Behavioral Health Today

Autonomy is the ultimate vital sign. Removing an older adult's independence in the name of safety often accelerates their physical and mental decline, making the preservation of their right to choose essential to their survival and quality of life. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Anthony Verdino, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and author of "CBT Simplified". Drawing from an extensive background in both outpatient hospital settings and private practice, Anthony brings a richly holistic perspective to clinical care. While his work empowers clients across the lifespan, today’s conversation zeros in on a deeply nuanced area of healthcare: the geriatric population. We explore what it truly takes to support older adults, from advocating for client autonomy through a biopsychosocial lens to navigating the relentless systemic pressures of hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community agencies. Finally, we confront the heavy emotional realities of this work, tackling end-of-life care, grief management, and vital burnout-prevention strategies for frontline professionals.   Earn CE credit while you listen. Discover our new Podcast-Based CE courses: https://ceucreationsinc.com/bht For more information about “CBT Simplified: A Simple Guide to Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” by Anthony Verdino, LCSW, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHG24D7M For more information about Anthony Verdino, LCSW, please visit: https://www.anthonyverdino.com Connect with Anthony on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-verdino-lcsw-87a6806b

You don't need to be a therapist to save a life. You just need the courage to put a friendship on the line and start a difficult conversation. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Peter Fenger sits down with mental health advocate, speaker, and Project 55 co-founder, Dr. Justin Goodman. Following a powerful personal journey through high-stakes performance, addiction, and recovery, Justin realized a critical truth: the people closest to a crisis are usually the first to notice, yet the last to be equipped to help. To change that narrative, his 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides entirely free training that has already empowered over 35,000 citizens to step up as mental health first responders. Tune in as Peter and Justin explore how we can break the stigma, bridge the treatment gap, and give ordinary people the practical tools they need to recognize a crisis and support those quietly struggling in our workplaces and communities.   Earn CE credit while you listen. Discover our new Podcast-Based CE courses: https://ceucreationsinc.com/bht For more information about Project 55, please visit: https://project55.org If you would like to learn more about Mental Health First Responder Training: https://project55.org/train/ For more information about Justin Goodman, please visit: https://justinpgoodman.com Connect with Project 55 on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/project55/

Technology isn't replacing human connection; it's scaling it, bridging rural gaps, and dismantling the stigma surrounding behavioral health. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon welcomes Dr. Tom Milam. Tom is a seasoned psychiatrist with nearly thirty years of experience who serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Iris Telehealth. Iris Telehealth is a leading provider that partners with hospitals, community clinics, and health systems nationwide to deliver quality, seamlessly integrated virtual behavioral health programs. In his role as CMO, Dr. Milam, who earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed his residency at Duke, leads a massive group of clinicians providing evidence-based care across forty-five states. He dedicated much of his career to academic medicine and pioneering grant-funded telemedicine programs, and today he’s here to help us understand how Iris is helping organizations bridge the gap between financial sustainability and exceptional mental health access. I am excited to have Tom with me today to explore his journey into telemedicine and discuss how Iris Telehealth bridges the gap for healthcare leaders by transforming behavioral health from an underfunded systemic bottleneck into a clinically integrated, financially sustainable virtual care model.   For more information about the Iris Telehealth, please visit: https://www.iristelehealth.com For additional resources about telepsychiatry, please visit: https://www.iristelehealth.com/resources/ For white papers by Iris Telehealth, please visit: https://www.iristelehealth.com/white-papers/ Read the Iris Telehealth blog at: https://www.iristelehealth.com/blog/ Connect with Iris Telehealth on social media: On Linkedin at: https://www.facebook.com/iristelehealth/ On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/iristelehealth/ On YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@iristelehealth

