Episodes

  • The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis -- Part Four: The Peer Perspective

    The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis -- Part Four: The Peer Perspective
    Feb 28 2025
    Family members’ responses to and support of their loved one who lives with a mental health condition often includes a steep learning curve, uncertainty, misunderstanding, and yes, much love. Each family also has its own journey. In this episode, we hear from Rebecca as she shares her story of how her family has navigated her mental health struggles and now her life in recovery. Rebecca offers us her personal recovery toolbox, examples of family education, and much more as her courage and resilience shines throughout the interview. Please join us as we continue our series, The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis—Part Four: The Peer Perspective. Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis Part 3: The Parents' Speak

    The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis Part 3: The Parents' Speak
    Jan 31 2025
    In Part 3 of their in-depth series on the impact of a psychiatric crisis on the family, the topic is the parents’ perspectives and stories of the intricate roles of a parent when dealing with a child with mental health issues. Two guest parents speak with unflinching candor and deep personal knowledge about their family experiences. Over many years, their challenges have evolved into rich insights relayed with unflinching candor and deep wisdom. The delicate relationships with their child and themselves resulted in hard won advancements through the communications, skills, self-knowledge, and changes needed to support a child into recovery. Please join Helen and Valerie for this landmark episode—their 50th episode of Mental Health: Hope and Recovery! Find Helen and Valerie at https://www.mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • 2024 Mindfulness Favorites

    2024 Mindfulness Favorites
    Dec 18 2024
    With the holidays all around, this episode is an annual tradition for Helen and Valerie. For some of us, this time of year is emotionally charged due to the pressures and expectations of the holidays. Individuals can become stressed out, depressed, anxious, exhausted. For others, the joys of the season also can create the need for emotional downtime. Valerie and Helen offer a perfect gift for anyone overwhelmed by the intensity generated during this time: a full episode of mindfulness exercises from the past year. Regardless of holiday feelings, they hope their audiences will use the healing gift of mindfulness, and will accept their best wishes for all listeners and their loved ones to have a safe, healthy new year. Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • The Family Dynamics of Psychiatric Crisis—Part Two: Caregivers Talk Turkey to Caregivers

    The Family Dynamics of Psychiatric Crisis—Part Two: Caregivers Talk Turkey to Caregivers
    Nov 26 2024
    In Part Two of the series Family Dynamics in a Psychiatric Crisis, Valerie and Helen have a frank, candid conversation with Valerie’s sister and husband, who were the principal caregivers during her severe mental illnesses and behaviors. The result is Caregivers Talk Turkey to Caregivers, where they explain the knowledge, relationships, coping skills, and self-care that allowed them to persevere through the long, dark years until Valerie’s full recovery. What sustained, inspired and comforted them throughout the process are a revelation for listeners who are involved in the care and treatment of a family member with mental health challenges. Their examples of supporting the young children involved are especially insightful and poignant. This episode makes for an invaluable listening experience for family members everywhere. Find Valerie and Helen at mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis--Part One: Personal Perspectives from a Sibling and a Spouse

    The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis--Part One: Personal Perspectives from a Sibling and a Spouse
    Oct 30 2024
    When a family member faces a mental health challenge, family relationships can become formidable and problematic, while being loving and supportive, as well. The complicated nature of these relationships has launched Helen and Valerie on a five-episode series – The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis. Their goal is to define and demystify the impact of mental illness on the family; and to enlighten and strengthen the impact of the family on mental illness. In Part One: Personal Perspectives from a Sibling and a Spouse, Valerie has invited her own husband and sister for intimate conversations with her about their journeys together for the years she was drastically sick before her recovery. This riveting episode reveals the dramatic impact on a marriage, children, siblings, friends, and caregivers. A surefire classic, not to be missed. Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • OCD: The Reality, the Research, the Recovery—Part Two

    OCD: The Reality, the Research, the Recovery—Part Two
    Sep 23 2024
    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is so vast and perplexing, Valerie and Helen devoted two episodes to OCD. They discovered a complex and harrowing mental illness often trivialized and misunderstood by those who don’t have it. To legitimize the severity of the disorder, they turned to the experts. In Part Two, their searching questions are answered by a seasoned OCD professional, Dr. Ginny Fullerton. Her encyclopedic knowledge of OCD encompasses causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods and breakthroughs, along with profound insights for individuals battling OCD, their families and loved ones. To supplement this invaluable education, Helen and Valerie urge audiences to listen to Episode 45, which features the miraculous story of Mel, a woman who had OCD from early childhood into her adult life, and who made a heroic recovery. Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Show Notes: International OCD Foundation — https://hiocdf.org Family Accommodation Behaviors — https://ysph.yale.edu/familyaccommodationocd/about/ When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim Your Family’s Well-Being by C. Alec Pollard PhD, Melanie VanDyke PhD, Gary Mitchell LCSW, Heidi J. Pollard RN, MSN, Gloria Mathis PhD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • OCD: The Reality, The Research, The Recovery -- Part One

    OCD: The Reality, The Research, The Recovery -- Part One
    Aug 29 2024
    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an illness many people trivialize because they don’t understand it. OCD proved to be a condition so vast and complex that Valerie and Helen divided it into two episodes. In this first episode, they explore the components of OCD: diagnosis, causes, symptoms, treatment, and hope for recovery. To fully enlighten listeners, there is the firsthand account from Mel, a woman who struggled with OCD from early childhood until her hard won recovery years later. Her experiences, insights and courage are not to be missed. OCD Part Two will focus on the professional expert’s perspective through an in-depth interview with OCD specialist, Dr. Ginny Fullerton. Find Valerie and Helen at mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Show Notes/Resources: The International OCD Foundation—iocdf.org Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz, MD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • Overcoming My Eating Disorder: One Woman's Story

    Overcoming My Eating Disorder: One Woman's Story
    Jul 24 2024
    Eating disorders are pernicious and powerful, with dangerous symptoms and sometimes lethal consequences. However, researchers and scientists are developing effective methods to treat them. Valerie and Helen share some of the most recent breakthroughs in eating disorders treatment. Though these disorders are damaging and destructive, a life in recovery with an eating disorder is possible, as we hear in Valerie and Helen’s insightful interview with Cailin. We don’t often hear about the long-term impact of these disorders on one person’s life. Cailin affords us the rare opportunity to do so by sharing her first-hand account of her life-long battle and subsequent triumph. Cailin shares the accessible, impactful strategies and skills she uses effectively during tough times and in on-going recovery. Cailin’s story of her fight and victory over eating disorders is empowering and invaluable. Find Valerie and Helen at https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins