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IT's Therapy Thursday!!

A doctor once told Tim McDonald he had three years to live. Tim didn’t accept that as the end of the story, and he didn’t try to “positive-think” his way out of reality either. He got curious, asked harder questions, tracked what his body was doing during chemo, and kept building a plan that matched his goals. What unfolds is a raw, practical conversation about stage 4 colorectal cancer, the shock of diagnosis, and what treatment is really like when fatigue, nausea, neuropathy, and scanxiety become part of the calendar.

Tim shares how online patient communities helped him discover an option no one had brought to him early on: liver transplant for select colorectal cancer patients with liver-only metastases. We dig into what the living donor search feels like, why the waiting can be more emotionally draining than chemo, and how hope changes when you finally see a path off lifelong treatment. We also talk about the part people don’t prepare you for: survivorship mental health, grief, and the strange weight of losing friends you met through advocacy and support spaces.

Along the way, we pull out clear self-advocacy lessons you can use right now, whether you’re facing cancer or any chronic illness: get multiple opinions until you believe what you hear, find specialists who know the nuances, and remember you’re allowed to choose your care team. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review. What’s one question you want to ask your doctor after listening?

Tim McDonald is a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor, patient advocate, podcast host, and author. After being diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer in 2020, Tim transformed one of the most difficult seasons of his life into a mission of hope, support, and advocacy. Drawing from his experiences navigating fear, uncertainty, mental health challenges, and survivorship, he now mentors patients, advances cancer research initiatives, and helps others find purpose through adversity. Tim serves as a Research Advocate with Fight Colorectal Cancer, leads the Florida chapter of Man Up To Cancer, hosts the Advocacy at Work podcast, and is the author of From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship into Impact.

https://advocacyatwork.com

https://manuprocancer.org

https://COLONTOWN.org

https://FightCRC.org

https://www.patientadvocate.org/ (formerly PAN Foundation)

From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship Into Impact — Available on Amazon

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Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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It's Therapy Thursday!!

Survival can be the loudest chapter, but the quiet that comes after is where so many of the real questions hit. We sit down with Nerissa Balland, a therapeutic arts practitioner, visual artist, and the author of Canvas of Courage, to talk about what it means to rebuild your identity after cancer, trauma, grief, or any life-altering change that leaves you feeling emotionally disoriented. Her story begins with a metastatic melanoma diagnosis while she’s five months pregnant, and it opens into something bigger: how we carry unprocessed emotion when there are no words for it.

Nerissa shares the line that reframed healing for us: “Broken crayons still color.” We dig into why creativity is not about making “good art,” but about giving fear, grief, guilt, and survival mode somewhere to go. We talk presence over perfection, the pressure to look strong, and what it changes when our kids see us rest, cry, and recover instead of pretending we have it all together.

We also get honest about survivorship, including the guilt of outliving others, the PTSD that can linger, and why “fake positivity” can backfire. Along the way, we challenge modern speed culture and quick-fix self-care, and we point toward tools that actually hold up: asking for help, building community, and using grounding practices like music, movement, breath work, and visual expression to reconnect with yourself.

If this conversation gives you language for something you’ve been carrying, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What’s one emotion you wish you had a safer place to put down?

Nerissa was diagnosed with cancer while five months pregnant. She didn't write a book about surviving. She wrote one about what happens after, and why so many people fall apart once the adrenaline stops. Her work gives your listeners a framework for processing what they've been through, whether they're currently in it or years out.

Canvas of Courage
The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer

Available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble

Art Website

• IG: @nerissaballandart
• Support patient access to Canvas of Courage: GoFundMe

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us Fan Mail

It's Therapy Thursday!

Sex can be joyful, grounding, spiritual, and deeply connecting and it can also be wrapped in pressure, shame, secrecy, and survival. We go there with honesty, starting from everyday body image and self-talk, then opening up a bigger conversation about sexual wellness, boundaries, and what it means to choose intimacy on purpose.

