Beyond Theory

In this episode, Meadows Senior Fellow and nutritionist Kristen Kirkpatrick delves into the issue of body shaming, particularly fat shaming, and its detrimental impact on mental health and eating behaviors. Kirkpatrick emphasizes that fat shaming not only negatively affects emotional wellbeing but also overlooks the critical role of health in promoting sustainable changes in dietary habits.   Rese...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, a podcast by Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, host Dominic Lawson discusses the critical need for expanding mental health services in schools with guest Amy Kennedy, co-founder of the Kennedy Forum. The conversation highlights the alarming rise in mental health challenges like anxiety and depression among children and adolescents, and the importance of early interve...

In the conclusion of our two-part series on Beyond Theory, former professional baseball player and mental health advocate Ben Zobrist delves deeper into his personal struggles with anxiety, depression, and the pressures of performing at the highest levels of sports. This revealing conversation sheds light on the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by elite athletes and offers insights...

This episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, hosted by Dominic Lawson, delves into the topic of mental health in sports, specifically focusing on the experiences of Ben Zobrist, a two-time World Series champion and World Series MVP in Major League Baseball (MLB). The discussion aims to shed light on the often-overlooked reality of anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges faced by elite athl...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, host Dominic Lawson interviews Phil Rutherford, Chief Operating Officer at Faces and Voices of Recovery, about his personal journey with addiction and his work in recovery advocacy. As a black man who struggled with substance use disorder during the crack epidemic of the 1990s, Phil highlights the racial disparities in how drug epidemics are perceived and addresse...

For this season of Beyond Theory , we want to dive deeper into the meaning behind our name by being more topic-focused and bringing you guests in a brand new format. We believe this will make for a more relatable and engaging experience, expanding the mental health conversation and adding more voices. The topics we will discuss this season prioritize self-care, hustle culture, spirituality in reco...

Isolation is often a key contributor to addiction. And when you add abandonment on top of that then you can really find yourself in a bad spot. For Chuck Hyppa living up to a legacy led him down an unwanted path. But with the help of his #1 fan and wife Erin, Chuck learns that he and his path was always enough.  Recovery Replay, which is powered by Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, was created and is...

We often hear stories of recovery that can be both challenging and powerful. But is that the complete story?  Join host Dominic Lawson as he presents a new and unique way those stories are told. The journey starts from the beginning on Recovery Replay and shares a person's recovery journey from three different perspectives. There is a person in recovery, their support person, and lastly, a clinici...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory Podcast, host Dominic Lawson interviews Dr. Patrick Carnes, a leading expert in the field of sex addiction treatment. Dr. Carnes, who has over 30 years of experience in addiction medicine, shares his insights on the complex nature of sex addiction, its impact on individuals and families, and the challenges faced in treating this often misunderstood disorder.  ...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, host Dominic Lawson interviews Dr. Richard Schwartz, the developer of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy. Dr. Schwartz shares his journey of creating IFS, a revolutionary approach to understanding the mind and treating mental health issues like trauma and addiction.   Dr. Schwartz explains that he developed IFS after noticing that...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, a podcast by Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, host Dominic Lawson interviews Dr. Georgia Fourlas, Executive Director of Rio Retreat Center. Dr. Fourlas shares valuable insights into the center's approach to treating addiction and underlying trauma through intensive, specialized workshops.   Rio Retreat Center offers a unique treatment model focused on uncovering the...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, Dr. Madelyn Rousku, a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief of Psychiatry at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, shares her insights on treating mental health issues in young adults. Drawing from her experience at the Claudia Black Center, which is part of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, Dr. Rousku discusses the challenges faced by Generation Z and t...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory Podcast, Victor Brick, co-founder of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation and CEO of Planet Fitness Growth Partners, shares his personal journey of losing his brother John to complications from schizophrenia. Victor's story highlights the devastating impact of serious mental illness and the limitations of conventional treatment approaches that rely heavil...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Dominic Lawson interviews Mark Baumgartner, Executive Director of Virtual Intensive Outpatient Services at The Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. Baumgartner shares valuable insights into the MBH Connect program, which provides accessible, high-quality virtual care for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues.   Baumgartner emphasizes the importa...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Dr. David Hanscomb, a renowned orthopedic spine surgeon, shares his personal journey with chronic pain and offers a comprehensive approach to healing. Drawing from his own experience and extensive research, Dr. Hanscomb reveals that chronic pain is not merely a physical problem but a complex issue involving the mind-body connection, inflammation, and the nervous s...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Dominic Lawson interviews Scott Davis about his experience treating military personnel with substance use disorders (SUDs), trauma, and PTSD. Davis emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying childhood and family trauma when treating addiction and combat-related issues in military patients.   Davis explains that outpatient military programs may not be effec...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, host Dominic Lawson interviews Dr. Cassandra Vieten, executive director of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, about the organization's groundbreaking report on the connection between physical activity and mental health outcomes. The report, titled "Move Your Mental Health," synthesizes 30 years of research on the effects of various types of ex...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Josh Ulrich, a virtual therapist at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, shares his insights on dealing with grief, loss, and addiction recovery. He emphasizes that grief is a normal response to any significant loss, not just death, and that everyone processes these emotions differently.   Josh highlights the five stages of grief - denial, bargaining, anger, depression,...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, host Dominic Lawson interviews Josh Ulrich, a virtual therapist at The Meadows Behavioral Health, about his unique perspective on virtual intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and trauma-informed addiction treatment. Josh shares his diverse background, from sales to working with hospice patients and counseling on an Indian reservation, where he witnessed...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Hamilton Baiden, President of Heritage CARES, shares his personal journey of overcoming alcoholism and discusses the innovative solutions his organization offers to revolutionize addiction recovery. With a staggering 90% of individuals struggling with substance misuse not receiving treatment, Heritage CARES aims to bridge this gap by providing accessible and engag...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, Dominic Lawson sits down with Erica Trocino, Clinical Director of The Meadows Ranch, to discuss the intricacies of eating disorders and the road to recovery. Trocino, a licensed professional counselor, certified eating disorder specialist, and supervisor, shares her insights on the stereotypes surrounding eating disorders, the impact of the pandemic on...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Dr. Whitney Howzell, the Executive Director of The Claudia Black Young Adult Center at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, shares valuable insights on navigating mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Howzell emphasizes the importance of self-care, maintaining perspective, and seeking support during these trying times.   The conversation begins with...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, Havi Kang, a licensed professional counselor and certified sex addiction therapist, delves into the complex issues of gaslighting, financial abuse, and narcissism in relationships, and their impact on women's mental health and addiction. The conversation sheds light on the importance of recognizing these abusive tactics and providing trauma-informed tr...

In this episode of Beyond Theory, Dominic Lawson interviews Havi Kang, Clinical Director at Willow House, a women's treatment center within Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. Kang, who immigrated from England to the U.S. in 2000, discusses her journey into the psychology field and the importance of ongoing training and professional development.   As an Indian woman, Kang reflects on how her cultural b...

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, Meadows Behavioral Healthcare Senior Fellow and New York Times bestselling author Resmaa Menakem delves into the pervasive impact of racialized trauma on mental health and addiction. Menakem, a leading voice in the conversation on healing racial trauma, discusses how deeply embedded notions of Black bodies as "superhuman" and able to withstand more pai...