In this episode, Dr. Shainna chats with Hope Kelaher, therapist and author of Here to Make Friends. From this conversation you’ll learn about:

• The different types of friendships

• How friendships can support your wellness

• How friendships can hinder your well-being

• Strategies to support healthy connections

About Hope

Hope Kelaher is a therapist based in New York City and author of Here to Make Friends and The Resilience Workbook for Women. She has extensive training in relational and systemic therapy and received post-graduate training from The Ackerman Institute for the Family. Hope has a degree in public health from The Johns Hopkins University and a clinical social work degree from Columbia University. Her passion is to help those struggling with anxiety and depression find healing connections among family and friends. Hope currently lives in Manhattan, where she is always working to make new friendships and strengthen her existing ones. In her spare time, Hope enjoys long walks with her dog, Luna, training for half-marathons, fishing, rowing, and cooking.

Learn more about Hope

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About Dr. Shainna:

Dr. Shainna is a mental health counselor, educator, and advocate who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health counseling and helping individuals worldwide recognize the importance of fostering mental wellness. She is the creator of The Self-Love Workbook, The Self-Love Workbook for Teens, Luna Finds Love Everywhere: A Self-Love Book for Kids, The Self-Love Planner, and Designing Healthy Boundaries. She has been featured through outlets such as ABC, CBS, NPR Washington Post, and Insider. Dr. Shainna’s passion for promoting mental health awareness and access inspired her to host the Mental Wellness Practice Podcast. Dr. Shainna is the owner and operator of Integrated Counseling Solutions, LLC, a strengths-based clinical mental health and consulting practice located in Central Florida. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors of The Mental Health Association of Central Florida and is a past president of the Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Shainna has been honored with the Association for Specialists in Group Work's Al Dye Award, the Pete Fischer Humanitarian Award, and UCF’s 30 under 30 and Noble Knight distinctions for her efforts in promoting mental wellness. You can learn more through her website www.DrShainna.com or follow along on Instagram @DrShainna.

Mental Wellness Resources:

Designing Healthy Boundaries

The Self-Love Workbook

The Self-Love Workbook for Teens

The Self-Love Planner

Luna Finds Love Everywhere

Find a Mental Health Provider:

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Mental Health Lifeline

Open Path

Therify

Melanin & Mental Health

Inclusive Therapists

Therapy for Black Girls

Asian Mental Health Collective