Mental Health Minutes with Melissa

Short, powerful episodes to help you care for your mental health through the lens of faith, nervous system science, and self-compassion. Hosted by licensed professional counselor Melissa Clark, each weekly episode offers tangible tools and soul-grounding encouragement to help you feel more calm, connected, and confident—no hustle required. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, or just trying to show up fully in your life, this podcast will help you move from overwhelm to embodiment, one step at a time.

Navigating Grief and Finding Joy: A Discussion with Mike Nappa 10/20/2023

Discovering Deep Purpose through Divine Connection with Kelly Needham 09/29/2023

Finding Joy Amidst Life's Challenges with Nick Nilson 09/15/2023

Finding Confidence: Breaking Free from Past Trauma 09/08/2023

The Journey from Addiction to Hope with Travis Thompson 09/01/2023

Exploring Soul Care: A Journey Towards Deeper Connection with God 08/25/2023

Navigating Trauma, Movement, and Body Freedom with Alisa Keeton 08/18/2023

Exploring the Brain: Understanding Emotion Regulation and Our Mental Health 08/11/2023

Exploring the Brain: Understanding Emotion Regulation and Our Mental Health Get ready to unravel the intricate workings of your brain with the enlightening insights of esteemed neuroscientist and his handy hand model. Today’s episode will provide a simple yet profound understanding of how our brains regulate emotions and manage our reactions. The spotlight shines on the prefrontal cortex, our brain's master controller, and its vital roles in connecting with others, calming our fears, and creating that crucial space between impulse and action. That's not all. As we continue our exploration of the brain, we'll also touch upon the importance of online regulation and engagement. Don't forget to stay tuned for our next insightful episode, where we continue this fascinating journey into mental health. Resources Here are 4 parts of the brain we discussed today, based on a model created by . The brain stem: It controls fundamental body functions such as breathing, eye movements, blood pressure, heartbeat, and swallowing Responsible for the fight, flight, freeze response The limbic stem: the emotional part of the brain, t, the amygdala sounds an alarm, releasing a cascade of chemicals in the body. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol flood our system, immediately preparing us for fight or flight How do we focus our attention How we remember things The cortex is the higher part of the brain. We can call this the executive region - we want this part to remain regulated to maintain a connection with each other. We’ll talk briefly about what happens when we get dysregulated and how this keeps us from connecting with ourselves and others. helps you to manage and mention your emotions It helps with thinking and planning The prefrontal cortex - also called the “master controller”: regulate the body, the ability to tune into someone else, which allows compassion or empathy (what happens when we feel rejected or triggered), response flexibility: allows you to put a space between an impulse and an action, the ability to calm fears - teach your upstairs part of the brain to calm fears Let’s connect: I’d love it if you would leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget – Be sure to subscribe and get new episodes on Have a great week! Melissa /episode/index/show/2a2577dc-bea4-4498-8dbf-a13c53ed2c04/id/27709806

From Self-Criticism to Self-Care: Navigating Body Image Issues 08/04/2023

Mastering Body Language for a Happier, Healthier You 07/28/2023

Thriving through Mindfulness: A Guide to Finding Purpose 07/21/2023

Journey to Wellness: The Art of Journaling and Emotional Regulation 07/14/2023

Flipping Your Thinking Script: A Journey Towards Mental Health and Living Free 07/07/2023

Journey to Understanding and Managing Anxiety: Practical Tools and Strategies 06/30/2023

Breaking Free from the Lies: A Story of Renewal with Matt Lesser 06/23/2023

Discovering the Power of the Female Brain for Better Leadership and Mental Health [ Episode 156] 06/16/2023

Breaking Free from Toxic Purity Culture with Sheila Gregoire :: [Episode 155] 06/09/2023

Deepening Your Connection with God: A Conversation with Greg Pruitt on Hearing God's Voice :: [Ep. 154] 06/02/2023

Decoding the Millennial Generation: A Conversation with Dr. George Barna 05/26/2023

Discovering Unstoppable Happiness Amidst Hardship: Rachel Joy's Story [Episode 151] 05/19/2023

Journey to Wholeness: Emotional Mastery with Dr. Mark Mayfield :: [Episode 150] 05/12/2023

