Dr. Megan Spencer is a clinical psychologist at Dakota Family Services. She is passionate about working with individuals and their families and highly values the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Spencer enjoys helping people better understand themselves and their psychological functioning. She looks forward to working with anyone who is looking to better understand and/or improve themselves or their children and families. Her practice includes diagnostic and psychological evaluations and individual cognitive behavioral therapy.
Featuring Dr. Megan Spencer, Psychologist, Dakota Family Services
Host Tim Unsinn:
Welcome to Mind Your Mind, a podcast presented by Dakota Family Services, an outpatient behavioral health clinic located in Minot, Bismarck, and Fargo, North Dakota. In this podcast, I will talk with our experts about understanding and nurturing our mental health and wellness. I'm your host, Tim Unsinn. Join me each episode as we explore the intricacies of our minds, decrease the stigma of mental illness, learn practical tips for managing our mental health and wellbeing, and recognize when it's time to ask for help. Join me now to Mind Your Mind.
TU:
Welcome to this episode of Mind Your Mind. Our guest is Dr. Megan Spencer. Dr. Spencer is a clinical psychologist and provides diagnostic and psychological evaluations, and CBT. Dr. Spencer, great to have you on Mind Your Mind. Our topic is building resilience in 10 steps. However, before we get to the topic, let's talk about why you do what you do. Why is this work important to you?
Dr. Megan Spencer:
It's pretty simple for me. I love helping people. I love being a part of their journey and watching them grow and develop into truly the person they wanna be.
TU:
That's awesome. Well, today's topic: building resilience in 10 steps. And it seems like, okay, 10 steps is manageable. You know, if you'd have said 20, I'd have been alarmed, but we'll go with the 10 steps. That works out. So first, what is resilience?
MS:
So we definitely hear a lot of people talk about resilience, but really psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting in the face of adversity, tragedy, trauma, significant stressors. So really resilience is our ability to kind of bounce back. And then really through that process of bouncing back, we can have some personal growth.
TU:
Now on the opposite side of that, because you talked about things that we're able to bounce back from, and sometimes, you know, you hear those things and it seems like, oh, that should be pretty easy to bounce back from, but not everyone handles that stress in the same way. So what is not resilience?
MS:
So resilience is not a personality trait or characteristic. Resilience certainly does not mean an individual isn't gonna face adversity. It does not mean someone won't face stressors because to be honest, no matter who we are, we're gonna face 'em. But resilience is really our ability to bounce back, like I said. And what it isn't is, it most certainly isn't something that only some people possess and others do not. Resilience isn't also you know, ignoring or emotional numbing or pretending that a problem doesn't exist. Right. It's kind of about facing it. But then our ability to overcome.
TU:
All right. So with resilience and not resilience, what are some steps for building that resilience? Now there are 10 of them, so go slow. I'm taking notes!
MS:
Fair enough. I'll try to be as thorough but brief. Right. Okay. So 10 steps. First and foremost, we talk about this all the time, build connections, right? Prioritize relationships with the people in your life that are helpful and bring joy. Not that everything is rainbows and butterflies when it comes to relationships, but this is more about prioritizing and building those special relationships with people that we have in our lives that we, we truly cherish and know that support us and validate our feelings. And so how you prioritize that it, you know, it can look differently. Maybe that's date nights with your partner or spouse. Maybe that is, you know, prioritizing a family game night. Maybe that's prioritizing once a month, get together with your friends. Those things are important. And so cherish those relationships and prioritize. And that's that's number one.
MS:
Number two, we talk about wellness, right? So foster wellness, what does that mean? Focus on your body, focus on giving your body what it needs to manage stress. And so really that's, you know, there's a legitimate reason why people talk about nutrition and exercise and meditation. It's really, in order to build resilience, we have to take care of our bodies through other ways too. And that comes from exercise, sleep; sleep is just as important. And so, yes, that's another piece how you can do that. Mindful journaling, meditation, yoga, or pray, right? That can be another way to foster wellness.
MS:
And so third find purpose. Find purpose and/or help others, because helping others really does give us a sense of fulfillment and it can give us really a sense of pride in ourselves. And so helping others is really a good way to foster self worth. But the other part of that is find purpose. So yeah, find purpose in helping others, but find purpose for yourself. Something that you truly find fulfillment in.
MS:
A fourth one can be, be proactive, right? What that basically means is acknowledge and accept. Whether that is your situation. Whether that is your current feelings, that's okay. Acknowledge 'em, accept 'em. And certainly be proactive in working to find a way to improve not only those feelings, but the situation that you might be in, which also then helps build resilience.
