17 | Trust Over Tactics: The Transparency Advantage in Adolescent Treatment

17 | Trust Over Tactics: The Transparency Advantage in Adolescent Treatment

When families are searching for treatment for a struggling teenager, they aren't making a typical consumer decision; they're making one of the most emotional and important decisions of their lives. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Zack Schafer, Executive Director of Mountain Valley Treatment Center, to explore why trust, not marketing, is the real driver of growth in adolescent behavioral health. Zack shares his unconventional journey from occupational therapist to Executive Director at just 31 years old and explains how his clinical background shaped a radically different philosophy around admissions, leadership, and patient experience. Together, they discuss why transparency has become Mountain Valley's competitive advantage, how podcasting and alumni stories influence admissions decisions, the role of authenticity in building credibility with families, and why niche specialization in Anxiety and OCD treatment helps families make better decisions. If you're a behavioral health executive, admissions leader, marketer, or treatment center operator, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what sustainable growth actually looks like in today's market. Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Why Trust Matters in Adolescent Treatment 05:00 Zack's Journey from Therapist to Executive Director 07:00 Why Relationships Outperform Traditional Marketing 09:00 Staying Personally Involved in Admissions Conversations 11:00 Launching a Podcast & Discovering the Power of Storytelling 13:00 How Alumni Stories Influence Family Decisions 16:00 Using Content as an Admissions Enablement Tool 18:00 Transparency as a Competitive Advantage 20:00 Why Mountain Valley Opens the Doors to Families 22:00 The Fear Behind Industry Secrecy 24:00 Authenticity, Outcomes, and Building Credibility 26:00 Lower AMA Rates Through Better Expectation Setting 27:00 Alumni as the Ultimate Trust Builders 31:00 The Power of Niche Positioning in Anxiety & OCD Treatment Follow elev8.io on Social Media * LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/] * Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/] * YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io] Guest Details * Zack Schafer, Executive Director at Mountain Valley Treatment Center * LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-schafer-a6026b108 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-schafer-a6026b108] * Website: https://mountainvalleytreatment.org [https://mountainvalleytreatment.org] Resources & Links * Learn more about ⁠elev8.io⁠ [https://elev8.io/solutions-overview/] * Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations: ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠ [https://growthcalculator.elev8.io]  Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes: https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠ [https://elev8.io/podcast/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

16 | From Containment to Community: Rethinking Addiction Treatment with Bob Ferguson (Jaywalker Lodge)

Most addiction treatment programs are designed to stabilize patients. But what happens after they leave? In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Bob Ferguson, founder of Jaywalker Lodge, to unpack one of the biggest gaps in behavioral health today: 👉 The difference between getting sober and learning how to live in recovery. Drawing from more than 30 years in the industry, including building one of the most differentiated treatment models in behavioral health, Bob shares why treatment is “necessary but not sufficient,” and why long-term recovery requires something far bigger than a controlled environment. Together, Gary and Bob unpack: ● Why most treatment models prioritize containment over community ● How real-world integration improves long-term recovery outcomes ● The accidental discovery that shaped Jaywalker’s community-based model ● Why alumni became Jaywalker’s most important stakeholder ● The psychology behind sustainable sobriety and peer accountability ● How transparency and specificity create stronger behavioral health brands ● Why collaboration—not competition—is one of the industry’s greatest opportunities This is a masterclass on recovery, positioning, alumni engagement, culture, and building a behavioral health organization that creates both stronger outcomes and stronger long-term growth. If you’re a behavioral health executive, founder, operator, marketer, admissions leader, or clinician trying to rethink outcomes and differentiation in treatment — this episode is for you. ⏱️ Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why treatment alone is not enough 04:00 – Bob’s personal recovery journey and founding Jaywalker Lodge 08:15 – The accidental shift from containment to community 13:00 – Why community integration changed patient outcomes 15:30 – Early mistakes and lessons learned building the model 21:00 – Alumni as the primary stakeholder 27:00 – How alumni transformed the culture at Jaywalker 31:00 – The marketing challenge of a 120-day program 34:30 – Why specificity creates stronger behavioral health brands 38:00 – “Contrary attraction” and behavioral health admissions 41:30 – The psychology of trust, honesty, and recovery 45:00 – What the industry must change moving forward 47:00 – Collaboration vs competition in behavioral health 50:00 – Final reflections and closing thoughts 🔗 Follow elev8.io on Social Media ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/] ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/] ● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io [https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io] 👤  Guest Details ● Bob Ferguson, Former Founder, Jaywalker Lodge ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfjaywalkerlodge/ ● Website: http://www.jaywalkerlodge.com 📊 Resources & Links ● Learn more about ⁠ [https://elev8.io/solutions-overview/]elev8.io [http://elev8.io]⁠ [https://elev8.io/solutions-overview/] ● Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations -> ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠ [https://growthcalculator.elev8.io]  💡 Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠ [https://elev8.io/podcast/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

