Best Betsy Byler Podcasts (2024)

1
Are you avoiding talking about substance use? 36:46

7d ago36:46

36:46

Avoiding topics of conversation is super normal for people. We work hard to help our clients talk about the hard things and to face the things that need to come to light. There’s an area that we might not be asking about that could make a huge difference in our work.By Betsy Byler

1
What Real Recovery is Like 38:02

14d ago38:02

38:02

What is recovery? Recovery really is, at its core, the process of change. It is a living and active process through which people make long lasting changes in their lives. There isn’t an end date or a destination. There are stages to it though and everyone goes through it differently from another person. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about all of t…

1
Stages of Addiction-Where are you clients in these stages? 37:10

24d ago37:10

37:10

Stages of addiction can help us understand how severe someone’s use is and if you need to refer out. What’s the difference between dependence and addiction? When does normal use move to risky use? On today’s episode we’ll talk about the 6 stages of addiction.By Betsy Byler

1
Managing Triggers is a Vital Recovery Skill 44:25

1M ago44:25

44:25

Triggers and cravings are a huge key to what helps addiction develop. It’s not just the reward pathways that drive addiction progression. Today we’ll talk about how triggers and cravings impact this process.By Betsy Byler

1
Liability and Risk When Treating Substance Use 39:18

2M ago39:18

39:18

Some therapists worry that adding substance use to their scope of practice will expose them to more risk and liability. Our licenses are super important to us and we want to protect ourselves. Today we are going to be talking about what risk there is, if any, when we take on substance use clients.

1
A Snapshot of the 12 Steps of AA 44:18

2M ago44:18

44:18

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have brought many into recovery and saved lives all over the world. Most people know that there are 12 Steps, but they don’t know what the Steps are and most haven’t heard of the 12 Traditions. Today we’ll be covering exactly what these pillars of recovery are and how they work together to create a plan of recov…

1
Recovery Meeting Basics-What, Why and Behind the Scenes 39:57

2M ago39:57

39:57

Recovery meetings can be a giant help to people as they move through recovery from all kinds of things. Today we’ll talk about the benefits of recovery meetings, the spiritual aspect to meetings and what clients can expect when they attend a meeting.By Betsy Byler

1
Sex and Recovery 32:58

3M ago32:58

32:58

Sex is a vital part of who we are as humans. When people are using substances, sex becomes entwined with their use. So what happens when a person has to navigate sexual experiences without the use of substances? It can be tricky to navigate and today we’ll talk about the things that should be addressed and considered.…

1
Addiction and love-Andrea Owen interviews Betsy 57:46

3M ago57:46

57:46

Addiction and love? I got a chance to sit down with Andrea Owen (our January recovery story) on her podcast Make Some Noise. During that conversation she talks a bit about her own recovery journey and the concept of love addiction. We talked about addiction from the perspective of brain science and what love addiction means.…

1
Looking for love in all the wrong places: A Recovery Story 44:01

3M ago44:01

44:01

It was all about love. That’s what Dufflyn was looking for from the time she was a small girl all the way into her 40’s. She consistently was seeking to fill a need and find a place to belong. For a long while alcohol and drugs were the answer. Recovery was a process and today we’ll hear her story of finding peace and freedom.…

1
What does CBD do according to research? 40:36

3M ago40:36

40:36

Is CBD good for anxiety and/or PTSD? Is CBD good for treating substance use disorders? Is CBD good for chronic pain and arthritis? With CBD being added to more things all the time (drinks, lotion, vitamins and even water) it can be hard to know what is real and what isn’t. In our work as therapists we really need to know what science is saying abou…

1
What is CBD? Part 1-The Basics 37:44

3M ago37:44

37:44

What is CBD? Is CBD what people say it is? We start from the beginning and go over its origins, how it works and what to look for. In the second part we’ll talk about fact vs fiction according to the research. Join me as we this product that is popping up everywhere.By Betsy Byler

1
Risks Associated with Rx Sleep Meds 40:34

4M ago40:34

40:34

In this episode we talk about the three most popular sleep medications used in the non-benzodiazepine class. We’ll discuss the risks inherent in these medications as well as the risk of addiction.By Betsy Byler

1
Sleep Disorders and the Role of Medication 39:35

4M ago39:35

39:35

What type of sleep disorder warrants prescription sleep medication? What types of sleep medications are there? Sleep medications are an important tool in treating insomnia. There are different kinds that each act in a different way in the body. This episode addresses all of that and more.By Betsy Byler

1
What Gets a Client Sober, Won’t Keep Them Sober 39:55

4M ago39:55

39:55

The key to staying sober isn't loving others enough, fear of getting in trouble, nor the hope of a good future. These reasons are unique to each person and vary wildly. The thing these people have in common is that the original reason that got them on this path won’t hold up forever. The reason to get sober isn’t going to be the reason to stay sobe…

1
Making Treatment Decisions About Substance Use-A Practical Guide (A repost) 31:30

4M ago31:30

31:30

Check out this free downloadable resource and this podcast episode will give you more information on it. It's a quick reference guide to help you determine if someone’s substance use is appropriate for you to work with or if they need a specialist. Today I’ll walk through it and explain how it works.…

1
The Complexity of ADHD Treatment for Adults 36:56

5M ago36:56

36:56

ADHD treatment can bring to mind a few different things. Medications, particularly stimulants are usually at the top of the list. ADHD treatment for adults can be complicated due to the abuse of stimulant medications, the medical providers being hesitant to prescribe and the lack of access to psych testing to confirm a diagnosis. For our purposes, …

1
All About ADHD Medications 33:55

5M ago33:55

33:55

ADHD diagnoses are becoming more common for children but especially in the adult population. Research tells us that approximately 70% of people with ADHD benefit from stimulant medication. This means that the number of prescriptions for ADHD medications are higher than ever. What impact do these things have on us and our clients? Check out this epi…

1
Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax 42:10

5M ago42:10

42:10

What are the benzodiazepines used for anti anxiety? What’s the difference between them? Are benzodiazepines ever safe? Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin are some of the most prescribed medications in America for anti anxiety.. What’s the difference between them? Tune in to this week’s episode of All Things Substance.…

1
Benzodiazepines: Benefits and Risks 33:22

6M ago33:22

33:22

What are benzodiazepines? How are they used? What are the risks? Benzodiazepines can feel like a miracle for a person with anxiety. Feeling panicked to feeling ok in a matter of minutes. But there’s more to them than that. Tune in to this week’s episode of All Things Substance.By Betsy Byler

1
Legalization of Marijuana-Repost 42:07

6M ago42:07

42:07

Why is marijuana illegal anyway? What’s the difference between legalization and decriminalization? What implication does this have for therapists? The debate over legalization of marijuana is all around us. It’s a complex issue and there are a lot of terms used that we should know and understand. This podcast explores the origins of the ban on mari…

1
Common Claims about Marijuana-Repost 35:26

6M ago35:26

35:26

What are common things people say about marijuana? What are the facts about those common claims? What implication does this have in therapy? Marijuana conversations give rise to really interesting information being shared. Much of it isn’t based on science or fact. It can be really hard to know what the real truth is, even if you know where to look…

1
Marijuana Basics-Repost 42:56

6M ago42:56

42:56

What is marijuana and how is it used? Why is THC potency important? What does this have to do with therapy? Marijuana is here to stay and it looks like we’re heading towards legalization. The use of marijuana comes up often in therapy circles and we need to know about it. Join me for an up-front conversation about weed.…

1
Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Holiday Skills (Repost) 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

The holidays are here, no matter what your faith tradition or country, there's a holiday in here for everyone. For some the holidays are a joyful time where they look forward to seeing family and friends. For others, the holidays can be a difficult time. For people who struggle with substances, it tends to be a difficult time to navigate. There's a…

1
Meeting Our Own Professional and Personal Needs 45:09

7M ago45:09

45:09

I don’t believe we can rely on our agencies or employers to take care of our development or help us with safe care. I believe we need to make sure we are being proactive to make sure we have what we need to help us keep developing as therapists and that we are doing what we can to prevent burnout so we can continue to do the work we love. This is w…

1
Substance Use in the LGBTQ+ Community 50:22

7M ago50:22

50:22

Trauma and substance use have a bidirectional relationship. According to my guest, Eric Sullivan, growing up gay is a form of complex trauma. The LGBTQ+ community faces a lot of factors that put them at risk for higher rates of problematic substance use. Today I’ll talk with Eric, a therapist and member of the LGBTQ+ community about what contribute…

1
Therapists Deserve to be Cared for Too 35:05

8M ago35:05

35:05

How do we not just survive, but thrive in our work? How do we get to keep being our badass therapist selves and still enjoy what we do? There really are things we can do to help ourselves. Our workplaces, agencies or bosses aren’t going to take care of us the way we need. Today, I continue my conversation about how we can help protect ourselves and…

1
Why Therapists Burn Out & How to Protect Yourself 28:34

8M ago28:34

28:34

Being a therapist is badass. We are depicted as cardigan-wearing, somewhat nerdy, mild-mannered intellectuals or touchy-feely, overly sensitive, preschool teacher-esque guides for people. The reality of our jobs is far grittier and messier than people expect. We choose to go into the storms with people. We have to stay grounded and help them find t…

1
5 Reasons Therapists Don’t Assess for Substance Use & 5 Reasons They Should 42:43

8M ago42:43

42:43

Many therapists shy away from asking about substance use. There are some very common and very valid reasons for this. Today, I want to share the top 5 most common reasons I’ve heard for avoiding talking about substance use. Then I want to share my top 5 reasons why I really believe we all should be assessing for substance use. If you resonate with …

1
Trauma and Substance Use are Bidirectional 33:53

9M ago33:53

33:53

Bidirectional means “moving or taking place in two usually opposite directions.” This concept is super important to understanding how trauma and substance use connect. They don’t just intersect, they interact and drive the other. Let’s talk about the research that is out there about this connection.By Betsy Byler

1
Nurturing Our Resilience Through Connection 25:54

9M ago25:54

25:54

It's not easy to hear the stories of pain and suffering day in and day out. We chose this path because we have a passion for helping others, but that doesn't mean it's always smooth sailing. In fact, the longer we do this work, the harder it can become. That's why we're here to talk about how we can avoid burnout, find joy in our work, and build re…

1
Screening for Substance Use 23:19

9M ago23:19

23:19

Screening for substance use allows you to provide comprehensive care to your clients. By assessing their substance use patterns, you gain valuable insights into how their substance use may be contributing to their mental health challenges. This holistic approach enables you to tailor treatment plans to account for how they are using substances in t…

1
The Skill to Help You Thrive Instead of Burning Out 25:40

9M ago25:40

25:40

As we continue talking about the intersection of trauma and substance use work, in today’s episode Jenny is going to be sharing an important skill with us that is designed to help us not just survive the work we do. It’s built to help us be resilient and to be able to do what we love without burning out.…

1
The Intersection of Trauma and Substance Use 27:28

10M ago27:28

27:28

Want to treat trauma and substance use with confidence? We've got you covered! Today we’re joining together in this episode to talk about the intersection between substance use and trauma. We are so excited to bring our live event Braving the Course to you this August. This is part 1 of 4 podcast episodes to get us ready for Braving the Course, whi…

1
Gambling Addiction Treatment 56:27

11M ago56:27

56:27

Gambling addiction brings to mind a certain image for many of us. There are so many ways gambling exists and scams people out of their money. I wanted to find out about gambling assessment and treatment. So I had the chance to interview a fellow therapist who happens to specialize in gambling addiction and I want to share it with you.…

1
You don't want to miss this.. 17:15

11M ago17:15

17:15

If you google “substance use CEU”, there are a ton of results. How do you even know where to start and what to pick? I’m about to make a bold statement, I know what you need to know to work with substance use and I can teach it to you in 6 weeks. I’m so excited to announce Charting the Course, my 6 week live taught course to give you what you need …

1
The Power of Secondary Gain 38:30

11M ago38:30

38:30

Secondary gain is a powerful thing. It impacts behavior in ways that we wouldn’t think of, but when it comes to substance use it’s an important factor in making long lasting change. Today, we’ll talk about the concept of secondary gain.By Betsy Byler

1
Why Readiness to Change May Be the Biggest Factor 40:47

11M ago40:47

40:47

People change because they want to or because they have to. When neither of those things are true, change isn’t going to happen. For substance use, the “readiness to change” may be the single biggest factor in someone making long-lasting change in their relationship with their substance of choice.By Betsy Byler

1
Is Willpower Enough? 36:42

12M ago36:42

36:42

Just say no. You should just quit. So and so just stopped doing it, so can you. Some people believe that willpower should be all someone needs to overcome addiction. Willpower is a part of how people make change and make new habits. But willpower isn’t enough to overcome addiction.By Betsy Byler

1
What's the Difference? Harm Reduction and Abstinence 32:49

12M ago32:49

32:49

In the addiction treatment world, abstinence and harm reduction can often be seen as contrary to each other. We need both models available in order to truly help clients. Our goal is to meet clients where they are and help walk with them to building a life worth living sober.By Betsy Byler

1
10 Reasons We Need to Assess Substance Use 37:09

12M ago37:09

37:09

Why should mental health therapists assess substance use? Is that really in our scope? My answer is a resounding, Yes. In this episode I go through ten reasons why assessing for substance use is vital to our work and to our client’s well-being.By Betsy Byler

1
Working Together: What We Can Do for Psychiatrists 51:39

12M ago51:39

51:39

Therapists and psychiatrists want the same thing: for our clients to be well. We don’t always get the chance to work together. I wanted to see what we could do to bridge the gap between us. I interviewed a psychiatrist friend of mine, Dr. Jess Beachkofsky, about what it's like to be a psychiatrist, what she’s focusing on during her appointments and…

1
You're Invited! Doors open to my new substance use training program for therapists 17:15

12M ago17:15

17:15

If you google “substance use CEU”, there are a ton of results. How do you even know where to start and what to pick? I’m about to make a bold statement, I know what you need to know to work with substance use and I can teach it to you in 6 weeks. I’m so excited to announce Charting the Course, my 6 week live taught course to give you what you need …

1
Skills Acquired: You Have What You Need 34:16

1y ago34:16

34:16

Do you feel equipped to work with substance use? I’m curious about this because many therapists don’t feel skilled enough. It makes me wonder what skills therapists think they need to be “ready” to do it. You likely have all the skills you need. Check out this episode on what skills you need to work with substance use.…

1
What Treatment for Substance Use REALLY Means 34:07

1y ago34:07

34:07

I’ve been suggesting that regular mental health therapists can work with substance use. But what does that mean? Doesn’t treatment have to be some specific techniques, length of time and process? What is treatment really like? Let’s take a closer look.By BETSY BYLER

1
An Unintentional Mistake You Might Be Making 36:46

1y ago36:46

36:46

Avoiding topics of conversation is super normal for people. We work hard to help our clients talk about the hard things and to face the things that need to come to light. There’s an area that we might not be asking about that could make a huge difference in our work.By Betsy Byler

1
Recovery=Change-Sobriety isn't all there is to recovery 38:02

1y ago38:02

38:02

What is recovery? Recovery really is, at its core, the process of change. It is a living and active process through which people make long lasting changes in their lives. There isn’t an end date or a destination. There are stages to it though and everyone goes through it differently from another person. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about all of t…

1
How Does Addiction Progress? Stages You Need to Know 37:10

1y ago37:10

37:10

Stages of addiction can help us understand how severe someone’s use is and if you need to refer out. What’s the difference between dependence and addiction? When does normal use move to risky use? On today’s episode we’ll talk about the 6 stages of addiction.By Betsy Byler

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Betsy Byler Podcasts

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