Behavioral Health Today

Your nervous system learned danger. It can learn safety too. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Nora Rodden, CEO and co-founder of Nervana, a science-based mobile app helping people regulate their nervous systems and reclaim their lives from chronic pain. After a life-altering car accident left her suffering from chronic pain, GI issues, and insomnia for over five years, Nora didn't find relief through injections, surgery, or nerve ablation. She found it through neuroscience. A clinical trial at Harvard Business School introduced her to the power of mind-body therapy, and effectively rewired her brain's alarm system. Now, drawing on her background in biotech and her training as a certified yoga teacher, she's on a mission to bring these evidence-based neuroplasticity tools out of the research lab and into the hands of millions. In this conversation, Nora takes us inside her recovery, the science behind chronic pain, and how Nervana is helping users move from a chronic state of fight-or-flight back to one of lasting internal safety, one small, powerful experiment at a time.

For more information about Nervana, please visit: https://www.trynervana.com

To download Nervana from the Apple App store, please visit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nervana-chronic-symptom-coach/id6754898332

Listeners can save $50 on their subscription with BHT50.

Questions about Nervana? Please contact Nora at [email protected]

If you are a clinician and interested in sharing Nervana with your clients, please visit: https://www.trynervana.com/for-clinicians

Connect with Nora on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norarabah

Your hippocampus isn't a fixed shape, it's a garden. With the right sleep, movement, and purpose, it can actually grow larger and stronger at any age. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a pioneering neurologist and neuroscientist with more than 35 years of experience in brain health, memory, neuroplasticity, and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Fotuhi earned his PhD in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins, completed his medical training at Harvard Medical School, and returned to Johns Hopkins for his neurology residency, where he now serves as an adjunct professor. Known for translating complex brain science into practical tools, his award-winning work has helped thousands improve memory, focus, and clarity. His expertise has been featured on CNN, NBC News, the Today Show, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. He is also the author of the new book “The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life.” In this conversation, Dr. Fotuhi shares the science behind his 12-week program and the everyday habits, movement, nutrition, mindset, stress control, purpose, and even embracing boredom, that help prevent cognitive decline and keep your mind sharp for life.

For more information about Dr. Majid Fotuhi, please visit: https://drfotuhi.com

For more information about “The Invisible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life” by Dr. Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, please visit: https://drfotuhi.com/pre-order/

For more information about Dr. Fotuhi’s online courses, please visit: https://drfotuhi.com/online-course-app/

For more information about The Invincible Brain App, please visit: https://invincible.drfotuhi.com

Connect with Dr. Fotuhi on social media:

August 2026 is closer than you think, and the changes could work in your favor or catch you off guard. Whether you're deep in exam prep or just starting your licensure journey, this conversation will help you decide whether to test now or wait and why that decision matters more than you think. In this episode, Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon break down exactly what's shifting, from fewer questions and a new three-area content structure to a heavier emphasis on ethics over academic memorization. We dig into what it really means that Values and Ethics is now the most heavily weighted section, how the shorter exam format creates both opportunity and new traps for overthinking, and how to honestly assess whether the current exam or the new version plays to your natural strengths. We also tackle the bigger picture, from racial and socioeconomic pass rate disparities to the push for universal licensing, and why this shift may signal that the profession is finally being tested the way it's actually practiced. Walk away with a clear strategy, honest self-reflection questions, and the confidence to take your next step toward licensure.

Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/

Psychedelics are a pattern interrupt, not a panacea. They don't offer a "free lunch," but they do provide a "free snack", a brief, radical perspective shift that disrupts long-standing mental loops so you can begin the real work of transformation. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, Co-Founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, the largest professional education organization specializing in integrative mental health and psychedelic therapy. Keith also co-hosts the Higher Practice Podcast and co-founded the Integrative Psychiatry Centers, a clinic at the forefront of innovative mental healthcare. With over 20 years as a psychotherapist and coach, his path into this work didn't begin in a classroom, it began at 19, on the 19th floor of a college dormitory, in the middle of a suicidal crisis that would reshape the entire trajectory of his life. Now Keith dedicates his work to understanding what actually moves the needle in mental health, not symptom suppression, but root cause transformation. His integrative approach weaves together psychedelic-assisted therapy, trauma healing, gut health, metabolic medicine, spirituality, and the science of presence into a framework that treats the whole person, not just the diagnosis. In this conversation, you'll hear Keith's unfiltered take on why psychedelics aren't a cure but a pattern interrupt, a brief, radical disruption of the mental loops keeping people stuck. You'll also explore the spiritual dimension of trauma, the gut-brain connection most practitioners ignore, and why he believes healing isn't just personal anymore. It's our collective responsibility.

