S2E23 The One About Self-Talk

Today I spoke with Leigh Skvarla, National certified counselor and advisor to Minding the Gap. We focus on her work around self-talk as well as checking in on the state of ballet companies and dancing mothers.

We dive deep into what self-talk is, what is “good vs. bad” (it’s not what you might think!), how it affects us in and out of the studio, and how parents, teachers, and other dance leaders can facilitate productive self-talk, not just for performance, but for life!

We also touch on a very hot topic these days in the dance world…dancing mothers. Advocacy for you and your child’s rights, getting back to dancing and making sure you have the right team around you.

Leigh Skvarla is a licensed professional counselor who holds a Ph.D. in Sport & Exercise Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling from West Virginia University. An honors graduate of Bucknell University, Leigh now lives and works in western Pennsylvania, and serves as the co-founder of The Center for Grit and Growth and an associate advisor for Minding the Gap.

To connect with Leigh, check her out here:

The Center for Grit and Growth (co-founder):

Website - https://thecenterforgritandgrowth.com

Instagram - @the_center_for_grit_and_growth

Minding the Gap (affiliate/adviser):

Website - https://www.wearemindingthegap.org/

Instagram - @we.are.minding

Please remember that I am not a mental health professional, and anything you hear me say on the show is based on my personal experience and perspectives, and should not be considered medical advice. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use any of the content to diagnose you or anyone else of any mental or health condition.

If you are in crisis, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. To find a local MHA affiliate who can provide services, check out https://www.mhanational.org/

Theme music is, "A Journey" by Kevin Hartnell It has been edited and reproduced under the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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