Essential Mental Healing

Candace Fleming
  • 4.8 (6)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Essential Mental Healing is a podcast geared towards promoting mental health healing, motivation, and healthy ways to deal with problems around the topic. We will explore different avenues of mental health including but not limited to therapy, trauma healing, beliefs, anxiety, depression, parenting, holistic healing, disparities in communities and mental health and so much more. We will have fun and laugh and get deep and cry but we will do it in love while discussing our journey and others in the most positive way.Visit every other Thursday for a new episode! It's Therapy Thursday!

  1. 1D AGO

    From OCD To Everyday Courage "Radical Bravery": Tools, Truth, And Tiny Wins with Renee Zukin

    Send us a text Therapy Thursday What if bravery looked less like a roar and more like a 10-minute habit you actually keep? We sit down with author and educator Renee Zukin to explore radical bravery as a daily practice, not a performance. From quarterly life planning to the tiny wins that keep momentum alive, we unpack how consistency, compassion, and honest conversations reshape mental health in the real world. Renee shares her path through OCD, intrusive thoughts, and panic—how a diagnosis brought clarity, how exposure and cognitive tools changed her thinking, and why regression during COVID wasn’t a failure but an invitation to use hard-won skills again. Her story reframes courage on a sliding scale: some days it’s getting out of bed or eating the meal in front of you; other days it’s flying after years on the ground. We also talk about the hidden cost of faking confidence at work, and why simple resets—standing in a meeting, a 30-second breath, a quick walk—can protect your nervous system and prevent burnout. The heart of the episode is truth-telling with care. We model tough mother-daughter conversations that stay tender, not damaging, and show how writing or reflection can create clarity before you speak. Add in practical tools like the Finch app for micro-habits, and a quarter-by-quarter approach that turns big visions into small steps, and you’ve got a roadmap for growth that honors real life. Everyone is brave about something. Name yours, take the next tiny step, and keep going. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these conversations. Renee Zukin is an author, educator, coach, and mental health advocate doing the inner work to see outer change. She has more than 20 years of experience in education, writing, and entrepreneurship, and has studied multiple psychological and healing modalities that have sustained her and helped support her students and clients alike. Renee is passionate about cultivating a safe space for others to use the written word and organizational structures as tools for self-transformation and empowerment. Website Book Link Everyday I'm Brave Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    56 min

  2. JAN 3

    When Medicine Splits You Into Parts, Choose To Be Whole w Julie

    Send us a text A homemade snickerdoodle led to a soul reading, and from there we dove into the kind of healing most of us crave but rarely get: simple, whole, humane. With Julie as our guide, we explore what happens when you stop treating symptoms in isolation and start aligning energy, boundaries, and daily rhythms so your body can finally exhale. She calls herself a healing facilitator for a reason—this isn’t about fixing you; it’s about clearing the noise so your own system can do what it’s built to do. We unpack why autoimmune issues so often track back to the gut, why the gut tracks back to relationships and safety, and how chronic stress erodes the microbiome and the immune system’s judgment. Julie lays out a practical, repeatable process: bring the nervous system into parasympathetic “rest and digest,” address the seven chakras and major organs and glands, and pair energetic balance with concrete choices like better sleep, nutrition, nature, and real boundaries. Case studies—from lab results normalizing to a physician outliving a grim prognosis—highlight the power of agency, perspective, and steady practice over panic. What makes this conversation different is how accessible it feels. We translate energy work for the skeptical, map emotions to body systems, and offer a clear path from self-care shoulds to unapologetic self-love. We talk about letting go with kindness, parenting without control, and the surprising ripple of authentic expression—how even a bright coat on a gray day can lift a room. If the medical system has ever made you feel like pieces on separate clipboards, this is your invitation to be whole again. If this resonated, share it with someone who needs a gentler path to healing. Subscribe for more grounded conversations on mental health, wholeness, and everyday tools that help you feel like yourself. And tell us: what’s one small shift you’ll make today to bring your body back into alignment? Julie Lieberknecht, CHt, is a healing facilitator who brings it all together in her own unique way.  For 26 years, she has been creating the combo of treating with Esoteric Healing, Therapy, and Coaching, to help her clients understand their livee, spiritually, and shift into the parasympathetic nervous system so the body can come into wellness.  Esoteric Healing is a science - specific energy points in the energy field that are focused on to bring balance, and with that can come restoration from physical disease, anxiety, “stuckness” in life, intense spiritual dark nights, etc.  This treatment can take place via distance after a phone call with Julie.  Her calm manner and sense of humor will help you relax and find the joy in your life.  For a free consultation, you can contact her via Facebook DM, “Julie Lieberknecht”, 313-333-9240, or julie.lieberknecht@gmail.com.  Happy New Year - New You- Wellness!  Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    1h 6m

