The Best Minds Podcast

Interviews with thought leaders in the addiction and recovery field. We focus on what works: what helps people recover from alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive behaviors and co-occurring disorders. We also talk about how to help a loved one get into recovery. We are most interested in the integration of effective clinical practices with twelve step recovery. Hosted by best-selling authors Jeff Jay and Debra Jay. Learn more at https://lovefirst.net

The Family Recovery Experience Part 2 10/07/2021

The Family Recovery Experience Part 2 Structured Family Recovery® helps prevent relapse and brings families back together. Kathy Row, MA, LPC, is a certified SFR counselor. She shares inspiring stories of healing and hope, and tells how families once shattered by addiction found their way back to happiness. Kathy is a seasoned practitioner who has helped many families come back from the brink. She talks with Debra Jay, author of "It Takes a Family." /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/20747258

The Family Recovery Experience pt 1 09/23/2021

The Family Recovery Experience pt 1 Carver Brown and Sherry Gaugler-Stewart have dedicated their lives to helping families facing a loved one's addiction. As Certified Structured Family Recovery (SFR) counselors, they guide families engaged in SFR to build trust, happiness, and lasting sobriety. In this podcast, they explain the elements of SFR and how SFR brings families back together, including their newly sober beloved alcoholic/addict. The first of two podcasts on SFR, this podcast, hosted by Jeff Jay, provides a window into the SFR experience for families. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/20570486

Don't Forget the Children with Jerry Moe 04/26/2021

Don't Forget the Children with Jerry Moe Children suffer silently when a parent is addicted. Jerry Moe has been at the forefront of helping the children of addicted families for decades. He is the director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Children's program and the author of several wonderful books, including "Kids Power." /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18872849

Finding Lower Cost Treatment with Jim Balmer and Anna Byberg 04/25/2021

Finding Lower Cost Treatment with Jim Balmer and Anna Byberg Two treatment experts share their wisdom. Jim Balmer, co-founder of the Dawn Farm treatment program and Anna Byberg, clinical director, and incoming president of Dawn Farm. We couldn’t think of anyone better than Jim and Anna to discuss this topic. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18853901

Recovery for Licensed Professionals with Buddy Stockwell 04/24/2021

Recovery for Licensed Professionals with Buddy Stockwell Licensed professionals like lawyers, pilots, doctors and other health professionals receive a very high level of treatment and support if they require addiction treatment. As a result, they achieve greater success. What makes the difference? Buddy Stockwell was the executive director of the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) of Louisiana, which was recognized as one of the nation’s best. Buddy was awarded the Bar Association’s President’s Award for his exemplary service at Louisiana’s JLAP. Buddy is a certified clinical interventionist through the “Love First” Clinical Intervention Training, which took place at the Betty Ford Center, and he has personally been in recovery from alcoholism since 1983. He has supported hundreds of lawyers, law students and family members, offering help with a wide range of substance abuse and mental health issues. In 2020, Buddy was recruited by the , which is a no-cost, confidential program providing consultation, referral, intervention, and crisis counseling for lawyers, judges, and law students who are struggling with substance abuse, stress, or mental health issues. Buddy received his law degree from Louisiana State University and was previously in private practice specializing in domestic litigation. His insights into treatment and recovery for licensed professionals will be of interest to everyone. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18846188

Elements of Effective Treatment with Deb Kuzmin and John Dyben 04/23/2021

Elements of Effective Treatment with Deb Kuzmin and John Dyben Deb Kuzmin is executive director at the Hanley Center, and John Dyben is the chief clinical officer at Origins Behavioral Healthcare. Their passion, expertise and commitment to helping families and patients is truly inspiring. Deb Kuzmin has dedicated her career to the study and treatment of addiction and mental health issues. She has worked as a therapist, director of case management, clinical supervisor, and clinical director. Deb received her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons College and trained at The Harvard School of Medicine’s Division on Addiction. In his role as Chief Clinical Officer, John provides clinical oversight to all of Origin’s programs. He continually builds upon his academic expertise through research on addiction, spirituality, and related topics. John’s training includes a Masters Conflict Management and a Doctor of Health Science, and postgraduate studies in psychology, philosophy, and religion. Their combined wisdom and experience made for a memorable podcast. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18837929

Opiate Addiction and Recovery with Gary Fisher 04/07/2021

Opiate Addiction and Recovery with Gary Fisher Gary Fisher is the Executive Director at Cirque Lodge. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Utah Council for Crime Prevention, and the Board of Directors for the Recovery Management Alliance. Most importantly Gary serves tirelessly in his local 12-step community, carrying the message of hope to the addict and alcoholic who still suffers. Gary and Jeff talk about opioid replacement therapy, MAT, and the hope of recovery for those suffering from opioid addiction. For more visit http://www.lovefirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18640355

Gambling Addiction with Mike Schiks 04/07/2021

Gambling Addiction with Mike Schiks Mike Schiks has worked in the addiction treatment field for more than 40 years. He rose from the position of counselor to become executive vice president over all of Hazelden’s Treatment Services. He has served on numerous boards including the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers and the Minnesota Alliance for Compulsive Gamblers. For the last 14 years, he has served as CEO of Project Turnabout, in Granite Falls, MN (from which he has just recently retired). Project Turnabout includes the Vanguard Center for Problem Gambling—one of the only residential treatment programs dedicated solely to gambling addiction. Mike’s passion for helping families is well known in our field. His personal experience with addiction and recovery, combined with his long career as a clinician and executive, gives him a unique perspective. Jeff Jay draws out Mike's encyclopedic knowledge of the field and his deep insights into problem gambling. https://lovefirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18631385

