Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton

Emotionally Focused Therapy is based on clear, research-based conceptualizations of individual growth, health and dysfunction. It is particularly useful in couples therapy, and as Dr. Izmirian explains, allows clients to explore and change strategies and interventions in a supportive and respectful setting. ETF has been validated by over thirty years of empirical research.

Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer grew up rational on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Asking the question why led him to rabbinical school. His love of humanity pushed him out of organized religion and to run Religion-Outside-The-Box, an internet-based congregation of 1,000’s. He loves living in Portland, Oregon with his partner and their two children.

Some people with ADHD have fewer symptoms as they age, but some adults continue to have major symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness, and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger.

Brittani Warrick is a producer and social media strategist behind some of music's biggest names, including her aunt, singer Dionne Warwick. Warrick uses her savvy and power in media to open conversations about mental health, what wellness really looks like, and how maddening it is to navigate the mental health system. An inspiring inter-generational conversation with one of America's most promising young advocates.

Adam Stern was a student at a state medical school before being selected to train as a psychiatry resident at one of the most prestigious programs in the country. His new and initially intimidating classmates were high achievers from the Ivy League and other elite universities around the nation.  In his memoir, Stern pulls back the curtain on the intense and emotionally challenging lessons he and his fellow doctors learned while studying the human condition, and ultimately, the value of connection.  In this interview, Stern combines his clear-eyed concern for the field of psychiatry as well as poignant memories about his residency at Harvard.  A must-listen for anyone considering psychiatry.

Why is it so hard to set boundaries? Oftentimes, it signifies a deeper value set. If you’re the type that always wants to be there for people you care about, it’s because you value relationships. If you’re the one at work who says yes to every project, it reflects how much you value learning. But when we only say yes, we might be missing chances to invest our time and energy in ways that help us take our values and our goals to new levels.

Dr. Jim Polo talks about somatic disorder; characterized by an extreme focus on physical symptoms— such as pain or fatigue — that causes major emotional distress and problems functioning. You may or may not have another diagnosed medical condition associated with these symptoms, but your reaction to the symptoms is not normal. What to do when the body goes offline due to psychological suffering.

Ivan Maisel is well-known as one of the country's experts on college football. But the terrain of grief was something he'd never explored in-depth until the suicide of his son, Max. Maisel's memoir, 'I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye', gives voice to the hundreds and thousands of families who have lost someone to suicide and explores in intimate detail the journey one takes in order to accept grieving as an act of love.

Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. While emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, those who possess the inborn characteristics of EI have more meaningful relationships, excel in most work situations, and report easier times managing the complexities of work/life balance. How do you learn to understand, interpret and respond to the emotions of others if you lack emotional intelligence? Dr. Jim Polo weighs in.

Post-traumatic growth describes the positive psychological change experienced due to struggling with highly challenging, highly stressful life circumstances. Many people who have gone through traumatic experiences relate how the experience deepened their beliefs, relationships, or spiritual understanding. Dr. Jim Polo talks about whether post-traumatic growth is possible during the pandemic and what we can do to be open to the possibility.

During the course of researching, producing, and reporting on this series, Sheila Hamilton's nephew died, presumably of an overdose.  Dr. Jim Polo talks about the complicated grief created by the death of an addict.

How do you begin to get help for a person who is addicted to a substance? Where do you turn for evidence-based, trauma-informed care? Fora Health's Kevin Mahon and Nerissa Heller detail the steps involved in in-patient, outpatient, and remote treatment, along with the pathways to coverage.

The pandemic has been difficult for people in recovery. There has been a thirty percent increase in deaths by opioids and a sharp uptick in the number of people who are using substances to cope with the isolation, pain, and loneliness of quarantine. Dr. Amit Shah talks about the public response to the epidemic and why one person who believes in the person's recovery can make a difference.

Dr. Eowyn Rieke is a primary care physician who saw how the opioid epidemic was overshadowing any kind of preventative care she could offer her patients. She specializes in the treatment of addiction and offers her patients medications to help treat the addictions. In this episode, Dr. Rieke breaks down addictions by substance and details the evidence for using medications to help treat various addictions.