  3. 12/11/2025

    Time, Grief, And Gentle Balance

    Send us a text It's Therapy Thursday!! What if balance isn’t a perfect calendar but a kinder relationship with time? We open up about the tug-of-war between packed days and the deep need to slow down, trading guilt for acceptance and urgency for presence. From missed movie showtimes and overflowing to-do lists to the tender relief of an unhurried conversation, we map the messy terrain where real life happens. Janet shares how aging has become an invitation to soften: wanting less, enjoying what lasts, and noticing the goodness in what’s already working. We talk about the house that holds decades of stories, the neighbor who quietly watches out for safety, and the surprising ways grief keeps teaching us after the loss of loved ones. Those memories don’t fade; they change form, sometimes even showing up in the calm of a pet or the habit of an open curtain that lets the day feel alive. Candace names the emotional spikes that come with moving fast and wanting structure, and we get honest about the kind of support big thoughts require. Not every friend can hold the heaviest ideas, and that’s okay. We outline what a practical safety plan can look like, why 988 remains a vital resource, and how to find a therapist whose mind is open enough to meet complexity with care. Along the way, we reframe rest as a daily practice—short pauses, seasonal breaks, and small choices that keep the plates from tipping. If you’ve ever felt behind on your own life, this conversation offers a gentler script. Come for the real talk about time, stay for the quiet tools: noticing what matters, asking for help, and letting yourself move at a human pace. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a breath, and leave a review to help others find our community. Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    46 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    How A Couple Turned Brokenness Into Purpose And A Movement Called Wealth Is Wisdom with The Josephs

    Send us a text It's therapy Thursday!!! A weekend blowup turned into a breakthrough. We start with a raw mother–daughter moment and move straight into a wide-open conversation with the Josephs, a young married couple whose story blends faith, attraction, vision, and a hard pivot from “negative broke” to purpose-driven building. Their last name, Joseph—“increase”—frames everything: why vision alignment matters more than chemistry, how “equally yoked” looks in real life, and why wisdom is the engine of sustainable wealth, not just a nice idea. We sit with the real stuff: lust and honesty, backsliding and growth, repossessions and second chances, and the kind of grief that changes your voice. Janet shares lessons from decades of marriage and the quiet power of gratitude as spiritual medicine for anxiety and depression. Candace connects those insights to mental health and agency, pointing to the 988 Lifeline and a simple truth: testimony breaks shame. The energy shifts when the Josephs unpack Dream Out Loud and the spark that became Wealth Is Wisdom. Scripture meets strategy as they translate purpose into practical steps—credit literacy, clarifying offers, finding your ideal client, copy that converts, and launch plans that move ideas into income. This is not a prosperity pitch. It’s a blueprint for abundance across domains—money, relationships, health, and mission—built on aligned values and consistent action. If you’ve ever felt stuck between calling and bills, or wondered why church talks tithes without teaching wealth, this conversation offers language, tools, and courage to move. We close with details on the Detroit conference, panels, breakouts, and an affordable AI-assisted product builder designed to help you ship value now. If this resonates, follow along, share with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so others can find these conversations. Your next step is simple: name your vision, seek wisdom, and act today. Upcoming EventWealth is Wisdom Conference, Saturday, December 6th 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM (doors open at 5:00 PM) A transformational night teaching people how to turn their God-given wisdom, experience, and story into wealth. With a powerful announcement planned, this is an event you don’t want to miss. Ijanae Joseph Ijanea Joseph is a traveling evangelist, serial entrepreneur, and full-time real estate investor. She has been in ministry since age 19, preaching the gospel and sharing the love of Jesus across the U.S. and internationally. In 2022, God called her deeper into entrepreneurship—starting in real estate and expanding into brand-building and digital business. Today, she helps Christians discover their God-given purpose, build their influence, and monetize their wisdom using social media. Through her coaching, storytelling, and content, she empowers people to step boldly into their assignment and build wealth God’s way. Instagram/TikTok: @NaeeologySupport the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    1h 6m