New Speaker:
Another one move towards your goals, right? We always hear people talk about goals, especially with it being towards the new year. But really not only is it important to move towards your goals and be thoughtful about what those goals are and choices that we make along that path. So that's important. Embrace healthy thoughts.
TU:
All right. I wanna say you're listening to Mind Your Mind. Our guest is Dr. Megan Spencer, and we are talking about building resilience in 10 steps, and I believe we're either five or six into those 10 steps, right?
MS:
You got it. So yes. Embrace healthy thoughts. That was number six. What that means is thinking traps, don't get stuck in those. Thinking traps are those black and white thinking, catastrophic thinking, right? Thinking about the worst possible outcomes. So really focus on your thoughts and what's happening.
MS:
Accept, change, right. We all know how important it is to accept change. And with that, focusing on the aspects of change that you can have some control over, letting go of some things that we have no control over.
MS:
Number eight, maintain a hopeful outlook. So again, that positive; again, it's not pretending everything is rainbows and butterflies, but truly finding the hope, finding meaning. Look past that initial stressor.
MS:
Two left! Number nine: learn from your past, right? We don't wanna focus on our past, but we certainly can take a look back and learn from things that we really did well and things that we maybe didn't do so well.
MS:
And last seek help. Always. If you're finding that you've taken some of these steps, you really feel like you're still struggling with that particular stressor or a chain of stressors that kind of keep coming back, get help. Whether that be a friend, a parent, a mental health professional, your primary care, a religious person, really truly reaching out is seeking help.
TU:
Right. Don't be so prideful. Ask for help. That's I think that of all the 10, I think that was for me, the biggest one is to ask for help. Don't don't think you can conquer it on your own You know, sometimes we bounce back pretty quickly on our own, but maybe it was something really traumatic in our life, so ask for help.
MS:
Absolutely.
TU:
Well, thank you so much for listening to Mind Your Mind. Our guest has been Dr. Megan Spencer, and before we wrap up, we always have that one last question. And what do you do, Dr. Spencer, personally, to mind your mind?
MS:
So for me, it's my family, honestly. It's watching my two little girls grow up and figure out the wonders of the world and be excited about things that I forgot to be excited about. So really right now, it's my family and watching my girls grow.
TU:
All right. Number 11 could be look at the world through our kids' eyes.
MS:
Oh, I love it. Absolutely.
TU:
Yes. Well, thank you so much. We appreciate you. Appreciate your time and your talents.
MS:
Thank you.
TU:
Thank you for joining us for Mind Your Mind, a podcast presented by Dakota Family Services. You can't have health without behavioral health. Remember to mind your mind. For more information, links to additional resources, contact information, and much more, go to dakotafamilyservices.org.
People tend to perceive risk as being inherently negative. But for teenagers, risk-taking is a healthy, normal, and important part of growing up. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, Host Tim Unsinn talks to Vanessa Lien, Nurse Practitioner, about creating a safe environment for your teenager to take risks—and knowing when to step in when they start taking risks that could result in serious and long-term negative consequences.;
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In today's episode of "Mind Your Mind," Vanessa Lien, Nurse Practitioner, talks about the many changes occurring in the teen brain. The teenage brain is highly susceptible to stress, but it is also very resilient. Learn coping strategies you can teach your teen to protect their brains and help them cope with stress and emotional struggles.;
Going back to school after summer vacation can be a stressful time for both kids and parents. The transition from the unstructured summer to a more regimented routine can lead to stress and anxiety. Worries about fitting in, bullying, homework, getting to school on time, and dealing with peer pressure are all additional stressors that may weigh on children when it's time to go back to school. In this episode of “Mind Your Mind,” Tim Unsinn speaks with Therapist Falan Johnson. Falan helps us understand why back to school anxiety is common, provides strategies for managing the added stress, and shares resources parents can use to prepare their children for the new school year.;
The grief of losing a friend or loved one to suicide is complicated and can be especially difficult. In addition to the grief, sadness, and loneliness of any loss, people might experience guilt, confusion, rejection, anger, and shame. The stigma of suicide complicates it even more, often preventing survivors talking about their loss or getting the help they need. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, Tim Unsinn visits with Dakota Family Services' therapist, Christy Wilkie. Christy helps listeners understand the complicated nature of suicide grief and how to move through it with compassion and self-acceptance.;
You will be shocked at the seemingly safe places predators can connect with your children online. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, Lucas Mitzel, a therapist at Dakota Family Services, talks about the things you need to know to keep your children safe. Learn the many websites and platforms used to target children, how to monitor their internet usage, and how to talk to your children about the dangers.;
Pregnancy and the birth of a child can be a joyous and exciting time, but some women struggle with their mental health as they transition to motherhood. Depression, anxiety, and other pregnancy-related mental health conditions may surface during or after pregnancy. In this episode of "Mind Your Mind," Tim Unsinn speaks with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Megan Spencer. Dr. Spencer helps us understand the common symptoms and causes of postpartum depression, as well as what to do if you think you may be experiencing it.;
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While we hear a lot about autism in the news, many of us still have misconceptions about its causes and symptoms. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, therapist Falan Johnson dispels some of these misconceptions and explains the three levels of autism. Johnson then focuses on the least understood level—high functioning autism. Learn how to identify symptoms of high functioning autism in your child, the importance of early intervention, and ways you can support them.;
In this episode of Mind Your Mind, therapist April Morris talks about boundaries. April will define boundaries, explain their importance, and help you set boundaries that match your values and strengthen your relationships. Learn how healthy boundaries can improve your mental and physical health, and how you can say “no” respectfully.;
Going through infertility tests and treatments can be an extremely difficult and lonely time for couples. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, Lucas Mitzel talks about his own experience. He also shares tips for couples struggling with infertility, and for friends and family members who want to be supportive but don’t know what to say or do.;
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Unsure of whether your therapy is working for you? In this episode of “Mind Your Mind,” our host Tim Unsinn talks with Dakota Family Services therapist Lucas Mitzel about how to make your therapy sessions more productive. Making progress in therapy can often come down to simply having an open mind and a plan for discussion. Although each session can evoke a wide range of emotions, you should always leave feeling that some sort of movement has happened.;
In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and Dakota Family Services therapist Christy Wilkie talk about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its effectiveness in battling unhelpful thoughts and beliefs. Utilizing cognitive restructuring, CBT helps change inaccurate and damaging self-perceptions and perceptions of others, leading to healthier day-to-day thought patterns. Christy also touches on multiple CBT exercises to try at home, as well as some of her own tactics for promoting helpful thoughts.;
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Many people find themselves dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety in their daily lives. However, there are plenty of simple strategies to help regulate these emotions. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn talks with therapist Sandy Richter about various coping exercises to help you regulate and calm yourself, including breathing and movement exercises for both children and adults.;
Medication can affect people in many different ways. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and psychiatric nurse practitioner Amanda Daggett talk about genetic testing and its use in discerning how different individuals might react to various medications. Tim and Amanda also touch on some of the facts and myths surrounding genetic testing, including what testing can and can’t indicate and where the science is currently at.;
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems people face. However, there are many ways to manage and understand it. On this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and therapist Lucas Mitzel discuss what causes anxiety and how it can affect people’s day-to-day lives, as well as the difference between anxiety and fear and how to combat chronic anxiety with grounding techniques.;
In this special Community Chat episode of Mind Your Mind, Psychologist Megan Spencer and Psychiatrist Wayne Martinsen discuss how loneliness and social isolation are increasing in our country, as well as what that means for individuals’ health in the long term. They also give advice on how to get yourself or your loved ones more connected with others, including how to connect both in-person and online.;
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When our children are struggling with their mental health, it can be hard knowing how to help them. However, in addition to therapy, medication can be a viable and effective option for improving your child’s mental health. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, our host Tim Unsinn talks with psychiatric mental health nurse Amanda Daggett about how to know if your child needs medication, what the process is for a prescription, and how to tell if their medication is right for them.;
Did you know that depression occurs in about 15% of children? In this episode of Mind Your Mind, our host Tim Unsinn talks with Psychiatrist Dr. Wayne Martinsen about depression in kids and adolescents, including signs of depression to look out for and how to know when to reach out to a care provider. They also touch on how to know whether your child’s sadness is caused by depression or other external factors and what you can do to try and prevent depression in your child.;
It can be difficult knowing how to recognize and treat depression in children and adolescents. In this special community chat episode of Mind Your Mind, Psychologist Megan Spencer and Therapist April Morris discuss signs of depression to look out for, including both behavioral and physical signs that your child may be depressed. They also touch on the influence of environment, physical illnesses or diagnoses, and genetics on children’s mental health.;
While often perceived as only relating to those who’ve experienced warfare, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect anyone. In this special Community Chat episode of Mind Your Mind, Psychologist Dr. Hannah Baczynski and therapist Lucas Mitzel explain what trauma is, how it affects each person differently, and when to seek treatment for trauma-related symptoms. They also discuss different treatment options for PTSD, touching on the pros and cons of each.;
Though autism is one of the most commonly discussed mental health diagnoses in the community, it is often one of the most misunderstood. In this special Community Chat episode of Mind Your Mind, therapists Lucas Mitzel and Falan Johnson discuss what autism is, how it appears in children and adolescents, and how it may look different between individuals. They also touch on how autism can show up differently in boys than in girls and offer intervention tips for parents and caregivers.;