Ep 88: Trusting Yourself - A Conversation on Women's Health Advocacy w/ Kara Cruz

JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)**Episode summary: Destiny Davis speaks with Kara Cruz, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in women's mental health, particularly perinatal mental health and perimenopause. They discuss the importance of women trusting themselves when advocating for their health needs, as many experience being dismissed or unheard by healthcare providers. Kara shares strategies for self-advocacy, including practical approaches like symptom tracking and preparing questions, as well as emotional regulation techniques to help clients recognize bodily sensations and navigate nervous system responses during difficult healthcare interactions. They explore how past trauma and people-pleasing behaviors can interfere with self-advocacy, emphasizing that learning to trust yourself is foundational to health advocacy. Kara also highlights the importance of community support through her Women's Support Circle and discusses the need for comprehensive screening for the seven distinct perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.MEET DESTINY: Website / Instagram / BlueSky / YouTube / TikTokMEET KARA: Website / Instagram / FacebookSIGN UP FOR DESTINY'S NEXT LIVE WORKSHOP→ https://www.thechronicillnesstherapist.com/workshops→ READ THE BLOG FOR THIS EPISODEASK DESTINY ANYTHING→ Submit your questions hereFOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS🛋️ Join The Mastermind! (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses)🧭 Get Your Client Roadmap For Navigating Complex Trauma and Chronic Illness (specifically for mental health therapists) (COMING SOON- sign up for the waitlist)**SAY THANKS - Reviews tell the app, “hey, people like this! Show it in the algorithm to more people!” :)💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify**Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.