Roadmap to Joy: A Mental Health Podcast

Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Debunking Common Misconceptions

In this episode of “Roadmap to Joy,” Dr. Brad Riemann, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology and senior clinical adviser of Embark Behavioral Health, joins the podcast with Alex Stavros, CEO of Embark, to discuss obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in teens and young adults and how parents can support their children. OCD is characterized by obsessions (unwanted thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (repetitive acts to neutralize obsessions). Common misconceptions include thinking that OCD is just an exaggeration of normal behavior and that excessive video game playing is a form of OCD. OCD is commonly misdiagnosed and often goes undiagnosed due to the fear of embarrassment and stigma. Family accommodation, where parents enable the disorder, can worsen OCD symptoms and reduce response to treatment. It is important for parents to have open and compassionate conversations with their loved ones if they suspect OCD. Seeking information from reputable sources like the International OCD Foundation can also be helpful. Telehealth has been found to be an effective treatment option for pediatric OCD, providing similar outcomes to in-person treatment.   Take our OCD Test [https://www.embarkbh.com/tests/ocd-test/]  The International OCD Foundation [https://iocdf.org/] Related Blogs: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Kids, Adolescents, Teens, and Young Adults [https://www.embarkbh.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/]  OCD and Autism: Similarities and Differences [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/autism/ocd-and-autism/]  Related Videos: Living with OCD | Embark Sessions [https://www.embarkbh.com/captivate-podcast/living-with-ocd/]  What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? | Ask a Therapist [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CsJz9hNkvI]  Research Cited:   Intensive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Telehealth for Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison With a Matched Sample Treated in Person [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374449865_Intensive_Cognitive-Behavioral_Therapy_Telehealth_for_Pediatric_Obsessive-Compulsive_Disorder_During_the_COVID-19_Pandemic_Comparison_With_a_Matched_Sample_Treated_in_Person]   Connect with Embark on Social Media: * Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/embarkbh] * Twitter. [https://twitter.com/embarkbh] * LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/embarkbh/] * Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/embark_bh/] Have a question for our experts? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions to: askatherapist@embarkbh.com [askatherapist@embarkbh.com]. Guest and Host Bios: Dr. Brad Riemann, Ph.D. is a Senior Consultant working with a variety of behavioral health companies and academic institutions to develop evidence-based treatment programming, measurement-based care systems, and standardized training protocols. He is collaborating with Embark Behavioral Health as consultant and clinical advisor. As the former President of Philanthropy, Research and Clinical Care at Rogers Behavioral Health, Dr. Riemann also served as Chief Clinical Officer and System Chief Operating Officer where he launched and developed the OCD and Anxiety Service Line with programming at the intensive outpatient, partial hospital, and residential levels of care. He has authored over 120 scientific, peer-reviewed articles on OCD and anxiety, and fifteen treatment manuals. Dr. Riemann has spoken both nationally and internationally on OCD and is a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and the International OCD Accreditation Task Force.  As the son of missionaries, Alex Stavros grew up in Peru working, playing and living alongside the troubled youth and desolate orphans of Lima’s slums. Alex’s childhood shaped his professional and personal aspirations. Prior to joining InnerChange Programs, Alex lived in California and was the Managing Partner of an investment fund, which he founded, focused on acquiring and leading mission-driven businesses. Prior to Lia Capital, Alex lived in Boston and was the Associate Director of Firm-Wide Operations – working directly for the President and COO – of Cambridge Associates, the world’s largest global investment advisory firm to not for profit organizations. Alex also has experience in public service having worked at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a U.S. government agency that mobilizes private capital to help solve critical, global social and poverty challenges. And he worked on the Capitol Hill in Washington DC for a Minnesota Congressman. Alex has also earned a Certificate of Public Management from Stanford University. And, while at Stanford, was a Rising Fellow at the Hoover Institution, a world-renowned public policy think tank. Alex loves the ocean and is a certified open water diver. He has served as a Board Fellow at one of the most enchanting Aquariums in the world, California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium. Alex spends his free time reading up on foreign affairs and international politics. Alex graduated with Honors from American University with both an Economic Theory and International Relations degree and he earned an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Alex is on the Board of Peruvian Partners, a nonprofit established to connect North Americans in a real and significant way with Peruvian families that live in abject poverty. Alex lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is happily married to his wife, Maria-Paz, who has the most important job in the world, raising their two beautiful children.  About Embark Behavioral Health Embark has been helping people overcome behavioral health issues that may be affecting their everyday lives for over 25 years.    Conditions We Treat Include:   * Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [https://bit.ly/adhd-treatment-embark] * Depression. [https://bit.ly/depression-treatment-embark]   * Anger/mood regulation. [https://bit.ly/angry-teenagers]  * Family conflict. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-family-therapy] * Anxiety. [https://bit.ly/anxiety-treatment-embark]   * Self-harm/cutting. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-cutting]    * Bipolar disorder. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-bipolar-disorder]   * Social isolation. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-social-isolation]    * Borderline personality disorder (BPD).   [https://bit.ly/bpd-treatment-embark] * High-risk behavior. [https://bit.ly/out-of-control-teen-treatment] * Bullying. [https://bit.ly/cyberbullying-in-teens-and-young-adults] The Embark team has some of the most compassionate and educated professionals in the industry. Its core purpose is to create joy and heal generations. Embark’s big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028. Exceptional treatment options, like short-term residential care, makes Embark the world's most respected family behavioral health provider.    Check out our locations. [https://bit.ly/embark-behavioral-health-locations]

Adoption and the Healing Journey

In this episode, Kevin shares his personal adoption story. He and Rob discuss the challenges he faced growing up as an adoptee. Kevin also dives into his journey of self-discovery and healing, his search for his biological family, and the relationships he's forged with them. Kevin emphasizes the importance of finding one's identity and being known, and offers hope and encouragement to other adoptees and parents of adoptive children. Related Blogs: * Trauma and Adoption: How To Help Your Teen Heal [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/trauma/trauma-adoption/] * How To Help a Teenager With Anxiety: A Guide for Parents [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/anxiety/how-to-help-teen-anxiety/] * Avoidance Behavior: Normal Teen Behavior or a Bigger Concern? [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/mental-health/avoidance-behavior/#h-examples-of-avoidance-behavior-nbsp] * Family Fighting: Navigating Conflict [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/family-fighting/] Related Videos: * Mental Health 101: The Healing Journey [https://youtu.be/5Mka9wiXPrA] * Understanding Social Anxiety: Coping Skills for Teens [https://youtu.be/kxdemeLXJqs] * Understanding Parenting Through a Therapeutic Lens [https://youtu.be/z7Xid2JoiNU] * Mental Health 101: Terms to Know [https://youtu.be/jWk7CsZgnrE] Connect with Embark on Social Media: * Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/embarkbh] * Twitter. [https://twitter.com/embarkbh] * LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/embarkbh/] * Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/embark_bh/] Have a question for our experts? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions to: askatherapist@embarkbh.com [askatherapist@embarkbh.com]. About Embark Behavioral Health Embark has been helping people overcome behavioral health issues that may be affecting their everyday lives for over 25 years.    Conditions We Treat Include:   * Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [https://bit.ly/adhd-treatment-embark] * Depression. [https://bit.ly/depression-treatment-embark]   * Anger/mood regulation. [https://bit.ly/angry-teenagers]  * Family conflict. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-family-therapy] * Anxiety. [https://bit.ly/anxiety-treatment-embark]   * Self-harm/cutting. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-cutting]    * Bipolar disorder. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-bipolar-disorder]   * Social isolation. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-social-isolation]    * Borderline personality disorder (BPD).   [https://bit.ly/bpd-treatment-embark] * High-risk behavior. [https://bit.ly/out-of-control-teen-treatment] * Bullying. [https://bit.ly/cyberbullying-in-teens-and-young-adults] The Embark team has some of the most compassionate and educated professionals in the industry. Its core purpose is to create joy and heal generations. Embark’s big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028. Exceptional treatment options, like short-term residential care, makes Embark the world's most respected family behavioral health provider.    Check out our locations. [https://bit.ly/embark-behavioral-health-locations]

Childhood Trauma: Understanding, Supporting, and Healing for Parents and Caregivers

Childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on a child's mental and physical health. Learn how parents and caregivers can create a safe and supportive environment to help them heal on this episode of Roadmap to Joy. Baaba Hawthorne, executive director of Embark Behavioral Health in West Los Angeles, California, and Stephanie Lucas, clinical director of Embark Behavioral Health in Bend, Oregon, debunk misconceptions about trauma and provide strategies for parents and caregivers to support children who have experienced trauma.   They emphasize the importance of consistency, mirroring emotions, and modeling healthy coping skills. They also discuss the role of resilience in a child's ability to recover from trauma and highlight the need for mental health education and support in schools. They address the cultural implications of trauma and provide guidance on navigating these sensitively. Finally, they discuss the importance of self-care for parents and caregivers and the need for collaboration within the caregiving team.  Blogs for Parents: * Intergenerational Trauma: How Trauma Can Be Inherited [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/intergenerational-trauma/]  * What Is Relational Trauma? [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/what-is-relational-trauma/]  * CASA Developmental Framework [https://www.embarkbh.com/the-casa-developmental-framework/]  * Trauma and Adoption: How To Help Your Teen Heal [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/trauma/trauma-adoption/]  Videos for Parents: * Getting to the Core: Peeling the Layers of Trauma and Addiction [https://youtu.be/Cz0NegskkgY]  * Understanding The Casa Framework [https://youtu.be/utY8oLsywhk]  * Mental Health 101: Terms to Know | Roadmap to Joy [https://youtu.be/jWk7CsZgnrE]  Connect with Embark on Social Media: * Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/embarkbh] * Twitter. [https://twitter.com/embarkbh] * LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/embarkbh/] * Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/embark_bh/] Have a question for our experts? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions to: askatherapist@embarkbh.com [askatherapist@embarkbh.com]. About Our Experts: Baaba Hawthorne, M.A., LMFT is the Executive Director of our Embark Behavioral Health West LA Outpatient Clinic. She holds a BA in psychology with an emphasis in human sexuality from California State University, Northridge and earned her master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family therapy from Pepperdine University. She comes from a strong clinical background working with teens, adults and families specializing in addiction, trauma and multi-cultural counseling. In her recent years, Baaba has used her clinical background as a foundation for leadership. Previously inhabiting the roles of Clinical Director and Director of Outreach, Baaba has a passion for building programs and establishing partnerships within the Los Angeles community. Representation matters and Baaba is excited to bring the exceptional services of Embark Behavioral Health to the diverse community of Los Angeles. In her free time Baaba loves to travel internationally, learn about new cultures through food and music and enjoys spending the day at the beach with friends and family.    Stephanie Lucas, LMFT, is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I and EMDRIA certified in EMDR. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon Couple and Family Therapy program and has a long history of work as a life coach, residential and outpatient counselor for children, adolescents, adults and families during her 13 years in the field. Most recently she owned a small private practice in Bend for seven years, specializing in systemic therapy and trauma before stepping into the role of Clinical Director with Embark. She utilizes EMDR, IFS and SFT to empower clients and families towards growth and healing. Stephanie is a lifelong Oregonian and wouldn’t have it any other way. When not in the office, you can find her in her garden or playing outside with her husband and two young girls.  About Embark Behavioral Health Embark has been helping people overcome behavioral health issues that may be affecting their everyday lives for over 25 years.    Conditions We Treat Include:   * Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [https://bit.ly/adhd-treatment-embark] * Depression. [https://bit.ly/depression-treatment-embark]   * Anger/mood regulation. [https://bit.ly/angry-teenagers]  * Family conflict. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-family-therapy] * Anxiety. [https://bit.ly/anxiety-treatment-embark]   * Self-harm/cutting. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-cutting]    * Bipolar disorder. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-bipolar-disorder]   * Social isolation. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-social-isolation]    * Borderline personality disorder (BPD).   [https://bit.ly/bpd-treatment-embark] * High-risk behavior. [https://bit.ly/out-of-control-teen-treatment] * Bullying. [https://bit.ly/cyberbullying-in-teens-and-young-adults] The Embark team has some of the most compassionate and educated professionals in the industry. Its core purpose is to create joy and heal generations. Embark’s big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028. Exceptional treatment options, like short-term residential care, makes Embark the world's most respected family behavioral health provider.    Check out our locations. [https://bit.ly/embark-behavioral-health-locations]

