Issuu

#Rallyup2savelives

Mental Health Magazine

WARRIOR & MUSIC ARTIST

PRIANCA RA

MHCA

MENTAL HEALTH CHANGE AGENT

AMANDA FLUDD, LCSW-R MAD

Fancy OPENS UP

ABOUT HER RECENT

DIAGNOSIS WITH

BIPOLAR DISORDER

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

SHANIA KERINA

988 CRISIS LINE

COMING SOON BY: KEERICA BROWN

THE ENCOURAGER

CEOLA J

SPRING/SUMMER 2022 $11.99

Ceo of

SwagHer Magazine

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

OUR FIGHT "the strength comes from being tested by life's unpredictability" ~Matt Lauer

“She is clothed in strength & dignity and she laughs without fear of the future" ~Proverbs 31:25

*The fight of our founder is to save her daughter and anyone else; especially teens who are suffering in silence. As well as her daughter’s journey to survive Bipolar Disorder, her fight against suicide ideations, and the fight for all others who are living with a mental illness.

RALLYUP & SEE WHAT'S INSIDE FOUNDER'S LETTER

10 11

COTTMAN

POETRY CORNER

YOUTH ZONE

NAVIGATING Special Education Services

My CHILD

I NEED A MENTAL HEALTH DAY TOO

988 IS HERE By: KeErica Brown

FASHION

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE YOURSELF?

LOVE YOURSELF BY: TALONA T. SMITH

COVER STORY

TAMARA A. DOPWELL

LEX MORGAN

Vanity Dawson

FRANCHESKA “FANCY” FELDER

TOR WHITE | MWIKALI MUINDI

WARRIOR ZONE

CEOLA J. THE ENCOURAGER

PRIANCA RA

SPECIAL FEATURE

AMANDA FLUDD

MHCA

MAD

THE POWER OF FAMILY

Therapy is Dope

MENTAL HEALTH CHECKLIST

DEAR AMANDA SherVonne Gross

Shania Kerina

SherVonne GROSE

Its Wedding Season

The Reason Why I Like Being a Guest on Podcast

TJ WOODARD

BEAUTY SECTION

Spring & Summer Cleaning for Beauty Products

DR. E’TOYARE MCDONALD-WILLIAMS

Intergenerational Trauma... WHERE DOES IT END? KENDRA HATHAWAY

HEALTH & WELLNESS DRINK YOUR WATER

MENTAL HEALTH MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIBE TO

Digital Mental Wellness... 1 YEAR FOR $12. issuu.com/store/publishers/rallyupmagazine/subscribe www.rallyupmagazine.com

Vol. 5 Num. 2

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

Founder & Editorial Director Nikita Powell-Cottman

Managing Editor: TJ Woodard Asst. Managing Editor: KeErica Brown Associate Editor: Paul Cottman & Vanity Dawson Fashion Director: Kena'I Hollingworth Beauty Editor: TJ Woodard Youth Zone Editor: Lex Morgan Comic Illustrator: RJ Sterling Therapy is Dope Editor: Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R Contributer Writers:

Lex Morgan Vanity Dawson Andrae Hayden Kena'i Hollingsworth Kendra Hathaway SherVonne Grose MFT

GUES T C O N TRI BUTO R

Youth Contributing Writers: Nina Hollingsworth Calaeh Henneghan

TJ Woodard Talona Smith Tynesha "Tyi" Flood KeErica Brown Torre "Tor" White Intern Ebony Columbus

I prioritize my mental health by talking time out of my schedule daily to do something for me (reading, walking, listening to music, laughing, smiling, etc) My favorite food is ..macaroni and cheese This summer I plan to....enjoy discovering the DFW metroplex as a new resident

Copyright © 2021 RallyUp Magazine No portions of the publication can be transmitted, reproduced, or distributed in any form without contacting Editorial Director Nikita Powell-Cottman. All articles have been reviewed and approved by Nikita Powell-Cottman and her editorial team.

