Process the Journey Dr. April Watts

In this episode, Alisa Stamps, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joins me to discuss the connection between reality TV shows like the Bachelor and the Bachelorette and eating disorders/disordered eating. This conversation came about because of Jamie's (from The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart) recent article about her experience with an eating disorder and how that has taken over her life since filming the show. Alisa shares some tips for coping with disordered eating and options for help for healing an eating disorder.  Alisa has tons of experience in this area so I was very interested in what she had to say!

Here are the resources we referenced:


Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings 
The Bizarre and Racist History of the BMI by Your Fat Friend 
Overeaters Anonymous: https://oa.org/ 
Eating Disorders Anonymous: https://eatingdisordersanonymous.org/online-meetings/

Get in touch with Alisa:


https://www.alisastamps.com/ 
alisastamps@gmail.com 
484.416.1160

Also, I briefly discuss an exciting new offering I am launching in September 2020: a 10 week series about Intuitive Eating principles that will line up with the new season of the Bachelorette! This will be a nice, fun intro to Intuitive Eating concepts. You will get a 5 minute video each week discussing a principle and ways to watch out for it during that week's episode of the Bachelorette. We will have contests, journal prompts, and guided meditations all relating to IE principles. Email me if you're interested! april@draprilwatts.com

One more thing: Join our Facebook community to discuss this episode and all things mental health + The Bachelor! http://facebook.com/groups/processthejourney


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Jamie Gabrielle from The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart recently shared that she has struggled with an eating disorder since she was 14 and since the show, the eating disorder has "taken over her life". On this note, I wanted to bring a guest on that could help provide insight in this world. Brooke Davidson, RYT joins me from Cody, Wyoming to share her experience with anorexia as a teen and young adult. She shares what helped her recover and how she is living her best life now through yoga, teaching, and creative outlets. You can connect with her on Instagram @brooke_being or visit her website at https://brookedavidsonyoga.wixsite.com/wyoyogi! If you are struggling with an eating disorder,  know there is help; please reach out to a local provider and visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for resources.


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Joan Baldwin joins me from  Maine, USA to share her heartbreaking, touching, and inspiring story through miscarriage, a stillbirth with her daughter Maeve, and her joy with her now 2 year old daughter, Vera.

We talk about: 


Arie (former Bachelor) and Lauren’s recent miscarriage
Joan’s journey through miscarriage, stillbirth, IVF, and more
How Joan grieves, heals, and remembers Maeve
Importance of honoring grief and knowing it looks different for everyone
Gratitude for her 2 year old daughter, Vera
Pregnancy after loss
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Photography

You can follow Joan on Instagram @Joancalzone or her jewelry line @Maeve.with.love.designs -- or on YouTube -- Joan & John

We also mention the way that Joan and I met, which is via the Facebook Group Bachelor Nation for Social Justice!

Please remember to share the podcast with anyone who might find it helpful and follow me on Instagram @draprilwatts or get in touch with me on my website, draprilwatts.com. 


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In this episode I am joined by an almost licensed counselor and member of the Black community, Gabbi Davis. We discuss:


Current events in Bachelor Nation that pertain to racism

Hannah Brown's efforts to become more anti-racist
The news that Matt James is the new Bachelor


How racism impacts mental health
The importance of confronting racist remarks, especially in groups
Why white privilege is not inherently a bad thing
What is “red lining” and how it’s hurt Black and white people
A few examples of what it’s like to be Black in a mostly white state
Gabbi's thoughts on good vs. bad cops, as a daughter of a cop
How to be thoughtful about donations and why you shouldn’t worry about a tax write off!
Gabbi mentions Ericka Hart @ihartericka on Instagram- they are an activist and great resource
Performative allyship vs. breaking the silence

You can get in touch with Gabbi via email at gabriellendavis@gmail.com, on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Also please feel free to follow me on Instagram @draprilwatts and join our new Facebook community, Bachelor Nation for Social Justice!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bachelornationforsocialjustice/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/processthejourney/support

In this episode, I am joined by a couples therapist, Krysteena Stephens, LAMFT, LPC. We discuss communication and give examples from Listen to Your Heart and from the most recent season of The Bachelor (with Peter Weber). Krysteena shares her thoughts on some of these contestants' relationships, then, she shares some "rules" of communication that she works on with basically every couple she works with:

1. One person talks at a time

2. Repeat what the other person says back to you, to ensure understanding

3. Do not punish the truth

4. Self sooth during conflict

5. Sometimes going to bed angry is okay

6. Aim for a positive feedback to negative feedback ratio of 4:1 

The book Krysteena mentioned: NON VIOLENT COMMUNICATION by ROSENBERG. You can get in touch with Krysteena at Treecitywellnessid.com or on Instagram @krysteenamft. 

We also touch on the civil unrest that is going on in our country today and how these same communication rules could be applied to our current situation. I truly hope this can be helpful; I know I will be trying out some of these things personally. 

You can get in touch with me at draprilwatts.com or on Instagram @draprilwatts. Thank you, as always, for listening. Though we have fun on this podcast... this is important stuff. 




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Lindsay Ralston, LCPC, NCC joins me to discuss the heartbreaking (but relatable) statements contestants often make when exiting the show after rejection-- things like "what did I do wrong" or "I'm never good enough" (we also briefly discuss Hannah  Brown's memorable exit statements when she was on Colton's season of the Bachelor!). Lindsay shares her thoughts about where these statements come from and ways she might help address these things if a client made similar statements. Lindsay is a long-time fan of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, and we often discuss the show, so recording this episode felt familiar in the best way! If you'd like to follow Lindsay, find her on Instagram @andbelovedandbeloved. And as always, you can find me on Instagram @draprilwatts or online at draprilwatts.com -- please remember to share the podcast with anyone who might enjoy it!


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/processthejourney/support