While people with severe mental illness are at a greater risk of taking their lives, psychiatric illness isn't the only commonality behind suicidal tendencies. Despite popular misconceptions, work life balance and other external stressors can also contribute to suicide. Our guests this week dispel the myths behind suicide and mental health awareness in an attempt to broaden the conversation around suicide prevention.

This week, we are speaking with Dr. Sam Buser & Kimi Buser-Clancy, the hosts of Leaving The Valley: "What YOU Should Know About Suicide", to help individuals dealing with suicidal tendencies find hope and healing. We discuss the trials and hardships of firefighters and how mental illness arises in the workplace. We also expel the myths behind suicide and mental health awareness. According to Dr. Sam Buser and Kimi Buser-Clancy, being able to have open and honest conversations about suicide and mental health strengthens both the individual in distress as well as the collective community learning how to prevent future fatalities.

Dr. Sam Buser is the senior staff psychologist for one of the nation's largest fire departments. The former military officer began practicing psychology in 1972– and though he put aside the uniform, service to his country and other veterans has always been at the forefront of his mind. During his career, Dr. Buser cared for veterans as a VA psychologist, provided immediate care to those involved in mass casualty events and developed suicide prevention programs for First Responders.

Kimi Buser-Clancy is an accomplished actor, writer, producer, and activist with a particular passion for voiceover. She loves telling stories, and her work often centers around helping young girls see a more complete picture of themselves. Kimi was lucky enough to grow up in Alief, Texas, a suburb of Houston, considered one of the most diverse places in the country. Living in a place where so many different people, cultures, religions and identities meet forever changed how she views the world. Kimi believes there is more that can be done to stop suicide, and it begins by making information about suicide prevention more accessible.

Topics Discussed

• The hardships and trials of emotional stress firefighters face on a daily basis
• Understanding how we can help others with suicidal tendencies
• Dispelling the myths and statistics behind suicide awareness
• How society portrays and romanticizes suicide in the media
• Promoting healthy conversation training for mental health awareness
• Learning how to ask better questions for those dealing with suicidal thoughts

Connect with Dr. Sam Buser & Kimi Buser-Clancy

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-buser-6913a51a/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kimibuser
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimi.buser
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimibuserclancy/

Connect with Leaving the Valley podcast

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leavingthevalley
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leavingthevalleyshow/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeavingValley

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery CentersIf you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we'll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame.

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our "why." We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

"The question isn't, 'Am I an alcoholic?', but the real question is, 'Am I free?'." - Laura McKowen.

Oftentimes it's easy to recognize a personal addiction, whether it be alcohol abuse or even an eating disorder but very rarely do we get a closer look at the underlying issues. In order to fully be present with ourselves and understand the root cause of our addiction, we must dig deeper and ask the hard questions.

This week, we are speaking with Odette Cressler, host of the Recovery Elevator podcast. Odette shares her past experience with an eating disorder that later manifested into an alcohol addiction and how she was able to find community, peace, and recovery. According to Odette, the Recovery Elevator community empowers individuals to recover from their alcohol addiction and to learn how to live their lives to the fullest.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of finding joy through hardships and struggle in order to find peace within. Odette breaks down the process of addiction recovery by starting with the practice of channeling self-discovery and learning how to ask ourselves honest questions. Odette also shines a light on creating healthy boundaries in our relationships as well as the way we see ourselves and our self-image. We discuss how these boundaries evolve over time and how we can learn from our past experiences.

Topics Discussed

• Learning to find joy through adversity
• The journey through self-discovery
• Recognizing the "grey area" of addiction
• How cross-addiction manifests from one addiction to another
• Learning how to ask yourself honest questions
• Debunking the myth behind different body types & eating disorders
• How to utilize intuitive eating without feeling guilty afterward
• Creating healthy boundaries & how they evolve over time

Connect with Odette Cressler

• Mental Health Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theharmonylane/
• Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveryelevator/

Additional Resources

• Recovery Elevator Podcast: https://recovery-elevator-sandbox.chargifypay.com/subscribe/yqhq6p9gmrr2

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery CentersIf you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

--- About Positive Recovery MD PodcastThe Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we'll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery CentersPositive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame.

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our "why." We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

There is power in having a strong community. Individuals thrive in communities where accountability and authentic conversations allow each person an opportunity to learn from one another. Not only are communities able to grow together, one-on-one sponsorship roles also allow individuals an opportunity to strengthen their addiction recovery journey. Our guest this week shares his past experience with addiction and how having a strong community helped him cope with his mother’s addiction as well.

This week, we are speaking with Chris Davis. Chris is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor of 26 years. In this episode, we explore how enmeshment and codependency occurs within relationships as well as the importance of creating healthy boundaries. Chris shares with us why being present in the moment, no matter how painful, is essential to our addiction recovery journey because it helps us savor the depth of our emotions and truly understand our own thoughts and feelings in a way addiction wouldn’t allow us to feel.

Topics Discussed

• Creating healthy boundaries within your relationships
• Understanding the drawbacks of enmeshment and codependency
• Surviving adolescence with parents struggling with addiction
• How the absence of a parent role contributes to codependency
• The power of community and sponsorship in addiction recovery
• What staying in the present moment teaches us about the depth of emotion

Connect with Chris Davis 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-davis-6193018/

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/ --- 

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery CentersPositive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Cody Johnston, Podcast Producer and Co-Host of The Reckless Pursuit. Cody is a musician, podcaster and podcast producer, and is passionate about learning new faith perspectives. Cody writes music under the moniker, “Braille Atlas”. You can find his work on Itunes, Spotify, and wherever else music is sold. Cody and his wife Elaine run Reckless Media, a podcast production company.  Cody also co-hosts a podcast with his wife, Elaine titled “The Reckless Pursuit". Their podcast hopes to give Christians who do not fit with typical church in a place to call home

Topics Discussed

• The importance of highlighting positive attributes to paint a full picture
• Protective survival skills learned from traumatic experiences
• The unpredictability of chaos and trauma
• Why it’s essential to love people despite their addiction
• Understanding the duality of addiction

Connect with Cody Johnston

• Website: http://brailleatlas.com/links/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brailleatlas

Additional Resources

• The Reckless Pursuit: https://therecklesspursuit.com
• Reckless Media co         

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

--- About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Maegan Kenney, the Creator and Host of The Addictionary Podcast on YouTube, a recovery coach, clinical interventionist, heart-centering meditation teacher, and therapist. We discuss mindful meditation practices, how to recognize resentment & stigma in the addiction recovery process, and what it means to find peace in the chaos. Throughout our discussion, we share how our personal experiences can shape our outlook on life and how to find gratitude in even the midst of chaos and discomfort.   Maegan is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology with a focus on consciousness, transpersonal psychology, and alternative medicine. Maegan founded the Opioid Crisis and Advocacy student group at William James College and is passionate to raise awareness about the many pathways towards recovery, which is informed by her personal struggles with opioid addiction.   Topics Discussed   -Learning to align with your integrity -Taking care of yourself & finding value within -Recognizing resentment & stigma from addiction recovery -How to heal a fractured sense of myself -Identifying fears & visualizing unconditional love -How our reactions manifest in our lives -Using mindfulness meditation throughout the day -Implementing gratitude & finding peace through the suffering   Connect with Maegan Kenney, M.A.   Website: http://www.theaddictionarypodcast.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAddictionaryPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaddictionarypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/578259293072318/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/addictionarypod   Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast   Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg   Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/   Contact Positive Recovery Centers   If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.   Call: 877-476-2743 Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006 Website: https://positiverecovery.com Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/ FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Dr. Rajesh Miranda, P.h.D and Leah Davies, LMSW as we discuss the shame and stigma around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and how stress is a common denominator that negatively affects both pregnant women and their families.

Dr. Miranda is a faculty member at Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, and is also involved in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience. In addition to his academic research on the topics of fetal brain development, stem cells, microRNAs, and teratology, Dr. Miranda also leads the Texas FASD Collaborative which brings together professionals and people with lived experiences around FASD to work together to raise awareness and make change in our state.  

Leah Davies is the Project Manager at the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Leah’s work centers on collaboration building and stakeholder engagement efforts, particularly related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) mental health and IDD, as well as the special education system. disabilities and their families.  Leah studied sociology at Texas A&M University and received her Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. She firmly believes that the best "experts" are those who have lived experience - individuals with disabilities and their families. 

Topics Discussed

• Benefits of executive functioning and abstract thinking
• Navigating the shame and stigma around alcohol and pregnancy
• Understanding how fathers can play a role in FASD
• How nutrition, relationships, & socio-economics can impact pregnancy
• Recognizing stress as a common denominator to an unhealthy pregnancy
• Unpacking risk, resilience, and long term effects with FASD
• The importance of evaluating mental health of mothers & their families

Connect with Dr. Rajesh Miranda, P.h.D.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-miranda-838718b1/

 Connect with Leah Davies, LMSW

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-davies-lmsw-50217a147/

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

Strong, supportive relationships can come in many forms. Whether it's friendships with those around us, a family supporting our journey, or spiritual mentors who have led the way, it’s important to hold on to these strong relationships. Our guest this week shares with us how attending a local house church allowed him the ability to form meaningful relationships and to understand God’s deeper purpose for our lives.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Donald Chang, Executive Chef and Owner at Nara Sushi & Korean Kitchen.

Donald shares with us his personal journey through substance use and what ultimately led to his addiction recovery. One of the pivotal moments in his addiction recovery is when he found a local house church that welcomed him in. Not only has Donald been able to maintain his sobriety since then, he has also found a deeper purpose in life and a stronger connection with those around him. By sharing his past mistakes, Donald is able to share with others what he has learned along the way.

Join us this week to learn how effective communication can strengthen the relationships in our lives and how a strong, supportive community can leave a lasting, positive impact on our recovery journey.

Topics Discussed

• How God uses our past experiences to help others with their recovery
• Why sobriety is more than just being “sober”
• Finding God outside of drugs, alcohol, and women
• Understanding effective communication in relationships
• Why marriage isn’t the answer to addiction recovery
• The importance of strong, supportive relationships
• How house church can help you find community and maintain sobriety

Connect with Donald Chang

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-chang-30a0979a/

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

---

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners. 

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

---

Quotes:

Dr. Jason Powers, MD

• “Happiness is not one of those things that you just do with a giant leap. It’s the side effect of doing all the small things day in and day out. It’s the positive habits, reinforcing positive when appropriate, engaging with your character strengths, developing supportive relationships, improving meaning, purpose and achievement.”

Donald Chang,

• “It was easy to put up a wall and put up a facade of a projection of what I wanted to be viewed by people instead of just me being myself.”
• “When I talk about my past, I have to be frank because I have to remember how much of a jerk I was in my addiction.”
• “All I was thinking was, what am I doing here? I kept crossing lines that I always told myself that I never would and everything started falling apart.”
• “To be sober is not enough. I think that God had far greater plans for us than just to be sober.”

Throughout the addiction recovery process, it’s imperative to remember that we are not our past mistakes and that there is always room for improvement. Our guest this week shows us that by taking each day as a learning opportunity, we allow ourselves the freedom to grow.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Dr. Mike Leath, M.D., R.Ph, the Medical Director & Chief Physician at Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center (PaRC). Dr. Leath specializes in adult patients throughout all levels of care from detox, through residential and until they complete the outpatient program. Dr. Leath was first educated as a Pharmacist, graduating from the University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, in 1982. He was awarded his M.D. degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in 1987 and completed a Family Practice Program at the University of Texas in 1990.

