Behavioral Health Today

Part 2: Succeeding with Social Emotional Learning Technology with Robin Glenn, CEO – Episode 182

This episode resumes our conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Robin Glenn.  In our last episode we identified the common mental health challenges of teens and adolescents and the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning being brought into this season of their lives. We discussed their SEL online training program, that assigns meaningful courses for students to take on their own with the goal of both teaching content but gaining insight into the student’s introspection through surveys. BASE has this learning process driven by methodology that not just sets your program apart, but it deepens the learning process. We discussed the baseline assessment that screens students against national results and how that assessment will guide the program modules that are specific to the student. As well as at-home resources and shared survey information to reinforce the SEL courses and create more connection with parents and their children. And finally, we discussed how the BASE Education program can customize data that’s informative on various levels of school positions from teacher to principles to counselor to administrators. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing how the BASE Education program can identify silent at-risk children through meaningful pointed questions.

 

For more information about BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education

To contact BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education/contact/

Part 1: Succeeding with Social Emotional Learning Technology with Robin Glenn, CEO – Episode 181

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Robin Glenn. Robin is the CEO and co-founder of Based Education, an online mental health program that uses the social emotional learning model to help children and teens. Robin has over 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor working with at risk teens and has held several roles including school-based therapy specialist, private practice therapists for adolescents, treatment coordinator for intensive in and outpatient teens and research specialists in clinical trials for adolescents with addictions. Together Graham and Robin identify the common mental health challenges of teens and adolescents and the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning being brought into this season of their lives, we discussed their SEL online training program, which assigns meaningful courses for students to take on their own with the goal of both teaching content but gaining insight into the student’s introspection through surveys, we discussed the baseline assessment that screens students against national results and how that assessment will guide the program modules that are specific to the student. And finally, we discussed how the BASE Education program can customize data that are informative on various levels of school positions from teachers to principals to counselors to administrators. SEL has become the replacement for mental health help in schools and unfortunately, schools are where mental health issues tend to come out.

 

For more information about BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education

To contact BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education/contact/

Innovative Coaching for Complex Students with ADHD with Dr. Norrine Russell – Episode 180

Students with neurological or executive functioning issues are told they can't do things on their own, they need help, and there's so much going on that's a problem. Russell Coaching is working to flip that on its head and build faith and self-esteem in their students. Encouraging everyone to find the solution instead of always focusing on the problem. In this episode, Dr. Erin Elmore speaks with Dr. Norrine Russell. Dr. Russell is the founder of Russell Coaching for Students, which uses an innovative method of coaching for students with complex challenges, including those who have ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, and learning differences. Dr. Russell has over 20 years of experience in child development, learning styles, special needs, and positive parenting philosophies. She is the author of the recently published guide for parents Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis. Together Erin and Norrine discuss understanding ADHD as a neurological issue than a behavioral one, how coaching and therapy could be complimentary or supportive of one another, they discuss Russell Coaching’s model that includes: understanding the individual, connecting with the student’s team, using science and brain-based understanding, reporting, working with a leadership team, and finally customized software that supports this connected coaching model.

 

For more information about Russell Coaching, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com

For more information about Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis by Norrine Russell, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com/adhd-book-release

To listen to Norrine Russell on other podcasts and other topics, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com/podcastsspeaking-availability

For more information about the CHADD 2022 Conference, please visit: https://chadd.org/conference/

Follow Russell Coaching on Instagram at Russell Coaching LLC, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/russellcoachingllc/

Follow Russel Coaching on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norrine-russell-820545184/

Part 2: Psychological Responses to Privilege with Brian Lowery – Episode 179

This episode resumes our conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Brian Lowery. In our last episode, we discussed an understanding of privilege by looking at the advantages and benefits associated with a specific identity and looking at these identities on the same level to recognize the advantages that come with your circumstances. We discussed we engage with privilege and how it can activate our defense mechanisms., and finally we discussed the psychological responses to privilege and the three Ds of defense, denial, distancing, and dismantling. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing our understanding of deservingness and how the idea that your life is not solely driven by you challenges your moral worth. Who you happen to be doesn't dictate your moral standing. It's the decisions you make about how you exist in the world that do. When talking about privilege, people get worked up because it’s as if their moral character has been called into question based on characteristics they have no control over.

 

For more information about Brian Lowery and his podcast Know What You See, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com

For more information about articles and other media content by Brian Lowery about race, equity, and privilege, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/media-page

Part 1: Psychological Responses to Privilege with Brian Lowery – Episode 178

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Brian Lowery. Brian is a professor of Organizational Behavior and a Social Psychologist by training at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Brian is driving an initiative to shape enlightened and purposeful leaders for a diverse society. Brian’s research examines the operation of racial attitudes below the threshold of consciousness and the perception of inequality. He has been published in major scholarly journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Law and Human Behavior. Together Graham and Brian discuss an understanding of privilege by looking at the advantages and benefits associated with a specific identity and looking at these identities on the same level to recognize the advantages that come with your circumstances. We discuss we engage with privilege and how it can activate our defense mechanisms., and finally we discussed the psychological responses to privilege and the three Ds of defense, denial, distancing, and dismantling.

 

For more information about Brian Lowery and his podcast Know What You See, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com

For more information about articles and other media content by Brian Lowery about race, equity, and privilege, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/media-page

 

Creating Access to LGBTQ+ Affirming Care with Steven Haden, MSW – Episode 177

Ideally, when we're struggling, we get to stop and pause and ask ourselves, or be asked by someone, what if it could look differently? And when people ask those questions of themselves, Envision: You is right there, ready for them to come into, and to be walked through, some of these things in a way that can be very therapeutic and healing. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Steven Haden, MSW. Steven is the CEO and Co-Founder to Envision: You, a non-profit that works to improve the behavioral health outcomes of the LGBTQ+ community by addressing the disparity in the care they receive. Steven is a Certified LGBTQ+ Affirming therapist, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and public speaker on issues related to behavioral health concerns from the perspective of lived experience. Through Envision: You, Steven has helped lead an initiative to implement a multi-media public awareness campaign and no-cost virtual behavioral telehealth services to increase access to LGBTQ+ affirming care. Together they discuss the gaps in care around the LGBTQ+ community as well as the higher need for services, we discussed the importance of affirming care and the benefits of a healing place, and finally, the programs offered by Envision: You and developing the phone app YOU: Flourish, that brings together community and mental health resources to create an authentic experience specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Envision: You are holding that hope and possibility for folks that recovery is possible, and a better day is ahead.

 

For more information about Envision: YOU, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org

For more information about the YOU: Flourish app, please visit: https://you-flourish.com

For more information about the research by the Omni Institute, please visit: https://www.omni.org/envisionyou-state-of-the-state

If you’re looking to initiate conversation and learn how to have “the talk”, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/how-to-have-the-talk

For more information about Q is for Questioning, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/q-is-for-questioning

For more information about Affirming Care and training, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/lgbtq-behavioral-health-training

 

Part 2: Clinicians Series, Practicing Sleep Therapy in the Autism Community with Emily Varon, BCBA – Episode 176

This episode resumes this Clinicians’ Series conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Emily Varon, BCBA. In our last episode, we discussed the assessment process, finding symptoms, and beginning steps to create a new sleep routine. This involves an inventory on how the child falls asleep and paying attention to the changes in their sleep environment. We also see how Emily addresses and understands the goals of therapy and how to reach an endpoint. We'll resume our talk today by discussing the challenges of the therapy process and normalizing some of the bumps along the way.

 

For more information about Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com

For more information about the services provided by Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/services/

For practitioners interested in CEUs around sleep therapy, please visit: https://readysetsleep.thinkific.com

If you’d like to get in contact with Emily, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/contact-us/

Part 1: Clinicians Series, Practicing Sleep Therapy in the Autism Community with Emily Varon, BCBA – Episode 175

Today’s episode is part of our clinicians’ series, where we take you behind the therapist’s door to give you an insight into what happens within the therapeutic relationship. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Emily Varon, BCBA. Emily is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a dedicated focus on sleep-related behaviors. She has over 22 years of experience and devoted her practice to improving the sleep habits of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2010. Emily’s company Ready Set Sleep, provides education, CEUs, sleep program development, and individual consultation to families seeking support with their child’s sleep. Together Graham and Emily discuss the assessment process and the beginning steps to creating a new sleep routine, taking inventory of how the child falls asleep, paying attention to the changes in their environment, and understanding the goals of therapy and how to reach an end-point.

