Social Work Me Social Work Me

The time has come for a new season of the podcast!

Matt is back after a long hiatus with some updates on the show including new hosts, a quick snapshot of his 2 year absence and a reflection on how the show has impacted his life and career.

Stay tuned for more episodes coming for Season 5!

If you like the show- let us know, subscribe, give us a rating and check us out on INSTAGRAM

On Ep 35 guest host- Michele McPherson is back with another episode in a mini series on mental performance and athlete mental health. You may recognize Michele from our first ever episode and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. Michele is a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program called Perform through Southwest Counselling Services in Sarnia, ON. 

Michele chats with Eric Corda who is a Registered Massage Therapist in Sarnia at the Sarnia Chiropractic and Performance Centre.  Michele and Eric do deep dive into the support experiences he has had with athletes locally and around the world. Eric’s expertise goes beyond the physical realm and into supporting the whole individual. 

Eric became a Registered Massage Therapist in 1999 after graduating from Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Eric has received further postgraduate training in a variety of courses that he combines to provide a comprehensive treatment for his patients. Some of the techniques Eric may apply include myofascial release, neurofunctional acupuncture, soft tissue release, K-Laser therapy, advanced sports massage and joint mobilization. Eric has worked with athletes from several different sports and at various levels of competition including local clubs, minor and junior hockey organizations, collegiate and university athletics as well as international sports competitions. Some of the outstanding teams and competitions Eric has been a part of include the Sarnia Sting (OHL), 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 U20 World Athletics Championships, OHL Gold Cup (Team Alliance), 2005 World Transplant Games, 2001 IAAF World Track and Field Championships. Eric is an active member of the Ontario Massage Therapists Association. Eric is also a Level II member of the Canadian Sport Massage Therapists Association.

On the episode we discuss:
 His passion for working with athletes and teams  His experience travelling and supporting athletes locally and worldwide at several competitions The Transplant Games Experience of supporting athlete mental health when impacted by injuryDiscipline and drive The monetization of the dream  Working through mental blocksAthlete confidence in knowing their own bodies and articulating kinesthetic connectionsSetting boundaries around support staff and the community you are a part ofTrusting your gut Links:
Eric Corda Bio & Contact at Sarnia Chiropractic and Performance Centre:
https://www.sarniasportschiro.com/eric-corda.html

On Ep 34 guest host- Michele McPherson is back with another episode in a mini series on mental performance and athlete mental health. You may recognize Michele from our first ever episode and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. Michele is a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program called Perform through Southwest Counselling Services in Sarnia, ON. 

Michele sits down with Carolyne Prevost who was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada and who has had a lifetime of being an athlete. Sports and physical activity have always played a huge part in Carolyne's life and she has participated in gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do, hockey, soccer, and CrossFit. 


Over the years, she has won multiple national championship titles in different sports as well as played on several National teams. Carolyne has experience training at both the individual and team level.

Currently Carolyne is a high-school teacher as well as professional hockey player in the PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association) on team Sonnet, while simultaneously training and competing in CrossFit. 

Carolyne is no stranger to maintaining a rigorous schedule and in our conversation, we talk about balancing training with life and how to support healthy mental health along the way. 

On the episode we discuss:


Balancing her career as a teacher as well as professional athleteOvercoming challenges after injuriesImportance of support networksUse of breathing techniques to help under pressure when competing Food, sleep, movement, and mindset Recovery and listening to your bodyTaking mental breaks between sports/seasons Positive aspects of social media to promote athlete achievementsPositive mentor – James Taylor, Tae Kwon Do coach Links:


CrossFit Stats:


https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/239148


Elite Prospects Hockey Stats:


https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/367158/carolyne-prevost


Instagram:


@cprevost27

On Ep 33 guest host- Michele McPherson is back with another episode in a mini series on mental performance and athlete mental health. You may recognize Michele from our first ever episode and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. Michele is a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program called Perform through Southwest Counselling Services in Sarnia, ON. 

Michele sits down with Jordan Todd who is a former high level hockey player turned holistic health coach. 
Jordan was born and raised in western Canada and hockey was his entire life for over 15 years. Making it to a high level, but ultimately finishing with a bad taste in his mouth after his hockey career had a sour ending to it. This was the catalyst for everything that came after, and the transition into coaching. 
He has experience working with athletes and teams ranging from young kids, all the way to junior hockey teams and current professional players. Working on both the physical and mental aspects to reach true potential and maximize performance. 
He’s passionate about helping people reach their fullest potential in everything they do, while also optimizing their health and happiness so they can actually enjoy the success they achieve. 
His main work is through O23 Holistic Lifestyle Systems, helping fitness coaches go beyond just fitness and exercise to better serve their clients, while also working with a select few individual clients and athletes on a 1 on 1 basis.
 On the episode we discuss:
·      His experience of playing hockey as a “net negative” for his mental health
·      Inner dialogue and inner critic voices
·      Performance-standpoint for players; ability to work on mental health while seeing results as an athlete
·      Accepting reality for what it is and focusing on controllable variables 
·      Foundation 4: Food, Sleep, Movement, Mindset
·      Potential versus execution
·      Life after sport
·      His transition to coaching and work with 023 Holistic Systems
 
Links:
 O23 Holistic Systems:
https://www.o23coach.com
 Instagram:
@jrdn.tdd
@o23_lifestyle_systems

On Ep 32 Michele McPherson takes over the hosting duties. You may recognize her from our first ever guest on Ep 1 and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. As a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program-Michele is taking over the podcast to do a mini series on connecting with athletes, coaches, and health professionals to talk about the highs and lows of performing at the elite level in sports.

Her first interview is special as she has known the guest for some time- 

“I did gymnastics for a brief period when I was younger and Melanie Hunt (formerly Rocca) is an immensely talented gymnast you couldn’t help but aspire to want to be like.
Melanie was born and raised in Sarnia and started gymnastics at age 4. She was the provincial all around champion at age 9. Represented Canada at first international competition at age 10. A Junior National team member at age 12. Melanie represented Canada at multiple international competitions, including the Pacific Alliance Championships. Melanie left the sport at age 19. In our conversation Melanie and I dive deep into her experiences of trauma at the hands of her coaches and how
that has impacted her during and after her time in the sport.” 

The release of this episode coincides with the release of TSN’s documentary- Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics which features our guest Melanie Hunt. 

On this episode we discuss:
Her athlete careerExperience as a child gymnast versus adolescent gymnast Her identity as an athlete Experiences of emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from her coachFight, flight, freeze, fawn as trauma responsesLearning to give herself permission in her own life/experiences Advice to current gymnasts and athletes Life beyond the sport Current work with Gymnasts For Change to bring light to the abuse and injustices experienced in the sport of gymnasticsTSN full-length documentary titled Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics

Links:

Gymnasts for Change (Canada):
https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com

Impact Statement by Melanie Hunt (Rocca):
https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com/blog/impact-statement-by-melanie-hunt-rocca

Support Athletes' call for Independent Review of GymCan Leadership + Sport Culture

Link to former/present gymnast letter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_cMTyOqaliViZo1yrNUyGeE7n5_o1M3Q-KvYwdM4hhH8kQ/viewformfbclid=IwAR1eNANTIbYOFFhzTp4Uk3_BJBaG07BOdAYV-7grTQ0tQhxxU3P4ZFbCOYg

Link to Ally Support:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15Pa5pdt-bw8qAeTh8e5JNugHHU1ZW3oH-
OUUA19NJls/viewform?pli=1&edit_requested=true&fbclid=IwAR1pJjAuk5pGJdEnzsJS-
etQ1Hl0KAj_ANZP7C73MzfMpHFfHxXTUjIa1hw

TSN Full-length Documentary: Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics

@TSNSports, co-production with @CTVW5 & @CraveCanada
Debuts November 5, 2022 on CraveCanada and November 12 on @CTVW5

Open Letter to Sport Minister:
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/gymnastics/gymnasts-for-change-open-letter-1.6629786

Social Work Me is back after a long hiatus with the first episode in a series on Mental Health & Performance in Sports. 

Originally recorded in November 2021, Ep 31 features Amy Mausser who shares her experiences as an athletic therapist working with elite level junior hockey players. She is the former Sarnia Sting OHL Hockey Athletic Therapist and is a Certified Athletic Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning specialist, Registered Massage Therapist and former athlete. Amy is from Kitchener, Ontario and  has a Masters in Science- Kinesiology and is now completing her Doctor of Education. 

On this episode we discuss: 
-athlete’s + mental health resources
-advice for practitioners working with teenage athletes
-mindfulness and meditation with athletes
-working with athletes struggling with injuries and playing time
-how negative/positive energy impacts teams
-impact of mental health on physical health
-working with athletes in their draft year
-teaching kids and athletes how to lose and fail
-the importance of teaching life skills
-mental skills training: goal setting, confidence, mindfulness
-the importance of communication between coaches and athletes
-tips for mental health practitioners working with athletes

To connect with Amy you can email her- Amy.mausser@gmail.com

If you like the show- let us know, subscribe, give us a rating and check us out on INSTAGRAM