Self-Care & Mental Wellness: Dr Andrea Gleim Of Mindfully Mine Counselling Center On The Top Five Self-care Practices That Improve Mental Wellness
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Mindful Pauses: Take 2 to 5 minutes daily to breathe, check in, and slow down. It resets your nervous system and boosts clarity.
Boundaries with Technology: Protect your mental space. Turn off notifications and create phone-free time each day. Digital Detox.
Movement as Medicine: Whether it’s walking, stretching, or dancing, physical movement supports emotional regulation.
Therapeutic Journaling: Write without filters. Let your mind process what your mouth might not know how to say.
Nourishing Connections: Surround yourself with people who see you and hold space for your truth and not just your performance.
Let’s face it. It seems that everyone is under a great deal of stress these days. This takes a toll on our mental wellness. What are some of the best self-care practices that we can use to help improve our mental wellness and mental well-being? In this interview series, we are talking to medical doctors, mental health professionals, health and wellness professionals, and experts about self-care or mental health who can share insights from their experience about How Each Of Us Can Use Self Care To Improve Our Mental Wellness. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Andrea Gleim.
Dr. Andrea Gleim is a bilingual psychologist, empowerment coach, and speaker with over a decade of experience helping high-achieving professionals navigate identity, leadership, and life transitions. She is the founder of Mindfully Mine Counseling Center and an adjunct professor at Felician University, where she teaches psychology courses and mentors future mental health leaders. A proud Latina of Salvadoran and Puerto Rican descent and a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Gleim blends clinical expertise, mindfulness, and cultural fluency to help clients lead with authenticity and confidence.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It is a great honor. Our readers would love to learn more about you and your personal background. Can you please share your personal story? What has brought you to this point in your life?
I’m a proud Latina of Salvadorian and Puerto Rican descent and a first-generation college graduate. I grew up watching strong women, especially my grandmother, who started a bakery in her 60s and redefined what’s possible. That inspired me to pursue a career where I could support others in rewriting their own stories. I originally went to college to become a medical doctor, but psychology pulled me in. I realized so much of the pain and limitation we carry isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, cultural, and rooted in stories we’ve internalized. That realization led me to become a psychologist, and eventually a coach and speaker, focused on identity, empowerment, and transformation.
What is your “WHY” behind what you do? What fuels you?
My “why” is helping people, especially women and minorities, feel like they belong in any room they walk into without having to shrink or code-switch. I know the pain of feeling like you need to earn your place twice over or wear a mask to succeed. It fuels me to help others drop that mask and lead from their true center. I want people to experience success that actually feels like theirs and not something they achieved by disconnecting from themselves.
Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake or failure which you now appreciate has taught you a valuable lesson?
Absolutely. Early in my private practice, I took on too many roles at once such as a therapist, administrator, coach, speaker and tried to “do it all” without help. I burned out hard. That taught me the power of delegation, boundaries, and choosing sustainability over hustle. I now coach high performers around exactly this where slowing down, asking for help and honoring your own capacity without guilt are so important.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Resilience: Growing up as a first-gen college student, I learned to navigate systems I didn’t understand and push through moments of doubt.
- Empathy: My ability to truly sit with people in their struggles, especially around identity and belonging, helps me connect deeply and offer guidance that lands.
- Clarity: I’ve always had a strong sense of purpose, and even when I doubted my path, I knew the impact I wanted to make. That clarity has kept me grounded through transitions.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now? How do you think that will help people?
Workshop Series, a workbook, and a companion journal. My goal is to be able to provide quality information on skills and things people can incorporate in their daily lives that can be transformational for them. I went into the field wanting to help people, but I know that individual counseling can only reach a limited number of people. I want to be able to reach and help as many people as I can with factual and useful information that can be used in their lives.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, about the interface between self-care and mental health. From where you stand personally or professionally, why are you so passionate about mental well-being?
Because so many people are suffering in silence, especially high achievers who look “put together” on the outside. Mental wellness is the foundation of everything. Without it, success is hollow and relationships suffer. With it, we live, lead, and love from a place of wholeness.
Based on your research or experience, how exactly does self-care impact our mental wellness?
Self-care is how we show ourselves we matter. It’s not just spa days. It’s boundaries, sleep, asking for support, saying no, moving our bodies, and being kind to our minds. It interrupts the cycle of depletion and creates space for clarity and emotional alignment.
Can you please share your “Top Five Self-care Practices That Each Of Us Can Use To Improve Our Mental Wellness”?
- Mindful Pauses: Take 2 to 5 minutes daily to breathe, check in, and slow down. It resets your nervous system and boosts clarity.
- Boundaries with Technology: Protect your mental space. Turn off notifications and create phone-free time each day. Digital Detox.
- Movement as Medicine: Whether it’s walking, stretching, or dancing, physical movement supports emotional regulation.
- Therapeutic Journaling: Write without filters. Let your mind process what your mouth might not know how to say.
- Nourishing Connections: Surround yourself with people who see you and hold space for your truth and not just your performance.
Can you please share a few of the main roadblocks that prevent people from making better self-care choices? What would you suggest can be done to overcome those roadblocks?
Guilt, perfectionism, and hustle culture. People feel they have to “earn” rest, or they confuse productivity with worth. My suggestion: start small. Reframe self-care as an act of service to your future self and those you love.
In one sentence, what would you say to someone who doesn’t prioritize their mental well-being?
If you don’t make time for your mind, your body and relationships will make that time for you and often in ways you didn’t choose or want them to.
Thank you for all that great insight! Let’s start wrapping up. Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does this quote resonate with you so much?
“Just like the lotus, we too can rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world.”
This resonates deeply because my work and my life has been about transformation through adversity. The mud isn’t something to avoid; it’s what shapes the bloom.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? They might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
Derek Jeter. As a lifelong Yankees fan, I grew up watching not just an incredible athlete, but someone who consistently embodied discipline, grace, and quiet confidence on and off the field. What inspires me most about Jeter isn’t just the championship rings or the highlight reels. It’s the way he carried himself over two decades in the spotlight: focused, humble, and deeply committed to excellence.
In a world that often rewards noise, he let his actions speak and that level of intention and consistency is something I try to carry into my own life and work. I’d love to ask him how he stayed centered through the pressure, how he navigated leadership in high-stakes moments, and how he transitioned from baseball legend to business leader and owner while staying true to his core values.
That conversation would be unforgettable.
I truly appreciate your time and valuable contribution. One last question. How can our readers best reach or follow you?
You can follow me on Instagram @dr.andreagleim or connect with me on LinkedIn. You can also learn more or inquire about coaching/speaking at www.drandreagleim.com.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
