Hope Pieced Together

Defining who we are versus how our family, friends, and others define us is a common experience; and striking a balance between the two is an especially prevalent struggle for adolescents and young adults. Identity development is the process of aligning how we feel inside with what we project to the outside world and, when there are internal and external influences that interfere with that process...

Today, we are joined by a new, valuable member of our community. Danny Looney is celebrating 14 years of sobriety and is here today to redefine rock bottom and fill us in on his own non-profit, Rock Bottom Hope. Danny shares his story with us, and we find out what led him to fall into substance abuse at such a young age, what rock bottom looked like for him, and what gave him hope at his lowest po...

Tri County Behavioral Health Care is the government mental health authority for Montgomery, Liberty, and Walker Counties, offering a wide range of services for both children and adults. Joining us in conversation today is Evan Roberson, who directs the program. Join us to hear how Tri County works to serve those from all sorts of backgrounds, how they are equipped to support the most complex child...

Between the extremes of Clinical Substance Abuse and Teetotaler is the much larger category of Gray Area Drinking. Here today to discuss the topic is therapist, gray area drinking coach, and board member at Mosaics of Mercy, Carolyn Robistow. Join us today to hear Carolyn’s hard-earned perspective on what she calls ‘Groundhog Day Drinking’ and what to do about it. You’ll hear what Carolyn does whe...

Your job as a parent is to advocate for your child, particularly when there is a mental health concern because we want our children to know that, if they’re going through something emotionally, it impacts the whole family. Therapy or treatment is not ‘fix my kid’, it’s ‘help my family’. Once a child realizes this, they’ll find it easier to see their value in the family and that is immensely helpfu...

There are many options for adults to address mental health issues, but what about children? Children also suffer from mental health issues but unlike adults, they do not have the cognitive and mental capacity to use the same techniques as adults. Therefore, a different approach is needed to address the mental health concerns of children. This is where child therapy can be immensely beneficial. In...

If you have ever spent time around children, you’ll know that they have a tendency to get cranky, test boundaries, and act uncooperatively. Today, we’re going to talk about when these behaviors should warrant a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Regardless of whether or not your child has this issue, today’s conversation contains a wealth of wisdom that is relevant to everyone who l...

Today’s conversation is all about navigating autism and mental health, and joining me to share her knowledge on the topic is Jennifer Morgan; Licensed Professional Counselor, Animal Assisted Counselor, Advanced Certified Autism Specialist, and owner of Morgan’s Helping Hands LLC. Jennifer is post-modern trained, and her approach is one that combines narrative, collaborative, and cognitive-behavior...

According to a NAMI 2020 study, 73% of students reported to have had a mental health crisis while at college. Today, we are joined by the Executive Director of Integrated Enrollment Services at the University of Houston, to discuss the pressing topic of mental health on college campuses. Dr. Patrick Lukingbeal fills us in on the positive generational changes he’s observed, with the normalization o...

In the State of Texas, there is still no licensure for sober living homes and, as a result, there are no set guidelines for how they should be run. This makes it extra important, when choosing a sober living home, to do the relevant research to ensure that it’s the right program for you. Joining us today to talk about all things sober living, are two inspiring individuals who have not only come th...

When you are fostering, and perhaps even adopting a child, it’s important to be aware of how previous life experiences and trauma could shape their behavior and interactions. Today on the show we’re delighted to welcome Tara Hutton, host of the Mama’s Well podcast, and dear friend of the show. Tara describes her family as consisting of two rounds of parenting, the first being her three boys, who a...

Today on the show we speak to Constable Philip Cash about how the Montgomery County mental health constables are serving their community through a dedicated program designed to get mental health consumers the help they need.  We hear about Constable Cash’s journey in law enforcement and what led to his passion for creating a program to address mental health in our community. Constable Cash speaks...

Today’s conversation centers around a personal story about a big life event that requires you to navigate a host of emotions within every member of the family. That life event is adoption, and our hope is that as Kristen Minor shares her story, you will find comfort and wisdom for your own journey. You’ll hear how she and her husband, Matt, came to the decision to adopt through prayer on a trip to...

There is often so much shame around substance abuse relapse. We have framed it as a failure, but what if we looked at it as an experience that those who have slipped back into addiction can use when beginning their journey of sobriety again? This is just one of the valuable lessons that today’s guest, Robert Hilliker, LCSW-S, LCDC, shares with us. Robert has 17 years of experience in the field of...

Children are much more adaptable than is often expected of them, but they are also aware of much more than their parents may think. Jessica Leger, clinical social worker, play therapist, and our guest on today’s show, describes children as having the capacity to be “emotional sponges.” This means that it is vital that parents, whether they are getting divorced or going through a tough time in thei...

Going into 2020, one in seven adults in the United States experienced a substance use disorder. As of June 2020, the CDC said that 13 percent of adults reported an increase in their use of substances to cope with the stress of the pandemic, with this statistic accompanied by a tremendous increase in overdose deaths. As a result, we feel it is important to dive into the difficult topic of substance...

When we experience issues that impact our physical health, that can also provoke certain feelings that impact our mental health too. In today's episode of Hope Pieced Together, we speak with mother and daughter, Kate Turner and Jess Sohns, about the emotional journey of dealing with those repercussions, as well as how to parent through them. When Jess was born with what Kate calls “specific n...

Skye McClain always thought she was just a highly strung person, never considering that she might be suffering from anxiety. Having her son seven years ago revealed her underlying anxiety which often presented itself in bouts of anger, but it wasn’t until the pandemic last year that Skye’s anxiety reached breaking point and she found herself in a state where she was barely able to function. While...

The grief process can vary with each individual, but sometimes it can be helpful to find commonalities in a journey similar to yours. In today’s episode, we talk about the loss of a spouse with Maureen McClelland, LPC, RN, BSN. Learning about different types of losses can help us better support someone in the midst of this experience, and Maureen draws on not only on her professional experience bu...

Today’s episode covers something that pretty much everyone will go through at one time or another in their lives; conflict in relationships. It is often joked about that opposites attract and a common difference that creates that opposition is contrasting approaches to life. One partner may look at things from a fact-based viewpoint while another may come from a more emotional perspective. Really,...

While we may be aware that obsessive-compulsive disorder can have debilitating consequences for the adults who suffer from it, OCD in children and teens presents a unique set of challenges. Today’s guest is Joy Ryan, Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who specializes in Pediatric OCD. She often treats children and teens who suffer from OCD at her practice Connect Psychol...

Although setting boundaries can be very difficult, it is an essential self-care practice and one which will lead to improvements in your relationships. If you are fearful of setting boundaries because you are worried about the possible negative effects, keep in mind that the better we understand and care for ourselves, the better we will be able to care for others. Even Jesus set boundaries! We ar...

The primary mental health issue that many counselors have seen increase during COVID has been anxiety, which was already the number one mental health issue in the US. Today’s guest is Shannan Blum, Clinical Director at The Woodlands Recovery and Wellness, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents. She specializes...

It’s common for people to feel intimidated when hearing the term ‘psychological testing’. Having a more concrete measure of your psychological wellbeing can sometimes bring the same anxiety as medical testing, the concern that you might find out that something is wrong. Today’s guest, Lauren Pasqua, hopes to alleviate the stress around the process by providing some context about the benefits of ps...

Postpartum depression and anxiety are increasingly common, yet there is still so much shame and stigma around them. Today's guest, Lorissa Eichenberger, is the Co-Associate Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health, where she works with the motherhood population to create nurturing and safe places for clients to feel heard, validated, and empowered. As a mom herself, and someone who...