Sinopsis
Counselors, coaches and sober companions help hundreds of thousands of people affected by Addictions and Mental Health issues each year. Learn about the current research and practical counseling tools to improve your skills and provide the best possible services. Counselor Toolbox targets counselors, coaches and companions, but can also provide useful counseling self-help tools for persons struggling with these issues and their loved ones. AllCEUs is an approved counseling continuing education provider for addiction and mental health counselors in most states. Counseling CEUs are available for each episode.
Episodios
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1073-Aging and Mental Health: The Connections You Need to Know
13/08/2025 Duración: 01h06min00:00 Introduction and overview of aging and mental health by Dr. Donal Snipes. 00:33 Physical changes starting at age 40, including hormonal shifts. 01:36 The grieving process of aging and its emotional effects. 02:06 Cognitive adaptations and resistance to change in older adults. 03:07 Control issues and psychological resistance to aging tools. 03:38 Frustration, irritability, and depressive episodes linked to physical and cognitive decline. 04:42 Grief due to loss of functionality and processing limitations. 06:50 Hormonal changes impacting cognitive health, including loss of neuroprotection. 08:24 Neurotransmitter decline with age, including serotonin and dopamine reductions. 13:41 Oxytocin’s role in bonding and mood, with strategies to increase levels. 18:54 Thyroid health in older adults, focusing on hypothyroidism prevalence. 23:04 Declines in liver and kidney function affecting detoxification and medication processing. 25:09 Effects of thinning skin on vitamin D production and wound healing. 26:12 Cha
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1072-Revolutionary Mind Body Strategies to address ADHD, Addiction & Trauma
27/07/2025 Duración: 01h04min00:00:00 Interventions for ADHD and Addiction 00:04:11 Challenges of ADHD Integration in a Neurotypical World 00:08:19 ADHD and Its Links to Stress and Autoimmune Disorders 00:12:29 Understanding ADHD and Sensory Overload 00:16:24 Managing Stress Through Better Sleep and Circadian Rhythms 00:20:08 The Impact of Blood Sugar Regulation on Mental Health 00:23:51 The Benefits of Antioxidants and Omega-3s 00:28:01 Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Emotional Regulation 00:31:59 Enhancing Self-Awareness and Impulse Control Through Vagus Nerve Stimulation 00:35:41 Strategies for Managing ADHD Impulsivity 00:39:15 Supporting Individuals with ADHD in Daily Life 00:43:05 Techniques for Managing ADHD and Anxiety 00:47:12 Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Hypervigilance 00:51:01 Boosting Motivation with Goal-Oriented Techniques 00:54:37 Strategies for Enhancing Motivation and Productivity 00:58:17 Understanding ADHD, Trauma, and Addiction 01:02:53 Challenges in Skilled Nursing Care for Olde
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1071-Uncovering the Truth About Alcohol Pharmacology
14/07/2025 Duración: 01h24s00:00:00 Introduction to the Pharmacology of Alcohol 00:03:47 Alcohol Consumption and Its Impact on Health 00:07:28 Impact of Alcohol on Glutamate and Anxiety 00:11:11 Dangers of Combining Alcohol and Opioids 00:14:53 Impact of Alcohol on Blood Pressure and Hypertension 00:18:35 Impact of Alcohol on Drug Metabolism 00:22:15 Effects of Alcohol on Nutrient Absorption and Inflammation 00:25:45 Understanding Cognitive and Executive Functioning Impairments 00:29:12 Identifying Root Causes of Symptoms in Therapy 00:33:27 Effects of Thiamin Deficiency and Substance Abuse 00:37:31 Early Detection and Treatment of Corov Syndrome 00:40:52 Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Health and Well-being 00:44:18 Effects of Alcohol on Emotional Responses 00:47:43 The Impact of Stress and Alcohol on Gut Health 00:51:28 New Approaches to Alcohol Dependence Treatment 00:55:16 The Impact of Alcohol on Mood and Absorption of Vitamins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1070 - Can the PIECES Mind-Body Approach REALLY Improve Your Mental Health?