 

For more information about Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com

For more information about the services provided by Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/services/

For practitioners interested in CEUs around sleep therapy, please visit: https://readysetsleep.thinkific.com

If you’d like to get in contact with Emily, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/contact-us/

The Risk of Malpractice & Protection of Professional Liability Insurance with Rachel Warners – Episode 174

We, as mental health professionals, come into our field with the best intentions and the best ethics and standards for practice. But no matter how professional our practice may be, an accident or misunderstanding can happen. And whether we’re at fault or not, we can find ourselves in the center of a malpractice claim and responsible for large legal and settlement fees. The best practice against harmful allegations, financially damaging lawsuits, and high legal fees is to have the appropriate form of malpractice insurance coverage. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Rachel Warners. Rachel is the Director of Operations at CPH Insurance, where, with over 10 years of experience, they provide competitively priced professional liability insurance for mental health professionals. Together Graham and Rachel discuss the kinds of insurance coverage, protection from malpractice situations, the benefits of individual coverage, and the various types of coverage available from student, to intern, to licensed practitioner. A malpractice claim is not something anybody wants to think about, but it can happen even to the most ethical practitioner. We must protect ourselves from unnecessary risks that are in an inherent part of our work as practitioners. Having the proper policy in place allows us to perform our job, to do what we've been trained to do, without the unnecessary worry of our financial assets being lost in the event of a lawsuit.

 

For more information about individual and/or incorporated Allied and Mental Health Malpractice Insurance and CPH & Associates, please visit: https://www.cphins.com

For more information about the CPH Insurance Blog, please visit: https://www.cphins.com/category/mental-health/

To contact CPH Insurance for more information please call 800-875-1911 or visit the contact us page at https://www.cphins.com/contact-us/

Part 2: Creating Space for the Adoptive Experience with Moses Farrow, MFT – Episode 173

This episode resumes the conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Moses Farrow, LMFT. In our last episode, we discussed the unique perspective and identity of adopted people, the importance of raising awareness around the adoptive process and some of the challenges around it, the need for safe spaces and the importance of trauma-informed perspective when addressing the adopted community, and finally, we discussed the experience of disenfranchised grief around the loss of life before adoption and infringement on the right to be able to grieve that loss. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing the importance for parents and communities to provide well-informed environments for adoptive people.

 

For more information about Moses Farrow, please visit: https://mosesfarrow.com

For more information about Adoption Trauma, please visit: https://www.transformadoption.com

For more information about #truthislouder, please visit: https://www.truthislouder.org

Connect with Moses on social media,

• on twitter @MosesFarrow and use #truthislouder for adoption trauma awareness or visit: https://twitter.com/MosesFarrow
• on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/moses.farrow.50
• or on Instagram at mosesafarrow, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/mosesafarrow/
• or email Moses directly at moses@mosesfarrow.com

Part 1: Creating Space for the Adoptive Experience with Moses Farrow, MFT – Episode 172

About 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. About 59% of those are from the child welfare or foster care system. 26% are from other countries and about 15% are voluntarily surrendered American babies. While a number of adoptions do go well, there are common, though often unrecognized and unaddressed issues within the adoption process and within the developmental stages, post adoption that deserves some attention. Trauma can in fact be evident in every part of the adoption experience, even the parts that seem perfect. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Moses Farrow, MFT. Moses is an Adoption Trauma Educator and Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 20 years in the mental health field. As a survivor of child abuse, adoption trauma, and suicide loss, Moses bridges his personal and professional experiences to raise awareness of the human rights and public health issues many adopted people have been facing. Together Graham and Moses discuss the importance of raising awareness around the adoptive process and some of the challenges around it. There is a need for safe spaces and the importance of a trauma-informed perspective when addressing the adopted community.

 

For more information about Moses Farrow, please visit: https://mosesfarrow.com

For more information about Adoption Trauma, please visit: https://www.transformadoption.com

For more information about #truthislouder, please visit: https://www.truthislouder.org

Connect with Moses on social media,

• on twitter @MosesFarrow and use #truthislouder for adoption trauma awareness or visit: https://twitter.com/MosesFarrow
• on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/moses.farrow.50
• or on Instagram at mosesafarrow, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/mosesafarrow/
• or email Moses directly at moses@mosesfarrow.com