- Rising Above Pornography Addiction: From Early Exposure to Freedom :: [Episode 149] 05/05/2023

Blended Families: Building Strong Bonds and Embracing God's Plan :: [Episode 148] 04/28/2023

Confronting Our Internal Bullies: Unmasking Emotional Toxins and Distractions :: [Episode 147] 04/21/2023

Confronting Our Internal Bullies: Unmasking Emotional Toxins and Distractions :: [Episode 147] Hey friends! It’s no surprise we live in a world full of distractions. We’re often advised to limit time on social media and Netflix. What if social media isn’t the problem? What if it’s covering up emotional toxins poisoning your thoughts? Today’s conversation is with Billie Jauss. We are discussing distractions and emotional toxins (think comparison, people-pleasing, and lies about your identity). In today’s episode, we dive deep into the world of distractions and emotional toxins, discussing how our external distractions often cover up the internal emotional toxins that hold us back from connecting with others and ourselves. Billie and I also explore the dangers of over-volunteering and people-pleasing and how they can lead to a lack of self-care and personal fulfillment. Lastly, we discuss the importance of turning to God's word to remind ourselves of our true identity and purpose and how having Bible verses written down and readily available can help combat negative thoughts and fears. Join us as we uncover the truth behind our emotional toxins and learn how to break free from the distractions that hold us back. Listen in to discover: How distractions are stealing your joy and purpose in your life Why your self-talk matters People pleasing: how it tears you down and ways to quit Creating a plan to discover God’s best for your life Billie Jauss is the author of two books, 'Making Room' and 'Distraction Detox'. She speaks nationwide and hosts 'The Family Room' podcast, which provides practical biblical guidance and challenging motivation for women who want to accomplish God’s best in their faith, family, and friendships. Billie and her husband, Dave, a professional baseball coach, spend the baseball season on the road and the off-season in southwest Florida. Connect with Billie: Let’s connect: I’d love it if you left a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget – Be sure to subscribe and get new episodes on Have a great week! Melissa /episode/index/show/2a2577dc-bea4-4498-8dbf-a13c53ed2c04/id/26605383

Parenting Through Anxiety: Navigating School Shootings and Fostering Resilience 04/14/2023

Parenting Through Anxiety: Navigating School Shootings and Fostering Resilience This heartfelt episode explores the anxiety that arises from school shootings and their impact on parents and children. We discuss navigating our anxiety, promoting mental health, and processing emotions after such tragedies. Our guest, Dr. Jessica Peck, shares her experiences as a pediatric nurse practitioner and first responder in her community. We also touch on the importance of maintaining routines, incorporating fun activities, and fostering resilience in our children. We discuss age-appropriate ways to talk to children about school shootings, using guiding questions to empower them to make a difference. Additionally, we explore the importance of acknowledging our imperfections as parents and opening up to others about our struggles. We emphasize the need to normalize mental health conversations and check in on our children's mental health regularly. Join us as we dive into the complexities of parenting in a world where tragedy can strike at any moment and how we can help our children feel safe and supported through it all. As a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care, over the last 20 years, has engaged, encouraged, equipped, and empowered families to raise holistically healthy kids. She guides parents to help navigate challenging parenting moments to escape shame and stigma with grace, hope, and courage. Listen in to learn more: The importance of emotional regulation and self-care for parents Trauma dumping: what is it and how to avoid it Questions to stay engaged with your kids: How are you feeling about what happened today? How do you think this personally impacts me? What can I do to make you feel safe? What can you do to make a positive difference? Ways to recognize unhealthy anxiety in yourself and your child For the full episode show notes, please go to my website - /episode/index/show/2a2577dc-bea4-4498-8dbf-a13c53ed2c04/id/26528631

The Art of Awe: Rediscovering Enchantment in Our Anxious Lives :: [ Ep 145] 04/07/2023

Healing Body Image Issues: A Conversation with Counselor Rachael Gilbert:: [Episode 144] 03/31/2023

Breathe: Transforming Chaos to Calm with Bonnie Gray :: [Episode 143] 03/24/2023

Healing after Sexual Trauma with Dr. Elizabeth Stevens :: [Episode 142] 03/17/2023

The Journey to Forgiveness with Rev. David Peterson :: [Episode 141] 03/10/2023

Mental Health Minutes with Melissa

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