

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
Counselors, coaches and sober companions help hundreds of thousands of people affected by Addictions and Mental Health issues each year. Learn about the current research and practical counseling tools to improve your skills and provide the best possible services. Counselor Toolbox targets counselors, coaches and companions, but can also provide useful counseling self-help tools for persons struggling with these issues and their loved ones. AllCEUs is an approved counseling continuing education provider for addiction and mental health counselors in most states. Counseling CEUs are available for each episode.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 16, 2026 • 1h 3min
1090-Revolutionary Discoveries in Schizophrenia Causes and Treatments
00:00 Intro & Schizophrenia Research Overview
00:11 Genetic and Environmental Foundations
00:31 Neurotransmitters and the Dopamine Hypothesis
01:56 Role of Stress and Trauma
03:32 Neurological Findings in Schizophrenia
06:59 Autoimmune Disorders and Inflammation
10:04 Inflammation & Immune System Impact
13:06 Stress Hypothesis and PTSD Link
15:44 Childhood Trauma and Brain Development
17:01 Physical Stress & Sleep Deprivation
17:59 HPA Axis, Cortisol, and Neurotoxicity
20:31 Hormonal Influences: Estrogen, Testosterone, Oxytocin
27:00 Testosterone Effects in Men & Women
31:02 PCOS, Testosterone & Psychosis Risk
34:39 Oxytocin's Role in Stress and Social Function
35:46 Gut Microbiome and Schizophrenia
38:42 Microbiome Imbalances and Supplementation
41:06 Diet, Blood Markers & Monitoring Insights
43:13 Wearable Tech & Digital Biomarkers
44:08 Medication Impacts & Side Effects
45:53 Sleep Disruption and Psychotic Symptoms
47:07 Deep Sleep, Memory & Inflammation
50:53 Sleep Architecture in Schizophrenia
53:01 Antipsychotics, Fatigue, and Motivation
54:25 Vagus Nerve & Parasympathetic System
55:28 Neuromodulation: Ultrasound & Alternatives
56:34 Key Takeaways: Stress, Inflammation, and Recovery
58:00 Q&A: Oxytocin Nasal Spray & New Therapies
59:09 Empowerment and Reducing Relapses
01:00:31 Menopause, Estrogen & Late-Onset Schizophrenia
01:01:31 GABA, Glutamate, and Brain Chemistry Recap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 2026 • 59min
1089-Exciting Treatments for PTSD_ New Ways to Heal your Trauma
00:00 Introduction & Overview of Emerging PTSD Treatments
00:31 EMDR: Gold Standard Trauma Processing
01:53 Who Benefits Most from EMDR
02:31 Cognitive Behavioral Therapies & CPT
03:23 CPT Techniques: Reframing Trauma
04:43 Benefits of CPT for PTSD Symptoms
05:17 Prolonged Exposure Therapy & VR Integration
06:16 Processing Memories with Wise Mind
07:27 Desensitization & Reducing Avoidance
09:05 Handling Triggers & Building Empowerment
10:38 Medications: SSRIs & Prazosin
11:57 Evaluating Medication vs Holistic Approaches
13:00 Psychedelics for PTSD: MDMA, Psilocybin, LSD
14:43 Mechanisms & Evidence for Psychedelic Therapy
17:01 Psilocybin: Neurogenesis and Mindfulness
18:10 Acceptance & Commitment Therapy with Psychedelics
19:33 LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy & Core Belief Change
21:21 Ego Dissolution & Brain Networks
22:12 Outcomes & Complex PTSD Treatment
23:39 Other Psychedelics & Their Status
24:39 Trauma Sensitive Yoga: Benefits & Caveats
25:48 Yoga for Mindfulness and Body Awareness
27:09 The Role of the Gut Microbiome in PTSD
28:36 Microbiome, Stress Response & Neuroinflammation
30:45 Balancing Gut Health to Aid Healing
31:48 Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Resetting the Stress System
33:04 Biofeedback & Strengthening Vagal Tone
35:04 Empowerment via Vagus Nerve Stimulation
37:36 Non-Invasive Vagal Stimulation Methods
39:21 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for PTSD
41:44 Sleep, Hyperarousal & PTSD
43:37 Addressing Sleep Apnea and PTSD Outcomes
45:01 Targeting Sleep for Better Recovery
46:07 Oxytocin Nasal Spray for Social Connection
47:01 Oxytocin for Reducing Fear and Withdrawal
48:43 Summary: Holistic Treatment Goals for PTSD
51:01 Physical, Interpersonal, and Emotional Tools
53:39 Cognitive and Environmental Strategies
55:25 Wrap Up: Empowerment and System Rebalancing
56:16 Q&A: Audience Questions & ECT Comparison
57:14 Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2, 2026 • 1h 1min
1088-Natural Ways To Beat Anxiety Without Taking Pills_ Holistic Healing
00:00 Introduction & Goals
01:00 Understanding Anxiety: Symptoms and Roots
03:30 Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn & Flop: The Stress Response
07:00 How Anxiety Affects Mind and Body
10:00 Chronic Anxiety & Stress Physiology
13:00 Traditional Treatments & Their Limits
16:00 Emerging Treatments: TMS, Ketamine, Esketamine
20:00 Vagus Nerve, Gut-Brain Axis & Inflammation
23:00 Microbiome, Peptides & Mood Regulation
27:00 Key Gut Peptides & Anxiety
31:00 Natural Ways to Boost Gut Health & Peptide Activity
36:00 Diet, Supplements, and Probiotics
41:00 Intermittent Fasting for Gut, Mood & Anxiety
48:00 Sleep: The Overlooked Intervention
51:00 Building a Better Sleep Routine
54:00 Holistic Approaches: Healing Body & Nervous System
56:00 Audience Q&A - Microbiome, Diet & Mood
58:00 Final Thoughts, Gradual Change & Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2025 • 1h 11min
1087-Revolutionary New Treatment Strategies for Depression
00:00 Welcome & Overview of Depression Treatments
00:16 Emerging Interventions Explored
00:45 Deep Dive: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
04:01 Effectiveness and Applications of TMS
06:02 Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression
07:49 Neuroimaging Insights & TMS for Older Adults
11:05 Advances in TMS Targeting and Integration
14:43 Anti-Inflammatory Approaches in Depression
20:41 Inflammation’s Role in Mood Regulation
25:14 Managing Depression: Exercise, Diet, and Lifestyle
27:37 The Power of Diet & Probiotics
32:02 Reducing Stress and Repairing the Nervous System
34:12 Gut Health and Mental Health Connection
40:48 Microbiome, Leaky Gut, and Mood
45:03 Prebiotics, Fermented Foods & Microbiome Support
46:00 Phytotherapy: Herbal Approaches to Depression
48:42 Ketamine & Esketamine for Rapid Relief
51:11 Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Depression
54:01 Routine, Light Therapy & Relaxation Strategies
55:04 Genomic Sequencing & Tailoring Treatment
56:26 Oxytocin, Chiropractic Care, and Vagus Nerve
59:59 Acupuncture & Innovative Nerve Stimulation
01:00:38 Conventional Checks: Hormones, Nutrition & Diagnosis
01:01:37 Why Depression Is Individualized
01:02:12 Importance of Holistic, Individual Approaches
01:02:35 Q&A: TMS for Substance-Related Brain Changes
01:04:02 Dietary Recommendations & Viewer Thanks
01:05:02 Therapy Protocols for TMS Clients
01:07:30 Exercise, Motivation & Client Engagement
01:08:25 Future Research and Alternative Medications
01:09:12 Closing Remarks & Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2025 • 1h 57min
1086-The Impact of Trauma on Each PIECE of Life
0:00 Physical Impact
19:00 Interpersonal Impact
38:00 Emotional Impact
57:00 Cognitive Impact
1:16:00 Environmental Impact
1:35:00 Spiritual Impact
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 2025 • 1h 3min
1085-Addressing Drug and Alcohol Related Brain Damage - Counselor Training
00:00 Introduction: Drug-Induced Brain Damage
01:19 Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Impacts
03:09 Alcohol’s Effect on the Brain and Body
04:19 Key Brain Regions Affected by Substances
07:22 Understanding Substance-Induced Brain Disorders
08:15 How Different Drugs Cause Brain Atrophy
08:56 Alcohol: Neurotoxicity and Deficiencies
10:59 Stimulants, Opioids, and Inhalants: Brain Impacts
14:23 Cannabis and Other Substances: Neurocognitive Effects
15:46 Substance Use, Symptoms, and Treatment Challenges
16:51 Hallucinogens and Long-term Perceptual Disturbances
20:01 Delirium and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
23:04 Thiamine Deficiency: Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
27:48 Diagnosing and Managing Alcohol-Related Brain Damage
31:02 Prevalence and Underdiagnosis of Brain Injury
34:39 Dementia Risks and Alcohol Consumption Guidelines
38:01 Healing the Brain: Recovery and Lifestyle Changes
42:01 Alcohol-Related Brain Disorders: Symptoms and Assessment
45:11 Treatment Options and Hope for Recovery
46:25 Vascular Dementia: Causes and Symptoms
49:28 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
53:01 Diagnosing FASD and Client Profiles
56:00 Treatment Challenges for FASD
58:07 FASD in Correctional and Clinical Settings
59:39 Summary: Risks and Considerations for Clinicians
01:00:26 Q&A and Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 2025 • 58min
1084 - How Are Nursing Homes Failing Addiction Patients in 2025?
Explore the alarming state of addiction care in nursing homes. Discover statistics revealing high rates of substance use disorders among patients. Learn about the challenges of medication management, highlighting risks of self-administration and diversion. Delve into the vulnerabilities present in care settings that can lead to relapse. Understand the importance of screening for co-occurring issues and how emotional intelligence plays a role in recovery. Plus, find out about environmental triggers that threaten sobriety and strategies for prevention.

