Mental Health In Minnesota

Mental Health In Minnesota


CBT/DBT Series, Part 3, Danny Evans (“gift rap” poetry performer) discusses CBT, parenting, work, and therapy during COVID-19

July 06, 2020

This episode is a conversation with Danny Evans and is focused on his experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to experience recovery and help maintain his mental health.  Danny Evans is a performer of a rap-style of poetry he calls “gift rap poetry” through which he talks about mental illness and addiction awareness.  Danny talks in this episode about how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Therapy (ERT) has helped him as a parent, as an employee, and with many other aspects of his life.  Danny is a presenter in the NAMI “In Our Own Voice” program through which he courageously shares his personal recovery story of living with mental illnesses.  Danny is in recovery from bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety.  Danny performs his “gift rap poetry” with the stage name of “Dan Triple E.”  He performed at the 2018 and 2019 NAMIWalks event in Minneapolis, MN.  He was also invited to perform during some NAMI Family-to-Family classes while he attended to share his personal recovery story with the class members.

Listen to Danny’s poetry on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/danny-evans-189602744

NAMI Minnesota fact sheets related to this episode:

NAMI Minnesota fact sheet on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): https://2a392k31wksy2wkejf1y03dp-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/188/2018/05/OCD_Illnesses_Adult_2018.pdf

Psychotherapy for OCD. There are two types of psychotherapies that are helpful for treating OCD:

Exposure and Response Therapy (ERT). ERT exposes a person to the cause of their anxiety. For example, a person with a fear of germs may be asked by a doctor or therapist to put their hand on something considered dirty, such as a doorknob. Afterwards, they will refrain from washing their hands. The length of time between touching the doorknob and washing hands becomes longer and longer.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on the thoughts that are causing distress, and changing the negative thinking and behavior associated with them. For obsessive-compulsive disorder, the goal of this therapy is to recognize negative thoughts and, with practice, gradually lessen their intensity to the point of harmlessness.

NAMI Minnesota fact sheet on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): https://2a392k31wksy2wkejf1y03dp-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/188/2018/05/CognitiveBehavioralTherapy_TreatmentOptions_2018.pdf

For all NAMI Minnesota fact sheets, visit https://namimn.org/education-public-awareness/fact-sheets/.

This episode was recorded on 4/17/2020.

“Mental Health In Minnesota” is produced by NAMI Minnesota.  Visit us online at https://namimn.org/.