  5. 11/21/2025

    From Conference Breakthroughs To Everyday Gratitude

    Send us a text It's Therapy Thursday!! The air still hums from a room that felt brave enough for everyone. We unpack what happened at our women’s conference where a Muslim practitioner, a Christian voice, and someone who practices magic shared a stage without defensiveness—and why safety, not sameness, made the healing real. The stories that poured out, the tissues that ran thin, and the look on faces walking out lighter reminded us: when people feel held, they release what they no longer need. From that high-frequency moment, we trace the everyday threads that carry healing forward. Snow the next morning felt like a season turning, and two fearless kittens named Marco and Polo taught us how to enter change with curiosity instead of fear. We talk about service that restores dignity—hotel rooms for unhoused families, turkey giveaways—and how helping becomes a place to practice our humanity. We also wrestle with bringing kids into service: intention, consent, and the heart posture that keeps respect at the center. Parenting and reparenting meet in real time as many of us teach emotional skills we never received while rebuilding our own. We talk boundaries that protect home, the risk of over-giving, and the relief that comes with aging into acceptance over performance. Then we zoom out to mental health and the power of labels, revisiting the Rosenhan study to ask for nuance in diagnosis without dismissing real care. The practical medicine we keep returning to is gratitude: one line in a journal, one quiet thank you, one mindful breath that anchors the day. Come for the conference recap; stay for the honest look at community, service, parenting, and the small daily practices that make healing stick. If the episode resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find this space. What’s one thing you’re grateful for today? Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    58 min

  6. 11/06/2025

    What If The Fire Is The Safest Place To Heal? Season 5 opener

    Send us a text It's Therapy Thursday and Season 5 begins! Season five opens with honesty, tears, and a surprising kind of joy. We step straight into the heart of grief and come out with tools you can use: how to honor good memories after a painful divorce, how to receive support you couldn’t accept years ago, and how stillness can surface the truths that keep you stuck. You’ll hear a mother reflect on the loss of her son and what changed when she stopped managing pain and let herself feel it. Together, we map the shift from anger to acceptance and the freedom of letting two truths stand side by side. We also explore the idea of “faith in the fire.” Whether your language is God, Spirit, or simple presence, the fire can be the safest place to stand still and grow. We share practical ways to sit in the heat—breathing, journaling, community witness—so fear loosens its grip and meaning emerges. That same openness shapes our approach to healing at scale: a live, multi-generational conference that weaves spoken word, music, dance, guided meditation, journaling, skin care as self-respect, and trauma-release movement. The arts aren’t decoration; they are proven ways to regulate the nervous system and unlock what words alone can’t reach. Parents and educators will find plenty here too. We challenge the myth that quiet equals learning and offer simple shifts for kids who think better in motion or speak answers before they write them. With stories of confidence-building, one-on-one support, and learning through creativity, we make a case for classrooms—and homes—that honor different brains. And threaded through everything is gratitude: the daily choice that slows time, deepens connection, and makes space for legacy without clinging to it. If this conversation moves you, follow along for more stories, practical tools, and guest insights this season. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs gentle courage today, and leave a review to help others find this space. Then tell us: which moment lit a new path for your healing? Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    51 min

