Behavioral Health Today

In this episode, Dr. Rick Johnson, PhD joins Dr. Graham Taylor in a discussion surrounding the meaning of, and the inclusion of, spirituality into the therapeutic process. Together they address the meaning of spirituality, the dangers of reactivity, and ways practitioners bring spirituality into the therapeutic process for a greater awareness. There are three parts to us:  emotional, physical, and spiritual. Through therapy there is an opportunity to explore and embrace all three sides. When we incorporate the spirituality piece, we can incorporate a greater authentic self to understand the life-affirming beliefs that drive us. 

For more information on Dr. Rick Johnson visit: https://rickjohnsonphd.com/

Dr. Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD, joins Dr. Graham Taylor on this week’s episode of Behavioral Health Today to help us understand the relationship of pain, our brains, and how practicing mindfulness to change our experience with chronic pain. Pain is very complex; our brain is a big determiner in our pain experience. The best treatment involves an education process to influence the way that a patient thinks about pain. Adriaan shares about the work he’s doing to improve health through digital medicine with BehaVR and virtual reality programs to teach patients to understand their pain and become empowered and in control of their pain.

 For more information about Evidence in Motion, a seminar group to teach post-professional courses for healthcare providers, visit: https://evidenceinmotion.com/

If you are a patient looking for more information, visit Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products: https://www.optp.com/

For more information on BehaVR’s Digital Medicine Platform, visit: https://behavr.com/

In our final episode of the 3-part series addressing sex trafficking and the work being done by Ho`ōla Nā Pua,  Joy Winquist, the director of programs at Ho`ōla Nā Pua joins the discussion with Dr. Graham Taylor. Joy is a clinical social worker advocating for counseling individuals with complex trauma survivors of child abuse, neglect, and trafficking survivors. Throughout this episode we get an understanding of what therapeutic care and a clinician's treatment look like for those coming through their program. 

For more information about Ho`ōla Nā Pua visit: https://hoolanapua.org/

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is (888) 373-7888 or visit: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Rebecca Bender visit: https://rebeccabender.org/

Rachel Thomas visit: https://www.worldwithoutexploitation.org/survivor/rachel-thomas

Dr. Sue Johnson visit: https://iceeft.com/about-dr-sue-johnson/

Dr. Bruce Perry visit https://www.commcare1.org/post/dr-bruce-d-perry-on-trauma-informed-care

Bessel van der Kolk, MD visit https://www.nicabm.com/faculty/bessel-van-der-kolk/

Polaris Project visit https://polarisproject.org/

In the second episode of the 3-part series addressing sex trafficking and the work being done by Ho`ōla Nā Pua, Tim Hitchens, the Education Program Manager at Ho`ōla Nā Pua, talks with Behavioral Health Today about gateway traps and sex trafficking (those things that we may not realize, but are contributing to sex trafficking). Together Tim and Graham dispel myths and assumptions surrounding the belief system around sex trafficking and ask for us to be mindful of the impact of our actions. 

For more information about Ho`ōla Nā Pua visit: https://hoolanapua.org/

For information about Shared Hope International visit: https://sharedhope.org/

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is (888) 373-7888 or visit: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Polaris Project visit: https://polarisproject.org/

Culture Reframed visit: https://www.culturereframed.org/

Jackson Katz visit: https://www.jacksonkatz.com/

Demand Abolition visit: https://www.demandabolition.org/

Tony Porter: A Call to Men visit: https://www.ted.com/talks/tony_porter_a_call_to_men

The first in a 3-part series addressing sex trafficking and the work being done by Ho`ōla Nā Pua. Jessica Munoz, founder and president, and Tammy Bitanga, Community Outreach Coordinator, join Behavioral Health Today's Dr. Graham Taylor as leaders in the anti-trafficking movement in the Hawaiian Islands. Tammy shares her own story of survival and rise out of her circumstances of early childhood abuse and how it drives her to do the work with Ho`ōla Nā Pua. Today, Ho`ōla Nā Pua has developed their own crisis hotline, mentoring program, and developing Hawaii’s first residential treatment center for children who have been trafficked.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is: (888) 373-7888.

