Heart and Practice: Heart-lead conversations about mental health

Dr. Lakesha Roney
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health

Heart and Practice Inc. blends a mission-driven speaking practice with a practical, heart-led podcast to equip educators, counselors, and teams with evidence-informed tools for wellbeing, trauma-informed care, and inclusive practice.

  1. Sep 9

    Co-Parenting with Heart: Collaboration without Losing Yourself

    Season 2 closes out with a conversation that is close to home. Host Dr. Lakesha Roney is joined by Jamal Kelly, a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and her coparent for their son Cairo, to talk about coparenting in real life, not the version people post about. Together they unpack how their communication has grown over the years, what it means to lead with your heart instead of reacting, the personal growth work coparenting requires, and how to raise a child who feels safe, supported, and free to be himself across two homes. They also talk openly about navigating an autism diagnosis, building the right support system, and why protecting your peace and putting the child first has to come before being right. This episode is for parents, coparents, caregivers, therapists, and therapy students who want practical tools for healthy parenting and honest conversations about parenthood, childcare, and mental health. By the end, you will have a simple framework for tough coparenting conversations, scripts you can borrow, and boundary habits that protect your peace. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartandPracticeInc Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartandpracticeinc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartandpracticeinc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581813935336 Dr. Lakesha Roney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakesha-roney-776703389/ Heart and Practice is a weekly podcast exploring coparenting, healthy parenting, parenthood, childcare, and mental health for therapists, caretakers, and families navigating real life together.

    Co-Parenting with Heart: Collaboration without Losing Yourself

  2. Sep 2

    Strong and Tender: The Heart of Fatherhood

    In this episode of Heart and Practice, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with Daryl Fraser, LCSW, owner of Fraser and Associates Complete Therapeutic Services and a father of four, for an honest conversation about the emotional weight fathers carry every day. Daryl shares their journey from growing up in Queens as the child of Caribbean immigrants to becoming an African centered healer devoted to serving Black men, youth, and families. Together, they unpack the myths that keep fathers stuck, the belief that men must only be disciplinarians, and the belief that they must be the sole provider, and explore what it really means to parent with both strength and softness. This conversation covers co parenting through differences, learning to see your child as their own person rather than an extension of yourself, protecting fathers from burnout, and simple tools like meditation and Daryl's own MAGIC framework for staying grounded in mind, body, and spirit. Whether you are a father, co parent, or someone who loves one, this episode offers language, tools, and permission to lead with a strong and tender heart. Listen to more episodes of Heart and Practice on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe on YouTube for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartandPracticeInc Follow us on social media @heartandpracticeinc or @heartandpractice

    Strong and Tender: The Heart of Fatherhood

  3. Aug 26

    Holding It All Together: The Emotional Landscape of Motherhood

    Mothers carry entire worlds. Schedules, emotions, decisions, fears, and hope, often without acknowledgement. In this episode of Heart and Practice, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with Felicia Bowman Chandler, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor and Somatic Practitioner, to name the invisible labor of motherhood and offer real tools for holding both heart and capacity. Felicia is the Founder and CEO of Soul Guided Healing & Wellness, a virtual mental health practice supporting women through anxiety, trauma, burnout, and life transitions. She is also co-host of the Trusting Her Journey podcast. In this conversation, Felicia and Dr. Roney talk about: Felicia's origin story and how growing up with a single mother shaped her path into social workThe three lenses she brings to motherhood: clinical, personal, and generationalChoosing presence over pressure, including her own experience of losing herself in survival modeBusting motherhood myths, including "single mothers are always strong," "struggling means bad choices," and "asking for help means she's not capable"The concept of emptiness syndrome and what happens when identity becomes fully wrapped around motherhoodThe difference between solitude and unsupported responsibilityFelicia's VALID framework for emotional validation: Voice the emotion, Acknowledge the load, Listen without fixing, Invite support, Define what is neededPractical systems for decision fatigue, meal planning, co-parenting consistency, and building a village, even when family isn't nearbyThis episode is a reminder that mothers do not need saving. They need support. Connect with Felicia Bowman Chandler: Website: soulguidedhealingandwellness.com Instagram: @soulguidedhealing_wellness Podcast: Trusting Her Journey, available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube Listen to more episodes of Heart and Practice on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe on YouTube for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartandPracticeInc #Motherhood #HeartAndPractice #MentalHealthMatters #SelfCompassion #CoParenting

    Holding It All Together: The Emotional Landscape of Motherhood

  4. Aug 19

    The Weight we Carry, Supporting Family Caregivers w/ Heart

    Caregiving is love in action, but it can also be exhausting, isolating, and overwhelming for the person giving that care. In this episode, Dr. Lakesha Roney sits down with her own mother, Gwendolyn Goode, a retired educator of 38 years and lifelong caregiver, to talk honestly about what it really takes to support aging parents, navigate Alzheimer's, manage hospice and rehab transitions, and avoid burnout as a caregiver. Together they walk through four common caregiving myths, including the belief that asking for help means failing, and introduce the C.A.R.E. framework: Center yourself, Acknowledge the moment, Respect your limits, and Engage with compassion. Gwendolyn shares real family stories, from the Halfway House to caring for her own father through Alzheimer's, offering practical, heart led ways to stay grounded without losing yourself in the process. If you are caregiving for a parent, a spouse, or anyone you love, this conversation will remind you that you do not have to do it alone. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartandPracticeInc #HeartAndPractice #CaregiverBurnout #Caregiving #Alzheimers #HospiceCare

