One of the bigger buzzwords around pop psychology today is boundaries. But what do healthy boundaries mean and look like, and what do they have to do with mental health? Kels and Wes dive deep into this topic to understand the importance and purpose of boundaries, the relationship between boundaries and needs, and how it all can affect our health within all our different contexts and pieces of ourselves. We also talk about setting boundaries with ourselves, setting boundaries with others, and how both stem from an understanding of your worth and your value and significantly shape the kind of life you live. Connect with us! Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

We had so much to say about rest, we had to split it into two episodes! So join us for some "bonus" content, (ironically during our rest week) where we continue our conversation on the importance of rest. In part 2, we discuss some of the common misunderstandings about resting and some of the perspective shifts that can help overcome them, and also practical ways you can implement rest in your life, even in the midst of a culture that values busyness and grind.

Connect with us! Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

In this episode, Embrace co-host Autumn is joined by guest star Gonie Cha, as they dive into the unique mental health challenges faced by communities of color. From stigma and cultural influences to systemic barriers, they explore why many people of color struggle to seek help. As women of color, they share personal stories and discuss how to break toxic narratives surrounding mental wellness in their communities. Tune in for an honest conversation about mental health, healing, and supporting the next generation. Connect with us! Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

Our next chapter of the emotions series is all about sadness. Lots of emotions get a bad rap, but perhaps one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated emotions is sadness. Sadness can make us feel weak, vulnerable, even childish, but sadness often carries many gifts beneath its surface. Join Wes and Kels as they discuss what purpose sadness can serve in our lives, whether sadness is always grief, the relationship between sadness and depression, as well as digging into the science of tears. So whether you're an emo kid or as stoic as a statue, this episode has something for you.

Connect with us! Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

Life is a lot. And we all know what it's like to feel exhausted, worn out, and in need of some rest. So when you're feeling exhausted, the best remedy is to lay on the couch, put up your feet, and maybe even take a nap, right? Well... maybe not always...

In this episode, Autumn and Kelsey talk about 5 different areas in our life in which we can feel fatigued, and also how to experience rest in those areas. We also talk about the connection between rest and wellness, and how having a well-rounded understanding of rest as well as knowing ourselves well enough to know our rest needs, can play a significant role in managing and improving our mental health.

Connect with us! Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

Guilt and shame are powerful forces that can have significant impact on people's lives and mental health. But what really are they? Are guilt and shame the same thing? Are they feelings? Beliefs? Are they good? Bad? Something in between? Join Autumn and Kelsey this week as they untangle some of the complexities knotted around these concepts, and offer some practical ways to break through some of the cycles that guilt and shame can pull us down into.

Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" may be a catchy song, but it doesn't always ring true. The holiday season can often be one of the hardest times of year for a lot of people, and can be especially painful if you've recently (or even not so recently) lost a loved one. So what are some ways you can cope with the sadness and angst you are feeling when the rest of the world is full of peace and joy? Join Wesley and Kelsey as they talk about this topic and provide some practical and helpful ways to process the hard that often comes in with the cold.

Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com

Assertiveness is an invaluable skill to have, but not one that always comes naturally. And assertiveness can also play a vital role in our mental health, starting from the development of the belief that our needs and our voices do in fact matter, all the way to setting boundaries and working through conflict in a way that is still respectful the needs of others. Wesley and Kelsey discuss how to develop a balanced relationship with assertiveness, how to work towards building healthy self confidence, and some ways to practice assertiveness effectively.

Personal Bill of Rights: https://www.etsu.edu/students/counseling/documents/stressgps/personalbillofrights.pdf Spongebob "Walking Small" Episode:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u44vl

Website - www.embracementalhealthnsc.org Instagram - @embrace.mental.health Facebook - www.facebook.com/emh.nsc/ Email - embracementalhealthnsc@gmail.com