He has worked as an ER physician and is currently working at the PaRC and at Contemporary Medicine Associates as a staff physician. He serves as Medical Director for the Pain Recovery Program, IOP Programs and Performance Improvement. Dr. Leath is also certified by American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM).

Join us this week as we learn what we can learn from our past mistakes and how we can learn to begin each day with intentional living. If there is one thing to learn from this episode, it’s that there is beauty in surrender and that sometimes “giving up” is the best gift we can offer ourselves.

Topics Discussed

• From pharmacy doctor to misusing prescription medication
• Why people use deception as a survival tool
• Understanding addiction recovery as a day by day process
• Learning to use our past mistakes as learning opportunities
• The beauty of surrender in addiction recovery
• Reminding ourselves that we are not our past
• Starting each day with intentional thought & living
• How exercise can increase your mood throughout the day

Connect with Dr. Mike Leath

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-leath-26807928/

Resources

• Memorial Hermann Recovery & Prevention Center (PaRC) http://parc.memorialhermann.org/recovery-specialists/dr-mike-leath-md/

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Resources

• Eat, Move, Sleep https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Move-Sleep-Choices-Changes/dp/1939714001

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement

What if we learned to shift our perspective from always focusing on the negative to recognizing the positive in any situation? What if we viewed our mistakes as learning opportunities? Our guest this week shares with us the importance of taking care of yourself as well as taking care of others.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Dr. Terry Rustin, MD, Consultant in Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry. Dr. Rustin specializes in the assessment and treatment of patients with addiction disorders and mental illness. Dr. Rustin first started an addiction treatment program as a second-year medical student, in 1971, and has devoted his practice ever since to the health and recovery of patients with addiction disorders with experience in a variety of clinical settings.

He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and has twice served as the President of the Texas Society of Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Rustin has also been listed in “The Best Doctors in America” in Addiction Medicine each year since 1996. Dr. Rustin developed the CPR (Confidential Program for Recovery) over several years to provide quality treatment for individuals who require an absolute assurance of confidentiality and privacy while working on recovery.

Join us this week as we discuss the changes of approaching addiction recovery over the years, why it’s essential to take ownership over personal addiction recovery.

Topics Discussed

• The paradigm shift of addiction over the past few decades
• Understanding the pattern of recognizing addiction
• Taking ownership over personal addiction recovery
• Why addiction and recovery isn’t logical
• How to take care of yourself and take care of others
• Learning to let go resentment and shame
• Acknowledging areas of weakness
• Accepting mistakes as learning opportunities
• Shifting the negative to focus on the positive

Connect with Terry Rustin, MD online

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-rustin-9208a955/

Resources

• Quit and Stay Quit - A Personal Program to Stop Smoking https://www.amazon.com/Quit-Stay-Personal-Nicotine-Cessation/dp/1568381093

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Address: 902 West Alabama Street Houston, Texas 77006
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

--- About Positive Recovery MD PodcastThe Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners.

About Positive Recovery Centers

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

Quotes:

Dr. Jason Powers, MD

• “When I am mindful and the more that I can be compassionate, I can grant myself forgiveness and experience forgiveness towards myself.”

Julie DeNofa, President at PRC

• “Oftentimes in addiction medicine and recovery, we work with our clients on the emotions around carrying resentments and learning to let go.”

Dr. Terry Rustin, MD, DFASAM, Consultant in Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and Psychiatry

• “Addiction by its nature is not logical. Getting sober is not logical. It is spiritual and it is emotional.”
• “If I take credit for somebody else's recovery, I must also accept the blame for their relapse.”
• “One of the most important lessons I ever learned was not to take credit for someone else's recovery. I can give you a road map and show you the way. I can give you guidance and encouragement, but I can't do it for you.”
• “I always have to be willing to say, maybe I am not right and maybe I am wrong.”

What do OCD, anxiety disorders, and mental health have in common? Our guest this week helps walk us through how living with OCD can affect the way we participate in daily activities, how we view our relationships, and what steps we need to take in order to improve our way of life.