An Issue of Ethics within the BCBA Industry with Karen Chung– Episode 171

There’s a need and a demand for ABA services with increased funding beginning to occur. The Behavior Analysis field has some great momentum but as the field grows, and large private equity firms enter this space, there is a concern of degradation of the treatment provided and the quality of services. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Karen Chung, Karen has 12 years of experience as a Certified Behavioral Analyst and is the CEO and founder of Special Learning, Inc., an education technology company that delivers web-based training, virtual supervision, and consultation for BCBAs anywhere in the world. Aside from her work with Special Learning, Karen has been at work building the Ethical Standards Board, an online database of certified ABAs and registered behavioral technicians available for the public to find qualified clinicians and agencies. Together they discuss the current state of the Behavioral Analysis field, some of the challenges of rapid growth, and the demand for services, as well as highlighting some of the gaps in the ethics code and how that fails to regulate the quality of treatment from large private equity firms. Finally, we discuss a new service called the Ethics Standards Board for ABA Centers (ESBAP), which provides a centralized database of ABA Agencies that are rated by their performance by peers as well as by their clients. ESBAP is creating a resource available to the public, to help shift and support those organizations that are behaving ethically, doing quality work, and outcomes-oriented that have opportunities for RBTs to find a career path to mentorship.

 

For more information about Special Learning Inc., please visit: https://www.special-learning.com/

To contact Karen Chung, please email at kchung@special-learning.com

For more information about the Ethical Standards Board for ABA Centers, the ESBAP, please visit: https://esbap.org/

Discussing Shame Behavior with Ragan Schriver, PsyD, MSW – Episode 170

Most shame-based messages are I am _____, and then we fill in the blank with whatever it may be. Most of our shame is unconscious. We have compensatory behaviors develop typically from an early age that set a course in our lives that everything we do is unconsciously driven by trying to avoid that feeling of I am (shame-based message) and to keep others from discovering this about us. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Ragan Schriver, PsyD, MSW. Ragan is an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work as well as the Director of the MSSW Program, Knoxville Campus, and chair of the Forensic Social Work Certificate Program. He teaches clinical and leadership courses in the MSSW program. He also serves as the Special Assistant to the President of Catholic Charities USA. In this role he takes part in a team process to develop integrated health programs within the network. Together they discuss the experience of shame and how it can become a fundamental part of our lives. They discuss ways to find shame when working with clients and the challenges around shame. They discuss the idea of healthy shame can assist in understanding our limitations, but when we become overwhelmed with negativity, shame can limit our perspective. We discuss shame from a neurological perspective and some ways shame shows up in four general categories. Finally, we discuss how a therapeutic relationship can provide mirrors to question some of our shameful beliefs about ourselves and right side a sense of who you are. Berné Brown says, if you put shame in a petri dish and you add secrecy and silents and judgement, the thing is going to go crazy. But if have shame and add in empathy and invite others into this experience, then that will stunt the growth of shame.

 

For more information about the University of Tennessee and its Social Work Program, please visit: https://www.csw.utk.edu/

For more information about the UT College of Social Work’s Trauma Treatment Post-Graduate Certification Program, please visit: https://www.csw.utk.edu/post-graduate-trauma-certificate/

 

Part 2: Guidance Through the Grad School Process with Dr. Jeanne Stanley & Dr. Theo Burnes – Episode 169

This episode resumes the conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guests Dr. Jeanne Stanley and Dr. Theo Burnes. In our last episode, we discussed the best practices of the graduate school application process and guidance on where to start, we listed off some questions to ask yourself to help create a list of needs and wats as you look at graduate programs, and we discussed the importance of knowing when graduate school is the right time for you. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing the admissions interview and coaching students to help them feel secure and be successful.

 

For more information about Dr. Jeanne Stanley and Watershed Counseling and Consultation Services, please visit: https://www.watershedservices.biz

For more information about Dr. Theo Burns, please visit: https://theoburnesphd.com

Part 1: Guidance Through the Grad School Process with Dr. Jeanne Stanley & Dr. Theo Burnes – Episode 168

Pursuing graduate school is a significant undertaking. For some students, they may not necessarily know exactly what they want or what they're looking for before they enter this process. Where do you start to help navigate the process successfully? In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Dr. Jeanne Stanley and Dr. Theo Burnes. Jeanne Stanley is a licensed psychologist and the CEO of Watershed Counseling and Consultation and founder of the company, Grad School Coaching. She also works as a national trainer, consultant, published author, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education in their Counseling programs with more than 25 years of experience. Theo is a licensed psychologist and professional clinical counselor in private practice. Theo is a professor in the graduate MFT and counseling program at University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education. Together they discuss the best practices to the application process of graduate school, creating a list of needs and wants, and they discuss the importance of knowing when graduate school is the right time for you.

 

For more information about Dr. Jeanne Stanley and Watershed Counseling and Consultation Services, please visit: https://www.watershedservices.biz

For more information about Dr. Theo Burnes, please visit: https://theoburnesphd.com