happiness and joy are not the same (and why it matters for parents), with Alex Stavros, CEO of Embark Behavioral Health
Sometimes, parents seeking guidance and comfort during difficult times are told to “choose happiness.” My guest on this episode believes instead, we should be choosing joy. Alex Stavros is the CEO of Embark Behavioral Health, a leading network of premiere youth outpatient centers and residential programs. Their “big hairy audacious goal” is driving down youth anxiety, depression, and suicide from all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028.
the intersection of adoption and substance use, with Eric Fawson, LCSW
Numerous studies show that adopted children are significantly more likely to develop substance use disorders. Is this true? If so, why? And how can parents of adopted children support and guide them through those tendencies? In this episode I’m speaking with Eric Fawson, who’s been practicing therapy for more than 15 years, focusing on attachment, trauma, and the substance misuse that often accompanies these issues.
how adventure therapy can offer young adults life-long tools for mental health & resilience, with Andrew Taylor
In this episode, I’m talking with the founder of Pure Life Adventure Therapy, Andrew Taylor. He shares how Adventure Therapy differs from Wilderness Therapy and specifically supports young adults experiencing isolation, anxiety, and depression. While it’s not designed to support young people in active addiction or those who are newly sober, it’s a powerful combination of nature, fun, and deep therapy.