163: The Courage to Understand Mental Illness and Decode Your Body Language with Dr. Carlin Barnes, Dr. Marketa Wills, and Emily A. Francis

Table of Contents

Today we discuss understanding mental illness and decoding our body language.

As we know, a lot of people have been stressed because of the pandemic. Things have shut down, businesses have closed, people have lost their family members or friends, and they’ve been isolated in this environment. We’re all here growing and learning and evolving and trying to do the best thing we can do here, so there’s no shame in saying, “I need help. I’m feeling depressed, I’m feeling anxious, I’m feeling overwhelmed.” It takes courage to step up and admit that you’re struggling and that your mental health is suffering.

My first guests are Dr. Carlin Barnes, a double Board certified and licensed child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, and Dr. Marketa Wills, a board-certified psychiatrist with a master’s in business administration from the Wharton School of Business. They join me today to talk about the social stigma that still surrounds psychiatric problems, and how this, combined with a lack of understanding, perpetuates a national mental health crisis affecting those in need and their families. Dr. Barnes and Dr. Wills provide practical insight to help everyone better understand mental health so that we and our loved ones can be better equipped to navigate through rough times and seek the proper care needed.

My second guest, Emily A. Francis, is a highly sought-after speaker, best-selling author, and wellness expert with an array of education and experience spanning over 20 years. She joins me today to discuss how we can decode our body’s language and learn what it has been trying to signal to us. Emily also talks about how we can use action behaviors to move from the suppression of an emotion to the act of processing and releasing old pains so that we can arrive to the side of the fabulous four–feeling happy, joy, connected, and empowered.

“We shouldn’t shy away from mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are common. One in five adults every year will have a diagnosable mental illness, so it’s something that we all suffer from at some point in our lives–at least most of us. Go and get some help. Go and get some treatment. And don’t be afraid, ashamed, feeling judged, or stigmatized by just saying, ‘Hey, I’m not living my best life. I’m sad, I’m anxious, and I need to go see someone.'” – Dr. Carlin Barnes / Dr. Marketa Wills

About Dr. Barnes:

Carlin Barnes, M.D. is a double Board certified and licensed child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist.

For the past twenty years, she has practiced child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry while delivering quality, compassionate, and excellent clinical care in a variety of settings.

Dr. Barnes is the owner of and psychiatrist at a thriving, diverse boutique private practice located in Houston, Texas. She has previous experience as a physician executive and medical director at a Fortune 100 managed care company.

Dr. Barnes is the co-founder and co-owner of Healthy Mind MDs, LLC. She earned her medical degree from Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard’s The Cambridge Health Alliance.

Dr. Barnes completed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine where she served as Chief Resident. She has received several accolades and awards which highlight her commitment to clinical excellence and dedication to the field of psychiatry.

Dr. Barnes is most passionate about delivering culturally sensitive and quality mental health care to special populations. She is a member of several professional and civic organizations including The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, Zumba, and spending time with her son, Ryan.

About Dr. Wills:

Marketa Wills, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with a master’s in business administration from the Wharton School of Business and serves as a physician leader in a provider-led managed care organization.

She currently sees patients in the student health setting.

Dr. Wills earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital program. In her last year of the program, she served as chief resident.

Dr. Wills has received numerous accolades and awards highlighting her clinical and community achievements.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, she currently resides in sunny Tampa, Florida. Her passions include travel, community service, and the arts.

“Mental health is wealth. Mental health is health. Mental health is what allows us to access our inner treasures and be our best selves. We need our mental health to be good parents, good employees, good leaders, good entrepreneurs, good stewards of the resources here on Earth. And so, we all need to be paying attention to our mental health so that we can optimize our emotional and mental wellness. And if there is a condition, it’s treatable. They’re so easy and treatable, so go get help. Let’s stop the stigma so that everybody can live their best lives.” – Dr. Carlin Barnes / Dr. Marketa Wills

About Emily:

Emily A. Francis is a highly sought-after speaker, best-selling author, and wellness expert with an array of education and experience spanning over 20 years.

Her knowledge of the body, as well as the body/mind connection, is extensive and her commitment to total body, mind, and spirit wellness is her driving force. She believes in a whole body, proactive approach to wellness where balance is the key and kindness paves the way.

Emily is the host of the internet radio show All About Healing on Healthy Life Radio.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Wellness, BS & Masters in Physical Education/Human Performance Concentration.

Emily graduated from the Atlanta School of Massage in clinical and neuromuscular massage therapy and went on to specialize through the Dr. Vodder School North America for a MLD/CDT in manual lymphatic drainage and combined de-congestive therapy, working specifically with lymphedema.

Emily holds a Gold Medal in the US Open in Tai Chi Forms, is a Usui & Karuna Ki Reiki master level practitioner, and has over 300 hours of yoga teacher training. To learn more, visit: https://www.emilyafrancisbooks.com.

“You can inspire change, but you cannot ask for or demand change. You can be the change.” – Emily A. Francis

Check out the videos below to watch our interviews:

Resources Mentioned:

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