Understanding the Human Condition

The holidays are just around the corner — and while most people are bracing themselves for the chaos, Claudia Schwarz wants you to take a different approach: start planning now. In this episode, Claudia joins me to talk about why waiting until January 1st to make your New Year’s resolutions is a recipe for disappointment. From holiday stress, financial strain, and family tension to business delays and recovery setbacks — we dive into how preemptive planning, starting small, and prioritizing your well-being before the calendar flips can be the game-changer you need. Whether it’s walking your way to better health, preparing your practice for success, or avoiding the holiday crash altogether, Claudia brings real-world insight, practical tips, and just the right dose of motivation to help you finish the year strong — and start the next one ahead of the game.

How would you define wellness?

MY ANSWER:

Wellness is more than a physical condition, and so much more than just the absence of illness or disease.

WELLNESS IS A STATE OF BEING.

I think about it as the body-mind (because body and mind are reciprocally linked) being in alignment with your behavior and habits.

And if you are truly committed to that state of being, then you will establish a daily, weekly, or monthly practice of those behaviors.

And, if you strive to be disciplined and consistent with that practice, it can contribute to your quality of life. It can help sustain mental health and physical vitality and ultimately, I believe that this mental and physical practice will promote longevity.

Culture plays a significant role in shaping our identities and experiences. In this episode, Dr. James Flowers sits down with Dr. Selina Hernandez, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and registered play therapist, to delve into the profound influence of culture on the human condition. Dr. Selina shares how her experiences with cultural identity and resilience have shaped her counseling approach. They discuss the importance of cultural strategies in therapy, personal responsibility, and the transformative power of sand tray therapy. Dr. Selina also explores the challenges faced by women and men, the importance of a counselor's orientation, and the role of understanding one's roots in building resilience.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Battle, a J. Flowers Provider and expert in Somatic Experiencing, to explore how our bodies hold and release trauma. Andrea breaks down the science behind this powerful approach to healing, and shares real-life tips for anyone looking to reconnect with their body and ease the effects of stress. Whether you are new to the concept or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is your guide to "shaking it off" and moving towards a more balanced and peaceful life.

Interventions aim to impact the human condition by helping individuals see themselves as they truly are, rather than through the distorted lens of addiction or untreated mental illness. This process is challenging because their brains have been hardwired by years of substance abuse or mental health issues. Essentially, Marc Kantor is asking people to make logical decisions with a brain that is not functioning logically. Marc enjoys sharing his own story of recovery, but other topics that are important to us including co-dependency, trauma and intergenerational trauma, binge eating disorder, attention deficit disorder, compulsive behaviors, spirituality, and the gift of desperation. Dr. Flowers will ask Marc about his transformation and his road to J. Flowers Health Institute.

John Karren is the owner and co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program in Utah. John helps run two therapeutic wilderness programs: Elements is for boys thirteen to seventeen, and Traverse is all gender, young adults eighteen to twenty five.

Today, John joins the show to discuss ‘non-traditional’ therapies and how the outdoors can be such a great benefit to everyone.

01:03 – Shay Butts welcomes John Karren to the show to discuss wilderness therapy and other ‘non- traditional’ therapy options

10:08 – How Elements Wilderness Program works

14:42 – Dealing with the negativity surrounding outdoor therapy

18:51 – Striving for excellence

23:40 – The role parents play in Elements Wilderness Program

26:53 – Shay thanks John for sharing his story today

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

John’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkarren/

Elements Wilderness Website – https://www.elementswilderness.com/

Shay Butts’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-butts-8963b217/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Part Three of this very special series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Today, Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about their experiences with interventions, reflect on servant leadership and share their passion for helping others.

Key Takeaways

00:02 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about interventions

07:18 – Servant Leadership

08:41 – Dr. Flowers opens up about the passion he has for helping people and how he manifested the life that he wanted

14:47 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Three of this series

Resources Mentioned

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939

Book Mentioned: 

When Enough Is Enough – ThriftBooks

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

In Part Two of this very special three-part series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about the critical role that family plays in recovery and the value of intimacy and vulnerability.

Key Takeaways

01:31 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about intimacy and vulnerability

07:52 – Tonda speaks to the importance of family in the process of recovery

11:14 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Two of this episode and encourages them to return for Part Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie

Resources Mentioned

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

In Part One of a very special three-part series, Dr. James Flowers welcomes to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin.

Today, Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie Griffin get personal and share their own experiences with addiction, recovery, spirituality, and The Twelve Step Program. They talk about family, and the people in our lives who become our family. Finally, they discuss the differences between belief and faith and turning to a higher power or being.

Key Takeaways

04:21 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about spirituality, addiction, recovery and family

10:04 – Turning to God or a higher power

15:23 – Family and the spiritual world

22:39 – Jeanie’s approach to family programs

32:41 – Belief and faith

35:07 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part One of this episode and encourages them to return for Parts Two and Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie

Resources Mentioned

J. Flowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

J. Flowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

Books Mentioned

Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family - https://www.amazon.com/Another-Chance-Health-Alcoholic-Family/dp/0831400722

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

Amanda Blanco is the CEO of the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire, who started her career with UHS as a Mental Health Technician over 10 years ago. In her tenure with UHS, she has successfully driven initiatives to convert a facility to seclusion free and started clinical trials on acute schizophrenic patients through MERCK, a research organization.

Today, she joins the show to talk about how a personal tragedy led her into the field of mental health, advice she would give to other mental health technicians, and the improvements she hopes to see in the mental health industry.

Key Takeaways

01:23 – Amanda Blanco joins the show to talk about her amazing journey from mental health technician to CEO of a hospital system

06:09 – Turning tragedy into hope

07:14 – Achieving a Bachelors & Masters degree while working at UHS and what it’s like working at Universal Health Services

09:59 – Advice Amanda would give to mental health technicians

13:24 – What’s next for Amanda

14:31 – Amanda speaks to her hope for the evolution of mental health

17:03 – Dr. Flowers thanks Amanda for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can connect with her and the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire

Tweetable Quotes

“It’s funny because we talk about crossroads and how there’s a fork in our road where you really start to see which way you’re gonna go. At that time I had the interview as a mental health tech, I also had an interview as a store manager for a very big store chain. It was a lot more money, but when I did the tour at the residential treatment center for kiddos, I loved it. There was something so intriguing about it.” (05:39) (Amanda)

“I started to realize, as I got deeper into case management, that I needed to do something more extreme. I needed to be at a higher level in order to make change. The people in the trenches - the case managers, the direct care staff - they do a lot of work. But a lot of change comes from the top.” (07:54) (Amanda)

“I would not be at a company if I didn;’t share the same virtues, the same philosophy, the same everything as the President.” (09:01) (Amanda)

“Sometimes, doing jobs or taking on responsibility that goes outside of our comfort zone, that’s where you’re gonna grow. That’s what we do as humans, we grow. We grow from challenge. We grow from obstacles.” (10:47) (Amanda)

“Right now, I want to make BHB - Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire - as successful as possible. I want patients to come in and when they leave I want them to call their parents, family and friends and say, ‘I feel better.’” (13:37) (Amanda)

Resources Mentioned

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire Website – https://bhbhospital.com

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

🎙️🎙️🎙️

Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy