Human First with Dr. Courtney Tracy Human First with Dr. Courtney

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, LAST EPISODE OF THE YEAR. Dr. Kristen Casey is clinical psychologist, author, and content creator. She’s the founder and owner of a private practice and consultation company. Prior to her psychology career, she was an EMT for 5 years. Her clinical training focused on health psychology, which sparked her interest in sleep, anxiety, and dedication to utilizing modalities that are rooted in science and research. Dr. Casey is most known on social media for providing mental health and wellness content about insomnia, anxiety, and gender/sexuality concerns.

Episode Description and Show Notes:

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Kristen describes herself as a partner, dog mom, connective, and knows all the presidents in order.
Kristen’s why for being in the mental health field starts with her career in the ambulance field
Defining what sleep is and what our brains do during sleep
There are over 70 sleep disorders
Answering the question “how much sleep should people get?” and what brain waves are present during sleep?
Awakenings are normal, the most “normal” sleeper has about 2 awakenings per night
People of color, veterans, and women tend to have more trouble sleeping
She specialized in sleep by accident, and ended up falling in love with it.
If your soul is tired, sleep won’t fix your problem. Privilege plays a huge role in sleeping habits.
One tip is waking up at the same time everyday can be really helpful for sleep regulation
“Nobody’s ever going to take you seriously” and other stigmatizing moments for being a therapist with tattoos
Sometimes the best thing you learn from clients is the opposite of what you learn in school
The nuances of cultural competency and knowing lived experience is completely different
Her purpose in life is to learn as much as she can and connect with people
Most common themes when it comes to having insomnia and how likely we are to get it.
Being able to rest and being able to sleep is a privilege, and your working on your souls energy is key to better sleep


You can find Dr. Kristen Casey online at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkristencasey/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlbIjiVbZ-IzaFN-3FDRWg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drkristencasey

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drkristencasey

Learn more about Kristen's offerings at: https://www.drkristencasey.com/

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation


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In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, we get deep. This episode is about personal loss and suicidality overall so here is your content notice. I am a therapist, a social worker, a wife, a mom, a relatable human, and so much more. Mental health is extremely important to me because I’ve been there. Maybe not in your shoes, but I have been through some really difficult times, and if I can’t relate, chances are I can empathize. Shoutout to my trauma. When I was 10-years-old I lost my mom to suicide and unfortunately, during that experience I saw first hand how stigmatized suicide and mental health challenges can be. So here I am now, adulting like no other, with a passion to break stigmas around mental health and support others along their journey towards personal growth. 

SUICIDE HOTLINE:  TEXT OR CALL 988 (https://988lifeline.org/)



In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Elyce describes herself as a mom to two small kids, a soccer player, and someone who considers herself weird and awkward
When Elyce was 10 she lost her mom to suicide, and she feels the universe was one of the reasons her path included social work
Elyce helps define in her words suicide, loss, and trauma for the HUMAN first listeners
Over 700,000 people die by suicide annually in the world, double than homicide
From her mom’s suicide to now, we have more information on what to look for and how to help
When Elyce’s mom was a good mom, but struggled with her own traumas even though she didn’t look like it.
She describes when she found out about her mom’s suicide and how everything unfolded for her that day
Elyce believes in a ‘one more day’ meaning maybe if we can prevent someone from acting on their desire for one more day we can help them find the help they need even if it’s just in the moment
Her church community stigmatized her mother and those words hurt deeply a young Elyce
Describing the little moments and little ways her mother’s absence has showed up for her in her life
Elyce describes her time in child welfare and how working with suicidal parents had affected her
The area Elyce is most dedicated to is sitting with someone in there pain and establishing relationships to help them through
The balance between the ethical guidelines and clinical discretion of helping clients
The reasons worth living inventory can be incredibly helpful in those tunnel vision moments
Having constant suicidal thoughts shouldn’t be normal, you deserve to receive help and live in peace mentally
Elyce hopes that this conversation gives someone a little more comfort in asking or reaching out for help

You can find Elyce Mandich online at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thatrelatablesocialworker/?hl=en

Learn more about Elyce's offerings at: https://www.bigempathytherapy.org/

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Our guests are two of the most fun people I’ve had the chance of interviewing: Dr. Sami and David! This episode is all about being neurodivergent. David Meer is a licensed professional counselor located in Scottsdale, Arizona. David has over a decade of experience and provides workshops and consultation services to corporate clients and schools in the Phoenix Metro area. Dr. Sami Pieknik is a licensed clinical psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona providing individual therapy to children, teens, and young adults. Dr. Sami has 12 years of experience working to support neurodivergent individuals.She has a background in psychological/neuropsychological assessment, autism assessment, and in working with neurodivergent folks across the lifespan and in a variety of settings including inpatient residential, home-based therapies, community mental health, and in private practice.

Episode Description and Show Notes:

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Sami describes herself as an adult toy collector, musician, and cat person. David describes himself as an empathetic father of two girls.
Sami and David connected on Linkedin and realized there’s a huge shortage of therapists who specialize in neurodiversity
They both feel a responsibility to speak up because it’s easy to stay silent
You have to be careful with what you share about yourself because the stigma against neurodiversity exists even in the mental health space
Sami and David define neurodiversity and affirming in a mental health capacity
Judy Singer first coined the term “neurodiversity” in Australia
Neurodiversity is a biological fact, not an opinion
Neurotypical is considered what society deems “normal” whereas Neurodivergent deviates from what society deems “normal”
Some people meet what challenges what they were taught with defenses
We expect the same behavior for all children just because they are around the same age, yet most of the structures we place around them are arbitrary like sitting still
There are so many different ways people present and the “average” person doesn’t exist
Autistic burnout and trauma is real and underlooked
What kind of levels of support are you providing your neurodivergent clients, peers, or friends?
The double empathy problem: What is it and How do we see it in neurodivergent people?
Seeing people for their whole being, not over generalizing, and listening is the key to affirming neurodivergent people.

You can find Dr. Sami and David online at:

Website: https://www.neurodiversecounseling.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/neuro.pier/?hl=en

Sami IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sami.p/?hl=en

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation




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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Our guest is Cate Jonsson. Cate is a writer, artist, mother and mental health advocate. In 2017 she published her first collection of poetry as an act of healing through creativity, which lead to being invited to teach writing workshops centered on finding your voice and self expression for youth and women in her community. She is currently writing her first memoir and finishing her Bachelor's in Human Services and Counseling.

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Cate describes herself as an artist which is something she struggled with
She has always loved art and poetry which was the basis for her why
Because the kids she worked with showed up, that inspired her to show up
Cate shares her personal definition of creativity
If you feel the urge to create, do it
So much of creating is about observing
Cate didn’t write in her journal for 10 years because she was afraid she would ruin it’s beauty
She didn’t realize that her writing was an act of transforming and understanding her trauma
If we feel something and don’t call it what it is, then we won’t truly feel it
Cate’s therapist who is also an artist lead her to combining art with mental health
Cate describes her calming corner in her home and how it helps her
What writing a memoir feels like when you’re actually doing it
She had always kept things at a surface level but that changed during her memoir writing
Cate reads one of her poems on the podcast!
Finding the words can be hard, sometimes it spills out sometimes it’s forced out

You can find Cate Jonsson online at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/catejonsson/?hl=en

Learn more about Cate's offerings at: https://bio.link/cate

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

Today’s guest is one of my favorite relationship therapists, Patricia Lamas. Patricia is an LCSW, who owns Securely Coupled Therapy, and provides individual, couples, and sex therapy in both LA and NY. She has worked in a variety of different settings and is trained in IFS, Gottman, Brainspotting, and PACT Level 3. She’s a therapy queen.

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Patricia is originally from Spain and that transition was a tough challenge
She describes herself as an “anxious ball”
Patricia’s struggle with her parents divorce and her parentification lead her to her interest in healthy relationship communication
Creating secure relationships can make the world a better place
What are attachment styles?
We are all babies who are trying to attach or reattach
Being wired for connection but also being wired for survival
Loneliness is just as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day health wise
How many attachment styles are there and what are they?
The goal is secure attachment which means 30% of the time your parents got it right
What do these attachment styles look like in adulthood
Is it possible to have ALL the attachment styles?
The goal isn’t necessarily to completely change your attachment style, but to use your understanding of your own to better manage your relationships
Couples need to be experts on interpreting each other
We don’t heal alone. Community and relationships are vital to healing.

You can find Patricia Lamas Alvarez online at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/patricialamastherapy/?hl=en

Learn more about Patricia's offerings at: https://securelycoupledtherapy.com/

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message

This podcast features the founder of Self Decode as he dives into the true way to optimize your life. Joe Cohen,today’s guest, is the founder of SelfDecode, SelfHacked and LabTestAnalyzer is a thriving speaker and entrepreneur that has been independently researching health and science for over 15 years. 

Episode Description and Show Notes:

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:


Joe describes his home that resembles a supplement store and his love for growth and optimization
He realized his body wasn’t working and doctors were not helping, this is where his why came from
Even at 13 Joe was showing signs of being very interested in his health and wellness
Not everything works for the same person the same way
Defining genetics and optimization from Joe’s perspective
Optimizing your health will help your health optimize your life
Life hacking didn’t work for him, only health hacking did
Joe’s company Self-Decode and how it can help people
Health is a complex topic, Self-Decode is here to help simplify the process of understanding yourself on a genetic level
The relationship between genetics and mental health
Using genetics has helped him find out he needs certain things for his body vs others
Joe’s philosophy of expecting 95% of the things he tries won’t work, but striving for that number to go down
Outsourcing your health can be detrimental if you change doctors or change providers in general
Your ancestry can affect your predisposition

You can find Joe Cohen online at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrbiohacker/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8BEtyylhcM1yX_pQ2PNEXw

Learn more about Joe Cohen's offerings at: https://linktr.ee/thejoecohenshow

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada (424) 228-9525

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanfirstwithdrcourtney/message