In this week’s episode, we are talking with Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, the director of the McLean OCD Institute at Houston, where she maintains an active clinical, research, and leadership role. With her focus on OCD, anxiety disorders, mental health stigma and access to mental health care, Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale is dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless and is grateful for a career which allows her to improve the lives of those living with a mental illness every day. We discuss how we can continue to grow despite anxiety disorders and what we can learn about our mental health.

Join us this week as we normalize the stigma around OCD, understand how to work with our OCD tendencies, and how to find meaning and purpose in our personal journey to better serve those around us.

Topics Discussed

• Why pills don’t help with long term response treatment
• The underlying anxieties on a deeper core level
• Normalizing the stigma around OCD
• The benefits with exposure therapy with response prevention
• How OCD affects the relationships around us
• The difference between a lapse and a relapse
• How to care for loved ones with OCD
• Turning pain into purpose as a tool to help others

Connect with Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD online

• Peace of Mind Foundation, Inc https://peaceofmind.com
• OCD Challenge https://www.ocdchallenge.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmcingvale/

Additional Resources

• International OCD Foundation https://iocdf.org
• McLean OCD Institute Houston https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcleanocdhouston/

Connect with Positive Recovery MD Podcast

• Website: https://www.positiverecoverymd.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577870242872032
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg

Connect with Positive Recovery Centers online

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverycenters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PositiveRecoveryCenters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/positiverecoverycenters/

Contact Positive Recovery Centers If you or someone you know needs help, visit the website or call the number below to schedule a free assessment. We are here to help.

• Call: 877-476-2743
• Website: https://positiverecovery.com
• Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/
• FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/

---

About Positive Recovery MD Podcast

The Positive Recovery MD podcast is hosted by Dr. Jason Powers, Addiction Medicine Specialist and creator of Positive Recovery.

This podcast will not only inspire and motivate its listeners, it will provide the tools and foundation needed to thrive and flourish on their addiction recovery journey. Each week the Positive Recovery MD podcast community will come together to have authentic conversations around addiction, recovery and what matters – growth & progress, not perfection, all while developing positive habits for your life.

To join the community, visit https://www.positiverecoverymd.com to sign up to receive the daily Positive Intervention that we’ll review, as well as gain access to EXCLUSIVE Positive Recovery content available only to Positive Recovery MD listeners. 

About Positive Recovery CentersPositive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.

Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, all supporting our mission: that Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. 

What is Positive Recovery? Empathy and compassion drive our mission. Positive Recovery uses strengths as a pathway to help others flourish in recovery, at work, and at home. This is our core purpose, our “why.” We creatively apply science in order to improve outcomes. Positive Recovery is not wishful thinking, it is not a magic pill, and it is not self-help.

Positive Recovery is an evidence-based addiction curriculum that links the best of the old with the new, integrating existing effective approaches to treatment with interventions that enhance well-being by cultivating its components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.

Quotes:

Dr. Jason Powers, MD

• “There’s no skill in a pill. Pills can work but at best, they are an adjunct”
• “If I could bottle time, then I wouldn’t have much work to do. With the right therapy, it takes time, it takes baby steps.”
• “There is this urge to try to control things. Uncertainty of life is one of the driving forces.”

Julie DeNofa

• “OCD seems to manifest around areas that are closest or most important to you.”
• “Helping someone every day is something that I feel fortunate to be able to do whether it’s on the employee side or on the client side.”

Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD

• “It’s not about who you are or what degrees that you have behind your name. It’s about who you help.”
• “Anytime we think about what we’re in treatment for when it’s anxiety based, there is usually an underlying core fear or concern.”
• “Exposure therapy shouldn’t be dangerous or risky. Exposure therapy shouldn’t be putting people in harm's way. It should be things anyone would be willing to do.”
• “OCD is not an adjective. OCD is not helpful and doesn’t help you be more organized or more clean. It’s destructive and disabling.”
• “Everybody has weird or bizarre interests of thought. The difference though, is how we respond to them.”