Kerry: 0:28

All right. Hi everybody. Welcome back to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Kerry Reller, and today we have Dr. Faryal Mallick. Welcome to the podcast.

Faryal: 0:38

Thank you so much for having me.

Kerry: 0:40

Yes, we're very excited to hear everything that you have in store for us today. So, like I always like to start out, why don't you tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do.

Faryal: 0:50

Yeah, so I am a triple boarded child adolescent, adult, and forensic psychiatrist. And

Kerry: 0:57

boy.

Faryal: 0:58

I have a practice in Carrollwood in Tampa, Florida. It's called FMP Family Psychiatry. And I've expanded my practice into a mental health spa which is you know, it's called FMP, mental Health Spa and it is basically a sanctuary for your mind. So I wanted to help people, holistically. And so that's, that was the idea behind it. However, I do see patients for medication management and therapy. And I'm trained in therapy. So I see people virtually and in person. So in person is in Tampa, but I am licensed in florida, Georgia, Kentucky Pennsylvania, Virginia Illinois, and I'm forgetting a state, but yes. In several states. So Oklahoma. So there we go. Yeah.

Kerry: 1:51

Well, that's awesome. It takes a lot to keep up all those licensure. So being able to reach out to such a widespread, you know, population I think is obviously wonderful that you can help so many other people. But yeah, so I've never heard this term mental health spa, so I'm so excited to hear, you know, what that entails. I don't know if you wanna start with your personal journey with, with everything or if you wanted to say a little bit more about that.

Faryal: 2:16

I can, I can start with the spa part of it. So basically the concept was we have so many medical spas opening up and they offer a lot of, you know botox and just kind of like outer appearance things. And so that's where the spa came from. Instead of like calling it a retreat or something like that, I wanted to utilize that term and call it a mental health spa. So it is a spa, but it is for your mind. So it's for your inner beauty rather than outer beauty. And so that's where the spa concept came from. And, and, yes. Kinda, you know, kind of came out of my personal journey. I, once I completed all of my training, I recognized that I was just exhausted and my body was, I was out of shape, but not just out of shape, as in I was at a unhealthy weight, but I was not feeling good. So, you know, I was just not healthy overall and I, I wanted to like, kind of get into self care and I wanted to feel healthy and energetic so basically as soon as I moved to Tampa, I of course got into my own therapy. So I found myself a therapist. And then I I found myself a personal trainer. I don't like working out so that I needed somebody to come and be like, get out of bed and work out. So that's why I got a personal trainer. And thirdly, I started going to this place called Stretch Lab for assisted stretching. And I recognized that all three of those things in combination really helped my body just you know feel good and not just my body, but mentally I started to feel much stronger, much healthier, more available to my patients and family and friends. And so, you know, I recognize that those were important parts of your health that, you know, we kind of ignore. And your mental health, not just your physical health, but your mental health as well. And so that was my own personal journey with it. And I'm happy to answer more questions to help out, like kind of understand why the spa.

Kerry: 4:34

Well, I love that you know, you're able to, you know, share your journey, but also that you went to get help too, right? So sometimes. You know, the, your psychiatry, but do you also use the services? And it's so nice to see that, like it's okay, right to go get help, get your own therapist if needed. And I really love the idea of this. I never heard this like, concept of being out of shape, like emotionally, mentally as well. And I think you're so right, right? So there's the physical shape, but also like the mental health shape and making sure you're in a, you know, safe and comfortable and happy space. So I think that's a, a really interesting way to put it. It's, it's wonderful that you were able to seek out those sources and that you knew that you needed them. Right. Which I think is important. And I really like the idea of the mental health spa too. You're right, everybody is so focused on this outer beauty, but like there's so much inside that could be shared and wants to be improved and make that healthy too, right? So very, very cool concept as well. And so I think that. With your expertise and your personal journey and everything like that, you had this concept that you wanted to share today called like mini vacation. So where did that all come from?

