Episode #13: Dr. Joel Hanson is a psychiatrist specializing in addiction treatment. He has both a personal and professional connection with recovery having founded both residential rehab and detox treatment centers in central and southern Utah. He currently works for Altium Health as the Chief Medical Officer. In this episode, Dr. Hanson shares his experiences with and insights into recovery and medication-assistance treatment along with answers our questions about how he chose his psychiatry and addiction treatment profession and started a rehab as well as what’s on the horizon for treatment ..read more

Episode #12: Life was never easy for Heidi. At a young age, she lost her father to an electrocution accident at a construction site. Her mother began making, selling, and using crystal meth to cope. Heidi began using meth at age 11 with her mother. At age 13, Heidi’s mother was sent to prison, and she found herself all alone. She dropped out of middle school and began making money by selling drugs. For over a decade, she racked up 12 felonies, lost custody of her children, and continued selling. She was finally able to find help at the House of Hope and the Family Support Center. Now she has c ..read more

Episode #11: Reverend Jan Brown, Founding/Executive Director from SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul in Virginia, has not used drugs or alcohol or drugs since January 1, 1987. Her addiction began with alcohol, while sneaking “ledge” drinks as a youth to getting an honorable military discharge in order to deal with her addiction. Now she serves as an ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Face and Voices of Recovery, and co-chair of the Addiction and Recovery Commission for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. In 2014 she was appoin ..read more

S. Lee Chew, MS, CMHC, NCC leads a 10 minute meditation with a special focus on mindfulness. This meditation was created by Eric Garland, a professor from the University of Utah, and he developed a recovery program called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. This particular exercise has been designed for everyone in recovery, but anyone interested in meditation will enjoy it. Please note: This meditation was part of Episode #10 on Mindfulness. We’ve extracted this guided meditation from the episode for those of you that just need a quick burst of mindfulness. The post Guided Meditation a ..read more

Episode #10: S. Lee Chew, MS, CMHC, NCC joins us to explain mindfulness and the value of it not only in addiction recovery but in everyday life. In this episode, you will learn the difference between mindfulness and meditation, how they complement each other, and how you can rewire your brain with mindfulness. Chris also shares his experiences with mindfulness and how it helps him stay sober. Lastly, join us for a guided meditation with Lee. If you would like to skip directly to the meditation, go to 39:24 of this recording. Recommended Resources: The Mindful Self Compassion Workbook by Krist ..read more

Episode #9: Julia Parent, ACHMC at Turning Point shares her personal journey with grief & loss while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments while she completed her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and worked as an intern at Turning Point. We also discuss the Grief Wheel from the initial stage of loss through recovery and how grief is cyclical as recovery from the loss of a loved one, disease (including addition), even situations that may seem happy (e.g. moving, starting a new job, having a baby), and many other life events. Most importantly we focus on how you can successful ..read more

Episode #8: Find out what a week of detox is like. Hear all about Chris’s experiences during his week of detox from alcohol, benzos, meth, and opiates. From leaving the intervention and going directly to detox, Amy and Chris reflect on the intake process to Chris’s decision to go to inpatient rehab. While Chris embarks on his recovery, Amy comes to terms with his addiction and helps him get the support he needed while taking care of their 2 month old baby. You will also hear Amy’s dramatic confrontation with a drug dealer. Episode Song: Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me) by ..read more

Episode #7: Healthy communication is not only a key component for recovery, but an essential aspect of all good relationships with our friends, families, loved ones, colleagues, and associates. This topic is truly something we can all benefit from. Mayreann Frantz, CMHC, therapist, defines different types of communication styles, shares tips & tricks for healthy communication, and provides examples of how we can have difficult, caring conversations. Episode Song: Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin Lyrics Hey girl stop what you’re doin’! Hey girl you’ll drive me to ruin. I don’t know w ..read more

Episode #6: Isaac, Chris’s friend from Turning Point, discusses his journey to sobriety. He became addicted to opiates as a youth after recovering from knee surgery. It was his 15th time in rehab that he was finally able to maintain sobriety. From living in motels and on the streets of LA, running from the law, and selling drugs to maintain his habit, Isaac has been sober for almost a year and a half. He is currently awaiting approval from a judge to move back home with his family, and we wish his all the best. Episode Song: Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics I’m sitting in the rai ..read more

Episode #5: Why won’t you just quit? For families, friends, and loved ones of those in addiction, this question is often asked. Therapist, Dennis Woodruff, helps answer this question by explaining the purpose of the midbrain and prefrontal cortex and how they are affected by addiction. He also discusses the importance of separating the behavior from the person and boundaries. Episode Song: My Mind Is My Enemy by Praga Khan Lyrics I Like To Pretend That Nothing Has Changed But All I Ever Loved You Just Took It Away There’s A Knife In My Chest I Go To Sleep But Not To Rest What Was Once Will Nev ..read more