FOUNDER'S

Thoughts

As a country, our mental health has been challenged. These challenges go beyond the effects, loss of loved ones, and grief due to the waves of viruses. People are stressed out and living in fear. Afraid of the policeman who is supposed to protect us. Afraid to send their children to school or attend large gatherings; not just because they may become affected with a virus, but there may be an active shooter. I know, the world is filled with so much uncertainty. Honestly, who knows when there will be some sort of stability, or normalcy and limited strife in our world. To cope, we have to start by normalizing fear. It is a natural human emotion that can be triggered by anything. Fear forces us to be cautious, and more careful so “healthy” fear can be a good thing. It is the excessive fear and worrying that can paralyze you. Do not allow the fear to become a part of you, work through it. If you are a believer, give it over to God (1 Peter 5:7). Stop pretending you are okay and internalizing all those thoughts and feelings; instead talk openly about it. This is a tip we provide when we speak of normalizing mental health. Normalization comes from the expectation that we should have moments we are afraid of because it is a normal human emotion, and we should talk about our thoughts; especially when we feel they are dark, unusual or racing thoughts because brain health is just as important as any health. Whereas the invalidating comes when we are told things like “we are overreacting” or “you are crazy” when you express those intrusive thoughts. Let us not reject normalization. We are working hard to remove the stigmas and have created a platform for people to talk freely about their mental health. In our magazine, we are bringing you relatable articles with tips, tools and solutions to maintain good mental health. We just need you to apply them starting with prioritizing your mental health.

Blessings & Love, Niki Powell-Cottman Editorial Director

MWIKALI

New Contributing Writer

Mwikali Words was born and raised for most of her life in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Throughout her life Words has been able to rely on her pen in times of challenge. Her poetry proved to be therapy and alchemy. Through stanzas, she could better understand herself and the world around her. Words discovered that she could transform hardships and heartache through her writing. In 2017, she published her first collection of poetry, Love: Discovery, Recovery, and Relapse. The collection of poems largely focuses on the various stages of love and relationships. The poems tell a relatable story of navigating life and love. Performing her poetry allowed yet another part of her passion to thrive: the stage. Performing poetry through spoken word events gave Words the platform to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration. Extending her creativity beyond film, the page, and the stage, Ms. Words makes and sells unique jewelry as part of The KaliMay Collection (www.thekalimaycollection.com). Mwikali Words hopes to use her evolving creativity to continue to build community and create space for necessary conversations. She believes in seeking a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world as a way of building better lives. RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 7 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

988 IS HERE:

NEW NUMBER TO CALL FOR PEOPLE FACING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS By: KeErica Brown

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 10 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

WHERE

THE BODY

POSITIVITY BEGINS

10 SELF LOVE DAILY AFFIRMATIONS 1. ACCEPTING who we are and what we wear can positively affect our mental health. 2. Acceptance is key! Not what’s acceptable for other people but what’s acceptable to YOU! 3. We believe you should dress HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL not how you feel because you may not be feeling your best so you should f ocus on how you aspire to feel.

5. After getting dressed, look in the mirror and ask yourself. 6. Do I feel comfortable in my clothes? 7. What I’m wearing does it make me feel good or bad? 8. Does my outfit express who I am, my identity? 9. Does it fit my beliefs, ideals or values? 10. Does it signify how you want to be treated?

4. This way you are embodying the positive state of mind you are seeking.

Certainly, there will be times when you want to give up. In those moments, please remember that there is nothing – and I mean nothing that makes you unworthy of love, life, and as many chances as you need to begin again. You may need to begin again with self-compassion when you make mistakes. You may need to begin again with establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries. Depending on where you are in your life, a new beginning may look different. Regardless, you are worthy of that! How will you do that? Amazing question!

Here are a few ideas: Give yourself permission to feel your emotions. Every emotion that you experience is universal. Therefore, you are not alone. Many people have felt or are currently feeling that exact emotion. Identify at least one trusted individual to share your experiences with. To determine who your trusted person is, think about what makes this person trustworthy. Have they honored your secrets in the past? Is this your first time speaking with this person, but you have observed how they honor other people’s secrets and/or experiences? This is an opportunity for you to trust what you know to support you during tough moments and to celebrate your triumphs with you.

Allow yourself to accept the support that you deserve. Be as gentle with yourself as you would be with someone that you care about or love. You are worthy of that. This world places a great deal of emphasis on many things that appear more important than they are. How smart you are, where you live, what kind of career you pursue, and how much money you have do not really matter if you are unwell. You are encouraged to identify one trusted adult to share your experiences with. A trusted adult can guide you in the direction of the support that is most valuable to you. You are one ask away from the support that could change your life.

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 28 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

I NEED A

MENTALHEALTH

DAY TOO By: Vanity Dawson

“Ma, can I stay home today”? My son asked this question early one morning before his attempt to get ready for school. I looked at him and he did not look or sound sick. Instead of giving the typical response, “there is not anything wrong with you so go to school”, I responded differently. “Do you need a mental health day”? And of-course he responded with the quickest yes ever lol. Even as adults, we need a day from work to take care of our mental space. There are so many things going on in our busy lives; work, school, parenting, paying bills, standing at a hot stove when you may not feel like it, running errands or whatever your busy day may look like. If as adults we get overwhelmed with daily tasks, then children can get overwhelmed with tasks as well. That was my approach when saying “yes, stay home” and an approach we can all use. Youth can benefit from a mental day to reset from schoolwork, homework, peer pressure, & chores. Did you know there is a National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day observed by Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administrative (SAMSHA)? SAMSHA found that children prosper in their communities more and develop positive youth development and resiliency when their mental health is observed Youth can suffer from depression, anxiety, fear, overwhelming emotions not knowing how to handle them, and effects from severe mental health disorders and we must support their needs. What can we do for our children while they take their mental health day? A few ideas that work are breakfast in bed, walking around the park for mindfulness, preparing a painting or music activity,

a budgeted shopping adventure, or a movie date with lunch. The idea is to understand what they like and what helps them relax, some may enjoy a day of video games. Video games?! Yes, video games, whatever is relaxing for them. While doing those enjoyable activities, it’s imperative to have those conversations and get them talking to see what is going on. Yes, that is right parents, it is your time to really listen. Are you wondering if taking a mental health day will affect your child’s school attendance? It is always best to notify your child’s school in advance even though I did not the very first time. It is best to call your child’s school and ask what the process is for taking a mental health day. Many schools have a simple process that only requires sending an email with your child’s name and the date they will be out of school. When they return to school, your child can stop by the attendance office to pick up a slip to give to their teachers. See? It is not hard at all. The other beautiful side to a mental health day for youth is perhaps you can take a mental health day from work. Hey, you deserve one too!

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 29 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

THERAPY IS DOPE

THE MENTAL

HEALTH CHECKLIST By: Amanda Fludd

n May we celebrate Mental Health Month, but really mental health is something that requires your attention every day. Particularly right now when we are going through so many things as a community like the recent race-driven shooting in Buffalo, the impact of Covid, and economic uncertainty on top of our daily stressors. I wanted to take a moment to remind you that YOU are a priority and so is your mental health. You probably have taken measures to stay safe physically by wearing a mask, social distancing, or working remotely, but what have you done to prioritize your emotional health? I suggest taking a picture of it, and challenge yourself to do one more thing every day. Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R. Amanda owns a Group Psychotherapy Practice in NY and a Coaching and Consulting Firm. She is ready to support you, speak at your events, and boost the well-being of your organization with over 15+ years of experience in the field. You can find her at: www.amandafludd.com IG: @therapyisdope IG: @amanda.fludd

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 34 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

HERE IS A QUICK CHECKLIST TO SUPPORT YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING DAILY.

DEAR AMANDA

I'm a person who gets overwhelmed a lot because so many people depend on me.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT THEM AND TAKE CARE

OF MYSELF AND MY MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL? Anonymous, Clinton, MD

You have the answer, it's too much, so stop it! The moment you start letting people know your truth, is the moment they start to figure things out on their own, or at least give you a break. Let them know the truth- I'm overwhelmed, I have a lot going on right now, and I can't do it. Practice saying it to yourself first in the mirror if you need to. It's a boundary you'll have to be consistent with until they learn you are serious about your no. While they figure it out, take care of you. Use your lunch break to power nap, wake up a few minutes earlier and journal or meditate, or take the time you gained from saying "no" to pour back into your life.

Photo by: Stanley Morales from Pexels

Amanda Fludd, Licensed Clinical Therapist in NY, Mental Health Consultant and international women in business Empowerment Coach. She helps professional women master limiting mindsets, achieve work life balance and live their lives in confidence. Her passion is working with people affected by trauma, particularly people of color (POC), and she is excited by the opportunities to reduce the stigma around mental health and improve healing amongst Black and Caribbean communities. Her coaching programs focus on work-life balance during crisis situations, understanding trauma in the workplace, tackling negative thinking and productivity and self-care through mindfulness. Find her at: www.amandafludd.com and follow her on Instagram @therapyisdope

Thank you guys for another great question and we hope this interactive answer was helpful to guide you towards meaningful change. Amanda Fludd Therapist & Mindset Coach for Minority Women In Business. Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R @therapyisdope for RallyUp Magazine

Stage

Recovery Clothing ®

To widen my reach on the importance of mental health, Therapy is Dope, my social media platform, was nurtured and used to promote the message of mental health being essential to our lives. In addition, I speak, conduct workshops, and even teach at a school of social service. Sharing this right now, I realize this has become an important mission in my life- the health and success of our people through the lens of mental health.

RUM: Are there any mental health-related issues that you or someone you know experienced that might have led you to become a psychotherapist? Amanda: Honestly, no. I accidentally came

into the ﬁeld. I've always wanted to be in the helping profession, and I thought as a teacher- but my mom said no, they don't make any money. I tried pursuing physical therapy, but chemistry and I disagreed strongly, and chem won. I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a sociology degree and didn't know what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted a break, but God had other plans. He sent a sister in my church to slap me back on track. She told me to keep going and try Social Work. I did and fell in love with assessing, diagnosing, and serving underserved populations.

RUM: Individuals that work in helping profes-

sions (nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists) may experience compassion fatigue at some point in their careers. Have you experienced this?

Amanda: If so, describe that for our readers. There were

some tough moments working in a psychiatric facility for children. Hearing their stories and recognizing their hurt was because of the choices of the adults in their lives or their environment- there were some tough days there. Unfortunately, I didn't have space to take a break because the work was constant, so I think, like most, I worked through the fatigue and the stress to make sure our kids got the care they needed. Eventually, I was over it but inspired by it, and it was my push to move into higher positions to reduce my stress level. Many of us in this ﬁeld learn to compartmentalize or work through it, a few leave, but most stay, but it changes them. Burnout is real, and you see it with irritable people, disconnected from the joy of the job and just bitter. I didn't want to be that way, and I haven't regret

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 44 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

ted my decision to leave systemic psychiatric work for private practice.

RUM: How do you prioritize self-care? What does a self-care day look like for you?

Amanda: It's building it into my schedule, so

it feels a part of life. I get my nails done biweekly, I run weekly and train for races to stay in shape and destress, I try to be consistent with date night with my family, and I plan for big trips and even time oﬀ. It's all about little consistent things and scheduling things down the line. When I see a day oﬀ come up on my phone, I'm shutting it all down! If my nails are looking ratchet, I'm squeezing in an appointment for that day. I'm also good for a midday nap!