  7. 06/26/2025

    What if ADHD, Autism, and OCD Were Actually Superpowers? with Dr. Robert Melillo

    Send us a text It's Therapy Thursday and Season 4's wrap! What if conditions like ADHD, autism, and OCD weren't permanent disabilities but rather brain imbalances that could be corrected? Dr. Robert Melillo, a pioneering functional neurologist with over 30 years of clinical experience and author of eight bestselling books including "Disconnected Kids," joins us to completely reshape how we understand developmental disorders. Dr. Melillo's groundbreaking approach starts with a fundamental insight: most neurodevelopmental conditions reflect an imbalance between brain hemispheres rather than damaged or defective brains. He explains that the human brain develops primarily outside the womb, with right-brain development dominating the first three years of life. This critical period builds emotional intelligence, attachment capabilities, and self-regulation - foundations that can be disrupted by premature left-brain stimulation from excessive technology exposure. The conversation takes a particularly fascinating turn when Dr. Melillo discusses the gifts often associated with these conditions. "Most people that end up with some developmental neurological issue are actually gifted with an area of their brain," he explains. Rather than dulling these talents with medication that merely manages symptoms, his comprehensive Melillo Method aims to balance the brain through targeted physical exercises, cognitive training, nutritional support, and dietary modifications. Parents will find particular value in Dr. Melillo's insights about the brain-gut connection, explaining how brain immaturity affects digestion and immune function, potentially leading to food sensitivities and inflammation. He also addresses how his approach differs from conventional medication-based treatments, noting that most patients begin seeing significant improvements within just weeks of starting treatment. Whether you're a parent seeking answers, a teacher working with neurodiverse students, or someone personally affected by these conditions, this episode offers hope beyond symptom management – a pathway to true neurological balance that preserves unique gifts while reducing limitations. Check out Dr. Melillo's resources at drrobertmelillo.com to learn more about his revolutionary approach to brain health. Links: Website: https://www.drrobertmelillo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-melillo-a287b618b/ Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/DrRobMelillo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertMelillo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/DrRobertMelillo  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drrobertmelillo Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    1h 3m

  8. 06/05/2025

    Mirrors and Perceptions: Do Others See You Clearly?

    Send us a text It's Therapy Thursday Authenticity begins in the mirror, but what happens when the reflection others see doesn't match your self-image? In this deeply reflective conversation, I'm joined by my mother to untangle the complex web of perception, identity, and the courage to be truly seen. We start by examining those uncomfortable moments when we hide parts of ourselves that feel too vulnerable, only to discover these very traits are plainly visible to everyone around us. My mother shares wisdom about doing our best each day, whatever that means in the moment, while I confess my tendency to overthink how I'm perceived by others. The discussion shifts to social media's role in creating artificial hierarchies based on follower counts and polished presentations. We talk candidly about how easy it is to look at someone's professional website or content and assume their life is perfectly together – and how we've both been guilty of making these assumptions about others while knowing the complexities behind our own public personas. One of the most powerful segments explores our community service work, specifically community baby showers we've organized. We discuss the importance of maintaining people's dignity through meaningful giving rather than performative charity. My mother shares heart-wrenching observations from her years working with vulnerable populations, highlighting how even well-intentioned help can feel humiliating when not approached with genuine respect. What emerges is a powerful conversation about staying rooted in purpose over popularity, focusing on meaningful connection rather than validation, and the courage to show up authentically despite the risk of judgment. We explore how family relationships shape our self-perception, with touching reflections on intergenerational wisdom from my great-grandmother to my own daughter. If you've ever felt the tension between your authentic self and how others perceive you, this conversation offers compassionate insight and practical wisdom for bridging that gap. Listen now to discover how aligning your internal compass with your external presentation might be the most powerful form of healing available. Support the show Host Candace Patrice Co-host Janet Hale visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/ visit the store at https://shopessentialmotivation.com/ Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/ To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com In the subject line put EMH Guest Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

    54 min
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4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Essential Mental Healing is a podcast geared towards promoting mental health healing, motivation, and healthy ways to deal with problems around the topic. We will explore different avenues of mental health including but not limited to therapy, trauma healing, beliefs, anxiety, depression, parenting, holistic healing, disparities in communities and mental health and so much more. We will have fun and laugh and get deep and cry but we will do it in love while discussing our journey and others in the most positive way.Visit every other Thursday for a new episode! It's Therapy Thursday!

Information

  • Creator
    Candace Fleming
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Essential Mental Healing
  • Show Website
    Essential Mental Healing