Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

The behaviors of someone in active addiction are very similar to those of a person with a personality disorder. Both people developed these behaviors as a way to survive. Treatment involves understanding the function of the behaviors, identifying alternate ways to meet those needs and helping the client individualize interventions to make them the most effective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PTSD can develop from a single trauma, or from multiple, ongoing traumatic experiences. In this presentation Dr. Snipes examines how PTSD symptoms can be viewed as the brain's way to keep the person safe. These behaviors serve a survival function. Once their functions are understood, then the person can set out to identify alternate, less disruptive or problematic behaviors to achieve the same goal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strengths Based Biopsychosocial Approach to Recovery from Bipolar Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC Executive Director, AllCEUs Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned for this presentation at https://allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/509/c/ Objectives – What is bipolar – What causes bipolar disorder (and how to mitigate it) – Emotionally (Stress reduction, Anger Mangement, Happiness) – Mentally (Cognitive Errors […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strengths Based Biopsychosocial Approach to Recovery from Depression Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC Executive Director, AllCEUs Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned for this presentation at https://allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/510/c/ Objectives – Define depression (symptoms) – Learn how to ask strengths-based assessment questions – Identify a range of potential causes for depression – Explore activities and […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strengths Based Biopsychosocial Approach to Recovery from Panic Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC Executive Director, AllCEUs CEs available at: https://allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/505/c/ Objectives – Define panic – Examine how the fight or flight reaction can be corrupted to prompt panic attacks – Examine the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, biological sources of the stress reaction – Explore a […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using a Strengths-Based Biopsychosocial Approach to Addressing Anxiety Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC, NCC Executive Director, AllCEUs CEs available at: https://allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/504/c/ Objectives – Define a strengths based approach – Define a biopsychosocial approach Why I Care/How It Impacts Recovery – Anxiety can be debilitating – Low-grade chronic stress/anxiety erodes your energy and ability […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinking Errors Understanding and Addressing Them Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes Executive Director, AllCEUs CEs are available at: https://allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/497/c/ Objectives – Define Thinking Errors – Explore the different types of thinking errors – Cognitive distortions – Irrational Thoughts – Evaluate how thinking errors can play into our basic fears: Rejection, isolation, the unknown, loss of […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is a way people try to escape from physical or emotional distress. Addiction can also create chemical imbalances that create that distress. A sober person with depression is as much at risk for addiction relapse as a person who continues to use is at risk of worsening depression. It is imperative to address everything causing the neurochemical imbalances from negative thoughts, to addiction to inadequate sleep and nutrition. In this episode we will examine some of the different starting points for addressing co-occurring mood and addiction issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The internet, especially social media, video games and porn can easily become addictive, providing never ending novelty and a place to escape from "real life." In this episode we will examine the characteristics of addictive online sites, define internet addiction, and propose some initial interventions for dealing with internet addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction impacts more than just the individual. Families of people with addictions struggle with mood disorders and stress related illnesses. Communities are impacted by entire families who have higher utilization of medical services, increased absenteeism from work and school and increased likelihood of involvement in criminal behavior. In this episode we discuss talking points to help people with addictions (and others) understand the far reaching impact of addictive behaviors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addictions impact people's neurochemistry (mood); their sleep quality, their pain, their relationships and their thinking patterns. Initially addictions may be used to escape from distress, but, through use, people are unknowingly making their mood and other problems worse. In this episode we examine the impacts of chemical and behavioral addictions on the person, and propose some interventions that could serve as launch points for recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental Health and Addiction issues often go hand-in-hand. Effective recovery involves not only minimizing risk factors, but also enhancing protective factors within the individual and the individual's family, work, and community environment. This episode focuses on protective factors or things that can be enhanced in each area in order to prevent problems with depression, anxiety and/or addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental Health and Addiction issues often go hand-in-hand. Effective recovery involves not only minimizing risk factors, but also enhancing protective factors within the individual and the individual's family, work, and community environment. This episode focuses on risk factors or things that can be eliminated/minimized/addressed in each area in order to prevent problems with depression, anxiety and/or addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relapse prevention is similar across most populations, but there are some unique issues and challenges facing people in recovery who have a criminal record. Learn how to identify and address these issues. In this episode, we will: Define relapse in terms of addiction as well as mental health Examine relapse prevention techniques Explore the unique psychological, interpersonal, and biological needs of the addicted offender Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do some people commit crimes repeatedly? Why does it feel like a revolving door for some people? Get answers to these questions and more in this presentation. Examine the parallels between addiction and criminal behavior. In this episode we will: Discuss benefits to both. Identify drawbacks to both. Describe what an effective, comprehensive re-integration model would look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people struggling with addictions also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Likewise, many people with depression or anxiety may have an addiction. We refer to this as a co-occurring disorder. Some people will try to argue that symptoms of depression and anxiety are caused by drug use, and once you are clean and sober those symptoms will go away. While this may be true for some, these symptoms that are still present in early recovery can cause a relapse. After all, how long will someone stay clean and sober if they are constantly depressed or anxious. Regardless of whether you self-medicated a mental health issue with your addiction, or your addiction caused your mental health issues, BOTH need to be addressed. In this episode wee will: Develop a broad biopsychosocial definition of co-occurring disorders. Learn about the reciprocal interaction between mental health, physical health and addiction. Discuss the multiple contributing factors of mood disorders to include physical issues and issues stemming from addictive behaviors. Explore ways to simultaneously address multiple disorders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people