I would like to introduce you all to Dr. Raé Nicole Lundy! She is a licensed clinical psychologist, mental health activist, higher education administrator, and TEDx speaker. She is working to make sure that we instill self-care into our daily lives as a top priority, which ties into our mental health and well-being, while being inclusive. Our mental health is so imperative. We all want to feel seen and heard. All of our feelings are valid. Guess what? That’s where Dr. Lundy comes in!

“Healthy Hearts Counseling & Coaching was developed in 2018 by Dr. Raé Nicole, which provides mental health services for clients to achieve healthy relationships, emotional balance, and personal goals.”

“After years of working with young people in higher education, Dr. Raé Nicole designed a self-care model of services encouraging individuals to invest time and attention into their mental health. Her work is comprised of methods that decrease stress and guard against mental fatigue.” Recently, I received the opportunity to interview her! Check it out below!

Can you tell us more about your journey and what inspired you to develop Healthy Hearts Counseling & Coaching?

After a decade of service in higher education as a clinical psychologist, I embarked on an exciting new journey by launching my private practice consulting firm. I hadn’t planned on starting my own business, but when former clients began reaching out for services beyond my 9-to-5 role, I thought, “Maybe there’s more.” Initially, it was individual therapy, and then couples sought support. As the word spread about the impact of my work, I expanded into speaking and training for groups, a path that brought profound joy and fulfillment. With this expansion came the opportunity to maximize my impact, touching the lives of many and helping them on their personal growth and well-being journeys.

How does your self-care model of services differ from traditional approaches to mental health?

Most people (even wellness experts) minimize self-care as moments of distraction or escape. With this frame, it’s hard to consider self-care an essential part of life. When self-care is seen as an optional way of “treating ourselves to manicures and pedicures,” it’s easy for folks to dismiss it as too expensive, too timely, or “just not for me.” Instead, my model positions self-care as essential to maintaining overall well-being. I created the C.R.I. – Compassion, Reflection, and Intention – approach to actively and intentionally support one’s overall personal wellness needs. When we give ourselves compassionate permission to assess and reflect upon our specific wellness needs, we can consciously create a plan of action to honor those needs. We can do this in a loving and non-judgmental way that will radically change how we extend love to ourselves. Ultimately, learning to C.R.I. can improve your quality of life. It’s powerful.

What are some of the key methods and techniques you use to decrease stress and guard against mental fatigue?

First and foremost, I value a preventative approach to stress management. If we can embed well-being habits into our daily lives, we can manage stress better in the long run and significantly reduce the likelihood of fatigue. When we focus ONLY on reducing stress, we put band-aids over the problem.

Also, well-being is a personal journey, and what is needed will differ from person to person. 

From this place of individualized care, I ask my clients to consider making initial behavioral modifications. 

Try making small changes in:

1. Sleep hygiene – Stop going to bed with a cell phone in your hand and the night light on. Your body is not wired to rest in that state completely.

2. Eating habits – Reduce “quick” sugar intake (candy or sugary drinks) and increase fruit and vegetables (natural sugars and longer-lasting nutrients).

3. Exercise – Walk or move in a low-impact way for 15 to 30 minutes.

I encourage folks to work with an accountability partner who can remind them to take breaks and have moments of joy. Loving connections are one of the best ways to improve your mood and reduce stress. 

These strategies seem simple, but that’s the key (!): self-care and stress reduction don’t have to be complicated, and it’s often our limiting beliefs about taking care of ourselves that keep us stuck.

Could you share some insights from your experience as a public speaker on topics such as Mental Health Stigma, Trauma Recovery, Self-Care Empowerment, and Diversity?

Speaking truly fills my cup. One of my most memorable experiences was talking to leaders in the United States Army at a global conference in Germany. I discussed the ways self-care can be used as an intervention for vicarious trauma. Our military personnel are often implicitly told that to do their jobs well, they must minimize or ignore their emotions. This prevents them from emotionally processing the (often) traumatic experiences they face, which can lead to detrimental mental health outcomes. It was life-changing for me to see how meaningful they found the content. People want to be seen, heard, and understood. This creates spaces for healing, and when I speak, people feel that healing and well-being are possible. When I hear how meaningful my speaking has been for folks, I know I’m living and walking in purpose.

In what ways do you specialize in self-care techniques that support the LGBTQ+ community, and how do you incorporate inclusive practices into your workshops?

As a psychologist and certified DEIB specialist, I approach every interaction (clinical or non-clinical) from a multicultural and culturally humble lens. We are each experiencing the world from a unique set of experiences that impact our lives. For those within the LGBTQIA+ community, the world can be non-accepting or critical. I use motivational interviewing, radical acceptance, and strengths-based therapeutic strategies to affirm for my LGBTQIA+ clients that they are worthy of living free and whole. I invite clients, again, to seek community. When we see others who are experiencing similar joys and challenges, it improves our outlook on life. It gives us hope. That’s a central component of the work I do within the queer community. 

Movement is also essential for the community. Culturally, the bodies of LGBTQIA+ folks have been “policed.” When queer folks feel safe and free to move, it can release stored trauma. Healing is found in movement.

How do you envision the future of mental health, and how does self-care play a role in that vision?

I think we’re living in a time where many people are at least open to hearing about mental health. You hear people wanting to take “mental health days” and using language associated with wellbeing. This gives us an opportunity to provide education around healthy coping vs. maladaptive coping, e.g., excessive eating, shopping, or drug use to cope vs. listening to therapeutic music, walking in nature, and journaling as ways of healthy release. Self-care can be a HUGE part of changing our relationship with well-being because (at least how I’m framing it 😊) we can begin to take better care of ourselves BEFORE we reach a breaking point. We can model for our children that it’s okay to express emotions, to pause when you need a break, and teach them that in doing so, they and the world they are living in can be a better, healthier, and safer place. I’m excited, and I’m here to serve.

Connect with Dr. Raé Nicole here:

Website: https://www.theselfcaredoc.com/new-page⁣⁣
Instagram: @theselfcaredoc

Thank you so much Dr. Raé Nicole!