Real healing goes far beyond the surface, it requires the vulnerable "heart work" of facing the pain beneath our behaviors. On this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon welcomes Brannon and Tyler Patrick, widely known as the Therapy Brothers. With over 15 years of specialized clinical experience each in sex addiction recovery, betrayal trauma healing, and trust restoration, they bring a powerful blend of professional expertise and straight talk to couples in crisis. United by their personal passions and professional journeys, the brothers host a dynamic weekly call-in show that translates complex psychology into real-world transformation. Together, they leverage their unique brotherly dynamic to create a safe, shame-free space for individuals and couples navigating the heavy realities of betrayal and shame, ultimately showing us how to rebuild trust, foster emotional safety, and cultivate deeply connected lives and communities.   For more information about the Therapy Brothers, please visit: https://www.therapybrothers.org/podcast/ For more information about Rising Son, a therapist-led program for men, please visit: https://risingson.org Listen to the Therapy Brothers podcast: On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SDuQFy88qSD2ytuRP5oEB On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1500794877 On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@therapy.brothers

When your brain stops constantly sorting for safety, it opens the space to sense creativity, turning forced productivity into effortless, original flow. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon speaks with Dr. Sue Morter, a renowned international speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and leading authority in bioenergetic medicine. For over 40 years, Dr. Morter has combined cutting-edge quantum science with clinical practice to teach high-achievers how to regulate their nervous systems and unlock peak performance from the inside out. As the founder of the Morter Institute for Bioenergetics and creator of the globally taught Energy Codes system, she joins the show to discuss her brand-new book, “The Anatomy of Awakening: The 5 Hidden Codes to Activate Self-Healing, Unlock Your Higher Consciousness, and Live Your Divine Destiny”. Together, they explore how high-achievers can transition from "forcing" performance to "generating" it through internal alignment, using bioenergetics and actionable practices to regulate a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight where external biohacking falls short.   For more information about “The Anatomy of Awakening: The 5 Hidden Codes to Activate Self-Healing, Unlock Your Higher Consciousness, and Live Your Divine Destiny” by Dr. Sue Morter, please visit: https://drsuemorter.com/the-anatomy-of-awakening-book/ For more information about Dr. Sue Morter and the Morter Institute, please visit: https://drsuemorter.com For more information about other books written by Dr. Morter, please visit: https://shop.drsuemorter.com Connect with Dr. Sue Morter on social media: On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuemorter/ On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drsuemorter On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drsuemorter On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKJ33Ss-bFfGfbFavBxGnCw

When peer supporters conform to clinical molds, they lose the very magic that makes them effective: shared lived experience and authentic connection. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Mary Jadwisiak. Mary is the CEO and founder of Holding the Hope, a peer-owned organization that has spent the past twenty years advocating for behavioral health systems that truly make sense for people experiencing addiction and mental illness. Mary is a deeply passionate advocate and the voice behind the National Peer Support Training Center, which serves as a premier resource for peer certification, workshops, and program consultation. By blending immense professional expertise with her own personal story of lived recovery, Mary has helped governments, corporations, and provider agencies nationwide successfully integrate the invaluable power of peer support. We’re excited to have Mary with us today to explore the critical role of lived-experience peer support in behavioral health, unpacking the unique boundary and systemic challenges peers face on clinical teams, and how organizations can properly structure and supervise programs to prevent burnout and help them thrive.   For more information about The Peer Support Training Center, please visit: https://peersupporttrainingcenter.com If you would like to know more about your state’s requirements for Peer Support, please use the Find Your State tool: https://peersupporttrainingcenter.com/find-your-state/ For more information about supervisor resources, please visit: https://peersupporttrainingcenter.com/resources/ For more information about on-demand training, please visit: https://peersupporttrainingcenter.com/courses/ For more information about Holding The Hope, please visit: https://holdingthehope.com

True access isn't just getting an appointment quickly; it’s getting rapid access to evidence-based care that actually works. If a beautifully curated network can’t deliver real clinical fidelity and measurable outcomes, it’s for naught. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Peter Fenger sits down with Rachel Goldberg, Vice President of Growth and Clinical Strategy at NovaOne. A founding leader at NovaOne, Rachel has been instrumental in expanding the organization's reach across the health plan ecosystem. She began her career as a registered nurse before transitioning into health plan innovation, a unique background that brings both strategic vision and deep clinical credibility to the behavioral health space. Recognized as one of Managed Healthcare Executive Magazine's Emerging Leaders, Rachel leverages her bedside-to-boardroom perspective and industry connections to drive meaningful, evidence-based results Tune in as we explore how Rachel uses her clinical nursing background to build, vet, and hold accountable a high-impact digital and virtual partnership network, cutting through the marketing hype to deliver care that changes lives.   For more information about NovaOne, please visit: https://www.novaonehealth.com To connect with Rachel Goldberg, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-kotok-goldberg-904b1786/ Connect with NovaOne on social media: on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novaone-health on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovaOneHealth/ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCryW35ntwrzmCUna9F9JyJQ

