Chapters: 00:00:00 - Overview of Total Family Intervention 00:02:18 - Empathy and Interventions for Mental Health Issues 00:04:44 - The Importance of Interventions for Mental Health 00:06:52 - The Importance of Interventionists with Adequate Training 00:09:09 - Effects of Addiction on Family Dynamics 00:11:27 - Involving the Whole Family in Interventions 00:13:44 - Impact of Addictive Behaviors on Family Members 00:16:00 - Impact on Loved Ones of Addiction and Mental Health Disorders 00:18:11 - ...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1064
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Applying ethical principles to common violations 00:00:57 - The Four Pillars of Ethical Mental Health Services 00:01:51 - Ethical Decision-Making Process 00:02:45 - Ethical dilemmas in counseling: Sexual relationships with clients 00:03:35 - Dating Clients and Unchecked Feelings 00:04:45 - The Four Windows of Awareness 00:05:31 - Boundaries and Self-Care 00:06:30 - Breach of Confidentiality 00:07:22 - Maintaining Client Confidentiality in Conversations 00:08:31 - Confidentia...
May 13, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1063
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Boundary Extensions 00:03:01 - Attending Clients' Formal Ceremonies 00:06:00 - Navigating Dual Relationships in Therapy 00:09:17 - Providing Support in Difficult Situations 00:12:16 - Setting Healthy Boundaries with Clients 00:15:15 - Ensuring Continuity of Counseling Services 00:18:23 - Safety Issues with Home Visits 00:21:18 - Ensuring Continuity of Care 00:24:20 - Continuity of Services in the Event of an Interruption 00:27:28 - Accessing Electronic Medical Records Safely...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1062
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Supporting the Person Without Enabling 00:03:29 - Enabling Behavior in Caregivers 00:06:58 - Coping with Chaos in Family Environments 00:10:35 - Enabling and Resistance 00:14:34 - Enabling Behavior and Attachment Trauma 00:18:14 - The Progression of Addiction and Enabling Behaviors 00:21:52 - The Role of the Enabler 00:25:27 - Enabling vs Helping 00:29:00 - Enabling Behavior and Cognitive Dissonance 00:32:26 - Enabling Behavior and Setting Boundaries 00:35:58 - Consequences ...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 1061
I. Introduction to Stress and Its Impact Stress affects the body's hormonal and neurotransmitter systems. Chronic stress can lead to significant mental health challenges. II. Hormonal Responses to Stress Cortisol: Known as the "stress hormone," it increases in response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels can impair memory and cognitive functions. Adrenaline and Noradrenaline: These hormones prepare the body for "fight or flight" responses. Prolonged elevation can lead to anxiety and sleep distu...
Apr 22, 2025•2 hr 55 min
Parental Alienation Defined Parental alienation is not abandonment or protecting a child from abuse; it is a form of psychological abuse. It involves a deliberate campaign of denigration, brainwashing, and manipulation of the child to reject the other parent. Alienating Behaviors Alienation occurs when one parent actively manipulates a child against the other parent, which can be unconscious or conscious. These behaviors involve brainwashing, manipulating, or lying to the child, often supported ...
Mar 25, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1059
What is Defensiveness? Defensiveness occurs when individuals feel emotionally or psychologically unsafe, leading them to put up barriers in communication. It can manifest as fight (verbal aggression) or flight (withdrawing and shutting down). Defensiveness often indicates past experiences of betrayal, disrespect, or invalidation that leave people on guard. Causes of Defensiveness Traumatic experiences or past emotional injuries. Triggers from discussing sensitive or difficult topics. Hypervigila...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1058
Understanding Psychodynamics and Safety The presentation begins with a focus on psychodynamics, particularly how early experiences of trauma impact one’s sense of safety. Trauma can manifest in emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms that disrupt everyday life, relationships, and well-being. Effects of Trauma on Health Trauma increases inflammation, disrupts sleep, and contributes to autoimmune disorders. Chronic feelings of unsafety can result in a constant state of hypervigilance, impactin...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 1057
Types of Trauma in Childhood Childhood trauma can be intentional (abuse, neglect) or unintentional (caregivers unable to meet the child's needs due to issues like depression or addiction). Trauma affects children physically, emotionally, cognitively, and relationally, causing a sense of insecurity and powerlessness. Physical and Emotional Trauma Physical trauma includes abuse or neglect, while emotional trauma involves lack of emotional validation or support, which hinders a child's emotional de...