Dr. Paul Conti is a board-certified Psychiatrist and the Author of Trauma: the Invisible Epidemic. Imagine, if you will, a disease―one that has only subtle outward symptoms but can hijack your entire body without notice, one that transfers easily between parent and child, one that can last a lifetime if untreated. According to Dr. Paul Conti, this is exactly how society should conceptualize trauma: as an out-of-control epidemic with a potentially fatal prognosis. Dr. Conti discusses the role of trauma in addiction and substance use.

Kelly Williams Brown is the NYTimes bestselling author of Adulting, a charismatic and charming redhead whose manners and signature dresses evoke another kinder century when people's manners were still intact. Kelly is also a person who attempted suicide after the worst 700 days of her life. We can be polar opposite things, whipsmart and suicidal, not doing well and extremely talented, hopeful, and perseverating around all of our failures. Kelly talks openly about how the wrong medicine and a string of failures led her to the very worst thing and how folding small stars into tiny shapes (and other crafts) saved her life.

Actor, Director, and Author Rose McGowan is synonymous with the Me Too Movement and a global awakening regarding the insidious nature of sexual harassment in film, corporate America, and politics. She was awarded Time Magazine's Person of the Year for speaking out about sexual assault and the ways in which Harvey Weinstein intimidated, coerced, and tracked his victims.  McGowan is the NYTimes bestselling author of the memoir, Brave, and has turned her attention and energy toward cultural resets and personal well-being.

The opioid crisis represents one of the greatest national public health emergencies of our time, ravaging communities throughout this country for decades. And unlike COVID, there is no vaccine on the way; there will never be a “silver bullet” for this intricate problem. But SafeRx has developed a solution to a previously unaddressed dimension of the crisis that is responsible for thousands of fatal prescription overdoses every year…the combination of opioids with alcohol. The opioid crisis is fueled by alcohol.  We talk with Neurologist Dr. Michael Presti about a breakthrough medicine designed to prevent the overdose epidemic.

Part two of our conversation with Dr. Dre Irazarry Md, and Cristina Olivette Spencer, a trans family coach, author, and consultant.

Simone Biles was expected to be the talk of the 2021 Olympics because of her history of dominance in women's gymnastics. Instead, she became the talk of the world by drawing a line when it came to her willingness to perform at less than peak mental capacity. Dr. Jim Polo, "It was a no heard around the world."

Think your child might be trans? Cristina Olivetti Spencer and Dr. Dre Irizarry, MD provide a compassionate, realistic view of what's ahead for parents of self-Identifying trans youth. The number of young people seeking clinical services appears to be growing as well. A major clinic in the United Kingdom saw a more than 300 percent increase in referrals over the past three years. In the U.S., where youth gender clinics are somewhat newer—40 or so are scattered across the country—solid numbers are harder to come by. Anecdotally, though, clinicians are reporting large upticks in new referrals, and waiting lists can stretch to five months or longer.

To millions of readers around the world, Dr. Wayne Dyer was the beloved “Father of Motivation”―but to Serena Dyer and her seven siblings, he was simply “Dad.” When he died suddenly in 2015, the family was blindsided by grief and felt unprepared to navigate life’s challenges and conflicts without his guidance. The experience launched Serena and her sister Saje on an adventure from loss to understanding as they came to realize and metabolize their father’s teachings with a new urgency, intimacy, and power as they applied them to their lives. As their journey unfolded, they realized their father’s wisdom―“The Knowing”―was embedded in their DNA … as it is for all of us.

Jodi wrote Beyond Well, describing her transition back to work as a missile re-entering the atmosphere too quickly. Many of us have the feeling that we are not quite ready to re-emerge after a year or more of quarantine. Dr. Jim Polo provides guidance and empathy for those who are not quite ready for the new normal.

