Episodes

  • 1123 - 13 Skills for Developing Healthy Relationships

    1123 - 13 Skills for Developing Healthy Relationships
    Aug 21 2026
    00:00 Welcome & Overview of Relationship Skills 03:04 Awareness of Self and Others 10:06 Authenticity and Honesty 15:59 Acceptance of Differing Opinions 18:36 Attention and Love Languages 21:44 Understanding and Setting Boundaries 25:40 Consistency and Building Trust 27:48 Defensiveness and Communication Challenges 29:42 Communication Styles & Assertiveness 32:32 Cultivating Compassion 35:25 Healthy Compromise in Relationships 38:34 Encouragement and Honest Feedback 41:03 Forgiveness and Letting Go 43:37 Intimacy and Varying Levels of Connection 47:04 Responsibility & The Blame Game 49:09 Healthy Responsiveness 52:16 Unconditional Positive Regard 54:57 Bringing It All Together & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • 1122 - How Childhood Trauma Impacts Adult Physical & Mental Health

    1122 - How Childhood Trauma Impacts Adult Physical & Mental Health
    Aug 14 2026
    00:00 Welcome & Overview of Childhood Trauma 04:44 Definitions: Trauma, Attachment, & Adverse Experiences 11:05 What Are ACEs? Basic Concepts & Brain Development 17:19 Prevalence, Impact, and Categories of ACEs 24:09 How ACEs Affect Child Safety and Needs 33:33 Consequences for Family Dynamics & Emotional Development 40:09 ACEs, Caregivers & Household Chaos 46:00 Long-Term Physical and Cognitive Health Effects 52:01 Key Brain Changes and Mental Disorders 58:01 Assessment & Wraparound Interventions 01:01:22 Principles of Treatment and Empowerment 01:02:00 Summary: ACEs, Impact, and Recovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 1121 - Unique Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment of Addiction in Older Adults

    1121 - Unique Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment of Addiction in Older Adults
    Aug 7 2026
    00:00 Introduction & Overview 00:42 Aging and Drug Responses 02:02 Body Composition and Medication Effects 06:01 Kidney & Liver Clearance in Aging 07:45 Drug Competition & Enzyme Decline 09:49 Nutrient Deficiencies & Drug Absorption 12:12 Medication Interactions in Older Adults 13:11 Health Disorders Impacting Drug Clearance 15:41 Frailty, Cognitive Impairment & Medication Challenges 18:14 Vision, Brain Changes & Medication Safety 21:02 Inflammation, Diet & White Matter 25:00 Addictive Behaviors & Aging Vulnerability 28:09 White Matter Loss & Chronic Stress 30:46 Gambling, Impulsivity, and Clinical Notes 33:11 Is It Addiction or Aging? Diagnostic Challenges 36:08 DSM-5 Limitations and Underrecognized Issues 40:06 Differential Diagnosis & Overlapping Symptoms 43:00 Testing, False Results & Medication Effects 47:24 Substance Use and Aging: Family Awareness & Risks 52:13 Clinical Practice Guidelines & Polypharmacy 53:20 Treatment Challenges in Older Adults 54:37 Key Takeaways & Counselor Role Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • 1120 - The Importance of Gut Health for Mental Health | A Counselor's Guide