Mar 13, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1056
Introduction to Anxiety Relief Strategies Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes presents 20 strategies to help alleviate anxiety, focusing on individualized approaches based on intake assessments. It's important to address anxiety before it reaches a crisis point, as early intervention can prevent escalation. Understanding Anxiety Triggers Anxiety triggers can stem from concerns like loss, rejection, failure, or lack of control. Dr. Snipes emphasizes the importance of identifying these triggers and grouping the...
Mar 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1055
Trauma vs. Traumatic Injury Trauma is an event that causes a sense of helplessness and horror. Traumatic injury refers to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal effects of trauma. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD or complex PTSD (CPTSD). Symptoms Often Misdiagnosed Conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and addiction are often misdiagnosed when they are actually symptoms of unresolved trauma. Understanding the root cause of these conditions helps tailor treatment to addre...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1054
Introduction to Neurostimulation in Recovery Neurostimulation techniques, like vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), have been researched for their role in treating neurological diseases, including addiction and trauma-related disorders. Dr. Navid Kodaparash shares his insights into how neuroplasticity, triggered through VNS, helps the brain recover and adapt. Autonomic Nervous System and Its Role The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-d...
Mar 04, 2025•59 min•Ep. 1053
Defining Boundaries Boundaries are behaviors that communicate what we will and will not tolerate from others. Think of boundaries as a door to your safe space that you control—deciding whom to let in or out. Types of Boundaries Physical Boundaries: Cover personal space, touch, and eye contact preferences. Affective Boundaries: Reflect the ability to empathize without being consumed by others' emotions. Cognitive Boundaries: Allow individuals to maintain their own beliefs and perceptions. Environ...
Feb 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1052
Introduction to Stimulants Stimulants affect the neurological system by altering neurotransmitter levels. Key neurotransmitters impacted include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, and acetylcholine. Dopamine’s Role in Addiction Dopamine regulates movement, motivation, and mood. It plays a major role in the brain's reward pathways, which can reinforce addictive behaviors. Stimulants increase dopamine release, creating feelings of pleasure and reinforcing drug use. Stimulant Eff...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1051
Definition of Boundaries Boundaries in relationships are like a house: you choose who enters and how far they can go. Just like a house has doors and windows, you decide who to let into your personal space (physically and emotionally). Types of Boundaries Physical Boundaries: Involves personal space, touch, and eye contact. Interpersonal Boundaries: Defines relationship expectations, such as time alone or together. Emotional & Cognitive Boundaries: You are entitled to your own feelings and t...
Feb 20, 2025•7 min•Ep. 1050
Importance of Trauma-Informed Screening Screening must be trauma-informed, even if not directly screening for trauma. Trauma is at the core of many mental health, behavioral, and physical health problems, so it's crucial to recognize its role. Trauma and Health Problems Trauma, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can contribute to a range of health issues, such as hypothyroidism, depression, and autoimmune disorders. Screening should address both the physical symptoms and the underly...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1049
What is the Inner Child? The inner child refers to the emotional and experiential part of an individual that holds childhood memories and trauma. Childhood trauma or unmet needs may result in emotional wounds that persist into adulthood, manifesting in behavior and relationship patterns. Impact of Trauma on the Inner Child Childhood trauma, such as neglect, abandonment, or emotional invalidation, can prevent children from fully processing distressing experiences. Without resolution, these unreso...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1048
Resilience Definition Resilience is the capacity to bounce back from adversity, demonstrated by emotional strength and the ability to handle crises without being overwhelmed. Resilience is like a ball that, when pushed underwater, bounces back to the surface. Characteristics of Resilient People Resilient individuals are self-aware, have healthy self-esteem, strong social support, and practice radical acceptance. They possess problem-solving skills, tolerance for distress, and maintain an optimis...
Feb 11, 2025•54 min•Ep. 1047
What is the Inner Child? The inner child refers to the collection of memories and experiences from childhood. These memories shape mental shortcuts, called schema, which influence how individuals interpret and react to present-day life events. Children’s Cognitive Development Children process information concretely and personally, often believing events are their fault. The schema formed during childhood tend to be all-or-nothing and are carried into adulthood unless evaluated and adjusted. Impa...
Feb 06, 2025•56 min•Ep. 1046
Biopsychosocial Impact of Pain Chronic pain affects not just the body but also mental health, including anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Pain can disrupt circadian rhythms, causing sleep issues, and leads to grief due to loss of function or identity. Types of Prevention Primary prevention focuses on preventing pain flare-ups and pain conditions. Secondary prevention aims at stopping pain from worsening during a flare-up. Tertiary prevention works to prevent secondary issues like depression,...