    The Weight we Carry, Supporting Family Caregivers w/ Heart

  5. Aug 12

    Recognizing the Signs, Responding with Compassion with Chanetta Booker

    Season 2 of Heart and Practice is here, and we're opening with a conversation every caregiver, parent, and mental health professional needs to hear. Host Dr. Lakesha Roney is joined by Chanetta Booker, a resident in counseling with over 15 years of experience in substance use and trauma recovery, to talk about how to recognize when a loved one is struggling — and how to respond with compassion instead of fear. In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ Early warning signs of emotional distress and crisis that families and caregivers often miss ✔️ How to tell the difference between a "hard day" and a situation that needs immediate support ✔️ Why cultural stigma in Black and Brown communities keeps families silent about mental health and substance use ✔️ How to open honest, heart-led conversations with teens, parents, and loved ones — without creating panic ✔️ Practical, everyday tools for checking in and staying connected to the people you love Chanetta also shares her personal journey from working as a cosmetologist to becoming a substance use and mental health counselor, and the real stories from her work supporting individuals and families through addiction, trauma, and crisis. This episode is especially valuable for caregivers, family members, therapists in training, and clinicians supporting clients whose loved ones are navigating addiction or a mental health crisis. Remember: noticing isn't the same as diagnosing. You don't need all the answers — just presence and care. 📺 Watch this episode and more on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ufp8H-mkGNY🎧 New episodes every week — subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit us at: https://heartandpractice.com Connect with our guest, Chanetta Booker (Loving Arms Counseling LLC): 📩 lovingarmscounselingllc@gmail.com #HeartAndPractice #CrisisCare #TherapistLife #NewEpisode #Podcast

    Recognizing the Signs, Responding with Compassion with Chanetta Booker

  6. May 26

    Tuesday Talks: Compassionate Boundaries: Holding the Line With Heart

    What does it look like to hold a boundary and keep a relationship intact? In this episode of Tuesday Talks, Dr. Lakesha Roney explores the framework of compassionate boundaries — a research-informed approach that balances warmth with structure for young people across home, school, and mental health settings. Dr. Roney breaks down how compassionate boundaries: Reduce shame while reinforcing accountabilitySound different in classrooms, therapy rooms, and living roomsHelp young people feel safe, supported, and guided — all at onceWhether you're a therapist, educator, school counselor, or caregiver, this episode gives you practical language and a shared framework you can use today. 🎧 Listen, share, and bring this conversation to your team. Interested in a training, keynote, or joining the podcast? Visit heartandpractice.com

    Tuesday Talks: Compassionate Boundaries: Holding the Line With Heart

  7. May 19

    Tuesday Talks: Conflict Repair Over Punishment: Teaching Resilience Through Soft Skills

    Conflict is inevitable—but punishment doesn't have to be the default response. In this episode of the Heart and Practice podcast, Dr. Lakesha Roney explores how teaching conflict repair builds resilience, accountability, and trust in young people. Dr. Roney breaks down the essential soft skills that help children and teens navigate conflict in healthy, productive ways—including listening, emotional regulation, perspective-taking, and problem-solving. Whether you're a therapist, educator, or caregiver, you'll learn practical strategies to shift from punishment-focused approaches to repair-centered practices. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why soft skills are critical for conflict resolution in schools and mental health settings • Three powerful reflective questions to guide conflict repair: "What happened? Who was affected? What can we do next?" • How caregivers can model accountability and stay calm during difficult moments • Why hard moments don't define us—and how repair teaches responsibility and resilience Ready to transform how you approach conflict? Tune in and learn how to create environments where young people can repair harm, rebuild trust, and grow stronger through challenges. Connect with Dr. Lakesha Roney: Website: HeartPractice.com Follow us on social media for more resources, training opportunities, and keynote speaking information.

    Tuesday Talks: Conflict Repair Over Punishment: Teaching Resilience Through Soft Skills

  8. May 5

    Tuesday Talks: Wellness is more than self-care....it's a shared responsibility.

    Wellness as a Shared Responsibility | Tuesday Talks with Dr. Lakesha Roney Wellness is more than just self-care—it's a collective effort that involves routines, relationships, support systems, and environments that help us feel calm, connected, and ready to learn or heal. In this episode of Tuesday Talks, Dr. Lakesha Roney, founder of Heart Practice Inc., explores what wellness truly means across different settings. Whether you're in schools, mental health environments, or at home, discover how predictable routines, movement breaks, emotional check-ins, and co-regulation create spaces that reduce stress and promote healing. Dr. Roney also shares a practical caregiver tip: keep one steady daily routine that supports emotional regulation and balance. Because at the end of the day, the basics matter—sleep, meals, movement, and downtime. Stay tuned for more insights on mental health, wellness, and community care! Interested in training for your team, booking Dr. Roney as a keynote speaker, or being a guest on the podcast? Visit HeartPractice.com for more information. Follow us on social media @heartandpracticinc on all platforms for weekly Tuesday Talks and wellness tips!

    Tuesday Talks: Wellness is more than self-care....it's a shared responsibility.
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Heart and Practice Inc. blends a mission-driven speaking practice with a practical, heart-led podcast to equip educators, counselors, and teams with evidence-informed tools for wellbeing, trauma-informed care, and inclusive practice.

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