In this insightful conversation, the hosts sit down with Michael Henry to discuss the transformative role of creative writing in mental health and community building. Michael, a passionate advocate for the arts, shares the origins and mission of Lighthouse Writers Workshop, a space where writers can explore vulnerability and self-expression. Through their conversation, they delve into how writing and storytelling can foster connection, healing, and personal growth, especially in communities facing mental health challenges.

The discussion highlights the importance of authenticity in writing, emphasizing how vulnerability can create deeper connections with audiences. Michael also explores the significant impact of community outreach programs at Lighthouse and their role in addressing mental health issues through creative means. From destigmatizing homelessness through storytelling to offering support for artists, this episode demonstrates how creative expression is more than just a craft—it’s a tool for societal change and personal healing. Tune in for insights on the power of self-acceptance, the creative process, and how art can be a catalyst for wellness in both individuals and communities.
Michael J. Henry, MFA currently serves as Executive Director of Lighthouse, where he also teaches poetry and memoir and essay workshops. A former recipient of a Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship and a PlatteForum Fellowship, his work has appeared in such places as Copper Nickel, Threepenny Review, 5280 Magazine, Ekphrasis, Hippocampus, Many Mountains Moving, Pleiades, Red Rock Review, Rio Grande Review, GeorgetownReview, and Bloomsbury Review. He's collaborated with Garrett Ammon of Wonderbound to create three narrative poetry performances, When the Power Goes Out, Intersection, and Gone West.

Michael grew up in Buffalo, New York, received a BA in English from University of Rochester and an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. In 1997, he co-founded Lighthouse with Andrea Dupree, who serves as program director.

He's published two full-length collections of poetry, No Stranger Than My Own and Active Gods (Conundrum/Bower House), and a book of nonfiction, Mountain Biking the Colorado Trail(Bower House). In 2017, he was awarded a Livingston Fellowship from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.

Links:

Connect w/ Michael + Lighthouse Writers Workshop

Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠grittherapy.com

During the month of April 2025, we are supporting Colorado Doula Project. Please subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes. For each rating and review we receive in April 2025, we will donate $5 to Colorado Doula Project.

In this informative - and surprisingly fun - conversation, we're joined by guests Kanji Kawanabe and Alex Zervakos to dive into the world of AI in therapy with Theryo – an innovative AI-supported therapy tool. The conversation explores the challenges often encountered in mental health care, and how AI has the potential to enhance therapy by offering new ways of identifying patterns, supporting collaborative care, and addressing accessibility issues. From identifying biases in therapy to increasing the personalization of mental health care, the discussion sheds light onto the future of AI in therapy, the role of therapist development, and how AI can improve outcomes in mental health treatment.

Links: https://theryo.ai

During the month of March 2025, we are supporting the non-profit we mentioned in Dylan Stein's episode: Building Hope. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes.

Learn more about Hey Birdie's Awakening Migration mentioned in the episode ⁠here⁠⁠. For AWHY listeners, Heather + Jess are offering a special discount of $111 if you register with a friend before 3/31. Use code AWHY at checkout.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠grittherapy.com

Erica Bonham joins Are We Happy Yet? for another badass conversation that you do not want to miss. We discuss the launch of Erica's new book: Always Enough, Never Done. A guide to understanding trauma, healing, and personal growth, Erica unpacks the delicate balance between personal responsibility and the power of collective action. We dive deep into how healing isn't a destination, but an emergent process, and why joy, emotional regulation, and community are integral parts of the journey.

Erica shares her wisdom on the importance of nervous system regulation, and why it’s more than just about finding calmness—it’s about navigating the complexity of our emotional responses. The conversation highlights how healing requires both individual effort and collective solidarity, and why true change can only occur when we support one another.

Erica also emphasizes the crucial role of love and inherent worthiness in the healing process, inspiring listeners to reconnect with their emotions, their communities, and the healing potential within themselves.

Connect with Erica and learn more about Always Enough, Never Done: ⁠avoscounseling.com⁠

Purchase the book TODAY 3/18/25 for 99 cents ⁠HERE!

During the month of March 2025, we are supporting the non-profit we mentioned in Dylan Stein's episode: Building Hope. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes.

Learn more about Hey Birdie's Awakening Migration mentioned in the episode here⁠. For AWHY listeners, Heather + Jess are offering a special discount of $111 if you register with a friend before 3/31. Use code AWHY at checkout.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

⁠grittherapy.com