Grief and Loss: Guidance from a Therapist and Parent

Discover invaluable insights on dealing with grief as an experienced Embark Therapist teams up with a compassionate parent to delve into the intricacies of grieving. Gain a deeper understanding commonly misunderstood concepts surrounding loss, such as the stages of grief. Learn how to navigate grief as a family as we move toward healing on this episode of Roadmap to Joy.   CONTENT NOTICE: This episode contains discussions of sensitive subject matter, including infant loss and suicide. If you are having a mental health emergency, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support by calling or texting 988. You can also text HOME to 741741 — the Crisis Text Line — from anywhere in the country to talk with a trained crisis counselor.   Blogs for Parents: https://bit.ly/thoughts-of-depression-and-suicide [https://bit.ly/thoughts-of-depression-and-suicide]   https://bit.ly/embarkbh-preventing-suicide [https://bit.ly/embarkbh-preventing-suicide]   https://bit.ly/embarkbh-teen-suicide-prevention [https://bit.ly/embarkbh-teen-suicide-prevention]   Videos for Parents: Suicide Prevention [https://youtu.be/cfFYkcQOdLk?feature=shared]  Treatment Major Depressive Disorder [https://youtu.be/NUfTSiKfcUI?feature=shared]  Gratitude Journal [https://youtu.be/J9j0jb4LZ8I?feature=shared]  Host Bios Mikayla Gilbreath, LMSW, is a clinical social worker that assists in running the adolescent/young adult IOP group at the Scottsdale Embark clinic. She also offers individual and family therapy and specializes in trauma and traumatic grief and loss. She has worked in adolescent behavioral health for seven years and had been in social work for more than a decade with an emphasis on children and families. When not at work, Mikayla enjoys going to concerts and spending time with her husband and their pug. Jamie Maurer is an Admissions Counselor at Embark Behavioral Health and is passionate about navigating the journey towards hope for families in crisis. Jamie has several years of experience as a Behavioral Health Technician in the substance use field, is on the Board of Directors for Owl Love You Forever, a non-profit organization who build boxes for bereaved mothers, and volunteers for Hope and a Future, a non-profit organization serving youth in the foster care system. As a baby loss mom, Jamie is honored to walk alongside souls who are hurting and offer hope for the hopeless. When she is not volunteering or creating joy at Embark Behavioral Health, you can find her with a camera in hand, capturing moments for others with her photography company- Remember Me Photos, which she named in honor of her son Edwin, who was stillborn 10 years ago. She is an avid writer for her blog, rememberingedwin.com. We do not heal by forgetting, we heal by remembering. Connect with Embark on Social Media: * Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/embarkbh] * Twitter. [https://twitter.com/embarkbh] * LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/embarkbh/] * Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/embark_bh/] Have a question for our experts? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions to: askatherapist@embarkbh.com [askatherapist@embarkbh.com]. About Embark Behavioral Health Embark has been helping people overcome behavioral health issues that may be affecting their everyday lives for over 25 years.    Conditions We Treat Include:   * Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [https://bit.ly/adhd-treatment-embark] * Depression. [https://bit.ly/depression-treatment-embark]   * Anger/mood regulation. [https://bit.ly/angry-teenagers]  * Family conflict. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-family-therapy] * Anxiety. [https://bit.ly/anxiety-treatment-embark]   * Self-harm/cutting. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-cutting]    * Bipolar disorder. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-bipolar-disorder]   * Social isolation. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-social-isolation]    * Borderline personality disorder (BPD).   [https://bit.ly/bpd-treatment-embark] * High-risk behavior. [https://bit.ly/out-of-control-teen-treatment] * Bullying. [https://bit.ly/cyberbullying-in-teens-and-young-adults] The Embark team has some of the most compassionate and educated professionals in the industry. Its core purpose is to create joy and heal generations. Embark’s big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028. Exceptional treatment options, like short-term residential care, makes Embark the world's most respected family behavioral health provider.    Check out our locations. [https://bit.ly/embark-behavioral-health-locations]

Understanding Social Anxiety: Coping Skills for Teens | Roadmap to Joy

In this episode of “Roadmap to Joy,” join licensed social worker Alexzis Figueroa of Embark Behavioral Health in Scottsdale, Arizona and student Baylee as they delve into the world of social anxiety and share valuable insights on coping with this common mental health challenge, especially among teenagers.   In this episode, they define social anxiety as an intense form of worry and fear about how others perceive us. Discover the difference between everyday worries and anxiety disorders, while learning about the importance of recognizing changes in behavior as potential signs for seeking professional support.  Baylee opens up about her personal experience with social anxiety and how seeking therapy during high school was a game-changer for her. Learn how technology can be both a friend and foe in managing anxiety, as Baylee shares helpful tips for breathing techniques and affirmations.  The conversation also explores the significance of community and connection in dealing with social anxiety, with valuable insights on 504 plans that can provide support for students facing mental health challenges at school.  Discover practical advice for teens struggling with anxiety, including starting small to face fears and gain confidence in social situations. Parents will gain valuable tips on how to partner with their children in navigating coping skills and providing much-needed support.  Related Blogs: * High-Functioning Anxiety: How It Affects Teens and How To Help  [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/anxiety/high-functioning-anxiety/]  * Living with Social Anxiety [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/the-symptoms-of-social-anxiety/]  * How to Parent a Teen with Anxiety [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/how-to-parent-a-teen-with-anxiety/]  * 8 Ways to Manage Anxiety as a Family [https://www.embarkbh.com/blog/8-ways-to-manage-anxiety-as-a-family/]  Related Videos: * Mental Health 101: Your Questions Answered (Part 1) | Roadmap to Joy [https://youtu.be/yWGEVnabzco]  * School Anxiety: How to Help Your Child | Roadmap to Joy [https://youtu.be/C-RienaJb50]  * Summer Self-Care: How to Boost Your Teen’s Mental Health | Roadmap to Joy [https://youtu.be/g0DYjDoGquQ]  * Mental Health Days: What Parents Need to Know | Roadmap to Joy [https://youtu.be/wiNLAz9vEck]  About Alexzis  Alexzis is a licensed social worker, certified trauma therapist and an ASU Field Instructor for the School of Social Work. She has a wealth of experience in treating child, adolescent and adult populations struggling with mental health issues, complex/severe trauma and has a specialty in working with persons that have Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. Alexzis is passionate about creating relationships with people and their support systems to create an inclusive and holistic approach treatment. She aims to ensure that each person can embark on a healing journey that blends their whole self, their culture and their vision of progress, with that of evidence-based practices. Alexzis is also Bilingual in both Spanish and English.  Connect with Embark on Social Media: * Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/embarkbh] * Twitter. [https://twitter.com/embarkbh] * LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/company/embarkbh/] * Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/embark_bh/] Have a question for our experts? We want to hear from you! Submit your questions to: askatherapist@embarkbh.com [askatherapist@embarkbh.com]. About Embark Behavioral Health Embark has been helping people overcome behavioral health issues that may be affecting their everyday lives for over 25 years.    Conditions We Treat Include:   * Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [https://bit.ly/adhd-treatment-embark] * Depression. [https://bit.ly/depression-treatment-embark]   * Anger/mood regulation. [https://bit.ly/angry-teenagers]  * Family conflict. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-family-therapy] * Anxiety. [https://bit.ly/anxiety-treatment-embark]   * Self-harm/cutting. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-cutting]    * Bipolar disorder. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-bipolar-disorder]   * Social isolation. [https://bit.ly/learn-about-social-isolation]    * Borderline personality disorder (BPD).   [https://bit.ly/bpd-treatment-embark] * High-risk behavior. [https://bit.ly/out-of-control-teen-treatment] * Bullying. [https://bit.ly/cyberbullying-in-teens-and-young-adults] The Embark team has some of the most compassionate and educated professionals in the industry. Its core purpose is to create joy and heal generations. Embark’s big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028. Exceptional treatment options, like short-term residential care, makes Embark the world's most respected family behavioral health provider.    Check out our locations. [https://bit.ly/embark-behavioral-health-locations]