We break down abstinence vs celibacy in plain language, and we talk about why some people step back from sex for mental clarity, healing, or self-respect. From there, we explore sex as a “spiritual dance,” the kind of connection that gets better when you know your power, communicate clearly, and stop treating pleasure like something you have to earn. We also touch on tantric sex and mindful intimacy, including how slowing down can shift the whole experience from performance to presence.

Then we get serious about consent and sexual shame. We talk about coercion, manipulation, and why “giving in” is not the same as a free yes. We also name how trauma, molestation, and rape can distort self-blame, especially when people feel pressured to stay quiet or when bystanders ignore what’s happening. If you’re supporting someone in an abusive situation, we share why judgment often backfires, why leaving can be dangerous or complicated, and why paying attention to early red flags matters.

If this conversation helps you feel seen, share it with someone you trust, subscribe for more, and leave a review so more people can find Essential Mental Healing. What’s one thing you wish everyone understood about consent and healthy intimacy?

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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IT's Therapy Thursday!

You ever catch yourself studying someone else’s life like it’s a map, then feeling behind when your path doesn’t match theirs? We go straight at that pressure and tell the truth: you can learn from other people without trying to copy their journey. Mom and I start with a small moment that turns into a big reset, standing in the kitchen and realizing the present moment can be enough, even when life is loud.

From there we pull lessons from everyday stories and the internet, including a creator who went viral with a goose named Ducktavious and a man whose terrifying, laced experience pushed him toward faith and a new direction. Both stories point to the same takeaway: what looks like “overnight success” or “sudden transformation” usually has a deeper backstory, and your healing journey will never be a carbon copy of someone else’s. We talk mindset, discipline, resilience, and why trusting your gut matters more than chasing somebody’s formula.

We also get real about family, parenting, and boundaries. We share how feeling misunderstood can shape a child into an adult who over-explains, people-pleases, or fights to be seen, and how parenting changes when you lead with curiosity and ask for the why. If you’ve been navigating school stress, co-parenting pain, divorce recovery, or just trying to be a better parent and a better you, this conversation is for you.

If this hit home, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find Essential Mental Healing.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

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That moment when you realize you forgot to hit record turns out to be a gift, because it means we start raw and honest. My mom (Janet) and I talk through a real communication slip where stress turned into projection, and we show what repair looks like when you actually listen, apologize, and let the other person be heard. If you’ve ever felt afraid that one argument could break a relationship, you’ll recognize the “inner child” energy underneath it and the relief that comes when the adult self steps in to protect connection.

From there, we move into parenting with big feelings: what “defiance” can look like in kids, how emotional sensitivity gets misunderstood, and why comfort often needs to come before conversation. I share what changed everything with my daughter: she can tell me, “I’m crying, hold me,” and once she’s regulated, we can talk. We also get practical about tone, triggers, time misunderstandings, and how to repeat the same boundary without escalating.

We go wider into modern family life and mental health, including Roblox, internet safety for kids, and how to teach tools when you can’t monitor every second. We also talk about healing and therapy language, including how “self-improvement” can turn into a weapon across generations, and why acceptance, recovery community, and belonging matter. We end with self-acceptance, body image, and the reminder that love doesn’t disappear just because someone is upset.

If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a parent or adult child who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Essential Mental Healing.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us Fan Mail

It's Therapy Thursday!!

Grief doesn’t always sound like crying. Sometimes it sounds like family showing up, a party continuing, and a teenager feeling joy while the adults carry the weight. Janet and I start with birthdays and end up in the tender places: losing her mother, what it meant to shield the kids from adult grief, and how certain memories stay fresh even 20-plus years later. We also talk about my dad, the difference between sudden loss and having time to prepare, and the keepsakes that quietly hold love together, from a t-shirt to a necklace to a ring.

Then we pivot hard into the present. Technology is moving at a pace that can make anyone feel behind, and AI is changing how we build, work, and create. We get real about the speed of innovation, why you cannot learn every tool, and how to choose a few systems that genuinely help. We also unpack the everyday money side of modern tech: phone upgrades, hidden “contracts” inside device payments, streaming costs climbing, and the trade-offs behind bundling services. If you care about mental health, boundaries, and staying grounded, this part hits.

