Mental Health News Radio

Dr. Paul Meier joins us once again for a discussion around healing after a natural disaster. He joins first responder, Stephen Kavalkavich, of Rescue the Rescuer podcast, Melanie Vann and Kristin Walker on this special show dedicated to everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding in August of 2017. Dr. Meier is a resident of Dallas and was safely out of danger but discussed the many times he has worked as first responder in his career as a psychiatrist. We invited Stephen to join us as he spent many, many years working as a paramedic.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the residents of Houston, Texas and to all of the first responders handling this crisis. www.rescuetherescuer.com www.meierclinics.com www.mhnrnetwork.com

Join Keith O'Neil, former NFL football player, with sports writer Travis Pipes and host Kristin Walker as they discuss Keith's advocacy in mental health after his diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. Keith played for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants. During his professional career he served as team captain and was a member of the Colts Super Bowl XLI Championship team. Keith speaks to audiences in the sports and mental health communities. He is also the President and Founder of the 4th and Forever Foundation which brings awareness to mental health and funds research for mental illness. Keith also recently wrote a memoir titled, Under My Helmet - A Football Players Lifelong Battle With Bipolar Disorder. Keith played in the NFL with an undiagnosed mental illness, bipolar disorder, and is extremely passionate about helping others who suffer with mental health issues. He is devoted to erasing the stigma of mental illness in our society. He is utilizing his book along with motivational speaking engagements to create awareness of mental illness. Keith believes, "with the proper diagnosis, medical attention and determination, anyone can achieve anything. If he can make it in the high stress environment of playing in the NFL with bipolar disorder, anything is possible!" Keith lives in Pendleton, NY with his wife Jill and two sons Connor and Tanner. Keith's father, Ed O'Neil was an All-American linebacker at Penn State University, and a first round draft pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.  www.keithoneil.com

Luke is one of our favorite guests. His honesty about facing addiction and swimming through recovery makes it hard to end any conversation with him. Join Luke and our host Kristin Walker as they keep it real on this incredible show! Luke Richards is a recovered addict and a survivor of suicide. Over 4 years ago his life was on a singular trajectory - caught in the cycle of addiction with no hope of recovery. With the help of lots of people he did recover, and have been blessed with an amazing life. He believes that society writes addicts off as "lost causes" and today is trying to change perceptions about addicts through sharing his journey and his latest project a 2018 English channel swim. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/health/recovered-alcoholic-who-couldnt-swim-is-now-taking-on-the-english-channel/news-story/97e559ebe75e69468252361816c92b68 www.facebook.com/Swim4Recovery

Dave is the Founder and Director of Yoga Services for the Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute in Brookline Massachusetts, where he coined the term “trauma-sensitive yoga”. He was responsible for curriculum development, supervision and oversight of the yoga intervention component of the first of its kind, NIH funded study, conducted by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk to assess the utility and feasibility of yoga for adults with treatment-resistant PTSD. Mr. Emerson has developed, conducted, and supervised TSY groups for rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, residential programs for youth, military bases, survivors of terrorism, and Veterans Administration centers and clinics. In addition to co-authoring several articles on the subject of yoga and trauma, Mr. Emerson is the co-author of Overcoming Trauma through Yoga, released in 2011 by North Atlantic Books and Author of the forthcoming, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy (Norton, 2015). He leads trainings for yoga teachers and mental health clinicians in North America, Europe, and Asia. David Emerson, E-RYT, TCTSY-F The Trauma Center, Brookline, Massachusetts ?Director of the Yoga Program www.traumasensitiveyoga.com

Join Melanie Vann, Melissa Richards, Steve Kavalkavich, and Kristin Walker as they discuss entitlement. What are we entitled to? Is all entitlement bad? What is "good" entitlement? How does vanity and ego feed the "bad" kind of entitlement? We are all fired up on this one so get ready to take notes! www.rescuetherescuer.com www.restorationcounseling.me www.mentalhealthnewsradio.com

Sharon joins us in the podcast studio to talk about her experience as a student and aid in the trauma sensitive yoga classes facilitated by certified instructor Kim Mulholland.  Join Sharon as she gives practical examples of how this practice has helped her own healing as well as many of the inmates at Haywood County Detention Center.  www.sonshineyoga.com

Kim Mulholland is a Certified TCTSY Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator through www.traumacenter.org and www.traumasensitiveyoga.com. She joins our podcast to discuss how TCTSY was created and how Trauma Sensitive Yoga is uniquely different than standard Yoga classes. She delves into the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk Founder and Medical Director of the Trauma Center.  www.sonshineyoga.com Kim facilitates classes with female inmates and with a local homeless shelter. She also facilitates classes in our Mental Health News Radio Network podcast studio. All proceeds for classes taken at our studio are donated back to her Yoga practice in the form of scholarships for those who cannot afford them. 

This year, Chanel participated in the Boston photo exhibition, Invisible Fractures: The Hidden Trauma of Emotional Abuse. She hopes to raise awareness that emotional abuse is domestic violence, and that narcissistic abuse, especially when it's covert, is particularly insidious. She enjoys hiking, baking, reading and writing. Chanel joins our host Kristin Sunanta Walker as she takes us on her harrowing journey through psychological abuse at the hands of a covert, malignant narcissist. 