In his thirty years as a special operations officer, Dan Schilling  learned multiple skills to keep himself and his crew alive in the most dangerous situations. Now, Schilling shares these secrets with  you and those you love.

Dr. Jim Polo talks about the impulses and implications of jealousy, an emotion that is primarily driven by low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth. How do we work with this emotion if it is giving us vital information about our lives? Listen in.

Dr. Jim Polo takes us beyond the stereotypes of the sterile offices and fainting couches to what really goes on in therapy, from the client's perspective and the perspective of the psychiatrist.

Dr. Jim Polo talks about data regarding the thoughts and views of people who are vaccine resistant as well as effective ways that we can have the conversation about our own choice to vaccinate.

We continue our conversation with Logan Lynn, musician, entrepreneur, and creator of the dot gay website, where young people hoping to learn more information about coming out and living their truth can network, socialize and learn more about gender and gender identity.

Logan Lynn is an American musician, writer, producer, filmmaker, television personality, mental health advocate, and LGBT activist. Since 1998 he has released nine studio albums and became the spokesperson for the .gay domain. Lynn's childhood was scarred by sexual abuse and trauma and by his early teens, Lynn turned to drugs to cope. He was homeless before finally being introduced to a therapist who said, "What happened to you?", helping Lynn untangle decades of unhealthy coping mechanisms. This is a riveting two-part series on recovery, music, and becoming your own life mentor.

Fawn Preston and Angel Prater founded AWARE Consulting Group to help people and organizations offer truly trauma informed approaches to service delivery and crisis intervention. Every time we make a decision, interpret a conversation, or close a business deal, we are doing it through our own lens of trauma. Learning to be trauma aware is fundamental to an organization's success.

As kids make their way back to in person learning, there is trepidation and fear among those kids who were the subject of bullying. Dr. James Polo offers a different perspective, "We will never end bullying. It is imbedded in the social construct that some people will use cruelty and teasing to improve their ranking." Polo says. "What we can do is teach our kids to be aware of bullying, how to report it when they see others doing it, and how not to become the victims of bullies. "

Entertainers were hit particularly hard during the pandemic. If you make your living in front of people, your income and your profession were put on hold. Storm Large dealt with the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic with honesty, vulnerability and a difficult question, "If I'm not performing in front of thousands of people, who am I?"  The answer revealed itself in the form of live-streamed pajama sessions, honest conversations with others about their mental health and well-being, and the spark of genius that keeps us coming back for more, more, more from Ms. Large

It is a lot easier to be angry at someone than to tell them you are hurt. Anger is a readily accessible emotion and its impact on our bodies and our societies is evident, especially in a year of stress, uncertainty and social tension.  Dr. Jim Polo talks about how to recognize, moderate and manage anger.

Steven Wolt rejoins us to bring us up to date on Veritus INC., a fully confidential and evidence based recovery program for healthcare workers, lawyers and professionals.

Americans are under tremendous stress; economically, physically and spiritually. How does one understand when he/she/they is coping versus on the verge of a mental breakdown? The line between sanity and mental  illness and how to cope with early symptoms in this episode with Dr. Jim Polo.

There’s no guidebook for parenting during a pandemic. Sheltering at home means being yourself in front of your kids, all day every day, without the release of school or the office. Sad House is one mother’s guide to stumbling through a season of loss with humor, creativity, and hope. When Laura Stanfill’s best friend was killed by the virus in April 2020, her daughters experienced her grief at close range. They asked questions. They brought her treats. And when she didn’t stop crying, they admitted frustration and begged her to be happy. Over the next several months, with storytelling and art, gardening and games, Laura found her imperfect way through deep grief—just in time to weather a second major loss. Through Laura experimenting with her own creativity, Sad House offers a guide for family resilience, growth, and how small, shared joys can sustain a household in difficult times.

Researchers estimate as many as ten percent of people who contract Covid 19 do not make a quick recovery. Many of these Covid long haulers are still suffering months later with debilitating fatigue, brain fog, gastrointestinal illness and psychological disturbances. Christina Preston-Beard discusses how dramatically her life has been altered by COVID-19.