Faryal: 5:46

So again, some of personal experience and some just hearing from my patients friends, other physicians, you know, basically we feel like, oh, we are so burnt out. We wanna go on a vacation. This I learned a long time ago because especially during training, we're so busy, like literally living from vacation to vacation. So I would always, I, I love the beach, so I was always like trying to get away to the beach and, you know, looking forward to my next trip. But I would come back and I was right back where I was. Actually had to catch up on a lot more emails and a lot more work waiting for me. And so I recognize, and, and this was an interesting thing that I landed upon. I started taking pictures and I started taking pictures of nature. And so I would, you know, they say that the best camera is the one on you. So I did have a nice camera, but then I had my phone. So anytime I would see like a flower or something pretty. I would just pull out my phone and take a picture of it. That helped me calm down for just a moment, take a breath and just slow down and be present. And I recognized that that just being at home in my routine, at my work, I was able to take these mini breaks and give myself a chance to recover rather than looking forward to the next trip to get away and find my mental peace. And so that's where the idea came of many vacations. Basically, while we are here at home in the hustle bustle, getting stuck in traffic, you know, trying to rush from one place to the other for parents, you know, work to picking up our kids, to taking them to extracurricular activities for physicians, one clinic to another hospital, wherever we're working. Just rushing, you know you know, so there's just a lot of stress that's created just from daily life and you know, slowing down just where we are gives us a moment to breathe and making that a habit. Rather than waiting for time off or, you know, getting away taking the time once a week, starting with maybe once a month, you know, and then making a routine of doing that once a month to where you slow down, just take a breath and be in the present moment. That was the idea of mini vacations, that you're taking a vacation, but it's just mini while you're still here in the hustle, busle of your normal life.

Kerry: 8:27

I, I, I mean, I, that's not where I thought you were going so I really like that idea. So I think that, you know, I find myself sometimes living weekend to weekend and I think a lot of people do that, right? And maybe that's'cause I don't have the next trip planned or something like that. But this is such a great concept where you can really take that pause and appreciate one where you are present, like you said. But also I like the idea of taking the picture and then appreciating nature and you know, I mean, I think that's a beautiful concept of like taking a picture of a flower or. I don't know what else right now I don't have a great example'cause I don't live in the mountains and I'm thinking mountains. But you know, like you said, the beach or something like that. So I, I think it's really nice to learn to take that pause and appreciate everything. Or sometimes I will find myself taking like a funny picture of my kids for whatever they're doing at the time and trying to really appreciate that moment, especially'cause time is flying. They're growing so fast and quickly and you know, it's getting a little sad as I'm about to donate a bunch of car seats today. So I, you know, it's the same idea, right, of pausing and really being present in the moment. And I guess even capturing it as well, which I think is really nice.

Faryal: 9:38

Yeah, and for, you know, parents, but also just us as human beings, we're always present for other people. Like we take out time for other people, but we forget to take out time for ourselves now. I love getting my nails done. They're done right now. But they have like, getting nails done is a, is a chore that I'm just like sitting there and like, you know, trying to like, oh hurry, can you hurry up and get it done? Right. It's a very uncomfortable seat, so it's not really relaxing and a lot of stuff that do we do just like I do get my nails done botox, weight loss medication, whatever it is, I think it is great. We should be doing and taking care of our outer beauty. But we are also putting ourselves in pain when we're doing that. So it's not a mental relief per se, all these injections and stuff that we're getting to get that outer beauty. And so, you know, that is taking out for time for yourself, but not truly, right? Like we're there for our kids. We wanna make sure that they're good. We are there for partners we're, they're for friends and family, whatever they need, but we forget that our own mental health, our own piece, is also important and taking time out for yourself. I don't know how much you do that over the weekend, but that's another thing, right? Even if you're living weekend to weekend, it's usually like, oh, my kid has like a sports game on Saturday, so I'm running to that. Or we have like, you know a, a thing for them or like a family gathering and where I maybe don't even want to go, but I'm going'cause it's a family gathering, you know? And so that, that also, like, how much time are you taking out for just you being present with your own breath, your own, you know just in that moment letting your thoughts just kind of relax and everything being silent and present.

Kerry: 11:32

Yeah, so I, I'll just share a guess. I am running to sports all the time and things like that, but my moment for myself is more of, I like exercising, so it's probably more that. So I'll make sure to get my run in on Sunday morning and there are definitely days where I don't get to do it. Or I like doing like a leg day workout on Saturday and it just feels so good and at least if I get it done before there's sports, at least I did that thing for myself. And then there tends to be piles of laundry on the weekend, and I will take that time to listen to something that I like to listen to while I do it, unless my kids are hanging out with me and helping but otherwise, I would be listening to a, a, I don't know, a podcast or an audio book or something while I'm doing the folding laundry, and that really helps me do that as well. You mentioned making it a habit, so how can you make, like taking this time out a habit without making it feel like a chore or a checkbox? You know what I mean?

Faryal: 12:28

Yeah. So mindset change, right? We need to make breathing. You know, taking a breath. Now we do breathe. Obviously, that's how we're alive, but slow down and just pay attention to our breath. A, a part of normal living, just how, you know, you're, you're exercising, right? You are drinking water you're eating right. So even all of those activities, while you're doing that. Are your thoughts where you know you are present or are they running to the next thing? What do we need to do next? Or what happened the day before or an hour before? Right, so, so that is where the change needs to happen, is that we pay attention to where we are and making that a habit, it's very hard. It takes a lot of time, but just slowing down while we're doing these activities. Paying attention to what we eat. That's, that's something we do. Right? But we are trying to just stuff, I've done this where I'm going from one location to the other and grabbing something real quick and eating it in the car'cause I just don't have time to eat and I like, are you paying attention to what you're putting in your mouth? Like are you actually smelling it, slowing down to eat it? Even when we're with our family, a lot of families will put television on or at the dinner table, you know, just be paying attention to something else rather than what you're eating. How does it taste? How does it smell? You know? But what is the sensation when you're picking your food up? Right? All of those things and what you're doing, this is just a mindset change that you're actually paying attention to what you're doing, what you're eating you know, so that can start with just the things you already do rather than, adding new things, you know.

Kerry: 14:24

true. Yeah.

Faryal: 14:25

So, so start with where you're at, what you're already doing, and once you slow down and recognize things, you will also want to add other things that maybe, you know, are, and kind of like you said, you're running your, your mind body connection, right? That running your leg day, it's all affecting your mind as well, not just your physical health. Like you said, it makes you feel good, right? But you know, stopping your thoughts from going here and there, just bringing it to that moment what it smells like around you when you're running, how pretty it looks. I know you said that you think about mountains, but literally you can catch the clouds outside. I had a friend with it and she was like, the sky in Florida always looked, be, looks beautiful, right? You just look outside at how pretty the clouds are even when you're driving or stuck in traffic, rather than getting frustrated with the traffic, looking outside, it's beautiful, even though we're stuck in traffic, right? Taking a deep breath of how pretty nature is and just being present less frustrated and just being like, oh, I got this moment stuck in traffic to actually pay attention to things around me and take a breath.

Kerry: 15:36

Yeah, I really believe that you do need to kind of be purposeful about it. I mean, maybe at some point it can become second. Nature, no pun intended. But I, I also find myself, you know, doing those kind of things that you're saying, right? I'll be in traffic or driving to a soccer park or something, and then I'm like, Hey, you know, tell the kids like, Hey, look out the window, look at the clouds, look at the beautiful sunset. Right? So I've tried to include them in whatever I'm thinking when it's something physical to look at, and I think that's important. And you also said something that I discussed with patients a lot.'cause I do a lot of weight management care and I think that, you know, connecting back with the food, right? Like sitting down without distraction, eating, tasting, smelling, taking your time, eating left handed, if you need to, like all those little tricks that make you really realize and enjoy what you're eating, even if it is healthy, right? That it, it is, you can be so much more appreciative and in the moment now. In to admit, I am completely guilty also of what you said. I go from one office to the other twice a week, and I'm shoving it down and I don't know, just get on going. It could be in the car, so I'm totally guilty about it as well. But it's one thing that I know I am not good at practicing what I preach, right. And I try, try, try my best to be intentional about it as well. But it is definitely a great concept, especially with managing you know, food intake and things like that to be, you know, c conscious about what you're doing and really listening on what's going on inside too,

Faryal: 17:08

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And then, you know, once you've added those little things, then slowly maybe taking just half an hour, 45 minutes for yourself to do yoga, right? To you know, get out and like find something. There's so many places now that have this, where it's not just like yoga for exercise. They actually want you to pay attention to your body and just relax. And once you are doing all those things, and also like you have kids, right? And all of them, just like you said, like look outside, you can actually take your kids with you. The sooner they build these habits, the better, right? Up, like taking care of you, picking pay, paying attention to your body. Yes, sports is great, that physical activity and going fast, but then things that slow you down, those are also important. Even if it is like a routine once a week or once a month, there is a few hours that you just leave for doing something mindful. Slow down, like I said, a mini vacation rather than that's like three hours long, rather than waiting for three days that you'll, I don't know, get whatever. Right. For vacation.

Kerry: 18:24

Yeah, I mean even just like a walk outside as a family on the weekend.'cause I can't, we can't squeeze it in during the week. But, you know, I think that is a great example of something you can do as well. So interestingly enough, you mentioned stretch lab and they, we, they actually have one of those in our complex and I was trying to get the owner to come on the podcast, but anyway how do you think that helped you? Would you say it's kinda like the, what you're talking about with the yoga.

Faryal: 18:48

So actually while I was still in training, I started going to a massage therapist in Atlanta. And he would do some, assisted stretching during the massage. That felt so much more relieving than the massage itself, because you get a massage and actually you walk out and you're feeling good and relaxed, and then your muscles become sore right after, you know, the next day you're less like, oh my God, I hurt so with this, this is stretching actually, that's not what happens. It, it basically is, yes, a lot of people know how to stretch themselves, but somebody holding your stretch for you actually helps you release the tension a lot more. They're actually reminding you to take deep breaths as they're holding the stretch for a certain amount of time. We forget, like, you know, we're human beings. We just wanna stretch it quickly and go away. But you know, even when the, you know, what do they call them? flexologists or stretch therapist, whatever you want to call it. While they're, they might be having a conversation with you, but at the same time, as soon as they hold you in that stretch, they're like, take three deep breaths. And so you can't talk. You're taking those deep, deep breaths and paying attention to that. Right. So it slows you down, but also the stretch itself releases a lot of the tension that you're holding. So I'm gonna talk from a mental health standpoint, right? Not so much the physical, there's a lot of physical benefits to it, but from a mental health standpoint, you're carrying a lot of stress in your shoulders. If you have a sitting job in your lower back, you know you're not getting up and walking enough. And if you are, you're just not stretching before it, before your run. Not enough. And so it helps literally release all that stress and trauma. We carry trauma in our bodies. There is a wonderful book, that's the title, the Body Keeps Score and it talks about how your body's keeping all this stress in, in it, carrying it. And so this is a great physical way of releasing it. It is to me more relaxing than a massage and last longer as well.

Kerry: 20:58

Hmm, very interesting. Yeah, I you know, I will say I stretched more than normal this morning and it felt very good and I would think that the, someone helping you also would make it a little less painful when you're doing it as well. But you're right, there's so much more than just the physical benefit from it as well. Yeah. So you mentioned some other simple, everyday like mini vacations that patients or listeners can do. Can you mention some more that maybe might be helpful that they can start today?

Faryal: 21:30

Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, again, like I said take a pause. This, this like evening, right? When you're, when you get home, just take a walk out in your backyard, take your shoes off, just be in the grass, grounded your feet, just touching the earth right directly and just take three breaths, like three deep breaths, and see how that feels to just slow down and be present with the grass, with the ground. Look at the sky, just be there for, I don't know, it'll take maybe 10 seconds, right? Start there. It's very simple, right? That's literally what you can do today. And you know, if you have kids, take them out with you, have them come stand, take three of breaths. We're not gonna talk for 10 seconds. And that builds a habit for them as well. So that's the simplest way to start today, now I, the concept behind the spa and I wanna talk about it, is basically teaching you how to do these things too, right? Meditation gentle yoga, we have somebody that, you know, helps with assisted stretching. You know just doing some arts and crafts with your hands. We don't hydrate enough. I can't say enough to drink more water. And so that's where the IV hydration got added in. And there's so many, you know, places where you can get like an IV drip. Obviously don't wanna overdo it and don't wanna stick, you know, all your vitamins in every single one. Just a plain, you know, normal saline is enough for you to get that hydration and not overdoing it of Course, but drinking water, like with it the first thing that I did in our space was get this like water fountain, installed because I was like, there is no way that I'm not having Open access for people to see one, that there is a water fountain here, that if whatever you're doing, you need to fill up your, you know, bottle and be drinking water. And so that was kind of like the concept behind that encouraging hydration. It says hydrate on it, so, and you have to pass by to even get to my office. So you're seeing it right every single time. So, you know, so, you know, getting the IV hydration and we have an infrared sauna where, the heat kind of penetrates from the inside out rather than like a, you know, like the stone saunas or the steam saunas, which make you sweat a lot. And the guests, again, dehydrate you this. This is a different technology that penetrates into from the inside out so you're not sweating as much and not dehydrating at the same time, getting the same effects of like your muscles relaxing and as your muscles relax. Again, the same concept that you're letting go of some of the stress and trauma, right? Not only the other benefits that you get physically from that relaxation, right? Just the mental aspect of it. And I've actually seen other people do it and I love it. I'm usually, you know sometimes we'll be catching up on just social media as I'm in there, but I have seen people that come in. Just like sit down and meditate in the infrared sauna and take nice deep breaths. And I, I, I'm so impressed with those people that just take that time to, again, focus on their breath and just take that, you know, you don't wanna sit in there for more than 15 minutes. Take that, that, those 15 minutes to relax. And so, yeah, so that's kind of that concept behind that. And then, something that I discovered and now I've added to my stretch and all of those routines is sound healing. So, I don't know if you've heard of sound baths. It's not an actual bath. People hear it and they think that it's an actual bath. Like what is it? No, it's actually just literally bathing in sounds and vibrations. Right? So you know, the concept is using these tibetan bowls and the sound produced from it, the vibration that's produced from it, you know, of course sound is something that we're hearing all the time, right? But these sounds are more relaxing. And not only just that, the vibrations, the way they penetrate again, we're, you know, made of water. And so, you know the water vibrates and it actually stays in there. It's, there's an entire science behind it. I would love for you to bring somebody that is actually an expert on this to come and explain the science behind it, because there's an entire science behind it. And like the vibration actually tends to stay with you, and it is. So relaxing again, you're, you're doing your deep breathing, but also you're getting this vibration through your body and it helps you just kind of calm down for me. One of the things with the bowls is that different frequencies when they're playing those, I have this like different sound going through. Both my ears and my eyes start to move from one side to the other. Kind of like an EMDR effect, which is a type of therapy where, you know, eye movement is used for relaxation and bringing out things that might be bothering you. Right? So they use it for more so trauma, bringing it out and processing and stuff like that. For me in the moment, it's just something that might be bothering me that I haven't even thought about, that that's what's causing me stress. And sometimes I'll cry during the session and let go of whatever it is that was bothering me. Sometimes it's as simple as something like being angry at my partner, you know, for something, and I'll recognize that, oh, that's what like has been like stressing me out. And just be able to literally process that just within my mind and crying and letting go of it. So I, I think that the, that is just an amazing thing, which I have added to my routine, if not once a week, I'll actually take out time once a month to attend one. Just so that I will be able to kind of recognize whatever's stressing me out that doesn't come out in therapy because it's not in my conscious and unconscious needs to be, you know, kind of jolted a little bit. And then you wanna go of Course to the right person who has a lot of experience and knowledge and has done the training on these different frequencies because there's a lot of people that have gotten bowls and there's just, the bowl will play it and not nothing else, but there's all kinds of sound you know modalities and instruments that they add into this and they know exactly what frequency to play. And some people are just gifted and can pick up on where the energy is going in the room and like play accordingly. And so, I'm lucky that somebody from the community had reached out and said, Hey, I actually have this you know, little business that I started. I would love to have like a home for it. She is incredible, like just absolutely gifted. And so I'm so thankful that she chose my space to come in and do this. But it's, you know, I try to incorporate that into every single little mini vacation event that we create so that people can experience that relaxation.

Kerry: 28:50

Yeah, I have heard a sound baths, but I don't think I knew as much, you know, that you mentioned today. So I think it's very interesting and maybe I will try to find an expert on that to come in about that. I know you have a podcast. Have you ever brought the sounds on it?

Faryal: 29:05

So, no, because I don't practice it, so yeah, I don't know how to do it. I'm, you know, I, I don't get into the realms of what I'm not an expert in, but Christine, who is the expert, she and I just haven't had ours. Schedules you know, line up to where I am going to invite her to come and talk about it because she knows the, she is not a physician, she is not she's not trained in anything else except sound healing. But she's just very curious. She had, I believe Hodgkin's Lymphoma is and is a survivor. And she discovered as she was recovering from that, that's when she discovered it is very, was very skeptical and then recognized how much it helped her let go of the mental side of it. And even release some of the body stress and trauma that she was holding with it. And so she went and she does workshops still. Like, I'll be like, oh, do we wanna plan an event this weekend? And she'll be like, I'm actually at my training. I'm just like, okay, wonderful. You know, go do your thing. And so I'm hoping that I'll bring her on so she can actually explain and possibly have some bowls and instruments that she can play during the the actual podcast episode.

Kerry: 30:17

Very cool. Yeah, you should do that. All right. So many high functioning professionals feel guilty about taking breaks. What would you say to them?

Faryal: 30:25

So this is what I tell my patients and my friends. I always say that if you do not take time off for yourself or time out for yourself, not even off, right? If you don't take time out for yourself, your body will do it for you, right? There are so many people that will get sick because they're working too much. You know, focusing on their work and nothing else, and go, go, go for everyone else around them except themselves and people's bodies shut down, they get sick. they'll get, physical ailments and, and it, it will shut down. You'll end up in the hospital, if not in your bed, and then you're forced to take a break. You know, and that break is gonna be much longer and not good. You know, you're not gonna be relaxing during that break. And, and it will force you to take time away from work. And that's what I always try to tell, you know, people, my patients and my friends that, slow down, take time for yourself, like you taking out 30 minutes an hour a day or you taking out three hours, you know, for like a mini event, like a mini retreat. Some, some places are calling it a mini retreat. I call it a mini vacation. You know, taking out that for yourself once a week, once a month, is gonna be way less time investment that you're doing, rather than you getting actually physically sick and your body being like, okay, we're just shutting down. We're not gonna do this.

Kerry: 31:59

How do you see mental health evolving in the future to integrate more of these holistic and lifestyle based practices?

Faryal: 32:06

Yeah, I'm, I'm really excited because so many therapists actually are starting to do that. A lot of them are trained in yoga or you know, yoga trainers and they've started already incorporating even in their individual sessions at time, just like simple yoga movements and meditation and stuff like that. And I'm just like so excited and happy about that, that, you know, everyone's kind of recognizing that these things are important for our mental health and just slowing down and doing small things during our you know, regular life and activity is part of mental health, you know? Yes. Medication gets you to a certain point. Therapy gets you to a certain point, but your physical activity, your body movement, and that doesn't mean necessarily you have to work out. Some people just can't, due to physical reasons or whatever. You can literally be gardening something, planting something, painting, drawing, you know, sitting down, doing that, playing a musical instrument or learning one you know, doing something with your hands. Right. And slowing down to do that, taking pictures, like I said. Right. And that's one of the things that I had done to slow down. I just got myself a camera and started going out and taking pictures to slow down and breathe. And so you know, so, so these things are kind of getting incorporated and a lot of therapists are bringing this up. A lot of doctors and psychiatrists and the, you know, they're bringing it up to your patient, to their patients. That's what I have started really doing. I have to tell a lot of people, Hey, I know you're asking me to get you off this medication, and I would love to have you off of this medication, but then you have to add these other things in your life that are gonna slow you down and give you your mind an opportunity to heal. That's what, you know, medication is giving you an opportunity to actually do that as well. And so slow down can tell, you know, your anxieties come down to where you can come and sit down for, you know, whatever, 30 minutes, an hour to take deep breaths. And so, you know, the goal is always to get people off of medication. Sometimes, you know, therapy alone isn't enough either, right? The combination of medication and therapy isn't enough. And so that's when we want people to come do these things for themselves. And, you know, the sense of community as well in that situation. Right. We had done this, like Little Mother's Day went where there was quite a few mothers that signed up. We were actually overbooked. We created space to get people to like, come because they were asking and you know, just, just to community that was formed that day. People just talking to each other and, you know, recognizing what motherhood is like even for mothers whose kids were grown and out of the house and what that felt like, and then kids mothers, that kids were younger. They were all having this conversation before and after the main event. So especially the sound bath, that really helps people just kind of like access their unconscious. And then afterwards, just that conversation that happened in the sense of community that formed and connection that formed between all those mothers was just beautiful to watch.

Kerry: 35:22

That's amazing. So if some. Wants to take a mini vacation over at your spa, how do they find you or what do they do?

Faryal: 35:31

Yeah, so I, I say the best way to find me and see what's going on is on Instagram. The handle is FMP Mental Health Spa. And that's the best way to see what the events are that are going on. But they're also updated on the website, which is again, fmp mental health spa.com. The homepage, if you scroll down a little bit, has all the current deals and, you know events, upcoming events, and little mini vacations that we, you know, sit down and actually think about. Put a lot of thought into when we are creating these to what's. Sequence and what all the things are gonna be that are gonna be included in that particular event. And so they're carefully curated so that people can actually benefit from them. And so, you know, those are two great plays. I'm also on Facebook. You know, again, the spa pages f at FMP. Mental health spa, and then you guys are more than welcome to add me as a friend. I am very public and open, and it's just my name for all Malik. And, you know, I'm happy to add you guys and kind of like keep you updated in that sense too. And so yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm present and definitely available. Yeah.

Kerry: 36:46

Tell me about your podcast.

Faryal: 36:48

Yeah, so my podcast is called How Are You Really? And that's one of the things that is very central to my practice and to the spa as well, right? Because we ask each other all the time, how are you? And people say, fine, and then move on, right? How are you doing? And you know, we don't really express. How we're actually doing. And so to slow down and actually be like, how are you really, you know, is like, kind of like the theme that I've had overall for the spa in my practice. Even my patients, I'll ask them, how are you? And they won't. They'll be like, fine before starting to talk in therapy. The first answer is fine. You know, so I have to like tell them to slow down. No, no, no. How are you really, you know? So that's the that's the title of my podcast. Again, easy to find this on YouTube. You know, how are you really a podcast and it is available on Amazon and Spotify. I haven't been able to connect it to the Apple Podcast. At some point I will be able to connect it to where it will be available, but it is available on all of these modalities. I have wonderful guests that have come on psychiatrist therapists, and we have a couple of survivors of, you know, mental health illnesses and, you know, stuff come, come, will be coming on, and we'll have these episodes as well. The conversations are very open. Of course, we do talk about science and we do talk about how certain things help, but they're very real conversations. People will open about, be open about what they've experienced. The doc, like the doctors and the therapists will talk about what their personal experiences. If they're talking about A DHD, they will talk about their kids that may have a DHD, right? So it's very. Open con, like conversations just very raw and real, and not just the science behind it or tips and tricks of what you can do to help you, right? It's very real. People are getting real, very down to earth so you can recognize that therapists, doctors, you know, people also have these issues, right? And They go through this and have a lot of experience personally as well. Not of course with every single thing or that our patient is gonna present with, but we have your human as well, and we do experience these things. And so it's a very human, you know, concept and way to look at any, you know, illness and problem.

Kerry: 39:20

Mm-hmm. I was definitely gonna use the word human as well,

Faryal: 39:23

Yeah.

Kerry: 39:24

my mouth. Yeah. Well before, is there anything else you'd like to share before wrapping up?

Faryal: 39:29

No, like, you know, I would love for people to take these mini vacations. I think that is the main thing that I really want people to do, and it's not just offered at my spa. There are other places that are offering these little mini events. They are, you know, incorporating yoga and sound baths together in different areas. We started doing this at the beach as well. And so other places are also offering it at the beach at sunset, so you can actually, you know, absorb that part of nature as you're, you know, experiencing these little mini vacations. And so you know, I know that Christine also does these on privately in like different parks so that you're around trees and that nature or that part of nature as well. So, so I just encourage people to come out and try these things. It doesn't have to be with my spot, it can be with any other place, right? To slow down, breathe. Just take this time out for yourself. Bring your kids. Actually, my space has a little playroom because I am a child psychiatrist at the end of the day. So we have a playroom where kids can go relax, you know? My office manager is actually my husband. He loves kids, and so he will go hang out with them in that room while something is going on. Like, you know, while the parents are enjoying their thing. Or some parents actually bring their kids into, you know, these things. I had, I had a little kid the other day that just went and as I was finishing up, was in the massage chair, just relaxing. And so I went up there and I was like, Hey, you ready? And this was the second cycle that they were doing on the massage chair. So, you know, like, bring your kids, like there's, we are open to kids. We are open to men because a lot of the times it's just like, women, you know, that, that are involved in these retreats or whatever we say, come please might be off. We are open to men coming and taking care of themselves. And we do have men at times that come and join us. And so, you know just find places where you can go do that. You know, go, go take a painting class or go make a candle. You know, do something with your hands.

Kerry: 41:36

Yeah, so if they wanted to do that or follow your event particularly, that would be on your website or

Faryal: 41:42

Yeah, they are on my website and then they are also on Instagram. We post these very often and the link to book is on there too.

Kerry: 41:51

Well, thank you so much Dr. Faryal, thank you for coming on the podcast today and joining us. We'll put all that information in the show notes, and I want everybody to stay tuned next week for next week's episode of the Get Healthy Tampa Bay podcast.

Faryal: 42:03

right. Thank you so much for having me.

Kerry: 42:06

As always.