RUM: What advice would you give to someone that wants to become a mental health professional?

Amanda: We desperately need providers there aren't enough of us to meet the current mental health crisis, so let's go! BUT, please respect the ﬁeld. Recognize your limits, everyone doesn't need to be your client, and everyone doesn't need to be in private practice. Take your time and get your experience, get supervision, get additional training, and show up as your best educated and authentic self because our people deserve that. RUM: Any ﬁnal words for our readers? Amanda: Life is worth living. God will put the right people on your course to guide you, and if you stick it out, you'll see that so much more is possible. Meantime, keep moving, laughing, and get some rest! Your beautiful mind needs it.

CONTACT INFO: ® ¢ ® ¡

INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA,

WHERE DOES IT END? Kendra Hathaway, LMFT

Intergenerational Trauma or “generational challenges” within families is referred to trauma that gets passed down from those who directly experience an incident that continues to subsequent generations. When this happens, there is a collective pain, healing and work that likely needs to be done. It’s important to remember that although many of us have experienced these types of generational processes, we should also make room for the understanding that with awareness, and being intentional, resilience can exist as well. That means, just like pain and turmoil can be passed down, so can strength, resilience, and channels of healing. Many times, when we go through things, we forget that there is likely someone else who has experienced the same pain, the same challenges, and the same barriers. Yes, someone understands what we might be going through and can possibly help us to have a better understanding of it as well. They might hold the key to success for your family resolution with this problem. Isn’t that something to think about? Picture yourself having an issue and not knowing at all what to do about it, and then someone who loves you comes to tell you-hey, this is what happened to me, and this is what I did. It worked, or I am still working on it. What if the person was able to help us learn, make better decisions, work through situations, and ﬁx our problems? When thinking about this, it seems only reasonable that this is the reason God created families. So that people who look like you, talk like you, have the same lineage as you, and possibly the same challenges you have can help you to navigate a smoother transition through life. In order for this to happen, several things will need to take place: Family members must be willing to work through their trauma in order to help break the cycles. The person who overcame must be willing to communicate openly and honestly in order to help foster channels of healing amidst family adversity. The person needing to overcome must be willing to listen, learn and ask questions relating to the new application. Ultimately, in order for healing to happen. Change will be needed. The healed and the one who needs healing will need to connect on levels that might seem uncomfortable at ﬁrst, but in actuality these connections will help foster trust, understanding, commonality, fortitude, and purpose. If these types of family connections are able to take place, families can undoubtedly dominate over intergenerational trauma, resulting in perseverance, intolerable will, and unyielding strength.

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 45 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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THE GREEN PAGES

Resources

PATRICE N DOUGLAS, LMFT, CAMS-I Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. www.empirecounseling.net

DR. NEKESHIA HAMMOND

Online community providing information for those looking for a place to find healing. www.myeverydaybeing.com mjones@myeverydaybeing.com 202-957-7499 Founder, Marisa Jone

Psychologist and ADHD Specialist Hammond Psychology & Associates, Supports parents of children dealing with ADHD. DrNekeshiaHammond.com Dr.NHammond@gmail.com

COLORADO

CALIFORNIA

FLORIDA

UPLIFT KINGS Support for Men Mental Health upliftingkings20@gmail.com @letsupliftkings

TAKE MY HAND

Therapeutically Beautiful LLC

A nonprofit providing mentorship for at risk male and females youth and young adults to nurture their mental health in hope to reduce the risky behaviors, self-harm, selfmedicating or sadly suicide. www.wefightfoundation.org

MARYLAND

FLORIDA

Alicia-Ann Samuel, LMHC,NCC

WE FIGHT FOUNDATION

MARYLAND

Everyday Being

Individual Counseling, Infant and young children mental health + family counseling, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Parenting training, Circle of Security. www.therapeuticallybeautiful.com : @therapeuticallybeautiful

Help clients heal from trauma and empower them to tap into their infinite God-given potential. www.vanitydawson.com Info@vanitydawson.com Founder: Vanity Dawson

MARYLAND

Dr. Jeffrey Harris, Ph.D Mental Health Counselor Founder of Balanced Healing www.balancedheal.com 321-324-6141 drharris@balancedheal.com Specializes in Children's Therapy, adolescent, individual, couples, and family counseling.