Feb 04, 2025•57 min•Ep. 1045
What is Dopamine? Dopamine is often referred to as a motivation chemical rather than just a pleasure chemical. It regulates mood, movement, energy, sleep, libido, and pain tolerance. Dopamine plays a key role in cognitive functions like memory, attention, and decision-making. The Concept of Dopamine Fasting Dopamine fasting does not reduce dopamine levels but aims to reduce compulsive behaviors that overstimulate the dopaminergic system. This approach involves reducing stimulating behaviors inte...
Jan 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1044
Understanding Anxiety and the Stress Response Anxiety is a natural emotional reaction, often triggered by physical and cognitive stressors. It activates the body's HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis), leading to physical reactions like increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and digestive issues. Emotional Reasoning Anxiety may arise from incorrect beliefs about danger, even when no real threat exists. Emotional reasoning leads people to act as though their anxious feelings are facts. ...
Jan 28, 2025•47 min•Ep. 1043
Understanding BDSM BDSM involves consensual sexual practices including bondage, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism. The core principle is that all activities must be safe, sane, and consensual. The Role of Counselors Therapists must provide a non-judgmental space for clients practicing BDSM. Recognizing biases and understanding the nature of BDSM relationships is essential to competent care. Common Myths and Misconceptions BDSM is not inherently linked to psychopathology or trauma. It does...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 1041
Overview of Kink and Sexual Diversity Kink is a broad term that includes alternative sexual practices like BDSM, polyamory, and consensual non-monogamy. Kink behaviors often fall outside of mainstream practices, but they are a normal part of sexual diversity for many people. DSM-5's View on Kink Kink-related behaviors, including BDSM and fetishism, are no longer considered mental disorders unless they cause harm or involve non-consensual acts. It's essential to differentiate between consensual k...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 1040
Understanding Transference Transference is when a client projects feelings onto their therapist, often reflecting unmet needs or emotional experiences from other relationships. It's common to develop strong feelings for a therapist, especially if they provide safety, validation, and emotional support. Therapeutic Relationships as Safe Spaces Therapists often provide one of the first healthy, secure relationships for clients, leading to feelings of attachment. The feeling of security and validati...
Jan 14, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1039
Dopamine’s Role in the Body Dopamine is essential for motivation, pleasure, and reward processing. It plays a role in digestion, immune response, and inflammation regulation. Dopamine is found in various parts of the body, including the brain, immune system, kidneys, and pancreas. Dopamine and Other Neurotransmitters Dopamine interacts with neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and others. An imbalance in dopamine can affect mood, sleep, attention, and motivation. Altering one ...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 1038
The Gut-Brain Connection The gut and brain communicate bidirectionally through pathways such as the vagus nerve and endocrine signals. Changes in the gut microbiome can affect brain functions, triggering or worsening mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Stress and the Gut Stress affects the gut directly via neuronal signals and indirectly by impacting the gut's bacterial composition. When the gut is out of balance, it can worsen stress responses, creating a cycle of dysregulation b...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 1037
Role of the Group Leader The leader is responsible for guiding group dynamics. Must adjust leadership style to the group’s stage (forming, storming, norming). Leadership involves setting the group’s tone and level of engagement. Leadership Style Leaders can vary from hands-off to active facilitators. Psychoeducational groups might require more structured leadership than therapeutic processing groups. It’s essential to know when to intervene and allow group members to practice communication and b...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1036
1. Overview of Addiction Counseling Career Paths in Addiction Counseling: Discusses various settings, including outpatient, residential, and specialized care for different populations (adolescents, veterans, etc.). Challenges in Correctional Settings: Working in jails or prisons can be difficult due to the unsupportive environment for recovery. 2. Educational Requirements Different Education Levels: You can begin addiction counseling with a high school diploma in many states. More advanced pract...
Dec 31, 2024•31 min•Ep. 1035
1. Introduction to Diagnoses and Framing Bias Framing Bias: A cognitive bias affecting how information is perceived based on how it is presented. Importance of Broad Evaluations: Symptoms like fatigue could have various causes (e.g., hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular issues, substance withdrawal). 2. Common Mental Health Diagnoses Mental Health Disorders: ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, and schizophrenia are common diagnoses that require differential evaluation. Physical Causes of Symptoms: ...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 1034