07/07/2025 Duración: 01h16min[00:00 - 03:45] Introduction to Transdiagnostic Assessment Discussion of how transdiagnostic assessment is gaining recognition. Comparison with older frameworks like motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care. [03:46 - 11:00] Antidepressant Statistics and Issues Insights into the effectiveness of antidepressants for anxiety and depression. Discussion of how antidepressants work and how effective they are based on various studies. [11:01 - 16:00] Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Its Effectiveness Dr. Snipes discusses the results and effectiveness of CBT in managing depression and anxiety. The conversation covers how combining CBT with medications can lead to mixed results. [16:01 - 23:00] Impact of Environment and Relationships on Mental Health How environmental factors and relationships can affect one's mental state. Examples are provided of how external environments can influence internal emotions. [23:01 - 30:00] The "Pieces" Model Explanation Dr. S
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1069 - The Dark Truth About How Addiction & Mental Illness Cause ACEs in Kids
27/06/2025 Duración: 01h02min00:00:00 Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 00:03:29 Understanding Basic Human Needs 00:07:10 Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Development 00:10:53 Understanding Types of Child Abuse and Neglect 00:14:37 Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Caregivers 00:18:43 Addiction and Its Legal Implications 00:22:43 Impact of Separation Anxiety and Divorce on Children's Mental Health 00:26:30 The Impact of Inconsistent Care on Child Development 00:30:04 Impact of Control and Anxiety on Child Self-Esteem 00:34:02 Identifying Trauma: Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences 00:37:13 Understanding Trauma and Its Triggers 00:40:59 Understanding ACEs and Substance Abuse 00:44:27 Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on Health 00:48:05 Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 00:51:56 Addressing Anxiety and Trust Issues in Children 00:55:22 Impact of Childhood ACEs on Safety and Stability 00:58:58 Understanding Intergenerational Trauma Learn more abo
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1068-Disaster Mental Health: Trauma-Informed Tools for Better Response
20/06/2025 Duración: 01h16minIntroduction to trauma-informed disaster mental health: 00:00 Understanding the impact of disasters: 00:33 Discussion on PTSD and CPTSD in trauma triage: 01:11 Emotional reactions and their intensity: 01:42 Retraumatization and its triggers: 02:18 The importance of proximity and safe zones: 03:29 The role of support in the first 12 hours: 05:54 Basic needs and Maslow’s hierarchy during a disaster: 06:59 Stress and the importance of circadian rhythm: 10:59 Loss of housing and its psychological effects: 12:43 Changes in routine and circadian rhythm disruption: 14:22 Hypervigilance and somatic stress responses: 16:09 Loss of connectivity and its impact: 16:47 The role of diet and the gut microbiome: 24:58 Emotional impact: anger, fear, and anxiety: 30:36 The cognitive effects of disaster: 45:26 Managing sleep and emotional stress: 52:50 The importance of social support and empathy: 53:48 Restoring hope and handling traumatic losses: 57:29 Concluding thoughts and questions: 59:53 Learn more about your ad choice
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1067-Revealing the Impact of Trauma and Addiction on all the PIECES of Life
14/06/2025 Duración: 01h26s00:00:00 Understanding Addiction and Trauma 00:03:32 Traumatic Growth and Tornadoes: Finding Safety 00:07:07 Understanding Behavioral Addictions 00:10:45 Understanding Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking 00:14:36 Understanding the Addiction Rebound Effect 00:18:23 Understanding Substance Effects on Anxiety and Withdrawal 00:22:29 The Impact of Chronic THC Use on Serotonin Levels 00:26:24 Understanding Trauma's Impact on Mental Health 00:29:59 The Impact of Physical Trauma on Daily Life 00:33:49 Coping with Emotional Trauma from Chronic Illness 00:37:30 The Impact of Genetic Predispositions on Trauma 00:41:13 The Impact of Abandonment and Addiction on Trauma 00:44:54 Understanding Unresolved Grief and Trauma 00:48:31 Impact of Trauma on Stress and Sleep 00:52:03 The Impact of Trauma and Addiction on Relationships 00:55:42 Recognizing and Overcoming Mental Health Challenges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1066-Healing Trauma: A New Approach to Personality Disorders
05/06/2025 Duración: 01h19minChapters: 00:00:00 - Differential Diagnosis of Personality Disorders from a Trauma-Informed Perspective 00:03:07 - Signs of Personality Disorder in Children 00:06:14 - Paranoid Personality Characteristics 00:09:05 - Childhood Trauma and Personality Disorders 00:12:10 - Flat Affect and Chronic Stress 00:15:07 - Schizoid personality and flattened affect in depression 00:18:05 - Autism Spectrum and Schizotypal Personality Disorders 00:21:04 - Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety 00:24:03 - Fear of Abandonment and Intimacy 00:27:10 - Dependent Personality Disorder Characteristics 00:30:04 - Antisocial Personality Disorder Characteristics 00:33:06 - Understanding Self-Destructive Behaviors 00:36:17 - Understanding Abandonment and Borderline Personality 00:39:24 - Borderline Personality Characteristics 00:42:27 - Borderline Personality Characteristics 00:45:16 - Understanding Manic Episodes and Personality Disorders 00:48:07 - Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder 00:51:05 - Cultural Influences on B
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1065-How Attachment Trauma Leads to CoDependency & Personality Disorders
29/05/2025 Duración: 01h27min00:00:00 - Trauma and Personality Disorders 00:05:12 - Caregivers and Inconsistency 00:10:31 - The Effects of Disregulated Stress Response System 00:15:59 - Anxious Attachment Styles 00:21:29 - The Impact of Chaos on the Family Unit 00:26:53 - Fear of Emotional Intimacy 00:32:12 - The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences 00:37:35 - Attachment and Trust Issues 00:42:51 - Insecure Attachment and Emotional Disregulation 00:48:07 - Personality Disorders and Their Behaviors 00:53:23 - Reflecting on Childhood Experiences 00:58:40 - Mitigating Distress and Empowerment 01:03:57 - Helping People Learn Healthy Boundaries and Attachment 01:09:17 - Evaluating Relationships and Behaviors 01:14:29 - Understanding People-Pleasing and Trust Issues 01:19:38 - The Inability to Feel Love and Apathy in HPA Axis Disregulation. 01:24:41 - Audio Journaling and Self-Reflection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1064-Uncovering the Power of Total Family Intervention
22/05/2025 Duración: 01h01minChapters: 00:00:00 - Overview of Total Family Intervention 00:02:18 - Empathy and Interventions for Mental Health Issues 00:04:44 - The Importance of Interventions for Mental Health 00:06:52 - The Importance of Interventionists with Adequate Training 00:09:09 - Effects of Addiction on Family Dynamics 00:11:27 - Involving the Whole Family in Interventions 00:13:44 - Impact of Addictive Behaviors on Family Members 00:16:00 - Impact on Loved Ones of Addiction and Mental Health Disorders 00:18:11 - Challenges of understanding bipolar disorder 00:20:21 - Total Family Intervention Steps 00:22:22 - The Initial Contact in an Intervention 00:24:28 - Educating about Interventions 00:26:33 - Developing Hope Through Intervention 00:28:47 - Motivating factors for interventions 00:33:07 - Involuntary Commitment for Addiction and Mental Health Issues 00:35:18 - Managing Stress and Setting Boundaries 00:37:43 - Screening for Addiction and Mental Health Issues 00:39:49 - Making a Plan for Change 00:42:01 - Initial Placement f
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1063-You did what? Avoiding Common Ethical Violations in Counseling
13/05/2025 Duración: 21minChapters: 00:00:00 - Applying ethical principles to common violations 00:00:57 - The Four Pillars of Ethical Mental Health Services 00:01:51 - Ethical Decision-Making Process 00:02:45 - Ethical dilemmas in counseling: Sexual relationships with clients 00:03:35 - Dating Clients and Unchecked Feelings 00:04:45 - The Four Windows of Awareness 00:05:31 - Boundaries and Self-Care 00:06:30 - Breach of Confidentiality 00:07:22 - Maintaining Client Confidentiality in Conversations 00:08:31 - Confidentiality and Privacy Concerns 00:09:27 - Confidentiality Breach in Credit Card Transactions 00:10:21 - Providing Private Entrances and Exits for Clients 00:11:15 - Protecting Identifiable Information 00:12:10 - Redacting Personal Information 00:13:11 - Update to CFR 42 Part Two 00:14:00 - Changes to CFR 42 Part Two 00:14:46 - The Importance of Confidentiality and Disclosure 00:15:46 - Working with Psychotic Episodes and Schizophrenia 00:16:39 - Treating Eating Disorders in Children 00:17:36 - Careful Child Advocacy Center
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1062-Unveiling Counseling Ethics: Setting Boundaries & Avoiding Abandonment
08/05/2025 Duración: 01h02minChapters: 00:00:00 - Boundary Extensions 00:03:01 - Attending Clients' Formal Ceremonies 00:06:00 - Navigating Dual Relationships in Therapy 00:09:17 - Providing Support in Difficult Situations 00:12:16 - Setting Healthy Boundaries with Clients 00:15:15 - Ensuring Continuity of Counseling Services 00:18:23 - Safety Issues with Home Visits 00:21:18 - Ensuring Continuity of Care 00:24:20 - Continuity of Services in the Event of an Interruption 00:27:28 - Accessing Electronic Medical Records Safely 00:30:26 - Protecting Client Confidentiality 00:33:33 - Disaster Preparedness for Electronic Health Records 00:36:39 - Confidentiality and Compliance 00:39:53 - Safeguarding Client Confidentiality 00:42:36 - Advocating for Client Privacy 00:45:22 - Ensuring Client Privacy and Empowerment 00:48:15 - Limiting access to client files and informed consent 00:51:23 - Informed Consent and Treatment Policies 00:54:01 - Considerations for Referrals and Treatment 00:57:14 - Upcoming Live Webinar Marathons 01:01:01 - Final Thoug
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1061-Exposing Enabling Behaviors and 20 Tips for Providing Healthy Support
01/05/2025 Duración: 01h14minChapters: 00:00:00 - Supporting the Person Without Enabling 00:03:29 - Enabling Behavior in Caregivers 00:06:58 - Coping with Chaos in Family Environments 00:10:35 - Enabling and Resistance 00:14:34 - Enabling Behavior and Attachment Trauma 00:18:14 - The Progression of Addiction and Enabling Behaviors 00:21:52 - The Role of the Enabler 00:25:27 - Enabling vs Helping 00:29:00 - Enabling Behavior and Cognitive Dissonance 00:32:26 - Enabling Behavior and Setting Boundaries 00:35:58 - Consequences of Enabling 00:39:25 - Characteristics of Codependency 00:42:53 - Providing Support and Setting Boundaries 00:46:07 - Fostering Hope in Recovery 00:49:35 - Self-talk and identifying important activities 00:53:02 - The Responsibility Dilemma 00:56:28 - Setting Boundaries and Expectations 00:59:44 - Encouraging and Supporting Recovery 01:03:04 - Family Dynamics and Boundaries 01:07:29 - Overcoming Financial Challenges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1060-How Stress Alters Hormones, Neurotransmitters & Mental Health
22/04/2025 Duración: 02h54minI. Introduction to Stress and Its Impact Stress affects the body's hormonal and neurotransmitter systems. Chronic stress can lead to significant mental health challenges. II. Hormonal Responses to Stress Cortisol: Known as the "stress hormone," it increases in response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels can impair memory and cognitive functions. Adrenaline and Noradrenaline: These hormones prepare the body for "fight or flight" responses. Prolonged elevation can lead to anxiety and sleep disturbances. III. Neurotransmitter Alterations Serotonin: Chronic stress can decrease serotonin levels, contributing to depression. Dopamine: Stress can disrupt dopamine pathways, affecting motivation and pleasure. GABA: Reduced GABA activity under stress can lead to increased anxiety. IV. Mental Health Consequences Persistent stress is linked to disorders such as depression and anxiety. Stress can exacerbate symptoms in individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions. V. Strategies
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1059-Overcoming the scars of ACEs and parental alienation
25/03/2025 Duración: 44minParental Alienation Defined Parental alienation is not abandonment or protecting a child from abuse; it is a form of psychological abuse. It involves a deliberate campaign of denigration, brainwashing, and manipulation of the child to reject the other parent. Alienating Behaviors Alienation occurs when one parent actively manipulates a child against the other parent, which can be unconscious or conscious. These behaviors involve brainwashing, manipulating, or lying to the child, often supported by family members or other influential figures in the child’s life. The Impact on Children Parental alienation disrupts children’s primary attachment bonds, causing deep psychological harm. Children may develop symptoms like Stockholm syndrome, where they begin to rationalize the alienating parent’s behavior and vilify the targeted parent. Alienation as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Parental alienation is considered psychological abuse, one of the categories of ACEs. It often coexists with other form
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1058-Overcoming Defensiveness_ The Key to Active Listening
20/03/2025 Duración: 01h01minWhat is Defensiveness? Defensiveness occurs when individuals feel emotionally or psychologically unsafe, leading them to put up barriers in communication. It can manifest as fight (verbal aggression) or flight (withdrawing and shutting down). Defensiveness often indicates past experiences of betrayal, disrespect, or invalidation that leave people on guard. Causes of Defensiveness Traumatic experiences or past emotional injuries. Triggers from discussing sensitive or difficult topics. Hypervigilance, where individuals expect others to hurt or criticize them, based on prior negative interactions. How Defensiveness Shows Up in Communication Aggressive responses like "Yes, but…", which aim to shut down feedback. Violation of boundaries, where defensive individuals invalidate others' thoughts and feelings to protect themselves. Resistance to feedback or unwillingness to listen and engage, often resulting in emotional shutdown. Impact of Defensiveness Breaks down communication, creating a barrier to re
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1057-A Trauma Informed Approach to Creating Safety
18/03/2025 Duración: 01h09minUnderstanding Psychodynamics and Safety The presentation begins with a focus on psychodynamics, particularly how early experiences of trauma impact one’s sense of safety. Trauma can manifest in emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms that disrupt everyday life, relationships, and well-being. Effects of Trauma on Health Trauma increases inflammation, disrupts sleep, and contributes to autoimmune disorders. Chronic feelings of unsafety can result in a constant state of hypervigilance, impacting both physical and emotional health. Identifying Unsafe Feelings Individuals can feel unsafe in various domains, including physical, interpersonal, and emotional. Feelings of vulnerability can arise from numerous contexts, like work, home, or social settings. Emotional vulnerability includes situations where individuals fear rejection or criticism, impacting their ability to feel secure. The Role of the Inner Critic People often internalize negative messages from others, leading to an overactive inner critic
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1056-ACEs Childhood Trauma's Lifelong Effects
13/03/2025 Duración: 26minTypes of Trauma in Childhood Childhood trauma can be intentional (abuse, neglect) or unintentional (caregivers unable to meet the child's needs due to issues like depression or addiction). Trauma affects children physically, emotionally, cognitively, and relationally, causing a sense of insecurity and powerlessness. Physical and Emotional Trauma Physical trauma includes abuse or neglect, while emotional trauma involves lack of emotional validation or support, which hinders a child's emotional development. Emotional neglect prevents children from learning to identify, regulate, and cope with their feelings. Cognitive Trauma and Environmental Disruption Cognitive trauma can result from gaslighting or parental alienation. Environmental trauma occurs when a child experiences sudden, drastic changes such as losing their home or a stable living situation. Impact of Trauma on Different Stages of Childhood In early childhood, children lack the skills to survive on their own, leading to a profound sense of d
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1055-20 Essential Mindfulness Tools in My Arsenal to Defeat Anxiety
11/03/2025 Duración: 43minIntroduction to Anxiety Relief Strategies Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes presents 20 strategies to help alleviate anxiety, focusing on individualized approaches based on intake assessments. It's important to address anxiety before it reaches a crisis point, as early intervention can prevent escalation. Understanding Anxiety Triggers Anxiety triggers can stem from concerns like loss, rejection, failure, or lack of control. Dr. Snipes emphasizes the importance of identifying these triggers and grouping them to understand the core issues driving anxiety. Vulnerabilities to Anxiety Vulnerabilities are factors that make individuals more susceptible to anxiety, such as poor sleep, caffeine intake, or stress from relationships. It's crucial to systematically address these vulnerabilities through lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies. Cognitive and Emotional Techniques Cognitive vulnerabilities, such as negative thinking patterns, contribute to anxiety. Learning to identify and reframe these thoughts helps red
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1054-Demystifying Trauma Responses 12 Signs of PTSD You May Not Know
06/03/2025 Duración: 32minTrauma vs. Traumatic Injury Trauma is an event that causes a sense of helplessness and horror. Traumatic injury refers to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal effects of trauma. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD or complex PTSD (CPTSD). Symptoms Often Misdiagnosed Conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and addiction are often misdiagnosed when they are actually symptoms of unresolved trauma. Understanding the root cause of these conditions helps tailor treatment to address trauma. Trauma in Childhood vs. Adulthood Childhood trauma, especially in chaotic or abusive households, can have lasting effects on attachment styles and emotional regulation in adulthood. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, and abandonment significantly impact mental health. Hypervigilance and Executive Dysfunction Trauma survivors are often hypervigilant, constantly scanning for threats, which can impair their ability to concentrate and problem-solve. This can mimic symptoms of