Collegiate and Young Adult Recovery with Mandy Baker 03/29/2021

Collegiate and Young Adult Recovery with Mandy Baker Many Baker has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of collegiate recovery programs. Mandy is the Chief Clinical Officer for the BRC Recovery Family of Programs, overseeing all clinical services. At Texas Tech, Mandy and her team were instrumental in developing the recovery campus movement, which has significantly impacted the ways in which colleges and universities address addiction. For more information visit http://LoveFirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18514466

Addiction-Free Pain Management with Mel Pohl MD 03/12/2021

Addiction-Free Pain Management with Mel Pohl MD Chronic pain and opioid pain medications can lead to addiction. Too many families are facing this nightmare. Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM is former Chief Medical Officer of Las Vegas Recovery Center, and he was a major force in developing their Chronic Pain Recovery Program. He is currently Senior Medical Consultant at Landmark Recovery. Mel and Jeff talk about chronic pain and addiction in depth, and look at real life solutions for patients and their families. More info at https://lovefirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/18292007

TBI and Addiction with Colin King 02/01/2021

TBI and Addiction with Colin King Dr. Colin King is an expert in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and the intersection of TBI and addiction. He is a fully-licensed clinical psychologist who has been helping patients and families for many years. Dr. King and Jeff talked about the complexities of the brain in detail, and also about challenges of treating patients with TBI and addiction. They also discussed the brain injuries caused by the over-using alcohol and other drugs. More info at lovefirst.net. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/17779685

12 Step Immersion with John Curtiss 01/14/2021

12 Step Immersion with John Curtiss John Curtiss is CEO and co-founder of The Retreat, in Wayzata, MN. The Retreat is the most admired twelve step immersion program in the country. Jeff and Debra Jay talked with John about the history of The Retreat, their unique philosophy of care, and the way the program has grown. The story of The Retreat is inspirational, and has been replicated around the world. John Curtiss is one of the most widely-respected leaders in the field of addiction and recovery. More info: https://lovefirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/17552858

Deborah Schiller Treating Sex Addiction 12/15/2020

Deborah Schiller Treating Sex Addiction Deborah Schiller, MSC, LPC, CSAT, former director of the Pine Grove program for sex addiction, is one of the top experts on this particularly devastating form of addiction. She offers an eye-opening look inside the world of sex addiction and the hope of recovery. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16228583

John Driscoll: Roots of Addiction Treatment 11/27/2020

John Driscoll: Roots of Addiction Treatment John Driscoll began his career in 1991, working with homeless addicted women (and their children) at St. Martin de Porres House of Hope, in Chicago. The program had been founded by his aunt and a dedicated Catholic nun, Sr. Therese O'Sullivan. It is there he learned the roots of addiction treatment. He is now the senior vice president of Recovery Services at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, overseeing all their clinical efforts nationwide. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16978088

Older Adult Treatment with Sharon Matthew and Ming Wang, MD 11/01/2020

Older Adult Treatment with Sharon Matthew and Ming Wang, MD People over the age of 55 have different needs. Sharon Matthew is the driving force behind the Older Adult unit at Caron Treatment Centers. Dr. Ming Wang, MD, oversees all medical services for the unit. Together they give a fascinating description of the challenges and successes in treating older adults with alcohol and drug issues. They also talk about co-occurring disorders, nutrition and cognition. More information at https://lovefirst.net /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16631567

12 Step Facilitation: Joe Nowinski, PhD 10/10/2020

12 Step Facilitation: Joe Nowinski, PhD What's the best way to get people into long-term recovery from addiction? Joe Nowinski, PhD, is the author of "If You Work It, It Works! The Science Behind Twelve Step Recovery." He shares insights from his work on Project MATCH, the largest study ever completed on addiction recovery. He shares a lifetime of experience as an author and educator who truly understands recovery. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16227218

Back to Basics with the 12 Steps: Carver Brown 10/08/2020

Back to Basics with the 12 Steps: Carver Brown Carver Brown has presented the "Back to Basics" approach to the 12 Steps to more than 7.000 people. He is passionate about recovery and he brings a message of hope and healing. Carver is an addiction specialist, a clinical interventionist and a Structured Family Recovery® counselor. He lives in Jackson, MS. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16227947

Opiate Addiction: Robert DuPont, MD 10/08/2020

Opiate Addiction: Robert DuPont, MD Dr. DuPont talks about opioid addiction, recovery, brain science and more. Author, professor and psychiatrist, Dr. DuPont is a pillar in the addiction treatment field, having served as the first head of NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse), advisor to presidents, and more. He talks effective treatment for addiction and the insights he's gained over more than 40 years in the addiction treatment field. To learn more about Jeff Jay and Debra Jay, visit https://lovefirst.net. /episode/index/show/bestminds/id/16187924

The Best Minds Podcast

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