Behavioral Health Today

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

Mental wellness is no longer just a plot twist—it’s the story itself. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon explore how our work overlaps with the films, TV shows, and music we consume, especially when it comes to mental health. We’ve both seen it move from punchline or surprise reveal to something central, human, even heroic. Think back to horror-movie “madness” in the 1970s and ’80s, then fast-forward to recent, more nuanced portrayals in Silver Linings Playbook, 13 Reasons Why, or even The Thunderbolts. Media is changing quickly, and while greater visibility has brought many benefits, there are unintended downsides: everyday emotions get over-pathologized, diagnoses become identities, and awareness doesn’t always mean accuracy. Today we ask: when mental wellness goes mainstream, what improves, what blurs, and what should we watch closely?   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

Technology should serve the mission rather than take the lead. When guided by compassion, strategy, and inclusion, AI becomes a teammate instead of a threat. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon welcomes Sheetal Shah, founder and CEO of MettaHealth Partners, a consulting firm dedicated to helping public health and social service organizations navigate digital transformation with both compassion and efficiency. Sheetal’s career spans from the frontlines of a dengue epidemic in Brazil to leading digital health initiatives in Ethiopia, and even shaping national policy during the Obama Administration. With over two decades of experience supporting value-based care, Medicaid transformation, and health equity initiatives, she brings a global perspective grounded in deep expertise. Sheetal holds a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University, is pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and centers loving-kindness, or metta, in all aspects of her work. We are excited to have Sheetal on the show to explore how MettaHealth Partners is using AI and digital innovation to drive value-based, equitable transformation in public health by blending global insight, ethical technology, and compassionate strategy to help mission-driven organizations create meaningful and lasting impact.   For more information about MettaHealth Partners, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com For more information about their AI Digital Learning Series, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/training-ai-25 For more information about MetttaHealth Partners and their services, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/services If you are interested in contacting MettaHealth Parterns, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/contact Connect with Sheetal Shah on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheetalshahmph

Ketamine creates the space to see your truth, but its integration that transforms that truth into lasting change. In this episode, host Peter Fenger is joined by Christi Myers, Founder and CEO of Flow Integrative®, a pioneering Ketamine Infusion center focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy. With nearly 20 years of experience as a paramedic, Christi has served in high-impact roles, from working with the Department of Defense to educating the next generation of EMS professionals as a faculty member and assistant director of Emergency Medical Services at Victor Valley College. Her personal journey through PTSD and the emotional toll of frontline work inspired her to build Flow Integrative®, a center dedicated to destigmatizing psychedelic medicine and reimagining mental healthcare. Under her leadership, Flow has become a national model for employer-driven ketamine treatment, offering a trauma-informed, dual-modality approach that integrates both medical and mental health care. In today’s conversation, we explore how Ketamine Infusion Therapy offers a unique, action-oriented path to healing. We’ll dive into what makes Flow’s model different, the critical role of integration, and how this work is reshaping how we think about emotional well-being, trauma, and treatment access.   For more information about Flow Integrative and their ketamine clinic, please visit: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com For more information about ketamine protocol, physician training, and practice integration, please visit: https://flowintegrative.org/services For more information about ketamine infusion process and FAQs, please visit: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/faq/ For more information on what to expect, please visit the Flow Integrative Blog: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/blog/ Connect with Flow Integrative on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/getfikd/ Connect with Flow Integrative on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flow-integrative-psychedelic-wellness/?viewAsMember=true Connect with Flow Integrative on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GetFIKd/

Float therapy isn’t an escape—it’s a return: to your body, your breath, and your baseline. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon speaks with Dr. Katelyn Lehman, a pioneering psychologist and founder of Quantum Clinic, a Los Angeles-based wellness center at the forefront of heart-brain coherence and nervous system healing. Recognized by Goop, the LA Times, NBC, and Beverly Hills Times, Dr. Lehman is leading a movement of radical reconnection—bridging science and spirituality to transform how we heal. Her clinic blends floatation therapy, biofeedback, and coherence training to offer powerful, preventative mental health care. Together, we explore her journey from political and cultural psychology to founding Quantum Clinic, the therapeutic power of deep rest, how this model supports trauma recovery and psychedelic integration, and why she believes the future of mental health lies in stillness, safety, and self-awareness.   For more information about Quantum Clinic, please visit: https://www.quantumclinic.com/ For more information about Quantum Clinic services, please visit: https://www.quantumclinic.com/wellness-services-los-angeles Connect with Quantum Clinics on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@quantumclinic Connect with Quantum Clinics on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/quantumclinicusa/ Connect with Quantum Clinics on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/quantumclinicusa Connect with Quantum Clinics on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantumclinicusa For articles and thought leadership by Dr. Katelyn Lehman, please visit: https://drklehman.medium.com Connect with Dr. Katelyn Lehman on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynlehman/

