The Best Minds Podcast

The Family Recovery Experience Part 2

Structured Family Recovery® helps prevent relapse and brings families back together. Kathy Row, MA, LPC, is a certified SFR counselor. She shares inspiring stories of healing and hope, and tells how families once shattered by addiction found their way back to happiness. Kathy is a seasoned practitioner who has helped many families come back from the brink. She talks with Debra Jay, author of "It Takes a Family."

The Family Recovery Experience pt 1

Carver Brown and Sherry Gaugler-Stewart have dedicated their lives to helping families facing a loved one's addiction. As Certified Structured Family Recovery (SFR) counselors, they guide families engaged in SFR to build trust, happiness, and lasting sobriety. In this podcast, they explain the elements of  SFR and how SFR brings families back together, including their newly sober beloved alcoholic/addict. The first of two podcasts on SFR, this podcast, hosted by Jeff Jay, provides a window into the SFR experience for families.

Don't Forget the Children with Jerry Moe

Children suffer silently when a parent is addicted, yet they are often forgotten. Jerry Moe has been at the forefront of helping the children of addicted families for decades. He is the director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Children's program and the author of several wonderful books, including "Kids Power." We believe Jerry Moe is a national treasure. His sound-breaking program has been safe place for kids to heal and a catalyst for bringing families back together. We talked with him about the effect of addiction on young children, and what can be done to help then heal. We also spoke with him about his work with Sesame Street. Don't miss this important and inspiring hour.

Finding Lower Cost Treatment with Jim Balmer and Anna Byberg

Community-based programs can be tremendous resources. Two treatment experts share their wisdom, offering hope for families and clients. Jim Balmer, co-founder of the Dawn Farm treatment program and Anna Byberg, clinical director, and incoming president of Dawn Farm. We couldn’t think of anyone better than Jim and Anna to discuss this topic: finding excellent, low- cost treatment that offers real long-term solutions. But we talk about much more than low-cost treatment, as we explore the untapped power of the recovering community. Jim and Anna explain that treatment is really secondary to the twelve-step community, rather than the other way around. They are both humble and wise in the advice they share.

Recovery for Licensed Professionals with Buddy Stockwell

Licensed professionals like lawyers, pilots, doctors and other health professionals receive a very high level of treatment and support if they require addiction treatment. As a result, they achieve greater success. What makes the difference?  Buddy Stockwell was the executive director of the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) of Louisiana, which was recognized as one of the nation’s best. Buddy was awarded the Bar Association’s President’s Award for his exemplary service at Louisiana’s JLAP.  Buddy is a certified clinical interventionist through the “Love First” Clinical Intervention Training, which took place at the Betty Ford Center, and he has personally been in recovery from alcoholism since 1983. He has supported hundreds of lawyers, law students and family members, offering help with a wide range of substance abuse and mental health issues. In 2020, Buddy was recruited by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program [http://www.tlap.org], which is a no-cost, confidential program providing consultation, referral, intervention, and crisis counseling for lawyers, judges, and law students who are struggling with substance abuse, stress, or mental health issues.  Buddy received his law degree from Louisiana State University and was previously in private practice specializing in domestic litigation. His insights into treatment and recovery for licensed professionals will be of interest to everyone.