    1120 - The Importance of Gut Health for Mental Health | A Counselor's Guide
    Jul 31 2026
    00:00 Introduction & Importance of Gut Microbiome 00:40 Gut Microbiome and Stress Connection 02:02 How Stress Affects the Gut 03:34 Neurochemicals and Recovery from Stress 04:30 Fight or Flight vs. Rest and Digest 05:06 Chronic Stress and Vicious Cycles in the Gut 06:14 How the Microbiome Produces Key Neurotransmitters 08:08 Microbiome, Hormones, and Circadian Rhythms 09:05 Thyroid, Disbiosis & Symptom Overview 10:14 Microbiome Disruption Symptoms and Circadian Issues 11:19 Sleep, Hormones, and Microbiome Testing 12:03 Disbiosis in Clinical and Nonclinical Populations 13:04 Inflammation and Leaky Gut 14:04 Diet, Fiber, and Supporting Gut Health 15:24 Inflammation, Immunity, and Gut Diversity 16:20 Fatigue, Brain Fog, and Gut Imbalances 18:09 Pain and How the Microbiome Influences It 19:13 Supporting Microbiome Health Through Collaboration 19:49 Impulsivity, Neurodegeneration & Leaky Gut 21:42 Neuroinflammation, Brain Health, and Proteins 22:57 Emotional & Cognitive Impacts of Disbiosis 23:57 Gut Bacteria, Mood, and Value Assignment 25:02 Developmental Impacts & Antibiotics 28:01 Cognitive Symptoms & Processing Bias in Disbiosis 29:13 Attention, Concentration & Cognitive Slowing 32:01 Environmental Sensitivity & GABA 34:34 Helping Clients: Recognizing and Addressing Causes 36:12 Sleep, Circadian Rhythms & Medication Effects 39:11 Downregulation & Chronic Pain 42:48 Diet, Prebiotics, and Probiotics Education 44:59 Insulin Resistance, Stress, and Microbiome 47:04 Social Stressors, Intergenerational Trauma & Gut Health 49:56 The Additive Effects of Emotional Stress 51:05 Supporting Empowerment and Well-being 53:02 Addressing Trauma, Core Beliefs & Executive Function 55:04 Scaffolding, Environmental, and Sensory Causes 57:01 Spiritual, Lifestyle, and Nature Connections 58:08 Physical Activity, Green Space, and Microbiome 59:28 Conclusion: Gut Microbiome as Essential Target for Treatment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 1119 - Improve Mental Health & Brain Fog by Improving Sleep

    1119 - Improve Mental Health & Brain Fog by Improving Sleep
    Jul 24 2026
    00:00 Welcome & Overview of Sleep and Mental Health 03:02 Functions of Sleep & Sleep Stages Explained 05:20 Consequences of Poor Sleep & Effects of Medications 09:00 Sleep and Emotional Regulation 11:06 Sleep, Stress Response & Brain Function 13:13 Mental Health Disorders and Sleep Disruption 15:06 ADHD, Sleep Issues, and Brain Patterns 19:29 Sleep Loss, Executive Function, and Behavior Changes in Children 23:20 Sleep Deprivation, Mood, and Ruminations 26:51 CBT for Insomnia and Managing Sleep-Related Thoughts 31:00 Addiction, Relapse, and Sleep Disruption 36:17 Sleep, Brain Aging, Pain, and the Gut Microbiome 45:23 Sleep Interventions: Rapid Improvements in Mental Health 46:34 How Much Sleep Is Enough for Different Ages? 50:15 Practical Sleep Hygiene: The NEUTRALS Mnemonic 55:05 CBT-I Techniques for Insomnia 57:44 Additional Factors: Hormones, Diet, and Substances 01:00:01 Sleep Quality and Overall Well-being 01:00:44 Q&A and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 1118 - Tinnitus Hyperacusis and Misophonia: What Counselors Need to Know

    1118 - Tinnitus Hyperacusis and Misophonia: What Counselors Need to Know
    Jul 17 2026
    00:00 Introduction & Overview 00:39 Defining Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Misophonia 01:57 Commonality and Impact on Daily Life 03:03 Understanding Hyperacusis and Misophonia 05:13 Symptoms and Triggers of Misophonia 06:13 Prevalence and Clinical Populations 07:07 The Role of Stress and Sensory Gating 08:05 Stress Management and Empowerment 09:04 Hyperacusis: Sensitivity and Co-occurrence 10:00 Misophonia's Daily Impact and Triggers 11:19 Screening and Mental Health Connections 12:02 Association with Emotional Distress 13:05 Sleep Disruption and Tinnitus 14:02 Environmental Challenges and Sleep Solutions 15:14 Chronic Stress, Sympathetic Dominance, and Barriers 17:04 Cognitive and Emotional Impact 18:16 Co-occurrence and Functional Impairment 19:12 Physical Symptoms and Inflammation 20:04 Somatic Issues and Gut Distress 20:39 Diabetes and Increased Risk 21:28 Hearing Loss, Stress, and Motivation 22:01 Causes: Noise Exposure & Neurological Factors 23:04 Central Processing & Emotional Contributions 24:06 Misophonia: Mechanisms and Comorbidity 26:00 Hyperacusis: Sensitivity and Trauma Links 28:02 Psychological Factors and Fear of Sound 28:32 Overlap, Awareness, and Living with Symptoms 29:34 Attention, Salience, and Sound Focus 31:04 Avoidance and Behavioral Implications 32:00 Sympathetic Nervous System and Downregulation 33:43 Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and Tinnitus Cycle 33:59 Metabolic Conditions and Persistent Tinnitus 35:19 Migraines, Headaches, and Sound Triggers 36:01 Self-Esteem and Coping Ability 36:56 Flare Tracking and Cognitive Interventions 38:14 Social Strains and Daily Distress 39:34 Fatigue, Communication, and Support 41:08 Awareness, Distress, and Social Limitation 42:26 Isolation, Depression, and Anxiety 43:07 Anxiety, Anticipation, and Coping Tools 44:35 Anxiety, Job Concerns, and Daily Function 45:52 Immediate Reactions and Anger in Misophonia 47:10 Depression, Fatigue, and Grief 48:16 Mental Fatigue and Cognitive Slowing 48:59 Cognitive Fatigue and Task Management 49:44 Attention Difficulties in Tinnitus 50:30 Shifting Attention and Reducing Intrusiveness 51:47 Negative Thoughts and Cognitive Restructuring 52:26 Environmental Limitations and Noise Management 54:04 Tools for Comprehension and Accessibility 54:23 Environmental Restrictions and CBT Approaches 56:11 Therapeutic Interventions and Education 57:12 Accurate Information and Coping 57:52 Sound Enrichment and Exposure Balance 58:21 Apps and Resources for Tinnitus Management Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 1117 - POTS and Autonomic Dysregulation: Clinical Practice Guideline

