Grief and Loss in the Latinx Community

This episode touches on Prisca’s religious upbringing, the shame of leaving the church, her journey of sexual liberation, estragement with her family, and learning about her mental health experience of writing TÍAS AND PRIMAS: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us, her newest book. About Prisca: Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez is a leading Latine activist with roots from Nicaragua, a writer, and speaker. She is the founder of Latina Rebels, a platform with over 350,000 followers, and the author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts. She has been featured on NPR, New York Magazine’s The Cut, Teen Vogue, and Cosmopolitan. She earned her master’s from Vanderbilt and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Learn more about Prisca and her books on her website: https://www.priscadorcas.com/

This episode starts with a disclaimer warning due to strong and violent language used. Our guest is Susan Abdel-Haq, a licensed marriage and family therapist and Palestinian woman who shares with us her and her family’s experience as Palestinians living in America, and their history. The purpose of today’s segment is to share information about misinformation over the Palestinian community and raise awareness on how marginalized communities are connected in their pain and struggles.

If you would like to be connected to Susan, visit her website at susanabdelhaq.com. She is accepting clients in California.

To find a Latinx Therapist across the nation, visit: latinxtherapy.com

Resources Susan shared with us today include:

Jewish Voices for Peace

Students for Justice in Palestine

Aljezeera News 

The Electronicc Intifada

Middle Eye

Books:

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

A History of the Palestinian People

Follow: Norman Finkelstein, Gabor Mate

Today we speak with Latina Psychiatrist Dr. Vanessa Velez who shares about her medical school background through rotations and residency, the support received from her parents upon choosing the career, and we also spoke about the the stigma of medication, how depression, anxiety and bipolar symptoms can benefit from psychiatry and the oppression that exists within the medical field. Dr. Velez answers the following questions before closing this episode:

• How can we as therapists communicate with a psychiatrist and discuss treatment plans for a shared client?
• When should we consider medication –
• What cultural background questions do u ask, if any?

Follow Dr. Vanessa Velez at vanessavelezMD.com and @VanessaVelezMDart on Instagram. She is accepting for anyone who lives in California, and is on the Latinx Therapy Directory, too.

To find a therapist, check out our directory at latinxtherapy.com and use the filters!

En este segmento hablamos sobre nuestra colaboración y los proyectos dentro de La Alianza que esta disponible para la comunidad de padres, y profesionales de salud mental que tienen interés en ayudar esta comunidad. Xochilt y Karla también comparten sobre la conferencia que van a tener en Washington DC este Julio donde van a proveer un entrenamiento por primera ves.

Nuestras invitadas:

Karla Cardoza, terapeuta matrimonial y familiar licenciada, Gerente de la Línea Cálida en Español & Coordinador Internacional en Latinoamérica , facilitadora de las reuniones de apoyo perinatal en español y una de las oradoras de los entrenamientos de PSI: @yerba.buena.wellness

Xóchitl Carlos Méndez, Gerente de Programas Culturales en Español de la Alianza para Personas de Color en Postpartum Support International (PSI).

PSI YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@postpartumvideo

Instagram de La Alianza (PSI): @psi_alianzenespanial, https://www.postpartum.net/la-alianza/

Información sobre la conferencia: https://psi.societyconference.com/v2/

Si busca un terapeuta, use el directorio de Latinx Therapy: latinxtherapy.com 

In this episode we announce our partnership with The Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color from PSI (Postpartum Support International), and hear more about their Spanish offering at the PSI Conference in July 2024. Register for the Perinatal Mood Disorder Components of Care and Advanced Psychotherapy training en Español by visiting https://psi.societyconference.com/v2/

Learn more about PSI and its program bridging the gap in perinatal mental health services for LatinX communities The Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color at @postpartumsupportinternational, @psi_alianzenespanial, and @pmhapoc.

Our guests:

Karla is the manager of the Spanish hotline and volunteer coordinates in Spanish speaking countries, facilitator of Perinatal support meeting in Spanish and is one of the speakers of the Postpartum Support International training, & contact her at ka***@po********.net. She also owns her private practice  @yerba.buena.wellness

Xochitl is the Alliance Spanish Cultural Program Manager of the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color at PSI. YouTube Channel: @postpartumvideo

To find a therapist, check out the Latinx Therapy directory at latinxtherapy.com 

Los segmentos ‘Rompe el Estigma’ son episodios que resaltan los desafíos y fortalezas de la salud mental desde la perspectiva de defensores de la salud mental. Hoy, aprendemos sobre la Esclerosis Múltiple (EM) a través de nuestra invitada, Crystal Bedoya, Creadora Discapacitada, Escritora y Defensora. Crystal comparte su historia de ser diagnosticada con EM en la infancia y el diagnóstico de salud mental que siguió. Como latina de primera generación, habla sobre cómo eran las citas médicas con sus padres de habla hispana, aclara malentendidos y cómo suena la toxicidad positiva, y expresa cómo nuestra comunidad puede apoyar a otros. ¡Sintoniza para aprender y conectar! ¡Pronto llegará el episodio en español!

Conoce a Crystal siguiéndola en las redes sociales @crystalbedoya y revisando sus características a continuación:

Invisibilidad de la discapacidad por esclerosis múltiple

LA EXPERIENCIA HISPANA/LATINX CON LA MS

Encuentre un terapeuta en nuestro directorio: https://latinxtherapy.com/

Break the Stigma segments are episodes that highlight mental health challenges and strengths from mental health advocates. Today, we learn about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) through our guest, Crystal Bedoya, Disabled Creator, Writer & Advocate. Crystal shares her story of being diagnosed with MS in childhood and the mental health diagnosis that followed. As a first-gen Latina, she talks about how medical appointments were with her Spanish-speaking parents, clarifies misconceptions and what toxic positivity can sound like and expresses how our community can support others. Tune in to learn and connect! Spanish episode coming soon.

Get to know Crystal by following her on social media @crystalbedoya and checking out her features below:

Refinery 29: How Dancing to Latin Hits Helps Me Navigate My Multiple Sclerosis

Healthgrades

• Another Day, Another Problem: I Learned At a Young Age That Living with Multiple Sclerosis As a Latina Is a Full-Time Job
• How MS and Bladder Issues Made Me Rethink My Late Twenties

Everyday Health: Young Latina With MS Finds Community via Social Media

British Vogue: “It Can Be Very Isolating”: What It’s Really Like Living With MS

Podcasts: The Multiple Sclerosis Fashionista Podcast: Multiple Sclerosis & Diversity Ft. Crystal Bedoya‘

To find a therapist, check out the Latinx Therapy directory.

In this episode, we speak with two Latina Therapists, one that is still at my practice, and the other that launched her own practice upon licensure. Rubí Vásquez, LMFT and Jennifer León Salinas, AMFT discuss systemic barriers and challenges, how to build support during associateships, and advocacy recommendations when needing accomodations for licensing exams. They also shared what their experience was like at my group practice when I had to take an abrupt leave and how they coped as associates.

Meet out guests:

Rubi’s Practice website: changingcyclescounseling.com

Jennifer’s Directory website: latinxtherapy.com/therapists/jennifer-leon-salinas-amft

Resources shared in this segment:

• Note Designer 
• Cafecito con Estrellita @cafecitoconestrellita
• Accomodations: https://home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers/Accommodations.aspx

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Find a Therapist: latinxtherapy.com

To support Latinx Therapy, consider donating to our non-profit foundation: alejandrefoundation.org