15 | Pre, During, After: A Smarter Framework for Conference ROI in Behavioral Health

Conferences can either become expensive calendar events… or one of the highest-leverage growth opportunities inside your organization. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Doug Edwards, Senior Vice President at HMP Global, to break down what actually drives conference ROI. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience producing some of the industry’s largest events, Doug shares why conferences should be treated as strategic environments for relationship-building, market intelligence, hiring, partnerships, and long-term growth — not just networking opportunities. Together, Gary and Doug unpack: * Why conference ROI rarely happens immediately * The biggest mistakes teams make before arriving onsite * How to decide who should attend conferences * Why relationships outperform transactions over time * How conferences help operators stay ahead of trends like AI  * What strong post-conference execution actually looks like If you’re attending conferences this year and want to walk in with more clarity, better strategy, and stronger outcomes, this conversation is for you. ⏱️  Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why conferences fail without preparation 05:15 – How industry conferences have evolved 11:00 – The hidden ROI most teams overlook 18:00 – Choosing the right people to attend 24:30 – Why relationships matter more than transactions 30:00 – AI, psychedelics, and emerging trends 37:40 – Evaluating vendors and technology onsite 43:00 – Post-conference follow-up strategies 49:20 – Final advice for behavioral health leaders 🔗  Follow elev8.io on Social Media * LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/] * Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/] * YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io] 👤  Guest Details * Doug Edwards - Senior Vice President — HMP Global * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-edwards-086956b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-edwards-086956b/] * Website: http://www.hmpglobal.com [http://www.hmpglobal.com] 📊 Resources & Links * Learn more about elev8.io:⁠ https://elev8.io⁠ [https://elev8.io] * Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator, exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations 👉⁠ https://growthcalculator.elev8.io [https://growthcalculator.elev8.io] 💡 Have a topic in mind?Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes → https://elev8.io/podcast [https://elev8.io/podcast/]

