Relationship & Community Building Strategies That Help People Invest in Mental Health

 

 

Transcript

Robyn Mourning: Welcome back to the Scaling Up Your Impact podcast, where we at Scaling Up talk about different practical, trauma-informed tools, mindset shifts, and clinical strategies. For you therapists who want to grow without burning out, and without being completely isolated in that process.

So today, I have a very special guest. With me, I am talking with one of our amazing facilitators and soon-to-be EMDR Basic trainer. She’s part of our program, getting ready to become a basic trainer, and who knows? Whenever you’re listening to this, Reba might already be an official trainer, depending on when you hear this or when you tune in again.

Today, Reba and I will be talking about something that we think is really important. We want to talk about it with you, Reba, because we’ve seen you do this in action. It may not feel second nature to you, but it looks like, from the outside, this is just who Reba is.

We want to talk about relationship and community-building strategies that help people invest in mental health. This could be therapists in the community investing in their mental health, or helping others in the community invest in theirs, but also everyone else in our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Maybe they’re investing in their mental health, or maybe they are supporting people who are doing that in different ways.

But we just know that, Reba, you’re so good at this—relationship building and just being genuine, in your personal life and professionally. Just the way that you have really come together and brought even more people to the Scaling Up world, after we got to know you and working with you, it’s like, wow, Reba is super connected in her community in such a genuine, authentic way that feels very welcoming. Heck yeah, Reba said, so we’re gonna check it out.

The trust that you’ve built is palpable. We can see it, and we just want to talk about it. Thank you for joining me today in this conversation, and for our listeners, because I know you’re going to provide some great nuggets for them. They’re going to get to experience you as you talk, which is even more exciting.

Will you take a couple of minutes to let the folks know who you are, where you’re at, what you do, so they can peek behind the curtain and get to know you a little bit better?

Reba Machado: Thank you, Robyn. It’s so wonderful to be here and to be a part of the Scaling Up team. First of all, I got to have a lot of time with Kelly this year in trainings and conferences that we both happened to attend, and I really got to tell her that I enjoy being a part of the Scaling Up community because of everything you described. Scaling Up has also given me that similar experience of really walking alongside other clinicians who are learning, stretching, and growing.

It’s just a reminder to me of why I do all of this. Together, we’re all becoming the clinicians that we are meant to be. That’s what I really built my practice on.

Outside of that, I wear a lot of hats. I come from a pretty large Filipino family. Everyone’s pretty close to each other here in Southern California. My sister tried to move away because her husband’s in the military, but they’re right back here in Southern California. I hope to always be as close to Disneyland as I am. My husband and I have been married for 14 years. We have three amazing kids who keep us really busy.

We are both very career-driven and have always supported each other in our careers and pivoted into what each other needs. We have similar leadership requirements from our positions, and we’ve really encouraged each other to seek mentorship and community. Because of his job, we’re really close with a university community where we live, and that pushes us to be involved in our own city and community through our church. Our circle is a pretty big and close circle of people who support each other.

I run my own group practice with three locations in California. I’ve been very lucky to grow the practice as clinicians graduate, sometimes meeting them through supervision opportunities, bringing them into my practice, and supervising them. That evolved into a larger group practice as clinicians I supervised became licensed and wanted to stick around. Outside of my group, I have other clinician friends with their own practices, so we support each other.

There’s a big therapist community because of what we’ve built together. Outside of that, Monday through Friday, I clock into being a chauffeur for my kids because they all have different activities. When I catch up with family and friends, I’m usually in the car—waiting for pickup or about to drop off. Meal planning and snacks are always part of that.

Outside of being a clinician, I love being a supervisor and teacher. I’m an adjunct professor at a nearby university, teaching in undergrad and grad programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology. I’ve had experience with the sport and performance psychology program as well. My husband and I get involved whenever they need us.

I also do consulting and teaching, and training for EMDR. Becoming a facilitator with Scaling Up in recent years has been another part of my weekly calendar that I look forward to. Teaching is also a learning experience for me.

In my practice, I’m an EMDR therapist, working with women who have experienced perinatal trauma. Over the last 10 years, personal experiences have grounded me in working with moms or moms-to-be. People often ask how I do it all, and I couldn’t without support from family and community. Being part of this podcast was an easy yes because all I have to do is talk—it’s just what I do. I love my people, my village, my community, so it’s easy to share how that can be an anchoring part of someone’s life.

Robyn Mourning: Yeah, absolutely. After hearing everything that you do in your community, and what your community does for you, I’m just honored that you are carving a piece of your week and energy for us at Scaling Up and for the trainees in our programs. It makes it all the more special. Thank you for saying yes to being part of our facilitator and trainer team—it’s going to be great.

A couple of things stood out when you were talking about the various aspects of your community—people from the university, your church, fellow practice owners. I love how much variety there is. You’re in multiple subgroups of communities, and the way you describe supporting each other feels very refreshing.

Reba Machado: Mm-hmm. In my group practice, we really heal in community. I’ve seen it modeled at every level. Even in meetings and supervisions, any kind of gathering, the community can provide genuine care versus competition. Supervisors check in on associates, not just about caseloads, but personal well-being. Especially since COVID, people are good at checking in with how someone is doing at work or at home.

My admin team shows heart and empathy as much as the clinicians. Sometimes I forget they’re not clinicians!

Robyn Mourning: Exactly, by proxy, they’re clinicians.

Reba Machado: When I look at my practice, I really built it through relationships and trust. Building relationships and trust comes with risk—you have to be open and vulnerable. Even something as simple as telling someone where you live is a risk. With community and relationships, you let go of some boundaries that are important to you. Being willing to take risks means you only get what you give.

It’s never just about building a practice. My practice, Rain Cross Family Counseling, is named after a city symbol in Riverside. I planted my roots here after grad school. I’ve moved a lot in my life, but calling this home and giving back to the college communities here feels special.

Therapists who work for me share this identity—they’ve seen community up close, the power of mentorship, and how it helps them thrive. Safety, consistency, and having people who believe in your potential are vital.

We’re not meant to be alone; we’re meant to gather and pour into each other. I’m replicating what healed me and gave me a home.

Robyn Mourning: Yeah, I can feel how important this is to you. It’s not just a geographic location—it’s a place where you feel you belong. That sense of connection and belonging makes it easier to help folks advocate for their mental health, seek services, and learn about mental health through the college.

Reba Machado: Exactly. It allows me to show up for things because the work we do is heavy. It’s nice to have people, a soft place to land, so I don’t have to hold everything alone.

Robyn Mourning: That naturally leads us to another topic—balance. The definition and what it looks like changes daily. For you, what does it look like to balance being a therapist, a leader, a wife, and a mom while leading with presence and purpose?

Reba Machado: A few years ago, I had a podcast called The Rebalancing Podcast. It was never about me; I brought on someone else in my life who was doing the same thing. We all have a full plate—it just looks different than everyone else’s.

I try to give 100% into everything I do. I replicate people I look up to. My mom, even as a single mom, didn’t miss any of our events. Family is first, supporting my husband’s career comes next. His support allows everything at home to run smoothly, making it easier for all of us.

Being involved in church is very helpful. People are praying for me, checking on me, helping me avoid burnout. This season is abundant—I’m getting everything I’ve worked hard for all at once. It’s chaotic, but sacred and stretching.

I focus on my kids first; their childhood is fleeting. I build my team and community so I can walk away when needed—for kids’ activities, volunteering, or chaperoning. One day, it won’t be this way, but I’ll have community no matter what. My sense of security comes from knowing my community is checking in on me.

Robyn Mourning: Wow, that’s incredible. Even small gestures from friends and neighbors, like dropping off meals or sending notes, show the power of community.

Reba Machado: Acts of service are my love language. I reciprocate by dropping off meals, carpooling, and helping others. It fills me up, helps me rebalance when things are off, especially in hard or busy seasons.

Robyn Mourning: As we wrap up, what are some lessons you’ve learned about building something meaningful and sustainable without losing yourself, and why laughter and humility are non-negotiable?

Reba Machado: Growth has to be grounded in grace—for myself and others. I practice seeing other perspectives and not taking things too seriously. Humor and humility are crucial. They help me stay balanced and present while holding the heavier aspects of our work.

It’s about leaving a legacy—helping people be seen, safe, and connected. Both laughter and humility are necessary for lasting impact.

Robyn Mourning: Absolutely. Your sense of community really informs the work you do and who you are. It exudes from you. We’re not meant to be alone, but access to community can be challenging. Technology helps us stay connected, like using Marco Polo to check in with friends and colleagues across distances.

Reba Machado: Yes! Technology allows me to maintain those connections. It was especially helpful during COVID, allowing daily messages, voice notes, and TED Talk-style check-ins with friends.

Robyn Mourning: The many ways we can connect support our well-being, vision, purpose, and the people in our community.

Reba Machado: Exactly.

Robyn Mourning: We’ll put Reba’s information in the show notes so listeners can connect with her practice, Rain Cross Family Counseling, and learn more about building community in their own lives.

Reba Machado: Thank you!

Robyn Mourning: Until next time, remember the ways you can leave an impact on your community and the ways your community impacts you. Find one to three ways to cultivate that over the next week and share with us on social media or through our website.