Kevin Petersen, LMFT joins us for another discussion with a focus on parents, children, and codependency. Kevin is a dedicated, caring, and understanding professional who works with families in crisis. Kevin was born and raised in Palo Alto, CA and earned a bachelors from USC in 1994, and enjoyed a prosperous career in Sales and Marketing before he decided to return to school in 2008. Kevin has earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counseling both from Regis University. He started his career working as a therapist for Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network in Child and Family Services in 2011. Kevin opened his private practice, Petersen Family Counseling, in 2014 and specializes in working with families and individuals struggling with addictions, codependency, and parenting. www.petersenfamilycounseling.com

Dr. Sheila Williams has  over  25  years  of  successful  professional  experience. Her expertise   is   very   extensive  as   she is   CEO of SW Consulting Services,  LLC,  a  Mental  Health  Therapist,  Published  Author , Empowerment Speaker and  Media Personality.  She  has  an  extensive  educational  background  as  she   holds  a   BA   in   Psychology   with   a   minor   in   Sociology,   an   MA   in   Counseling,   and   a   Ph.D.   in  Leadership  and  Education.   After   caring   for   her   Mother   who   suffered   from   Clinical   Depression   and   Multiple  Sclerosis,  Dr.  Williams decided to  pursue  her  education  and  career  in  the  Mental  Health   field.   Her autobiography, ‘My Mother’s  Keeper’  gives  you a very up close and personal look  into  her  life,  the  mystery,  the  challenges and  the  truth  behind  what  motivated  Dr. Williams  to  persevere  and  accomplish  all  the  things  she has  set  out  to do; and she’s just beginning.   drsheiladwilliams.com

Sustainable Recovery™, Inc., believes in supporting the whole family: mind, body, spirit. We realize emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual well being are intertwined.  We believe, while it’s important for a loved one to realize that they have an illness, they are more than that illness. We can help someone figure out on their own who they really are. Instead of saying 'You're an addict', ‘You’re bipolar’ or ‘You’re schizophrenic,’ we can help someone feel comfortable and say, ‘I’m a person, not my diagnosis.’” The point is to move forward in life. Adopting an addict identity can be especially problematic for young people whose identities are not yet fully formed. Doing so may make what may well be a transient problem into a long-term one, by teaching them that addiction is inevitably chronic and relapsing. Since no one can predict which youth will “mature out” of addiction and which will not, teens should never be forced to attend 12-step groups—nor should they be made to label themselves as addicts. We also believe that working in tandem with compassionate, clinical, professionals is crucial.  Each family is unique and is treated that way. We don’t see our clients as a diagnosis or a billing number.  "The words most frequently used to describe what we do includes the following: identify, engage, encourage, motivate, share, express, enhance, orient, help, link, consult, monitor, transport, praise, enlist, support, organize, and advocate"  - Timothy Harrington, Chief Empowerment Officer, Sustainable Recovery™, Inc. www.sustainablerecovery.net

Pascal played professional hockey for over 12 years in countries around the world. In those 12 years, his greatest accomplishments included overcoming  depression, dark thoughts, addiction, sadness, ignorance, hopelessness, serious injuries and so much more.   Pascal’s life forever changed in Croatia when he suffered a severe brain trauma which left him in critical condition. He went through severe side effects such as paranoia, extreme fear, and panic attacks. The need for change was inevitable. Through this suffering, Pascal realized that the change had to first come from within, turning the present moment into a stepping stone that leads to a continuing journey to invest inward.  The development of his curiosity, the practice of wisdom, and the choice of change was driven by the discovery of guidance found through the internal pain. Pascal knew the best way to raise his son wasn't about what we say to a child, but to "be about" what we say.    Pascal went on to study many powerful books about and take considerable courses in psychology, spirituality and personal development. Pascal is very aware of the ignorance we all experience to the many different levels of consciousness and perspective. This realization has created an inner purpose for him - to help others discover an awareness within themselves. One must acknowledge the life within themselves. By neglecting his inner life, Pascal experienced considerable suffering. This awakening led him to become a Certified Professional Life Coach - to help people identify their own purpose, passion, values, false limited beliefs and to help them create light to their darkness.   www.pascalmorency.com

Dr. Paul Meier of www.meierclinics.com joins the crew to discuss what leadership is all about. Join counselor Melanie Vann and host Kristin Walker as they discuss with Paul the qualities that make an effective leader including the necessary mistakes along the way. Great show for long time CEO's and entrepreneurs who've been through the trenches. www.meierclinics.com

Darlene Lancer joins us again on Mental Health News Radio to discuss perfectionism. Her eBook, "“I’M NOT PERFECT––I’M ONLY HUMAN” –– HOW TO BEAT PERFECTIONISM" is available at www.whatiscodependency.com.  Darlene discusses overcoming perfectionism – something common among codependents and people with low self-esteem. She discovered in her research that it spans from people with positive perfectionism, where it raises their self-esteem, to narcissists, whose perfectionism is damaging to others. Enjoy the show!

Do You Ever Feel Like Everything Is Going Up In Flames? Fire fighters, police officers, military, EMS providers, and all first responders are under immense pressure and stress, day in and day out. This can lead to incredible challenges both at work and at home. Steve's mission is to put a spotlight on these problems and help find solutions with the Rescue the Rescuers podcast and blog. Join Steve and our host, Kristin Walker, as they discuss his mission and how his podcast is already changing lives.  www.rescuetherescuer.com