For more information about the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, please visit: https://psychiatryinstitute.com

For more information about programs for professionals, please visit: https://psychiatryinstitute.com/overview-of-programs/

If you are looking for a therapist, consider the Integrative Psychiatry Provider Directory, please visit: https://directory.psychiatryinstitute.com

For more information about the Higher Practice Podcast, please visit: https://psychiatryinstitute.com/podcast/

For more information about Integrative Psychiatry Centers, please visit: https://psychiatrycenters.com

Connect with the Integrative Psychiatry Centers on social media:

We spend our lives running from discomfort, but when we stop to actually feel the sensations in the body, we realize they are the gateways to liberating our consciousness. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Allura Halliwell, a transformational guide and creator of The Consciousness Method, a multidimensional healing approach designed to lead individuals from inner fragmentation to wholeness. With a deep commitment to human evolution, Allura empowers people to rewire their relationships, heal core wounds, and access higher states of consciousness. Her work invites us to release fear, decode long-held illusions, and transform pain into a portal for lasting change. Through her unique method, she helps others shift their timelines to create aligned, soul-centered lives from the inside out. We are excited to welcome Allura to the show to explore how The Consciousness Method offers a transformative path beyond traditional therapy. Together, we discuss addressing the root of emotional pain, dismantling mental health stigma, and creating accessible, sovereign pathways to healing.

For more information about “Unloved, Unworthy, Uknown: A Journey to Wholeness” by Allura Halliwell, please visit: https://unlovedunworthyunknown.com/book-332516

For more information about Allura Halliwell, please visit: https://allurahalliwell.com

For more information about The Consciousness Method podcast, please visit: https://allurahalliwell.com/podcasts

If you would like a consultation with Allura, please schedule: https://calendly.com/allurahalliwell/time-to-connect

Connect with Allura Halliwell on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/allurahalliwell

Connect with Allura Halliwell on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/allura.halliwell/

Most developmental struggles aren't caused by a "broken" brain, but by a functional disconnect, a gap between a child’s extraordinary gifts and their maturing systems. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Robert Melillo, a world-renowned expert in childhood neurological disorders, to challenge the "broken brain" narrative and introduce a revolutionary look at brain imbalances. Dr. Melillo explains that most developmental struggles, from ADHD and autism to dyslexia, aren’t caused by injury or pathology, but by a functional disconnection between different brain networks that creates a gap between a person’s extraordinary gifts and their daily challenges. Drawing on 30 years of clinical success and his best-selling work in “Disconnected Kids”, Dr. Melillo explores how specific windows of development, movement, and nutrition influence brain maturation, and why the brain’s incredible plasticity means it is never too late to bridge that gap. Whether you are a parent or an adult seeking answers, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for identifying root causes and using directed repetition to transform neurological function at any age.

For more information about Dr. Melillo and the Melillo Method, please visit: https://www.drrobertmelillo.com

For more information about “Disconnected Kids” by Dr. Robert Melillo, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593713419

For more information about vitamins and supplements recommended by Dr. Robert Melillo, please visit: https://dr-robert-melillo.myshopify.com/collections/supplements-vitamins

For more information about courses for clinicians and parents, please visit: https://www.drrobertmelillo.com/courses/

For more information about the Write Brain podcast with Ellis Melillo and Dr. Robert Melillo, please visit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-write-brain/id1781732884

Connect with Dr. Melillo on social media:

Resilience isn’t made of heroic leaps forward, it’s built from the small, everyday choice to keep going, even when the path ahead isn’t clear. In this episode, host Peter Fenger sits down with Renee Zukin, educator, writer, and mental health advocate with over 20 years of experience using the written word as a tool for self-transformation and empowerment. Renee is a contributing author to “Navigating the Clickety-Clack: How to Live a Peace-filled Life in a Seemingly Toxic World”, and her newly released memoir, “Every Day, I’m Brave: Cultivating Resilience to Gain Freedom from Fear”, explores how compassion, courage, and resilience can loosen fear’s grip on our lives. Passionate about creating safe spaces for growth and healing, Renee helps others find clarity, connection, and bravery in the ordinary moments of life. Together, Peter and Renee explore the journey behind “Every Day I Am Brave”, how journaling and self-compassion support us through uncertainty, and the everyday practices that help us move beyond fear and toward deeper courage and connection.

