Jenna Romano Nieva, LMFT #120837

04/19/2018

So grateful for people in the public eye who normalize mental health issues and promote positive conversations around needing and receiving support. How wonderful it would be if we were all more accepting of others’ “stuff”—and our own!

So last night I called out of the show because I had a massive anxiety attack in the afternoon. It had been building up for a while, and while the past month has been incredible, all of the ups and downs and stress and excitement really takes a toll on my mental health. I’ve learned that these situations aren’t something to “deal with” or “push through.” Anxiety and depression are real diseases that affect so many of us. It requires a lot of rest and self care to heal every time it becomes more than I can handle in my daily life. While I hate missing the show for any reason at all, Disney has been nothing but supportive of me as I navigate my life and work, and I’m so grateful to them. Just remember that you’re not alone, your feelings are real, and this is not your fault. Even Disney princesses are terrified sometimes. https://ift.tt/2J5LXUs

04/13/2018

Calling all the single ladies!

Still trying to find The One? If it seems like something is standing in your way when it comes to finding the love you want, my colleague Sharyn Nichols wants to help!

She is offering a special opportunity for individuals to participate in Creating Love on Purpose, a relationship coaching program. To get an idea of what the program offers, click here: https://www.creatingloveonpurpose.com/

Interested? Contact Sharyn directly at sharynnichols1@gmail.com, or message me with any questions!

03/21/2018

Mental health services in schools are not a panacea, but they can make a difference. Though funding needs abound, it is disappointing when schools reallocate funds from such an important intended purpose.

How can we support local decision-making by schools, while also making mental health services accessible to the kids who need them the most?

03/15/2018

"Thank you for that gift."

Performing artists are asked to give a lot of themselves, onstage and off. The courage it takes to be truly vulnerable is tremendous. Frequently, however, artists are pushed to open themselves up in environments that are less than emotionally safe. While working through past trauma via your art can be a powerful experience, directors and actors alike are sometimes ill-equipped to navigate the delicate issues that arise.

How do you make sure that you protect and honor your soft spots? They are what make your work so beautiful, but they do not have to be harnessed in a way that hurts.

03/13/2018

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/07/crisis-touch-hugging-mental-health-strokes-cuddles

"By watching the nerve’s discharge behaviour while the skin is stroked, scientists have learned that the optimum speed of a human caress is 3cm to 5cm a second. This may sound like a diverting snippet of touch trivia, but its application is far-reaching. When a parent strokes a child, for instance, 'they are writing out the script that was laid down by 30 million years of evolution,' McGlone says. 'We are destined to cuddle and stroke each other at predetermined velocities.'"

Our bodies are DESIGNED for physical connection! Touch has a profound effect on our mental well-being. Is such a fundamental need now relegated to a privilege enjoyed only by kids and lovers?

I'm put in mind of the "romantic friendships" of yesteryear--those old-timey pictures you see of friends sitting on each others' laps. Of course, LGBTQ+ individuals are no doubt represented among such photographs, but it is striking that there was a time when physical affection between friends didn't raise any eyebrows. How much are we missing out on if our opportunities for platonic touch are now so limited?

On the other hand, the modern era's sensitivity to physical boundaries has been an understandable and important response to the long history of sexual violations that plagues us still.

Is it possible to make touch safe again?

Strokes and hugs are being edged out of our lives, with doctors, teachers and colleagues increasingly hesitant about social touching. Is this hypervigilance of boundaries beginning to harm our mental health?

03/09/2018

Juggling all of the demands of life takes its toll. Forget about not having enough time to get everything done--sometimes our emotional energy just gets spread too thin.

How do you keep the list of to-dos from sn*******ng so you don't feel so overwhelmed?

Since I started working with the body in therapy, I have found inner resources that allow me to set boundaries with people and focus on each task without feeling out of control. These "boundaries" are not just mental; by learning to actually feel a sense of containment in my body, I am able to keep my nervous system in check while I take care of business.

The embodied mind is an incredible thing! Insane how we have managed to create such a dichotomy of mind and body in Western culture. Let's change that!

Integrative psychotherapy for couples and creatives in West LA

03/08/2018

Teaching psych 101 to high schoolers brings up a lot for me. Though the neuroscience and historical theories are fascinating, I can't help but think about how helpful it would have been if I had gotten more education about emotional health and wellness when I was an adolescent. I've been trying to find ways to respect the course outline of record, while also providing students with some insights and new experiences that might them in their every day lives. Lord knows most adults (myself included) need more tools for managing our experiences and engaging with others effectively.

What do you know now about yourself and the way your mind works that you wish you knew in high school?

03/06/2018

The anticipation is (usually) worse than the fall. Sometimes you just have to open your eyes and jump!