Once a month I sit with one of our couples' therapists to discuss Building Healthy Relationships!!! This week I am On the Couch with Akilah Riley-Richardson and we are talking about What It Takes to do Couples Therapy. At Wholeness and Wellness Counselling we offer individual and couples counselling services for adolescents and adults. Reach us at …

If you are part of an intimate partner relationship, you are probably going to be the first person to notice changes in their mental health. How can you help? What should you focus your attention on? How do you begin to have a conversation about your concerns? On this episode of On The Couch, Clinical Psychologist Keshan Latchman and I discuss how …

In this episode of On The Couch, Drama Therapist Karline Brathwaite and I speak about our recent research project "Why You Wanna Fly?" This was a research project that examined how people living with mental illness experience self and social stigma. Stigma is the biggest obstacle to accessing treatment and care. We can all play a part in improving …

What happens when you experience stress? Do you know before you start feeling the emotions related to stress, there are a host of activities occurring in your brain and body? In this episode, Counselling Psychologist Trishsanna Poyah-Rasul and I discuss how we react to stress in our body and how these reactions can affect future generations to come…

On this episode of On the Couch, Drama Therapist Karline Brathwaite and I discuss single hood and how we should feel more comfortable in this status. In the Caribbean especially, there are many social factors that make us feel like we have to be married or in a relationship to be complete, but this is not so. Let us find ourselves as individuals be…

In this bonus episode of On the Couch, my colleague Clinical Social Worker Akilah Riley-Richardson and I discuss how mind reading can sabotage our relationships. You know what mind reading is right? Those times when you know what your partner is thinking so you act accordingly - you accuse them, you jump to conclusions and you act from a place of a…

In this episode of On The Couch, Clinical Psychologist Roma Latchman and I discuss how a person with anxiety feels and ways in which they can control and 'switch off' their anxieties. We understand that dealing with anxiety is a very real battle that people face and it is not an easy one to fight, but it is a fight that you can win. At Wholeness an…

In this episode of On The Couch, Drama Therapist Karlene Brathwaite and I discuss how we can prevent suicide and the signs of a person who may attempt suicide. Remember to really listen to your loved ones, without judgement, and let them know that you want to help them in what they may be struggling with. At Wholeness and Wellness Counselling we of…

In this episode of On the Couch, Counselling Psychologist Trishsanna Poyah-Rasul and I discuss why it may not be a good idea to diagnose yourself based on internet search results. While the internet is a powerful tool which educates and empowers, it can also be the source of great harm. You are a complex human being and no search engine can tell de…

So you have started to build your meditation practice. You have located a comfortable space and the right chair or cushion. You close your eyes or lower your gaze, everything is right ..... except for all those thoughts in your head!!! It’s noisy in there!! What are you to do with all those thoughts? How do you turn them off? In this episode, I dem…

On this On the Couch Episode, Marissa Anya Messiah and I discuss the importance of being proactive about our mental health. Marissa offers 3 practices to help you become proactive about your emotional wellness. Be deliberate of what you let into you physical and mental space!

Dr Crystal Benjamin is a Marriage and Family and Marriage Therapist, and we are On the Couch today talking about Trust and Betrayal in intimate partner relationships. In this 2-part series, we discuss the meanings of trust and betrayal for women and men as well as how they can move beyond it to places of wholeness and healing.…

'On the couch' is back with a must-hear episode for anyone who is a parent, or cares for children in any capacity. Trishsanna Poyah-Rasul is discussing self-esteem, why it is important, and how we can help young people we love to develop a strong sense of worthiness.

Don't let people and situations dictate your pace during the holidays. Be aware of your feelings and give yourself the gift of self-care!

Do you sometimes struggle with sadness at Christmas time? You are not the only one. That time of year could be anxiety provoking and stressful for numerous reasons. Perhaps the memories triggered are traumatic and painful. Maybe you spend this time alone or your family dynamics are disastrous during Christmas. Between the media messages about how y…

Akilah Riley Richardson leads our discussion on Childlessness and Christmas with 5 practical tips for women struggling with infertility. The holiday season may present several emotional triggers for couples working through infertility. The holiday season is usually synonymous with children, and it is common for women to experience invisible grief o…

We are back On the Couch with Clinical Psychologist Keshan Latchman and we are breaking down what exactly this type of evaluation is all about. Many parents are told that their children require a psychoeducational assessment. Do you know what this entails? How can you be certain that your child needs one? It's important that you are an informed con…

Counselling Psychologist Trishsanna Poyah-Rasul of Serenity Counselling and Consulting is on the couch with Tracie Rogers discussing one of the most challenging tasks of parenting - administering discipline. In this 2-part segment, we differentiate discipline from punishment and discuss practical strategies that we can use to engage in deliberate a…

Latest episode of On the Couch with Dr Tracie Rogers

Michele Matthews-Morancie and Melissa Matthews, Co-Managing Directors of MAM Squared are On the Couch this week discussing their amazing programme for girls that focuses on building self-confidence through entrepreneurship. Learn more about this innovative and empowering programme in this 2-segment episode of our weekly video series. Don't hesitate…

In this episode, Akilah Riley-Richardson and I break down the key ways in which couples therapy can help you and your partner heal and grow through emotionally difficult periods. Your partner is neither your parent nor your therapist. Working with a professional to help you move through challenging times is one of the most helpful steps towards hea…

Let's have a candid discussion about self worth and how it's impacted by our relationships, childhood and gender. #offtheauctionblock #knowyourpower

For some of us, the holiday period is a time of joy and excitement; but for many of us, the holiday period is a time of anxiety, grief or sadness. Anxiety at this time can be triggered by a range of stimuli - expectations of others, shopping anxiety, intrusive people, family gatherings that are stressful or perhaps you are reminded of people you lo…

Don't be overwhelmed by the idea of meditation. Start your meditation practice now. In this episode, I take you through a short meditation experience to tap into unexpressed and unexplored emotional pain. Start your healing journey. (Acknowledgement: This meditation is inspired by the work of Thích Nhất Hạnh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace ac…

Drama Therapist Marissa Anya Messiah is discussing Ready for the World, an adolescent group therapy intervention that aims to build emotional intelligence among young people. Learn how creative arts can be used intentionally to build essential coping skills in a safe and experiential group setting. If you are interested in the next cycle of this gr…

Keshan Latchman, MSc. Clinical Psychologist and I are discussing mindfulness as a practice for developing emotional intelligence. Keshan describes mindfulness as an art and a skill that everyone can develop. Learn how a mindfulness practice can strengthen your relationship with your self and others in this video. Keshan will also be leading a Mindf…

This episode I am speaking with Michelle McIntyre about the impact of child abuse on adults. In this discussion, she references The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study) which found that adults with childhood experiences of abuse and other types of trauma were at higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases as diabetes, high blood …

Karline Brathwaite and I are discussing self-harm and depression among adolescent girls. This is a phenomenon that mental health professionals are seeing at alarming rates in Trinidad and Tobago. Recovering from depression and self-harm can be can be a long process. It's important to be gentle and patient with ourselves if we are having these strug…

Your emotional health and wellness will determine how you survive and thrive through 2019. Here are 5 mental health resolutions you can make in 2019!

Many parents/guardians shy away from the topic of sex and sexuality with their children, but you should be their first teacher. If you are not the expert someone else will be!! (Better you than another misinformed child or someone hanging out on the corner!!) Are you concerned about your teens’ emotional health? We are currently screening for 6 and…

Sexologist Onika Henry and I are on the couch this episode and we are discussing a topic that often challenges parents - How do you talk about sex and sexuality with your children? The fact of the matter is that if you are not the expert on sex in your child's life, someone else will be. In this discussion, we highlight why it is important to have …

As you begin getting young people ready for academic success, do not forget that their emotional well-being is essential not just for their success as scholars but for their success as human beings. Karline Brathwaite is On the Couch discussing group therapy for young people. Group therapy is a powerful mechanism to push your young people to be hea…

Dr Krystal-Jane Verasammy and I are discussing self-harm and young people in this episode. Self-harm or self-injury is the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue, done without the intention of suicide. Based on my experience and many conversations with other mental health professions, I believe self-harm to be a silent epidemic among our young…

Dr Krystal-Jane Verasammy is my guest this week and we are discussing depression as it affects women and girls in particular. Dr Verasammy draws on her research and experience as a therapist to describe how biological (related to the body) and psycho-social (related to the social environments we live in) elements can trigger depression.…

We all have an “inner child” – a younger version of our self – that can easily get triggered when there is hurt or conflict in our relationship. If you are not managing your inner child, you may be sabotaging your relationship. In this 2-part episode, Akilah and I discuss how to identify when your inner child is 'acting out' and strategies you can …

Onika Henry and Dr Crystal Benjamin joined me On the Couch for a 2-part discussion on preparing for marriage or a committed long-term relationship. Each of us works with couples and we share key ideas on what makes for a meaningful and emotionally healthy relationship. In the second segment Crystal, Onika and I each offer our #1 tip for growing hea…

Are you having the same arguments with your significant other over and over again? Do you find yourself stuck in unhealthy, hurtful communication and behaviour loops? Akilah Riley Richardson is On the Couch this week and we are discussing 5 Losing Strategies that are often used in intimate partner relationships. You may think that you are doing the…

Clinical psychologist Keshan Latchman is On the Couch and we discuss the many ways in which depression can manifest for men. Men are just as vulnerable to depression and other mental health struggles as women. However, as Keshan points out, we teach our boys and men that sadness is a "soft" emotion, and as a result, it is easy for men to suffer in …

Sharisse Abraham Hosein of Psyched Up About Business: Executive Coaching & Management Consulting is my guest on this week's episode of On the Couch. We are discussing a challenging area for many of us in the current economic climate. Are you managing stress or anxiety in your workplace? Tune in to this informative discussion and learn coping strate…

Karline Brathwaite is On the Couch and the topic is Adolescent Health: A Call to Action. In this 2-part episode, we discuss common causes of adolescent mental health challenges and why it is crucial for us to attend to them. Our teens are facing some of the highest incidences of poor emotional and mental health outcomes with self-harm, depression a…

I am chatting with Counselling Psychologist Trishsanna Poyah-Rasul On the Couch about Parenting Teens. The teenage years are some of the toughest years of parenting for many people. It can be extremely challenging, not to mention scary when we see our teens transition into adulthood. We want to keep them safe and protect them and they seem to want …

Akilah Riley Richardson is with me for this episode of On the Couch, and we are talking about how we handle emotions in our intimate partner relationships. Emotions create a powerful force that can strengthen or undermine the 'couple system'. Healthy couples have heated arguments and stressful interactions; however what distinguishes them from unhe…

A few years ago I was introduced to the work of psychiatrist and trauma expert, Bessel van der Kolk by my colleague Sachelle LeGall-Singh. Bessel's work emphasizes that human memory is a sensory experience or as he would say it, "The body keeps the score". In our 2-part discussion on Trauma and the Body, Sachelle and I discuss body-based approaches…

In this episode of On the Couch, Akilah Riley-Richardson discusses how to overcome self-sabotage in family relationships.

During our festive seasons, addictions are more visible and often very disruptive to family relationships and friendships. Karline Brathwaite is On the Couch discussing addictions and how to support friends and family members who are struggling. In our second segment, Karline gives 4 practical tips that you can use to treat with loved ones struggli…

Clinical Psychologist Keshan Latchman discusses Men and Mental Health with Tracie Rogers in this 2-part episode of our “On the Couch” video series. We tend to teach our boys and men to control their emotions. As a result of these socialization processes, men are discouraged from seeking help when they are facing tough emotions. Is gender socializat…

Wholeness and Wellness Counselling Director, Tracie Rogers and Sexologist Onika Henry continue their discussion on Intimacy, Sexuality and Emotional Health in this second segment. Sex and sexuality tend to be taboo areas and many of us don't know how to begin to talk about it. This 2-part discussion with Onika is a great start.…

We're back 'On The Couch' with Dr Tracie Rogers and WWCS practitioner, Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW. as they discuss -Postpartum Depression. Postpartum Depression is extremely commonplace. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience this type of d…

This week I am speaking with Clinical Social Worker and Couples’ Therapist Akilah Riley Richardson about toxic relationships. We discuss two ways in which people often show up in relationships - as love avoidant and love addicts. These are destructive patterns that can undermine our connections with others, but we don’t have to get stuck in these c…

Dr Krystal-Jane Verasammy is On the Couch as we examine young people and depression. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 33 young people between the ages of 13 and 25 are struggling with depression. Is this a serious problem? Krystal-Jane breaks it down like this: In every Secondary School classroom in T&T, there is likely 1 teen who …