If you are in Hawaii and you're looking for help: (808) 435-9555

For more information about Ho`ōla Nā Pua visit https://hoolanapua.org/

For more information about the CSE-it (See-It) Tool visit: https://www.westcoastcc.org/cse-it/

Humor shifts how we feel, think, act, and impacts our physiology and biochemistry. In this episode, Dr. Steven M. Sultanoff joins Dr. Graham Taylor to explain how humor can be incorporated in the therapeutic relationship to improve the bond between the therapist / client and as a tool for intervention within a therapeutic approach. Humor can be used as a way to unstick our thinking and disrupting painful feelings so we can be more confident in our ability to manage feelings.

For more information:

• Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor visit: https://www.aath.org/

For CE course information on incorporating humor into psychotherapy visit: https://aatbs.com/integrating-humor-into-psychotherapy-theory-rationale-research

In part two of Bold Parenting, Behavioral Health Today takes you behind the therapy door to demystify, and safely help people realize the benefits of treatment. Dr. Erin Elmore joins Dr. Graham Taylor again to talk about the types of clients, beginning steps of assessment, the therapeutic tools, and goal planning treatments for teens and families. Together Erin takes Graham through the full process of patient introduction, her approach to therapy, examples of a session and techniques used, and finally bringing the therapy to a close. The relationship between therapist and patient is a meaningful one and when other life issues or developmental tasks come up, meaningful treatment allows for future consideration.

For general information on child therapy visit: www.apa.org

If you would like to find a child therapist visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

For more information for parenting tips visit: https://drerinelmore.com/for-parents/

If you would like to learn more on Child Development and the Stages of Attachment, we suggest The Developing Mind by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel: https://www.drdansiegel.com/books/the_developing_mind/praise/

In part one of a two part series, Dr. Erin Elmore sets the foundation for Bold Parenting, a style of parenting that includes structure and warmth to raising your child. Together, Erin and Dr. Graham Taylor discuss the varying styles of parenting, the different types of child attachments, and the developmental stages of children. The goal of bold parenting is to provide a structure for your child with a clear and high expectations that are consistent, yet flexible so the child may contribute their thoughts and feelings.

You can start today! There is no wrong time to begin this style of parenting. The research has shown children of Bold Parents to be self-reliant, academically successful, and well-behaved.

If you would like to find a child therapist visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

If you would like more information for parenting tips visit: https://drerinelmore.com/for-parents/

If you would like to learn more on Child Development and the Stages of Attachment, we suggest The Developing Mind by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel: https://www.drdansiegel.com/books/the_developing_mind/praise/

Author of The Psychology of Pandemics, Dr. Steven Taylor joins Dr. Graham Taylor in a discussion about the current and past pandemics. Dr. Steven Taylor outlines the patterns that occur from a global pandemic, identifies the warning signs of stress and the components of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for symptoms that linger past the COVID-19 Pandemic. Together they identify the issues occurring, possible solutions toward better awareness, and developing the resilience to get through this. Learn to identify the things we can control, seize those, and then the things that are out of our control will likely go much better.

For more information about the impacts of COVID-19 visit: https://coronaphobia.org

Free use self-assessment test to identify the warning signs of stress caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, visit: https://coronaphobia.org/list/

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Dr. Kelly Posner, the author of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Suicide prevention requires finding those who are suffering. The symptoms of depression can lead to suicide and 50% of people who commit suicide have seen their primary care doctor the month before they die. If we can be testing for suicide ideology like we test for blood pressure, we can correctly help those in need. The Columbia Scale questions are prescriptive enough for non-professionals, but flexible enough for the mental health professional to administer it. Suicide is a problem of our shared humanity, but it can be preventable.

For more information about The Columbia Scale/ Columbia Protocol:

• About the Scale: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/about-the-scale/

• About the Columbia Protocol App: