycle to your benefit, and transforming your life to the next level

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) takes a deep dive into marriage therapy with Chantha Yim, MFT about the navigating relationship trauma.

Chantha explores appropriate boundaries within the counseling setting, using heart math to connect with her clients, and navigating the world post Covid-19.

Chantha is a Gottman trained, Marriage and Family Therapist based out of North Carolina.

He who angers you, controls you. Stop giving your Power away. Preserve your Peace!!!!

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) takes a deep dive into anger management with Carlis H. Hughes, LPC about the associated with unmanaged anger.

Carlis explores the importance of recognizing your triggers, provides some helpful coping strategies for managing anger, and shares the importance of preserving your peace.

Carlis H. Hughes is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Anger Management Specialist who works with Veterans and runs her private practice Mindful Peace Counseling, LLC

Living with depression can feel like pure hell, but you are not alone

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) has a powerful, unfiltered conversation with Didi Hairston (The Diva with Depression) about her battle with treatment resistant depression.

Didi speaks candidly about her mental health journey from the perspective of being a mother and mental health advocate with a passion for helping others.

Didi actively advocates for breaking the stigma of mental health and intergenerational trauma for black and brown people via her mental health blog and her podcast Breaking the Mask of Depression.

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. (Coretta Scott King)

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC (Sandtrice Russell) has a Q&A session with District 2 City Council Candidate, Maiya Dowell about the state of mental health services, smart policing, and urban development within the community.

Maiya is a home grown, LaGrange native who is passionate about bringing change to LaGrange. Maiya has experience in working with the education system, legal system, and in community and human service.

To connect with Maiya reach out to her via FB under her name Maiya Dowell or via IG @msurtype.

You can donate to Maiya’s campaign via cash app $MsUrType or via Venmo @Maiya-Dowell

Early Voting in LaGrange starts on Oct 10, 2022 and Election Day is November 8, 2022. Be sure to get out to cast your vote!!!!

Becoming the best version of yourself isn’t always easy, in fact it takes a shit ton of exploration, self-reflection, and a commitment to growth.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC has an in-depth conversation with Kels about his journey towards self-discovery and self-acceptance.

Kels shares his experience of deciding to transition, overcoming a near fatal car accident, and his battle with homelessness.

Kels is an actor, model, and entrepreneur, best known for his work in “If I was your Girl”, a Coquie Hughes film and television series. Kels is an advocate for positivity and uses his platform to educate others.

To connect with Kels follow him on IG at @pressure_p87 or send him a message on Facebook under Pressure P Kels or Rondala Kelly.

It is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind. While home births are trendy right now, this hasn’t always been the case.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC has an insightful chat with Doula Ife Adebowale, owner/founder of Cherishing Life Beginnings. Doula Ife shares a wealth of information on the background and history of doulas, mortality rates of black women who give birth in a hospital setting and connecting with your ancestral roots.

Doula Ife is a doula, childbirth instructor, and midwife who specializes in empowering and reconnecting mothers with their natural birthing strengths as they bring their children earthside. Doula Ife is also an advocate and community leader for BIPOC women.

Do you live your life from a place of authenticity?

Let’s be real, many of us send our representatives out into the world, but when we’re all alone in our bathroom mirrors, how do we really feel about ourselves?

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC has an in-depth chat with Pastor Damion S. Hutchins about his experience of growing up as an adoptee, being dropped off at Howard University as a young adult, and his journey towards developing authentic spirituality.

Damion S. Hutchins is a pastor, author, and educator who strives to teach others how develop authentic spirituality.

Damion is the author of “F.I.G.H.T: From not enough to good enough”

When it comes to taboo topics in mental health, it doesn’t get any more taboo than child molestation and sexual assault. We live in a country where one in 9 girls and one in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult.

In this episode of the Self Aware & F**ked Up Podcast, Tree the LPC has an in-depth chat with Jacquie C. Hamilton about her journey towards healing after coping with her parent’s divorce, experiencing child molestation, and navigating teenage pregnancy. Jacquie also shares helpful tips for navigating raising a child with Autism.

Jacquie C. Hamilton is an author, educator, and owner of a non-profit organization for Autism support and awareness.

Jacquie is the author of “I Need Thee: True Inspirational Stories of a Problematic Past That turns Into a Purposeful Future”

Growing up as a black gay kid in the South can be quite traumatizing especially within the black church. It can be extremely challenging to find your own voice when you're constantly being told that being who you are is wrong. 

In this episode Tree the LPC speaks with Steven M. Martin, an author, activist, and motivational speaker about his journey towards self-acceptance and his struggle with depression. Steven is known for addressing sexuality in his writings with his bestseller The Evolver and its sequel Reprobated as well as his blog.

Navigating a crisis situation can be a challenging experience for many individuals and helping a friend or family member who is experiencing suicidal ideations, or a psychiatric emergency can be both mentally and emotionally taxing.

In this episode, Tree the LPC speaks with Mercedes Hickman, LCSW, a crisis intervention specialist with over 10 years of experience working for suicide prevention hotlines, about how to assist and advocate for loved ones who are experiencing a crisis. Mercedes shares tips for working with law enforcement, local crisis lines, and ensuring the safety of your friends/family members. Mercedes also shares important self-care tips for mental health professionals and information about her Travel Agency- Mellow Escapes, LLC.

In a world where social media followers, likes, and comments are utilized to measure success, it can be challenging to push towards your passion.

In this week’s episode Tree the LPC speaks with K. Noel Jordan, an author,  motivational speaker, life coach, and spiritual leader, about how to  become relentless in your pursuit of your goals.

K.  Noel shares practical tips for overcoming church hurt, pushing through  anxiety and depression, and becoming the best version of yourself.

Narcissism has become a bit of a trending topic over the past several years. We see it on the news and read about it on social media, but how much of it is real and how much of it is fictionalized?

In this episode of Self Aware and F**ked Up, Tree the LPC speaks with Marcia Blane, LPC, a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist who specializes in working with individuals diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). We discuss the differences between someone with NPD and someone who has Narcisstiic traits, how to break free from the influence of a Narcissist, and we shed light on the number one Narcissist group in the world. (You'll be surprised to find out who they are) 

Have you recovered from your childhood trauma?

The truth is recognizing the signs of unresolved childhood trauma in adulthood can be a bit tricky.

In this episode Tree the LPC takes a deep dive into childhood trauma with the incomparable Marcia Blane, LPC, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. We discuss multiple trauma related topics to include: how to identify the signs of unresolved trauma, the key challenges to working through childhood trauma, and how parents can help their adult children overcome those challenges.