Families have adapted to Covid-19 whether they wanted to or not. Many remote workers who hated the isolation in the beginning would now prefer to work from home. Many children, who loathed the idea of staying home are now worried about going back to school. How do you prepare your family for the psychological flexibility needed for this next stage of Covid-19? Dr. Jim Polo is here to help.

Chris Colin is a reporter for the NYTimes the New Yorker, and Wired Magazine. His book OFF, The Day The Internet Died is a comical picture book about a day when all the screens went dark. We all dream about a life free of scrolling or tweeting, but Colin imagines what an analog world might actually look like and why our attachments to our screens has created a new kind of addiction and dependence.

Unemployment can be one of the greatest stressors in a person's life. Combined with a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, it's no wonder that a record number of Americans are reporting anxiety and toxic stress. Jenny Foss, the CEO of JobJenny talks about the steps we should take now to be job ready and the psychological framework it takes to survive unemployment.

Jarvis Sam is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Nike, one of the world's most respected and recognized brands. Sam talks about the racist attacks against Asian Americans, the four steps every company should take to actually integrate true diversity and inclusion into everyday values, and his own mental health practice for remaining optimistic, balanced, and passionate about changing the world.

This Beyond Well was created from our Chasing Chaos interview with Andrew Shayde, a fan favorite on the hit Discovery series, Naked and Afraid. Andrew came out as a gay man to his Baptist parents, traversed the wild ride of the Amazing Race and then decided to test himself even further by stripping down and enduring the African wild. The hardest part? Overcoming the fear, sleep deprivation and psychological distress of extreme conditions. Andrew's five steps for survival are genius.

We had such a phenomenal response to our video series, "Chasing Chaos," we are bringing you the conversation to our friends at Beyond Well. Courtenay Hameister is the author of Okay, Fine, Whatever, and the former host of Live Wire Radio. Courtenay spent one year challenging herself with the most frightening things she could think of in an attempt to confront her anxiety with hilarious and insightful results. Then, a pandemic hit, forcing everyone to examine their coping methods.

Stephanie Thornton Plymale lived in a car with her mentally ill mother, became a ward of the state of California and an abused foster child, endured multiple car wrecks and physical traumas, and is one of the most optimistic, cheerful people I know. How do we bounce forward from trauma? How do we work with the anxiety and fear in our body that is created by trauma in order to understand and assimilate what happened to us? For Stephanie, it was investigating the onset of her mother's multiple personality disorder and realizing the extent of intergenerational trauma. American Daughter is above all, a book about hope.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. Seasonal affective disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. Treatment includes light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy, and medications.

Joy Scott is the CEO of Scott Public Relations and a lifelong spiritual leader. Scott's book, Magenta Nation, turns the reader's attention toward the disastrous political divide in the United States and offers a clear communications strategy toward unification. Scott's book was written before President Biden's inaugural speech on Unity, but the themes and suggestions are similarly urgent; we must learn to be able to disagree without hating one another. How do we begin? Listen in.

What if 2021 is the year you could really make the changes  in your life? Dr. Jim Polo talks about the steps that are  necessary to make resolutions effective, and whether  psychology behind procrastination.

Margo Fowkes turned her enormous grief over the death of her son into a global force for healing. An extraordinary interview with a mother, entrepreneur and activist about the communal nature of grieving.

Loneliness is now a major health crisis, as lethal as smoking fifteen cigarettes per day. Let us sing, paint, walk, read and connect our way out of loneliness and relearn the art of being alone. Dr. Jim Polo offers tips for combatting loneliness during quarantine.

It is a time of great suffering for many people. Self-reported surveys suggest 2/3 of Americans are experiencing severe depression and anxiety. But, if you are a family member of someone who is suffering, talking about mental health issues is extraordinarily charged and potentially dangerous. Dr. Jim Polo walks us through best practices for helping someone who is hurting emotionally.