Behavioral Health Today

Helping people help people has always been at the heart of what we do, and reaching 400 episodes is only possible because of you, our listeners. In this milestone episode of BHT Bytes, host Peter Fenger and co-host Sharlee Dixon pause to reflect on the journey so far: where we began, how the show has evolved, and the memories that have shaped us along the way. From producing to hosting, from weekly conversations to live summits, the podcast has grown alongside the larger Triad mission to serve the behavioral and mental health community. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just joined recently, this celebration is about gratitude, growth, and the ongoing mission to help people help people.   Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/ Follow us on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@behavioralhealthtoday Follow us on Threads at: https://www.threads.net/@behavioralhealthtoday Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ

Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy gives the inner child a chance to finally be heard and healed. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Judi Vitale, a writer, speaker, and empowerment coach with more than 30 years of experience helping people discover their inner strength and live authentically. Judi’s horoscopes have been featured in Marie Claire, Redbook, Seventeen.com, and Tarot.com. She is certified by the NCGR Professional Astrologers’ Alliance and combines astrology, mindfulness, and transpersonal coaching in her work. Through workshops, retreats, and private sessions, she helps clients reduce stress, increase productivity, and reconnect with the divine spark within. Together, Sharlee and Judi explore the transformative power of Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, discussing how this unique approach supports the mind-body connection, heals unresolved trauma, rewrites limiting beliefs, and fosters deep emotional freedom.   For more information about Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy and certification, please visit: https://www.wellness-institute.org For more information about the 6-Day Online Hypnotherapy Certification Training, please visit: https://www.wellness-institute.org/six-day-hypnotherapy-certification-training For more information about Introduction to Hypnosis Training 2-Day Course, please visit: https://www.wellness-institute.org/hypnotherapy-training/introduction-to-hypnosis For more information about Judi Vitale, please visit: https://www.cosmic-gps.com/services Connect with Judi on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/judivitale/ Connect with Judi on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judi-vitale-780ab81

Healing babies begins with healing families. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon welcomes Tara Sundem, Co-Founder of Hushabye Nursery and a nationally recognized advocate for neonatal wellness. With over 27 years in neonatal nursing—18 as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner—Tara has devoted her career to transforming care for substance-exposed infants and their parents. Specializing in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), she created the HOPPE program at Hushabye Nursery to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support for pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Named a Health Care Hero in 2021, Tara is leading a movement to shift neonatal care from crisis management to family-centered healing. Together, Sharlee and Tara explore the growing crisis of substance-exposed newborns, the barriers families face in traditional healthcare systems, and how Hushabye Nursery’s innovative model reduces reliance on medication, integrates behavioral health care, and nurtures lasting recovery for both babies and parents.   For more information about Hushabye Nursery, please visit: https://hushabyenursery.org Watch the TED Talk How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime, Presented by Nadine Burke Harris: https://youtu.be/95ovIJ3dsNk?si=W--SV3EEMo_6PakZ Connect with Hushabye Nursery by calling ( 480) 628-7500. Connect with Hushabye Nursey on Instgram at: https://www.instagram.com/hushabye.nursery/ Connect with Hushabye Nursery on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hushabyenursery Connect with Hushabye Nursery on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/hushabyenursery/ Connect with Hushabye Nursery on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvvCDQHtvr9wzaORoCE8vrA

True abundance begins when we stop chasing and start embracing who we already are. In this episode, host Peter Fenger sits down with Dr. Bob Rosen, a world-renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and expert in personal and organizational transformation. Bob holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and teaches at George Washington University’s School of Medicine. As founder of Healthy Companies, he has advised more than 500 CEOs across 60 countries. His insights have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. He is also the author of several bestselling books, including Grounded and Conscious. His newest work, “Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life,” explores how fear-based attachments limit us and how letting go can lead to greater freedom, joy, and purpose. In this conversation, Bob shares practical steps to move from attachment to aspiration and offers powerful lessons on living and leading with greater fulfillment.   For more information about “Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life” by Dr. Bob Rosen, please visit: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detach-bob-rosen/1146250480;jsessionid=D4A0ECF45A8646F991B8CD065E29CB80.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=9781637746455 Discover more about Dr. Bob Rosen & Take a Quiz to find your attachment style, please visit: https://www.bobrosen.com View other books by Dr. Bob Rosen at: https://www.bobrosen.com/books To contact Dr. Bob Rosen, email at:  bob@bobrosen.com Connect with Dr. Bob Rosen on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobrosen/ Connect on Instagram at: http://instagram.com/bobrosen4 Connect on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bob.rosen.560 Connect on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/@HealthyCompaniesIntl

Wellness is more than weight, and health is more than numbers. In this episode of BHT Bytes, host Sharlee Dixon is joined by Peter Fenger to unpack the complex intersections of diet culture, body image, and mental health. From the rise of weight-loss fads in the ’80s and ’90s to the emergence of body positivity and fat visibility movements, we trace how cultural messages about size and health have shaped generations. The conversation dives into the psychological toll of diet culture—covering disordered eating, negative self-image, and the mental health struggles tied to societal ideals. We also explore the new wave of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound—hailed by some as groundbreaking, but raising critical questions about identity, stigma, and long-term impact. Together, Sharlee and Peter break down the science, the stigma, and the shifting narratives of weight and wellness in today’s world.   Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/ Follow us on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@behavioralhealthtoday Follow us on Threads at: https://www.threads.net/@behavioralhealthtoday Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ

How much influence does your body really have on your happiness? More than you might think. Small, science-backed shifts in the way we move, sit, or shape our environment can unlock profound changes in mood, creativity, and wellbeing. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Janice Kaplan, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and former Editor-in-Chief of Parade. Janice has devoted her career to exploring what makes us happier and more fulfilled. Her book “The Gratitude Diaries” became a national sensation, and her newest work, What Your Body Knows About Happiness, offers a groundbreaking look at the mind–body connection. With a career spanning bestselling books, award-winning journalism, and more than 30 primetime TV specials, Janice has interviewed world leaders, Hollywood icons, and leading researchers—all in pursuit of deeper insights into human happiness. Together, we explore how the body shapes the mind just as much as the mind shapes the body, and how simple daily choices can open the door to greater joy and creativity. For more information about “What Your Body Knows About Happiness,” by Janice Kaplan, please visit: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-your-body-knows-about-happiness-janice-kaplan/1146176802 Discover more about Janice Kaplan: https://www.janicekaplan.com Explore her other bestselling books: https://www.janicekaplan.com/books-2/

Most people have experienced what Mallary Tenore Tarpley calls “the middle place,” even if they never had a name for it. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon talks with Mallary, author of “SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery”. In her deeply personal and powerfully researched debut, Mallary blends her own story of anorexia and grief, beginning with the loss of her mother, with interviews from experts and survivors. Together, these narratives reveal the often-overlooked realities of recovery. Her concept of the middle place reframes recovery as a living, evolving journey rather than a fixed destination. In addition to her work as an author, Mallary is a journalism and writing professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other major publications. In our conversation, she shares how recovery can be shaped by grief, personal growth, and the courage to live between sickness and full healing.   For more information about “SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery,” by Mallary Tenore Tarply, please visit: https://bookshop.org/p/books/slip-life-in-the-middle-of-eating-disorder-recovery-mallary-tenore-tarpley/21872676?ean=9781668035016 For more information about Mallary, please visit: https://www.mallarytenoretarpley.com For more articles and writing by Mallary, please visit: https://mallary.substack.com Connect with Mallary on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mallarytenoretarpley/ Connect with Mallary on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallary-tenore-6719484/ Connect with Mallary on X at: https://x.com/mallarytenore

When mental health is integrated into primary care, patients are less likely to fall through the cracks. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon speaks with Erik Osland, co-founder and CEO of evolvedMD, a company redefining how behavioral health is delivered. With a background as a corporate leader turned serial entrepreneur, Erik has built and led multiple successful healthcare ventures, including a clinical lab that was acquired by a major diagnostic company in 2020. At evolvedMD, Erik is focused on bringing mental health care directly into primary care settings, making services more accessible, collaborative, and effective. He and Sharlee discuss the personal story that inspired the company, the challenges of our fragmented healthcare system, and how evolvedMD’s integrated model is improving outcomes for patients with both simple and complex needs. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in healthcare innovation, behavioral health, and the future of whole-person care.   For more information about evolvedMD, please visit: https://www.evolvedmd.com If you would like to contact Erik Osland, please email at: erik@evolvedmd.com If you would like to connect with Erik on Linkedin, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-osland-0a41b7133 Connect with evolvedMD on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/evolved_md Connect with evolvedMD on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolvedmd Connect with evolvedMD on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/evolvedMD  

When we treat minds, bodies, and communities together, we don’t just reduce harm, we build hope. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Dr. Traci Sweet, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Holon Health. With more than 30 years of experience driving innovation in behavioral health and substance use treatment, Traci has been a leading force behind integrated care models that truly serve underserved populations. From launching the first integrated SUD treatment program at Catasys, to developing evidence-based curricula for incarcerated individuals and DUI programs, Traci has spent her career breaking down barriers to care. Her work has consistently focused on meeting people where they are—with respect, with science, and with systems that work. At Holon Health, she’s helping lead a systemic shift, one that seamlessly combines primary care, substance use treatment, and harm reduction into a collaborative, forward-thinking model. Holon is challenging outdated norms, bridging the divide between healthcare and the criminal justice system, and using technology to expand access and build trust. We're thrilled to have Traci on the show to explore how Holon is transforming what care looks like, and what recovery can truly mean.   For more information about Holon Health, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com If you would like to refer a client, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com/client-referrals/ For more information about partnering with Holon Health, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com/courts/ Connect with Holon Health on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holonhealth/ Connect with Holon Health on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holonhealthcare Connect with Holon Health on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HolonHealth Connect with Holon Health on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holonhealth/

Belonging, feedback, and trust aren’t soft skills. They’re the foundation of strong, high-performing teams. In this episode, Peter Fenger talks with Vanessa Druskat, associate professor of Organizational Behavior and Management at the University of New Hampshire and a leading expert on team performance and leadership. Vanessa is the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest, a practical guide to creating team cultures that foster motivation, collaboration, and results. Her best-selling article in Harvard Business Review, coauthored with Steven Wolff, has been featured in five of HBR’s most valued collections. Vanessa has advised leaders at more than a dozen Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, and her award-winning research continues to shape how organizations build emotionally intelligent teams. Together, Peter and Vanessa explore what makes a team emotionally intelligent—from the norms that create belonging and trust to the habits and feedback systems that help teams thrive in today’s evolving workplace.   For more information about “The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest” by Vanessa Druskat, please visit: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-emotionally-intelligent-team-building-collaborative-groups-that-outperform-the-rest-vanessa-urch-druskat/20207200?ean=9781647824877&next=t For more information about Vanessa Druskat, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com For more information about other books and publications written by Vanessa, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/books For resources for fostering emotionally intelligent teams, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/resources Watch Vanessa speak on Team El for TEDx Portsmouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wcdXXgG2rQ