CALEB'S KIDS An impactful suicide prevention and mental health awareness non-profit. Founder & Exec. Director: Keisha Jackson. www.calebskids.org info@calebskids.org

MICHIGAN

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 57 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

GREEN PAGES

KENDRA HATHAWAY, MA, FLE, LMFT

C.A.C.T.U.S. CENTER

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Notably with African American women and young adults who are looking to improve their lives. Positivetransformationpllc@gmail.com.

MICHIGAN

(586) 551-2757

NEW JERSEY

AMANDA FLUDD, LCSW-R

Treating issues such as anger management, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, depression, sexual deviance through individual and family counseling. www.cactuscenternj.com cactuscenternj@gmail.com

Afro Caribbean Clinical Social Worker Trauma Treatment, DBT, Mindfulness Practice Kensho Psychotherapy Services, LLC. 41a W Merrick Rd #2, Valley Stream, NY 11580

NEW YORK

Peace and Prosperity Professional Coaching Jason Phillips, MSW Licensed Therapist and Life Coach. www.pnpcoach.com info@pncoach.com

TOTALITY OF A WOMAN

NEW YORK

Organization that takes a 360-degree approach focusing on the wellness of women, me and children. www.TotalityofaWoman.com Info@TotalityofaWomen.com TotalityofaWomen@gmail.com Founder, Stephanie Carnegie

Let’s Talk About It Tamara Dopwell Trauma Informed Counseling for adults. www.letstalkaboutitinc.com

NEW YORK

RWENSHAUN MILLER, MA, LPCA, NCC

NORTH CAROLINA

Licensed Therapist Dedicated to making mental health treatment more accessible; especially for males of color. www.rwenshaun.com info@rwenshaun.com

RALLYUPMAGAZINE.COM | 58 | SPRING/SUMMER 2022

NORTH CAROLINA

BLACK MENTAL WELLNESS CORP. Evidence-based information and resources about mental health and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective. www.blackmentalwellness.com info@BlackMentalWellness.com

Katrina Leggins, LCSW

OKLAHOMA

K. Nicole Writing, LLC Specialize: I use the CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach a lot and I work with many individuals who battle with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and life challenges. www.knicolewriting.com/

WASHINGTON, D.C.

We Fight Together!

RallyUp Mental Health Magazine is a product of We Fight Foundation Inc. mission is to provide a strong collaborative network of

faith-based and mental health to educate and support youth, young adults, and their caregivers in marginalized communities to cultivate hope, as well as an improved quality and optimistic life. We envision a world where suicide no longer exists and mental health is normalized. JOIN OUR FIGHT TO #RALLYUP2SAVELIVES

Our hope is someone reads our magazine and decide to Not Give Up! If you choose to donate, become a sponsor and/or an ambassador for our magazine, inquire at: For business inquiries, media or to contribute email us at:

info@rallyupmagazine.com

: @rallyupmagazine | : rallyupmagazine : www.rallyupmagazine.com : www.weﬁghtfoundation.org : rallyupmagazine@gmail.com

We Fight Foundation

: 301-852-6454 : @weﬁghtfoundation | : weﬁghtfoundation For an interview email us at: rallyupmagazine@gmail.com Disclaimer: Some articles may be triggering and/or contain content that may challenge your mental health. If you or someone you know has a mental health emergency please call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

YOU

ARE

ENOUGH.

#faithandmentalhealth www.wefightfoundation.org