16 snips
Nov 26, 2025 • 1h 16min
1083 - Managing Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussions
The podcast dives into the complexities of traumatic brain injury and concussions. It compares brain functions to computer parts, unpacking the various symptoms that can arise. Emotional challenges, such as grief and anxiety, are explored alongside concussion causes and misconceptions about recovery. There's a compelling discussion on CTE and its risks, especially in athletes. Listeners learn about practical management techniques, including cognitive rehabilitation, mindfulness strategies, and the importance of support systems to enhance recovery.

Nov 22, 2025 • 1h 13min
1082 - Essential Skills for Diabetes-Related Disability Adjustment Counseling
Explore essential skills for counseling individuals with diabetes-related disabilities. Discover the impact of diabetes on mood, complications, and general health. Learn strategies for patient empowerment and acceptance, as well as practical tips for improving self-esteem and social interactions. Gain insights on managing nutrition, exercise, and medications while addressing stigma and peer support. Dive into ways to enhance healthcare engagement and navigate treatment targets for better quality of life!

15 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 2min
1081 - 10 Tools to Understand and Address Agitation, Delirium and Sundowning
Explore the spectrum of cognitive impairment, from aging to dementia, and discover common misdiagnoses. Learn about reversible causes of cognitive changes, including hydration and medication side effects. The discussion highlights multi-component interventions versus relying on medications. Delirium types are defined, revealing critical distinctions between hypoactive presentations and sundowning. Engage with strategies to manage agitation and improve hydration for older adults. Practical tips abound, including addressing grief and anxiety, to enhance care and comfort.