Overdose prevention starts before the crisis, with compassion, planning, and real-world tools that save lives upstream. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Jorge Petit and Leah Harris from Zero Overdose, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing overdose deaths through education, empowerment, and harm reduction. Dr. Jorge Petit, Strategy and Development Officer at Zero Overdose, brings over 30 years of experience in community and public psychiatry, advocating for people impacted by mental health and substance use. He has led major initiatives at Coordinated Behavioral Care and Beacon Health Options, and is the founder of Quality Healthcare Solutions. Leah Harris, a Trainer at Zero Overdose, draws on two decades of experience as a speaker and advocate, along with her own lived experience with substance use and recovery. She’s worked with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, NASMHPD, and PEERS to advance trauma-informed, person-centered approaches. Together, Jorge and Leah introduce the Overdose Safety Planning Specialist Training—a transformative program that equips providers, peers, and loved ones with the skills to assess and reduce overdose risks. Through frameworks, roleplay, and harm reduction strategies, the training empowers people to meet individuals where they are, without shame or stigma. We’ll explore why this training is making waves across healthcare systems, how it centers lived experience, and why overdose prevention must be everyone’s responsibility, from parents and providers to communities at large.   For more information about Zero Overdose, please visit: https://zerooverdose.org For more information about upcoming trainings and events, please visit: https://zerooverdose.org/services/ Connect with Zero Overdose on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/zerooverdose/ Connect with Zero Overdose on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-overdose/ Connect with Zero Overdose on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ZeroOverdoseOrg Connect with Zero Overdose on X at: https://twitter.com/zerooverdoseorg

The legacy of these 300+ episodes isn’t just insight, it’s connection, courage, and a trail of conversations that mattered. In this special episode, Producer Peter Fenger turns the spotlight toward our very own host of Behavioral Health Today, Dr. Graham Taylor. Over the past five years, Graham has guided listeners through more than 300 episodes, creating space for honesty, healing, and human connection. His voice has become a trusted presence on the show, and his work in the field, whether as a clinician in Honolulu, founder of a nonprofit connecting clients to pro-bono therapy, or developer of test prep programs for aspiring professionals—has touched lives in countless ways. While Graham will be stepping back from his regular role on the podcast, this isn’t goodbye. The door remains open, and we know this won’t be the last time we collaborate. Today, we pause to reflect on the journey so far: the conversations that moved us, the lessons we’ll carry, and the heart behind the work. Join us as we celebrate the impact of this podcast, and the person who's helped shape its soul.   For more information about Behavioral Health Today Podcast and our episode archive, please visit: http://www.triadhq.com/bht 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

College was once promised as a path to security, but for millions, it became the gateway to lifelong debt. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Sharlee Dixon and Peter Fenger unpack the heavy toll of student loan debt, an issue that now affects nearly 1 in 5 American adults and fuels ongoing political debate. For decades, higher education has been hailed as the great equalizer, a launchpad for upward mobility and financial stability. But for 45 million Americans, that dream comes with a staggering price tag. With U.S. student loan debt now topping $1.7 trillion, the impact stretches far beyond individual bank accounts, delaying homeownership, family planning, and career fulfillment while widening racial, gender, and generational wealth gaps. Sharlee and Peter explore how debt has reshaped not just personal futures but the structure of society itself. They also examine the intersections of the pandemic, shifting government policy, and the consequences of limited financial literacy. This episode asks a deeper question: What is student loan debt really costing us, not just in dollars, but in opportunity, equity, and well-being?   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

The right career isn’t just about what you can do—it’s about what truly fits. It’s about alignment, energy, and authenticity. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon welcomes career coach and entrepreneur Shell Mendelson, whose mission is to help neurodivergent individuals—especially those with ADHD—find work that sparks joy, plays to their strengths, and supports their unique needs. With over 30 years of experience and a background in counseling, Shell has guided hundreds of clients toward careers that don’t just make sense on paper, but feel right in practice. Having navigated her own career transformation and built a successful international business, Shell brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her work. Her approach goes beyond personality tests and resumes—it’s a deep, reflective process that helps people reconnect with their interests, values, and purpose. Join us as we explore Shell’s powerful method for building career clarity, overcoming challenges, and reclaiming confidence—so neurodivergent professionals can thrive not just at work, but in life.   For more information about Your Next Move Masterclass, please visit: https://passiontocareer.com/your-next-move-master-class/ For more information about the fillable Ebook “Unlock Your Career Path: A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens” by Shell Mendelson, please visit: https://a93f86-3.myshopify.com/products/fillable-pdf For more information about Shell Mendelson and her ADHD Career Coaching, please visit: https://passiontocareer.com If you are interested in becoming an affiliate and help others find their career path, please visit: https://passiontocareer.com/affiliate-program/ Connect with Shell on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/shell_mendelson/ Connect with Shell on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-coaching-with-shell Connect with Shell on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CareerCoachingwithShell/

This episode goes beyond fitness, it’s about cultivating flexibility, enhancing communication, and showing up fully in life when the world hasn’t always made room for you to succeed. Dr. Graham Taylor sits down with Eric Chessen, founder of Autism Fitness and a trailblazer in adaptive fitness programming for individuals on the autism spectrum. With more than 20 years of experience supporting neurodiverse athletes, Eric created the PAC Profile—a distinctive framework that integrates physical, adaptive, and cognitive assessments to design truly meaningful fitness programs. Eric’s work uniquely bridges exercise science and behavioral strategies, providing parents, educators, and professionals with practical tools to help individuals with autism develop strength, confidence, and greater independence. Through his comprehensive training and certification programs, Eric has empowered hundreds of professionals worldwide to make fitness accessible, effective, and impactful for this community. Join us as we explore the origins of Autism Fitness, Eric’s innovative approach to merging physical fitness with behavioral learning, and the profound role adaptive fitness plays in enhancing independence and quality of life.   For more information about Autism Fitness and Eric Chessen, please visit: https://www.autismfitness.com For more information about Autism Fitness Pro Certification, please visit: https://www.autismfitness.com/Level1 For more information about Inclusive Fitness, please visit: https://inclusivefitness.com Connect with Autism Fitness on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theautismfitness/ Connect with Autism Fitness on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/TheAutismFitness