by Tracy Agnew
Special to The Tidewater News

SUFFOLK
A new television show that airs on Sunday nights aims to address issues of special relevance to Suffolk and Western Tidewater.

“It’s Life Changing,” with Dr. Carletta Perry, airs at 11 p.m. Sundays on SKY4.

“Working with SKY4, we’ve been able to hit all of Hampton Roads, but we’re still focusing on Western Tidewater,” Perry said.

Funded by Obici Healthcare Foundation, the show premiered on Nov. 2. Already, Perry said, she is receiving a positive response from the community.

“I had some families email me and say, ‘Thank you for talking about that,’” said Perry, a professor of psychology.

The show features three segments. The first is an interview with someone who has overcome a particular struggle that relates to the night’s topic. The second features Perry talking about “a mix of psychology and spirituality,” and the third shares community resources that also relate to the topic.

“I didn’t want another educational show where it was just me talking throughout the whole thing,” Perry said.

Encouraging words on television are necessary to break through the monotony of most of the other programming, Perry said.

“A lot of the shows on TV are reality show-based, but they’re not reality-based,” she said, adding that they exploit weaknesses for a lot of people.

“A lot of people are broken,” Perry said. “They’re functioning, but they’re still not getting the help that they need. I really want it to be solution-focused.”

Perry said topics have included or are planned to include bullying, suicide prevention, mental health, incest survival, healthy relationships and more.

“Together we can say, ‘I can get through this,’” Perry said.

She said the show is an important bit of inspiration that can help people who don’t or won’t seek out other forms of help.

“Some people don’t go to church, and some people definitely don’t go to therapy,” she said. “It’s a little bit of life coaching in their living room. We all could use a little help. We all could use a little inspiration. It helps us to be better people.”

The Rev. Sylvia Murphy is Perry’s business partner, and her SCM Vision supports the show. It is taped at Oak Grove Baptist Church on East Washington Street.

Murphy thanked Obici Healthcare Foundation for funding the show.

“This show could not be possible without the funding,” she said. “We’re really thankful to them for believing in the idea.”

Perry also hosts a radio show on the third and fourth Saturdays of the month on 1250 AM.

She’s working on a YouTube channel for the show so people can watch past episodes.

Perry encouraged anyone who would like to suggest a topic for the show or have a particular community resource featured to email smurphy28@verizon.net.

For more information, call 539-8010.

 

Tracy Agnew is the news editor of The Suffolk News-Herald. She can be contacted at 934-9609 or tracy.agnew@suffolknewsherald.com