Pathways to Spirit

In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, host Dr. Troy Melendez and cohost Jessica Hunter sit down with cultural counselors Bowie Leonard and Jared Lewis, two people who are helping shape a new era of healing within Salt River. Together, they discuss how cultural knowledge, traditional teachings, and lived experience are being integrated into behavioral health and recovery services across the Commun...

In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez explore some of the most important strategies for navigating early recovery, the vulnerable, courageous stage when individuals first step toward healing. They discuss the emotional, spiritual, and practical tools that help people stay engaged, build momentum, and create lasting change. Questions? Comments? Please ema...

In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez welcome Jessica Hunter, Behavioral Health Clinical Administrator, for a conversation about trauma, resilience, traditional healing, and the evolution of behavioral health services within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Jessica shares her journey into counseling and her deep passion for trauma recovery...

In this episode of Pathways to Spirit, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez welcome Joe Remitera, Director of Health and Human Services, for a deep and inspiring conversation on the vision shaping Journey to Recovery and the entire Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s health system. Questions? Comments? Please email Podcasts@srpmic-nsn.gov ************ Salt River Summer Speaker Series...

In this episode, host Dr. Troy Melendez sits down with Journey to Recovery Administrator Frank Saverino to explore the major changes, growth, and future direction of the JTR program. Together, they reflect on the evolution from a small, cramped facility to a state‑of‑the‑art treatment center, and discuss how expansion, cultural grounding, and community-driven care are shaping recovery in powerful...

In the debut episode, hosts Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez sit down to share the story behind Journey to Recovery (residential treatment facility in SRPMIC), how it began, how it has grown, and the personal and professional paths that brought them both to this work. Through open conversation, they reflect on their early careers, the mentors and experiences that shaped them, and the powerful...