14 | The Foundations of Behavioral Health Marketing Attribution With CTM

In today’s #BehavioralHealth landscape, patient acquisition costs continue to rise—often reaching $3,000 to $10,000 per admission, yet many treatment centers still lack clear visibility into what’s actually driving their admissions. The result? Decisions are made on assumptions, not data. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Bryan McKinstry, Lead of Strategic Partnerships at CTM, to unpack the foundational systems required to bring clarity to marketing performance and admissions outcomes. Drawing from hands-on experience working with behavioral health organizations of all sizes, Bryan breaks down why traditional metrics like call volume and duration fall short, and how facilities can shift toward true attribution by connecting marketing, admissions, and operations into one unified system. Together, they explore the critical role of call tracking, the importance of speed-to-contact, and why the first interaction with a prospective patient is often the highest-leverage moment in the entire journey. This conversation is designed for behavioral health executives, marketing leaders, and admissions teams who want to move beyond vanity metrics and build a data-driven engine for sustainable census growth. Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why most facilities lack visibility into what drives admissions 03:30 – The biggest blind spots in marketing attribution 05:00 – Why call duration is a misleading metric 08:00 – The disconnect between marketing and admissions teams 12:30 – What separates advanced call tracking systems from basic tools 16:00 – Speed-to-contact and capturing high-intent patient moments 20:00 – Why attribution should be treated as an operational system 23:00 – Common mistakes when implementing call tracking 27:30 – Multi-location vs single-location attribution challenges 30:00 – AI in admissions: enhancement vs replacement Follow elev8.io on Social Media ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/] ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/] ● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io [https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io] Guest Details ● Bryan McKinstry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-mckinstry-32377453/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-mckinstry-32377453/] ● Company: CallTrackingMetrics - CTM ● Website: http://calltrackingmetrics.com/ [http://calltrackingmetrics.com/] ● Email: bryan.mckinstry@calltrackingmetrics.com Resources & Links ● Learn more about ⁠elev8.io⁠ [https://elev8.io/solutions-overview/] ● Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively ● designed for Behavioral Health Organizations -> ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠ [https://growthcalculator.elev8.io]  Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠ [https://elev8.io/podcast/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

13 | Getting Sober vs. Staying Sober: The Missing Link in Behavioral Health Treatment

Getting someone into treatment is only the first step. What happens after they leave… is where recovery is actually decided. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Frank Galimidi, CEO of Sunview Wellness, to break down one of the biggest gaps in behavioral health today: the difference between getting sober and actually staying sober. With relapse rates still high within the first 90 days, this conversation challenges how the industry approaches treatment, extended care, and long-term recovery outcomes. Frank shares real-world insights from nearly two decades in addiction treatment, covering: * Why extended care (PHP, IOP, outpatient) is critical for long-term success * How current business models and reimbursement structures influence care decisions * The role of readmissions, referrals, and reputation in behavioral health * Why outcomes—not just admissions—will define the future of the industry If you’re a treatment center owner, operator, or leader in behavioral health, this episode will challenge how you think about recovery, growth, and patient outcomes. ⏱️  Key Topics / Timestamps [00:00] – Why recovery doesn’t end after treatment The gap between getting sober and staying sober. [03:00] – How behavioral health has changed in the last 5–7 years Access to care, payer scrutiny, and the shift toward scalable models. [05:00] – Why extended care is where real recovery happens From detox to real-world reintegration. [08:00] – The business model behind treatment centers Why detox and residential dominate the market. [10:00] – The uncomfortable truth about readmissions How relapse is often built into the system. [16:00] – Trust, trauma, and why time in treatment matters Why real clinical work can’t happen in 30 days. [18:00] – Insurance, reimbursement, and industry scrutiny How past practices shaped today’s payer landscape. [26:00] – Why PHP/IOP struggle as a business model Marketing challenges and lower reimbursement realities. [30:00] – Outcomes vs admissions: what actually drives growth Reputation, referrals, and long-term success. [36:00] – Alumni programs: support vs revenue strategy Where many facilities get it wrong. [40:00] – Advice for treatment center owners & investors What it really takes to succeed in behavioral health today 🔗  Follow elev8.io on Social Media * LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/] * Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/] * YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io] 👤  Guest Details * Frank Galimidi * CEO, Sunview Wellness * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-galimidi-casac-cap-cradc-ncacii-icadc-sap-8669054/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-galimidi-casac-cap-cradc-ncacii-icadc-sap-8669054/] * Website: https://sunviewwellness.com/ [https://sunviewwellness.com/] 📊 Resources & Links * Learn more about elev8.io: https://elev8.io [https://elev8.io] * Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator: 👉 https://growthcalculator.elev8.io [https://growthcalculator.elev8.io] 💡 Have a topic in mind? Suggest it and explore more episodes: 👉 https://elev8.io/podcast/ [https://elev8.io/podcast/]