Finally, we go where we always go: the messy human stuff. Influence can be used for harm or for healing, and we wrestle with what it means to persuade without becoming manipulative. That conversation turns into our ongoing mother-daughter debate about fence sitting versus picking a side, loyalty, and why listening is the real love language when emotions run high. If you’ve ever navigated family conflict, grief recovery, or big life change, you’ll feel seen here. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Essential Mental Healing.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us Fan Mail

it's Therapy Thursday!

A locked door at an apartment gym shouldn’t turn into a whole emotional spiral but it can, fast. When a staff member snaps “can you not knock,” Candace feels that familiar heat: the need to be right, the need to be justified, the need for someone to admit they were wrong. Sitting with her mom, Janet Hale, she tells the story honestly, including the messy part where calm communication is the goal but anger is what shows up first.

We zoom out from that moment and get into the bigger theme: forgiveness before the offense. Not as pretending something didn’t happen, and not as letting people walk over you, but as a way to stop carrying the fight in your body and your day. Janet shares what maturity has taught her about picking battles, while Candace connects the dots between “my opinion is a direction,” communication that prioritizes understanding, and the question that keeps cutting through the noise: is the battle worth your peace?

The conversation also hits parenting stress and school conflict, where the stakes feel too high to stay quiet. Candace talks about wanting clear policies, consistent rules, and real accountability when it comes to her daughter. Along the way we touch on whole foods vs processed vegan options, lifelong learning, spiritual curiosity, and how tension can live in the body until you choose to release it.

If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head just to prove you were right, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN

Send us Fan Mail

What if the real reason change doesn’t stick is because we’re building on a shaky inner foundation? We sit down with Blaise, a guide who helps growth‑oriented seekers turn spiritual insight into embodied change, to map a path from self-connection to stronger relationships and practical follow-through. His story is raw and hopeful: early derailments, a wake-up into presence, and the steady work of aligning words, energy, and action so people can actually trust us.

Together we trace a developmental blueprint for healing that starts at the ground level: safety and rest through co-regulation, the skill of naming needs, the emergence of will and boundaries, and the heart’s capacity to care for self and others. If you missed a “floor,” adult life exposes the gap—conflict in intimacy, people-pleasing, or the sense of being left out of your own care. Blaise shows how to renovate without shame. Feelings aren’t commands, but they are truthful data; when we let energy move, we stop fighting ourselves and can include both facts and feelings in the moment.

We also dig into how real teaching begins with listening. In Blaise’s groups, everyone practices presence—not just the facilitator. Structure matters so safety scales, and permission becomes embodied when anger or grief is met with respect instead of punishment. He nods to formative influences—Adyashanti’s clarity in meditation and Thomas Hübl’s relational attunement—while offering accessible ways to start: free live meditations, principle-centered practices, and simple pauses like “Why am I talking?” for more honest conversations.

Underneath it all is a grounded optimism. Access to healing resources is expanding, and more people are choosing a light-based mindset that acknowledges pain without being defined by it. If you’ve felt “aware” but stuck, this conversation offers a map and the encouragement to take your next step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s doing the work, and leave a review telling us which part you’ll practice this week.

Blaise helps growth-oriented seekers turn spiritual insight into embodied change and healthier relationships. He brings grounded frameworks for people who feel stuck between awareness and real-life follow-through.

https://www.blaisekennedy.com/

https://youtube.com/@blaisehere?si=bmFBPkV0p0T1lKn3

Support the show

Host Candace Patrice
Co-host Janet Hale

visit the website at https://www.essentialmotivation.com/
Instagram instagram.com/essentialmotivationllc

visit Janet's website https://haleempowermentllc.com/

To be a guest on our show email me at candacefleming@essentialmotivation.com
In the subject line put EMH Guest

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988

Music by Lukrembo: https://soundcloud.com/lukrembo
Provided by Knowledge Base: https://bit.ly/2BdvqzN