struggling with addictions also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Likewise, many people with depression or anxiety may have an addiction. We refer to this as a co-occurring disorder. Some people will try to argue that symptoms of depression and anxiety are caused by drug use, and once you are clean and sober those symptoms will go away. While this may be true for some, these symptoms that are still present in early recovery can cause a relapse. After all, how long will someone stay clean and sober if they are constantly depressed or anxious. Regardless of whether you self-medicated a mental health issue with your addiction, or your addiction caused your mental health issues, BOTH need to be addressed. In this episode wee will: Develop a broad biopsychosocial definition of co-occurring disorders. Learn about the reciprocal interaction between mental health, physical health and addiction. Discuss the multiple contributing factors of mood disorders to include physical issues and issues stemming from addictive behaviors. Explore ways to simultaneously address multiple disorders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people struggling with addictions also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Likewise, many people with depression or anxiety may have an addiction. We refer to this as a co-occurring disorder. Some people will try to argue that symptoms of depression and anxiety are caused by drug use, and once you are clean and sober those symptoms will go away. While this may be true for some, these symptoms that are still present in early recovery can cause a relapse. After all, how long will someone stay clean and sober if they are constantly depressed or anxious. Regardless of whether you self-medicated a mental health issue with your addiction, or your addiction caused your mental health issues, BOTH need to be addressed. In this episode wee will: Develop a broad biopsychosocial definition of co-occurring disorders. Learn about the reciprocal interaction between mental health, physical health and addiction. In this 3-part series, we will: Discuss the multiple contributing factors of mood disorders to include physical issues and issues stemming from addictive behaviors. Explore ways to simultaneously address multiple disorders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Triggers are those things that remind you of something else. There are triggers for depression, anxiety and addiction. In this episode we will: Define a trigger Define a craving Explore the concept of stimulus generalization Discuss the function of triggers Explore triggers in terms of mental health symptoms Explore how cravings can lead to obsessive thinking Review the stages of the recovery process Identify potential relapse triggers at each phase and appropriate interventions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Designer drugs are those that are lab created. Thousands exist and more are being created all the time. Unfortunately, there is no quality control or standardization process with these drugs, which are often made in back-room labs. In this episode we will: Define designer drugs. Review the effects of some of the most common designer drugs. Learn about resources to stay up to date on designer drugs. Identify which “designer drugs” may still be legal. Discuss ways of handling “legal” drug use in your programs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stimulants, Depressants and Hallucinogens are available by prescription, in over the counter medications and as illicit substances. Learn more about the effects of these types of drugs, how they impact your brain chemistry and signs and symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal. In this Episode, we will: Define stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens  Discuss their ◦ Mechanism of action ◦ Symptoms of intoxication ◦ Symptoms of withdrawal ◦ Short and long term effects ◦ Common street names  Explore the process of differential diagnosis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands of people are on medications to address mood and mental health disorders. Many people try one medication, and when it doesn't work, they feel hopeless. What they do not realize is that, since we cannot accurately measure the levels of neurochemicals in your brain, diagnosis and prescribing is part art, and part science. A variety of different chemical imbalances besides low serotonin can cause depressive symptoms, for example. In this episode we will discuss three common classes of medications: Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics, the neurotransmitters on which they are believed to work and the symptoms of insufficiency and excess of each of these neurotransmitters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever wonder what is going on when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Why is it that some people just seem naturally happier or more motivated or driven? In this episode we will take a closer look at some of the main neurochemicals responsible for mood, motivation, learning, libido and hunger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Medication assisted therapy is becoming a very hotly debated topic. Some of these medications block cravings or the "high," while others address the underlying mood and mental health issues that may be maintaining the addiction. In this episode we will examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of these medications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relapse means returning to a previous state. It is vital to understand that relapse does not just mean a return to addictive behaviors, nor does it mean just using. Relapses can happen in terms of people's mood, thinking patterns and behaviors. In actuality, a person's thinking patterns and behavior often become problematic long before they start showing symptoms of addiction or depression again. Some people call this return to old ways of thinking, behaving and feeling as "relapse warning signs" or "lapses." In my mind, it is actually the beginning of a relapse. That doesn't mean that the behaviors have to be continued to the point of using again. A relapse can stopped and corrected at any point. The earlier these old behaviors and ways of thinking are stopped, the less more likely the person is to stay healthy and happy. In this episode we will discuss ways to remain mindful in order to address any potential issues before they start impacting recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In addictive behaviors, triggers make you want to use and cravings are the repetitive thoughts reminding you over and over again that you want to use. We have triggers for just about everything. Some are obvious, like the sight of alcohol may trigger people to start craving a drink. Some are not so obvious, the impending anniversary of a loss may trigger a person to want to use alcohol or drugs to escape from the grief. In this presentation we will cover what triggers are, discuss ways to identify personal triggers and explore ways of dealing with triggers and cravings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In American society food is often associated with good times and happiness. Highly processed foods also have a significant impact on the neurochemicals in the brain. For millions of people eating becomes a coping mechanism of sorts. In this episode we will differentiate between over eating and food addiction, identify triggers and interventions for food addiction. This is a very cursory overview at a problem that is contributing to the high rates of obesity in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only recently have we begun to identify the huge impact that sex and pornography addiction have on people and their relationships. Like food addiction sex is something for which total abstinence may not be an appropriate goal. In this episode we will discuss how and why sex and /or pornography can develop into an addiction, explore interventions and identify other resources for people who are wanting to break their addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CoDependency is a term we throw around a lot, but the definition can be somewhat elusive. In this presentation we will examine the characteristics of someone with codependency; compare and contrast codependency with other addictions and propose avenues for interventions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices