Keep Going! with Amanda and Lisa Plasse

Content warning: This episode discusses the journey of one our guests to recovery with an eating disorder. While this episode, and all episodes of Fierce Conversations with Toby, are designed to facilitate healing for all, some listeners may be troubled by the subject matter.

Watch the video interview here!

Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/

Everything happens for a reason. And five years from now, you'll look back and finally understand that very reason. It's not happening to you, it's happening for you. It will all be okay in the end. And if it's not okay now, then it's not the end."

- Amanda Plasse, today’s guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby

Lisa Plasse and her daughter, Amanda Plasse, open up about their journey through Amanda's mental health challenges, particularly her battle with an eating disorder. Lisa describes the rollercoaster of emotions and treatments Amanda went through over 18 months, leading to a transformative experience with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Amanda shares her future aspirations of graduating with a psychology degree, attending grad school for social work, and ultimately establishing a comprehensive treatment center to address multiple aspects of mental health in one place. Their conversation underscores the importance of open dialogue, reducing stigma, and holistic support systems, providing valuable insights for listeners facing similar challenges.

Some of our fierce topics today:

[00:00] Introduction to Amanda and Her Journey

[07:15] Discussion of Amanda's Eating Disorder

[12:20] Recognizing Signs of Mental Stress in Young Adults

[15:50] Amanda's Decision to Share Her Story on Social Media

[20:22] Amanda's Social Media Post

[29:10] How Society Can Reduce the Stigma Surrounding Eating Disorders

[29:18] Reducing Stigma Around Eating Disorders

[35:10] Amanda's Future Goals

About Amanda Plasse:

Amanda Plasse is going to be a junior this fall at Montclair State University studying psychology. After graduation, she plans to continue onto grad school in order to become a therapist. Her ultimate goal is to eventually return back to school to receive her PhD in psychology and open up her own treatment center that treats various mental illnesses.

Currently, she is a Crisis Counselor with the Crisis Text Line. She is also a Recovery Caseworker with the Red Cross, providing resources and speaking with clients who have recently experienced a natural disaster. Finally, she works at Illuminate ABA as a behavior technician working with children with autism.

She has been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and has been to several treatment centers and hospitals herself. Her hope is that she can help as many people as she can who are struggling because she knows what it's like to truly live with a mental illness.

About Lisa Plasse:

Lisa Plasse is the owner, director, and flute and voice teacher of From the Top Music Studio in Midland Park, NJ, which offers instrumental and vocal lessons. In addition to her work at From the Top, she is also an applied vocal lessons instructor at Columbia University and has produced and directed many musicals, theater workshops, and concert performances. Lisa also composed and played the flute for the theme song for Fierce Conversations with Toby.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Blog post 1 by Lisa Plasse about her daughter Amanda Plasse

Blog post 2 by Lisa Plasse about her daughter Amanda Plasse
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Credits:

Created by Toby Dorr.

Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing.

Theme song:

Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist

Caroline Parody: Piano

Tony Ventura: Bass

For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/