An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Self Care- This means the relationship we have with ourselves and prioritizing it to the best of our ability- doing something daily to tend to mind, body and soul.
As a part of my series about the “5 Things Anyone Can Do To Optimize Their Mental Wellness”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Deena Manion.
Dr. Deena Manion is a doctor of psychology and a licensed clinical social worker. In her current role Manion serves as the Clinical Officer at Westwind Recovery in Los Angeles. Manion treat patients who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction and teaches them new ways of living a healthier and more purposeful life by improving their mental health and well-being with a self-care approach ranging from spiritual and physical health which can help optimize one’s lifestyle. In addition, patients in her care participate in sober activities like camping, yoga, and hiking put on by Westwind. This approach of substituting drugs/alcohol with group activities with others in the same boat can help improve mental health and gives a recovering addict a sense of purpose. Additionally, Manion explores how patients can improve their mental and emotional hygiene by encouraging patients at Westwind to reduce stress by using mediation and to be mindful of what you are thinking and feeling which can help identify the source of your stress.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
I have been a therapist for almost 30 years since I was 21 years old. I have had a lot of interesting experiences. One that sticks out is early on in my career when I had no idea what I was doing yet…I took a job as a therapist in the Bronx for a mental health facility which treated homeless, indigent clients who suffered from all sorts of mental health conditions. I had a personal caseload of 35 clients and ran groups with 50 plus clients in them.
At first I tried to do “therapy” type groups…I basically went home and cried every day because it was brutal. The clients were miserable, they yelled at me, told me I sucked, on and on. I quickly realized that was not going to work and I needed to pivot…so instead I got creative- I cranked music on a boom box and started dancing…they loved it! I did story time where clients would tell funny stories, tell jokes, do standup comedy acts etc. We played charades, games…we banged on drums I found at a yard sale…we did art projects and sewed clothes in to new outfits…I did anything and everything to create a fun, therapeutic healing environment. Within weeks, all of the clients (there were 200 total) were asking to be in my group! I learned more from this experience and I still incorporate all kinds of alternative therapies in to my private practice and to the clinical program at Westwind.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
When I was 23 years old I worked as a therapist/ social worker with a single mother who was very poor, just had a newborn baby. I basically tried to give her advice about not being so “stressed out” about being a new mother and feeling protective of her baby while on the streets. I had NO idea what I was talking about…either about being poor or being a mother… Later after working with the homeless on the streets and then much later becoming a mother, I realized how I was so naïve about life and the human condition.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Dr. Phil has been a mentor and a huge support person in my career. Words cannot describe my gratitude for him. I met him approx. 20 years ago and have since worked at various treatment centers. When I was going thru career transition, he pulled me in to his office and told me that he follows people, not places, and that he will follow me wherever i land. He is super loyal, helpful and really cares about people. He has been an amazing support and fatherly figure to me. I lost my dad a number of years ago to pancreatic cancer and I know that he would be super proud to know that Dr. Phil is looking out for me!
What advice would you suggest to your colleagues in your industry to thrive and avoid burnout?
Self -care, Self-care, Self-care…did I say Self-care? This is not just bubble baths, yoga and massage…it is anything that nurtures the mind, body, spirit and soul.
What advice would you give to other leaders about how to create a fantastic work culture?
I think we forget how difficult it is to work in any helping profession. Working in addiction and mental health care in particular can attract co-dependent helpers who tend to put others in front of themselves and their own needs. Promoting self-care, team building, adequate time off, humor and fun in the workplace, etc. is critical.
Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. Mental health is often looked at in binary terms; those who are healthy and those who have mental illness. The truth, however, is that mental wellness is a huge spectrum. Even those who are “mentally healthy” can still improve their mental wellness. From your experience or research, what are five steps that each of us can take to improve or optimize our mental wellness. Can you please share a story or example for each.
- Self Care- This means the relationship we have with ourselves and prioritizing it to the best of our ability- doing something daily to tend to mind, body and soul.
- Social Connection- This helps build a sense of belonging and self-worth. Emotional and social support is critical for overall mental well-being.
- Sleep- Lack of sleep can throw off the body’s circadian rhythm and impact overall mood and mental health. Eight hours is ideal!
- Physical Exercise- Causing chemical changes in brain which can boost mood and overall self-esteem and positivity.
- Try something new and go outside your comfort zone to boost your mood and self- esteem.
Much of my expertise focuses on helping people to plan for after retirement. Retirement is a dramatic ‘life course transition’ that can impact one’s health. In addition to the idea you mentioned earlier, are there things that one should do to optimize mental wellness after retirement? Please share a story or an example for each.
Many in the workforce dream of retirement. Some are just biding time waiting desperately for the moment when they finally achieve financial independenceso they can cut ties with their employer. What many of them don’t realize is how much of their identity is steeped in their careers and that their job gives them purpose even if it no longer brings them satisfaction. All too often, they haven’t really thought through their retirement years but have only fantasized about the day they no longer have to wake up early to get to work. What fulfills us as human beings is having purpose in our lives. Living out our golden years is no different…we require a purpose-driven retirement to find happiness and satisfaction. I recommend that as one gets closer to retirement age, give great thought to how you intend to spend your time. Do you have a hobby or favorite pastime? What about a cause, nonprofit, community resource that you care about and could volunteer for? Do you have interests that you could develop into an avocation? Have you ever wanted to learn a language or play an instrument? Plan your golden years BEFORE you retire and visualize how you plan to spend your days and you will have taken your first steps toward a fulfilled and purposeful future.
How about teens and pre-teens. Are there any specific new ideas you would suggest for teens and pre-teens to optimize their mental wellness?
Group therapy/counseling in schools and afterschool programs along with mindfulness meditation will boost mood and social support. It creates community, fun, emotional venting, mindfulness practice and education about the mind/body connection. Schools that have implemented this has had good results overall.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story?
Book: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer is a favorite for anyone and everyone who is searching for inner peace.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I am currently writing a book about mining our childhood patterns and the defense mechanisms we implemented as children to protect ourselves from pain. This will be a self-exploration over a period of seven days with seven steps to emotional freedom.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Westwind Recovery
Drdeenatherapy
This was really meaningful! Thank you so much for your time.
Dr Deena Manion of Westwind Recovery: 5 Things Anyone Can Do To Optimize Their Mental Wellness was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.