    1117 - POTS and Autonomic Dysregulation: Clinical Practice Guideline
    Jul 10 2026
    00:00 Welcome & Overview 00:29 What is POTS? 01:41 Invisible Symptoms & Misinterpretation 02:55 Impact of Stress on POTS 05:07 Why POTS Is Often Missed 08:01 Diagnosis Challenges & Mislabeling 10:15 How POTS Affects the Body 12:25 POTS vs. Anxiety & Malingering 15:08 Understanding Tachycardia & Compensation 18:46 Prevalence & Age of Onset 22:18 Common Mechanisms & Overlaps 26:01 Posture, Sitting, and Blood Flow 27:15 Cognition & Brain Fog Explained 29:40 Co-occurring Conditions 33:00 Physical Impacts of POTS 41:27 Interpersonal Impacts of POTS 46:36 Emotional and Cognitive Impacts 53:06 Evidence-Based Interventions 55:29 Diet, Lifestyle, & Environmental Support 56:36 Assertive Communication & Self-Worth 59:00 Cognitive & Environmental Strategies 01:00:43 Practical Accommodations & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 1116 - Oxytocin’s Influence on Immune Function, Pain Modulation & Metabolism

    1116 - Oxytocin’s Influence on Immune Function, Pain Modulation & Metabolism
    Jul 3 2026
    00:00 Introduction to Oxytocin's Role 00:11 When Relationships Feel Unsafe 01:06 Oxytocin's Impact on Physiology 02:00 The 'Tend and Defend' Hormone 03:00 Oxytocin and Social Threats 04:03 Vagus Nerve and Social Engagement 04:44 Threat Perception and Context 06:00 Oxytocin and Pain Perception 06:36 Co-Regulation and Safety 07:42 Oxytocin in Trauma and Hypervigilance 08:48 Oxytocin and the HPA Axis 09:36 Cumulative Stress and Attachment Injuries 11:13 Stress, Sleep, and Immune Connection 11:48 Inflammation, Health, and Social Isolation 13:44 Oxytocin, Pain, and Interpersonal Stress 15:18 Hormones, Reproduction, and Oxytocin 16:35 Hormonal Cycles, PCOS, and Adolescents 18:00 Cycle Variations, Stress, and Aging 19:47 Oxytocin and Metabolism 21:01 Oxytocin, Eating, and Impulse Control 21:35 Learning, Memory, and Social Conditioning 24:14 Therapy and Rebuilding Safety 25:13 Mindful Awareness and Connection 26:31 Exploring Safety in Relationships 28:00 Building Safety Internally and with Others 30:01 Skills for Managing Relational Threats 32:05 Secure Attachment and Self-Relationship 34:03 CARE(S) for Secure Attachment 36:05 Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation 39:07 Nurturing Relationships and Self-Care 41:05 Touch, Self-Massage, and Animals 43:35 Music, Laughter, and Creative Connection 47:06 Nature, Kindness, and Altruism 51:01 Spiritual Connection and Group Singing 52:23 Sleep, Stress, and Oxytocin Signaling 53:47 Nutrition, Probiotics, and Gut Health 54:56 Final Thoughts: Individual Pathways to Safety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins