ACEs: The Science of Positive Childhood Experiences (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Release Date: 04/23/2026
Eating Disorders: Does Dieting Actually Make Them Worse? (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Can you tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them? Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar debunks the "healthy look" myth and explains why dieting is toxic to recovery. This episode explores the critical "Nine Truths" of eating disorders, the role of genetics, and why early intervention is vital for long-term health. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ In this deep-dive, host Terry McGuire continues the conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Wassena...
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Eating Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Find Help (Part 1)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
"You can have an eating disorder and not be in an underweight body." This powerful insight from Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Regional Medical Director at the Eating Recovery Center, challenges everything we think we know about food, weight, and mental health. In this eye-opening episode of RECOVERable, host Terry Maguire sits down with Dr. Wassenaar to dismantle the dangerous myths surrounding eating disorders. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ Dr. W...
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ACEs: The Science of Positive Childhood Experiences (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Can you outrun a traumatic childhood? Dr. Christina Bethell returns for Part 2 to explain why an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) score is an indicator of risk, not a predictor of destiny. As a national leader in population health and systems measurement, Dr. Bethell has reshaped how we understand the "toxic stress" that accumulates in the nervous system when childhood trauma is experienced without buffers. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ In this e...
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ACEs: Can You Heal From a Traumatic Childhood? (Part 1)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Can you truly heal from a traumatic childhood? Dr. Christina Bethell explains why your past shapes you but doesn't have to define your future. In this episode of Recoverable, we dive deep into the groundbreaking research behind Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the "medicine" of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ We explore the 10-question ACEs screener and why factors like emotional neglect are often the ...
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Pregnancy: Understanding Postpartum Depression (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Are you feeling overwhelmed, angry, or disconnected after childbirth? You are not alone—nearly 20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, yet many suffer in silence due to a paralyzing sense of shame. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ In this essential follow-up, host Terry McGuire continues the conversation with Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah. Dr. Sheffield-Abdullah is a PhD, researcher, and nurse-midwife with over 20 years of experience speci...
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Pregnancy: The Truth About Antenatal Depression and SSRIs (Part 1)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Are you struggling with depression during pregnancy but afraid to talk about it? You are not alone, as up to 20% of women will experience a significant mood disorder during pregnancy or after birth. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ In this episode, host Terry McGuire sits down with Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah. Dr. Sheffield-Abdullah is a professor, a nurse-midwife of 20 years, and a researcher specializing in Black maternal stress and anxiety. We div...
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Treatment: Does Coerced Recovery Actually Work? (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Description: How do you know when you’ve finally reached the point where you can't do it alone? For many, the realization doesn't come from a "lightbulb moment," but from the exhaustion of repeating the same mistakes while expecting different results. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Levels of Care, host Terry McGuire and Dr. Sal Raichbach explore the psychological barriers to seeking help and the reality of life after the "rehab" doors close. Find mental health and addiction treatment ne...
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Treatment: Which Level of Care Do You Need? (Part 1)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Navigating the world of addiction and mental health treatment can feel like learning a completely different language when you are already at your breaking point. How do you know if you need a "hospital level" of care or if weekly therapy is enough? In this episode of RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down with behavioral health expert Dr. Sal Raichbach to demystify the "continuum of care" and explain exactly what happens at every stage of recovery. Find mental health and addiction treatmen...
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Suicidality: Warning Signs in Teens vs. Adults (Part 2)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
Thoughts of suicide are not uncommon and can be a part of the human experience for many individuals at various points in their lives. In Part 2 of this series, host Terry McGuire welcomes back Dr. Sara Kohlbeck, PhD, a public health researcher specializing in suicide. This conversation focuses on the "invitations" people send when they are in distress and how to navigate the spectrum of suicidal thoughts with empathy and evidence-based tools. Find mental health and addiction treatment near y...
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Suicidality: How to Support Someone in a Crisis (Part 1)
RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation, which may be difficult for some listeners; if you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or a crisis hotline like 988. "When you are suicidal, it is an incredibly isolating feeling. It’s feeling like nobody really understands." In this episode of RECOVER, host Terry McGuire sits down with Dr. Sara Kohlbeck, PhD, a distinguished suicidologist and public health researcher, to peel...
info_outlineCan you outrun a traumatic childhood? Dr. Christina Bethell returns for Part 2 to explain why an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) score is an indicator of risk, not a predictor of destiny. As a national leader in population health and systems measurement, Dr. Bethell has reshaped how we understand the "toxic stress" that accumulates in the nervous system when childhood trauma is experienced without buffers.
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
In this episode, we dive into the "Positivity Paradox" and the breakthrough research on Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Dr. Bethell explains that the absence of positive experiences—feeling loved, supported, and heard—can be as detrimental to long-term health as the presence of trauma itself. We discuss why healthcare systems are often slow to screen for trauma and how the "medicine" of presence and connection can rewire the brain even decades later.
Our guest, Dr. Christina Bethell (PhD, MPH, MBA), is a Professor at Johns Hopkins University and the Director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI). Her work proves that healing is a life process and that "more likely is not most"—meaning a high trauma score does not guarantee a future of illness or addiction. Whether you are struggling with your own past or trying to build a resilient future for your children, this conversation offers a roadmap for shifting from "fixing" to "connecting".
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Recap: How ACEs and PCEs intersect
05:03 – What does an ACE score actually mean?
08;23 – Are you "broken" if you have a high score?
10;43 – How do we get more positive experiences (PCEs)?
13;27 – Why don’t doctors ask about childhood trauma?
16;36 – Is the absence of "good" worse than the "bad"?
23;16 – The 4 indicators of family resilience
34;42 – Is it ever too late for adults to heal?
44;16 – Healing your relationship with your teenager
53;14 – A magic wand for society: Connecting vs. Fixing
❓ Questions the Video Answers:
What is an ACE score?
Does a high ACEs score mean I will get sick?
What is the difference between an event and toxic stress?
How do positive childhood experiences buffer trauma?
Why is emotional neglect so common and harmful?
Can I heal my nervous system as an adult?
What is the "positivity paradox"?
Why don't insurance companies cover trauma screening?
Can I build resilience with my teenager now?
What is "biobehavioral synchrony" in parenting?
How does trauma affect the immune system?
What are the 7 key PCEs for healing?
How do I reparent my inner child?
Why is "feeling heard" a public health priority?
How can I find safety if I grew up not trusting people?
#childhoodtrauma #mentalhealth #resilience