True leadership isn’t a title you inherit, it’s the daily choice to empower everyone else in the room. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Thom Mayer, Medical Director for the NFL Players Association and an internationally renowned emergency physician with over 25 years of high-stakes crisis experience. From serving as Command Physician at the Pentagon on 9/11 to treating Damar Hamlin on the field and training medical teams in war-torn Ukraine, Dr. Mayer’s battle-tested leadership earned him a spot on USA Today’s 100 Most Important People in the NFL and a nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is also the author of 25 books, including his latest release, “Leadership Is Worthless… But Leading Is Priceless”. Join us as Dr. Mayer shares counterintuitive principles that turn traditional hierarchy on its head. Together, we explore how shifting from static titles to daily, action-oriented leadership, built on trust, empathy, and active presence, can democratize leadership and transform how we navigate uncertainty in behavioral health organizations and beyond.   For more information about “Leadership Is Worthless… But Leading Is Priceless” by Thom Mayer, MD, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1523006153?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback To learn more about Thom Mayer, MD, please visit: https://thommayermd.com To connect with Thom please email at:  [email protected] or call  703-403-4147. Connect with Thom on social media: On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-mayer-md-40342024/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thommayer.md/ On Substack: https://substack.com/@thommayermd

If you want to protect your child’s developing brain, the secret isn't one huge, awkward "talk", it’s teaching executive skills early, leaning into boredom, and never underestimating the power of a sincere parental apology. In this episode of Behavioral Health Today, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with therapist, prevention researcher, and Know Your Neuro founder Dr. Crystal Collier. Drawing on over three decades of clinical experience and her own journey in long-term recovery, Dr. Collier demystifies complex brain science into plug-and-play tools families, educators, and clinicians can use immediately. As the award-winning author of The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide and Your Moves Matter, Dr. Collier breaks down how family-of-origin patterns, dopamine hits from supernormal tech stimuli, and early behavioral habits shape neural networks. Join us as we unpack practical, neuroscience-backed prevention strategies that empower communities to wire young brains for safety, decision-making, and lifelong resilience from kindergarten through college.   For more information about Know Your Neuro, please visit: https://www.knowyourneuro.org For families looking for skills and topics, please visit: https://www.knowyourneuro.org/families For students looking to do an internship or how to become a positive social influencer, please visit: https://www.knowyourneuro.org/students For more information about “The NeuroWhereAbouts Guide: A Neurodevelopmental Guide for Parents and Families Who Want to Prevent Youth High-Risk Behavior” by Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S, please visit: https://drcrystalcollier.com/books/ For more information about Dr. Crystal Collier and her private practice, please visit: https://drcrystalcollier.com Connect with Dr. Crystal Collier: On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justsayknowyourneuro/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcrystalcollier On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@knowyourneuro

When a catastrophic outcome puts psychiatric treatment under a public microscope, the legal and media fallout often flattens complex care into oversimplified narratives of provider negligence. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon and Peter Fenger unpack the clinical and systemic implications of the Lindsay Clancy trial, moving past courtroom drama to address the quiet anxiety currently reshaping mental health practice. They examine how fragmented communication across prescribers and reliance on templated documentation left care vulnerable to legal scrutiny, while detailing the cognitive illusion of hindsight bias that leads evaluators, and clinicians themselves, to treat tragic outcomes as retroactively obvious. Sharlee and Peter break down what the legal standard of "reasonable care" actually demands in clinical records versus the trap of defensive novella-writing, address the "second victim phenomenon" affecting half of healthcare workers after adverse events, and discuss how sensationalized coverage risks causing vulnerable postpartum mothers to mask symptoms out of fear.   Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/ Follow us on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@behavioralhealthtoday Follow us on Threads at: https://www.threads.net/@behavioralhealthtoday Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