top of page

NEIL PAREKH'S
LENS ON LIFE BLOG
Thoughts and observations on mental health, technology, social media, photography and more.


Ep. 25 Pradnya Haldipur | Shining Light on Shadows: Managing Mental Health While Still Being Effective At Work
How can employers and supervisors create a supportive environment for people struggling with their mental health?

Neil Parekh
Mar 13, 2025


Cherish Your Memories; Losing Them to Trauma Is Devastating | EMDR Helped
Because I really wanted to know what it was that I had repressed as a child, I decided to have EMDR therapy.

Dawn Helmrich
Feb 26, 2025


Ep. 24 Dawn Helmrich Neuburg | Shining Light on Shadows: Accessing Repressed Memories Through EMDR
Imagine not being able to remember your childhood. Any of it. Because of trauma. Because of repressed memories. This is Dawn's story.

Neil Parekh
Feb 25, 2025


Ep. 23 Tim Fielder | Shining Light on Shadows: EMDR as an Option for Processing Trauma
What do you know about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR? Tim Fielder will be sharing his story for the first time.

Neil Parekh
Feb 11, 2025


The Anticipated Joy of Motherhood; The Devastation of Miscarriage; The Joy of Motherhood
“I still remember the four babies I lost AND I cherish the fact that I have two beautiful, healthy, happy children."

Dawn Helmrich
Jan 23, 2025


My Experience with an Episode of Clinical Depression / Hospitalization
Finally talking publicly about a topic that always felt like a forbidden conversation: my own mental health experience.

Melissa Ludtke
Jan 21, 2025


Ep. 22 Melissa Ludtke | Shining Light on Shadows: Keeping Quiet About Clinical Depression
Melissa will share, for the first time, how her struggle with clinical depression led her to seek in-patient treatment and therapy.

Neil Parekh
Jan 16, 2025


Standing Up for Myself and Others as a Way To Connect With the World
A life of advocacy built on difficulty in elementary school, an alcoholic father and a violent rape.

Dawn Helmrich
Jan 8, 2025


Being a Fierce Advocate—Living with Your Heart Wide Open
How adverse childhood experiences and a passionate interest in people’s stories led to a lifetime of advocacy.

Carole Peters
Jan 8, 2025


Ep. 21 Carole Peters | Shining Light on Shadows: Advocating for Yourself, Your Children and Others
Each of us have had traumatic episodes in our past that helped inspire and shape our commitment to advocacy.

Neil Parekh
Jan 7, 2025


An Honest End-of-Year Mental Health Assessment
People who have experienced trauma will recognize the role these steps play in healing. Others will see fundamental truths that help anyone.

Neil Parekh
Dec 19, 2024


Healing Is a Journey; Do Things That Bring You Happiness
Healing from trauma can be a long process. For me my healing journey is never ending. I work daily to find the joy in everything.

Dawn Helmrich
Dec 18, 2024


Ep. 20 Shawna Presley Vercher | Shining Light on Shadows: Healing After Trauma
We’ll talk about healing from trauma on both a personal and a collective level.

Neil Parekh
Dec 12, 2024


From Excitement and Optimism in July to Despair on Election Night
We are creating a space for people to share their reactions to the election. It was something concrete I could do. I’m hoping it might help.

Neil Parekh
Nov 11, 2024


Waking up to the Election Nightmare; Thinking About What the Future Holds
My heart was heavy and my head was sad. I thought about how to get around this, to get out of this, to make this go away.

Dawn Helmrich
Nov 11, 2024


Ep. 19 Shawna Vercher | Shining Light on Shadows: Post-Election Despair, Anxiety and Fear
If you experienced strong emotions this week because of the election results (e.g. despair, anxiety) we encourage you to join us.

Neil Parekh
Nov 8, 2024


Talking About Suicide and Suicidal Ideation Is a Good Thing
Talking about and acknowledging that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts might actually help people who are facing severe depression.

Dawn Helmrich
Oct 22, 2024


Can You Imagine Yourself Stepping in Front of a Bus? I Did.
There have been two times in my life when I experienced passive suicidal ideation. Those thoughts were fleeting, but frightening.

Neil Parekh
Oct 22, 2024


Forever Grateful for My Second Chance
I almost ruined everything in 2015 when severe depression hit and I attempted suicide. Rosie was only 11 years old.

Cindy Hsu
Oct 22, 2024


Ep. 18 Cindy Hsu (WCBS) | Shining Light on Shadows: Real Talk About Suicide Attempts and Ideation
This might be the most challenging episode of “Shining Light on Shadows” that we have hosted so far. Join us for a VERY candid conversation.

Neil Parekh
Oct 22, 2024
bottom of page