For more information about “Every Day, I’m Brave: Cultivating Resilience to Gain Freedom from Fear” by Renee Zukin, please visit: https://www.reneezukin.com/brave-book

To download journal prompts and free resources, please visit: https://www.reneezukin.com/resources

For more information about the Every Day, I’m Brave Facebook Group, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everydayimbrave

Connect with Renee Zukin on Social media:

When communities lead, care works: culturally grounded support, early intervention, and multiple doors to emotional wellness. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Cara McNulty, CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health, the national organization behind the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, serving more than five million people each year. A population health scientist and nationally recognized leader, Cara is committed to breaking down stigma and democratizing access to mental health care across the country. Before joining Vibrant, she served as President of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being at CVS Health, where she launched bold, data-driven initiatives, including a strategy to reduce suicide attempts by 20% among Aetna members, and helped spearhead Minnesota’s transformational population health legislation. With a doctorate in public administration and decades of experience translating evidence-based science into scalable solutions, Cara is passionate about building a society where emotional wellness is accessible to all. Together, Sharlee and Cara explore how community-driven peer support, led by people with lived experience, is reshaping youth mental health. They discuss how families can better navigate complex systems, access culturally competent care, recognize early warning signs, and create identity-affirming spaces where teens feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. The conversation also looks at the systemic changes needed to ensure emotional wellness isn’t a privilege, but a possibility for every young person.

For more information about Vibrant Emotional Health, please visit: https://www.vibrant.org/

For more information about Vibrant Emotional Health’s Community Programs, please visit: https://www.vibrant.org/what-we-do/community-programs/

For more information about 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, please visit: https://988lifeline.org

If you’re interested in supporting Vibrant Emotional Health through donation, please visit: https://www.vibrant.org/donate/

Connect with Vibrant Emotional Health on social media:

When life falls apart, the real work isn’t out there … it’s learning how to come home to your nervous system. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Nicole Dolan — writer, former clinician, and intuitive coach, whose work bridges depth psychology, spirituality, and lived experience as a mother. Nicole’s forthcoming book, “The Art of Chaos”, traces what happens when the life you planned unravels and invites you into something far more meaningful. Through her journey of trauma, motherhood, and raising a neurodivergent child, Nicole explores how breakdown can become initiation. Drawing from her background as a clinical director and her transition into holistic family coaching, she helps parents and families recognize nervous system patterns, heal generational wounds, and cultivate resilience through conscious parenting. Together, Sharlee and Nicole dive into nervous system regulation, ancestral healing, and the powerful reframe of “child as teacher.” Nicole shares how the sacred isn’t found outside of us, but within the body, and how peace becomes possible even when life feels messy, overwhelming, and uncertain. This episode is a reminder that meaning isn’t created after the chaos, it’s discovered inside of it.

For more information about Dr. Nicole Dolan, please visit: https://drnicoledolan.com

For more information about Sacred Path Holistic Therapy (sliding-scale therapists), please visit: https://sacredpathholistictherapy.com

Connect with Dr. Nicole Dolan on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/drnicoledolan/

Connect with Dr. Nicole Dolan on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-dolan-phd-lmft-338771b1/

What happened to the idea of staying at one job for 30 years and retiring with a gold watch? In this episode of BHT Bytes, host Sharlee Dixon is joined by Peter Fenger to unpack the rise of quiet quitting and what it really says about today’s workforce. Is it laziness and declining work ethic, or a rational response to an economy shaped by recessions, pandemics, inflation, and shrinking retirement security? We explore how generational shifts, stagnant wages, soaring healthcare and childcare costs, and a “yo-yo” labor market have changed the way people relate to work. From defining what quiet quitting actually looks like, doing your job without sacrificing your personal life, to examining emotional burnout and “economic PTSD,” this conversation looks at why many professionals are setting firmer boundaries instead of constantly going above and beyond. We also compare the loyalty of past generations with today’s job-hopping reality and ask whether long-term tenure was truly commitment, or simply the result of fewer options. Finally, we zoom out to the future of work and retirement. If career-long jobs are disappearing and success no longer means staying in one place forever, what does a healthy, sustainable career really look like? Maybe quiet quitting isn’t about quitting at all, it’s about reclaiming energy for family, health, and purpose in a system that no longer guarantees stability in return for sacrifice.

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