It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes, and probably the most stressful, too. Host Andy Dean and licensed clinical social worker Chrissy Isaac explore ways to minimize stress and maximize meaning this holiday season.   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Someone you love is hurting. It’s the holidays. You want to help. What should you do? Host Andy Dean is joined by licensed social worker Chrissy Isaac to explore how to be supportive of a friend or loved one who is grieving during this usually festive time of year.   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Have you ever heard someone say that a person is “bipolar” or describe themselves as “OCD”? In the Mental Health Misnomers series, we discuss what these terms actually mean in a clinical mental health setting and compare that to how people tend to use the terms in everyday life.  Each of the three episodes focuses on one singular mental health issue including Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Licensed Clinical Social Workers Andy Dean and Peter Maclearie deconstruct our misnomers. Guest Pete Maclearie, LCSW, is Clinical Manager of Adult Outpatient Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, NJ.    For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted older adults’ mental health in many ways. This week, we’ll talk about the changes the pandemic has wrought, and how caretakers can best support older adults during this time. In this episode, Andy interviews Jamie Winters, LCSW who is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in North Brunswick, NJ.  Jamie has worked with older adults for more than 10 years.   :37         Senior-specific mental health challenges during COVID-19   6:30       Be patient with seniors while they’re learning how to use technology   9:19       How to talk to seniors about your frustration   12:52    The importance of maintaining structure   18:20    Push yourself to learn how to better use technology to connect   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org) Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Have you ever heard someone say that a person is “bipolar” or describe themselves as “OCD”? In the Mental Health Misnomers series, we discuss what these terms actually mean in a clinical mental health setting and compare that to how people tend to use the terms in everyday life.  Each of the three episodes focuses on one singular mental health issue including Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Licensed Clinical Social Workers Andy Dean and Peter Maclearie deconstruct our misnomers. Guest Pete Maclearie, LCSW, is Clinical Manager of Adult Outpatient Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, NJ.    For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Have you ever heard someone say that a person is “bipolar” or describe themselves as “OCD”? In the Mental Health Misnomers series, we discuss what these terms actually mean in a clinical mental health setting and compare that to how people tend to use the terms in everyday life.  Each of the three episodes focuses on one singular mental health issue including Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Licensed Clinical Social Workers Andy Dean and Peter Maclearie deconstruct our misnomers. Guest Pete Maclearie, LCSW, is Clinical Manager of Adult Outpatient Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in Eatontown, NJ.    For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Resiliency is a word we hear often these days. For those who are retired (or getting ready to retire), developing adaptability is important as this phase of life is very different from the working years. Andy and guest Jamie Winters discuss how discusses how retired people can build mental health resiliency during their golden years. Jamie Winters, LCSW is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in North Brunswick, NJ who has worked with retirement-aged people for more than 10 years.    Taking it one day at a time and focusing on the present moment     3:10   The importance of limiting your news intake      5:47   Going outside of your comfort zone for optimal mental health      10:14   Why staying connected is vital     14:00     For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org) Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Retirement is a marker in life that most people look forward to, yet many are taken by surprise when this supposedly perfect time is accompanied by depression, anxiety or loneliness. In this episode, Andy and Jamie Winters, LCSW discuss why retiring can come with significant mental health challenges and why building back structure is vital to good mental health. Jamie Winters, LCSW is a Senior Primary Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health in North Brunswick, NJ.  Jamie has worked with older adults for more than 10 years.    Why adjusting to retirement can take a toll on mental health   3:30    The Grief Process and its relationship to retirement    4:45   Why building and maintaining structure is so important for mental health   9:00     For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org)   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

Oftentimes, having an eating disorder may be the most visible of several problems people face. Many people don’t know that eating disorders are often accompanied by anxiety, depression, or trauma. Sometimes the eating disorder is a way of coping with the relentlessness of other afflictions. Therapists and doctors take a team approach—working together to help a patient and working on multiple issues at the same time.   Anxiety and Depression Symptoms   1:10   Eating Disorders and trauma   5:32   How to start treating eating disorders and mental health issues   7:58   The importance of support from family and friends   12:10   Why underlying mental health issues need to be treated along with the eating disorder   14:11   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton Center for Eating Disorders: Princeton Center for Eating Disorders   Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh

“Just eat!” Having an eating disorder involves so much more than wanting to be thin. Andy is joined by Dr. Kristyn Pecsi, attending psychiatrist at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders, who demystifies eating disorders and discusses common misconceptions surrounding the illness.   5:45 Why it’s dangerous to rapidly lose weight 12:00 What do people with eating disorders look like? 13:52 The complexities of eating disorders and other mental illnesses 23:00 Is not eating a suicide attempt?   For more information on Penn Medicine – Princeton House Behavioral Health: Princeton House Behavioral Health (princetonhcs.org) Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/princetonhousebh