Mental Health News Radio

Melissa holds a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2009. She has over 14 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities and at-risk youth, working with clients across the lifespan. Her areas of clinical expertise include analogue functional analysis,  verbal behavior, and system-wide implementations of applied behavior analysis. Melissa has presented professionally at both national and international conferences, including the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Additionally, Melissa is an active presenter for Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) and Common Ground Parent Support Group, both non-profits that provides free ABA training to parents and educators across New Jersey. She is also passionate about the dissemination of the science of behavior analysis beyond the autism community; and currently serves as the Chair for the Dissemination of Applied Behavior Analysis, a

Lloyd works to break down racial, gender, and age difference barriers. As an African American male he talks openly about his mental health and substance abuse issues and the stigma of seeking help.  He has such a positive character and has been on a personal journey to motivate the young people of South Carolina for the last 6 years. Hale is an outstanding young person with a powerful recovery story and an engaging speaker.www.ride4spmi.org

Dr. Ross is an internationally renowned clinician, researcher, author and lecturer in the field of dissociation and trauma-related disorders. He is the founder and President of the Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Alberta in 1981 and completed his training in psychiatry at the University of Manitoba in 1985. He has been running a hospital-based Trauma Program in Dallas, Texas since 1991. Dr. Ross' book, The Trauma Model: A Solution To the Problem of Comorbidity in Psychiatry, was first published in 2000, with a second edition appearing in 2007. Other recent books of his include Trauma Model Therapy: A Treatment Approach for Trauma, Dissociation and Complex Comorbidity (2009), The C.I.A. Doctors: Human Rights Violations by American Psychiatrists (2006) and Moon Shadows: Stories of Trauma & Recovery (2007).In addition, Dr. Ross has authored over 170 professional papers, has reviewed for numerous professional journals and grant agencies and is a pa

A few years ago, Teodrose Fikre was an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton making a six figure salary consulting agencies at the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir and Department of Treasury and a wide array of defense and civil agencies throughout the Washington, DC metro area.  I provided IT and business process improvement consultation for an alphabet soup of federal agencies and led a very comfortable life. I built up an "impressive array" of credentials and degrees; an MBA from Johns Hopkins, a PMP certification as well as a six sigma certified project manager. From the outside, I was the quintessential American success story. But these things, titles and accomplishments, could not fill the void I felt as accomplishments for the sake of accomplishment always felt like I was chasing unfulfilling pavements.Then the swerve of life happened and in a fell swoop, I fell into a crevice of turbulence. Equal parts malicious imposition and my own imprudence took me from upper-middle class comforts to day to day distress that com

Dr. Ross is an internationally renowned clinician, researcher, author and lecturer in the field of dissociation and trauma-related disorders. He is the founder and President of the Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Alberta in 1981 and completed his training in psychiatry at the University of Manitoba in 1985. He has been running a hospital-based Trauma Program in Dallas, Texas since 1991. Dr. Ross' book, The Trauma Model: A Solution To the Problem of Comorbidity in Psychiatry, was first published in 2000, with a second edition appearing in 2007. Other recent books of his include Trauma Model Therapy: A Treatment Approach for Trauma, Dissociation and Complex Comorbidity (2009), The C.I.A. Doctors: Human Rights Violations by American Psychiatrists (2006) and Moon Shadows: Stories of Trauma & Recovery (2007).In addition, Dr. Ross has authored over 170 professional papers, has reviewed for numerous professional journals and grant agencies and is a pa

My Counterpane evolved from the experience of Kate Milliken, who was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2006.A video producer by trade, Kate produced a series of videos to showcase her first year with MS and launched them in 2009 on Katescounterpane.com. A counterpane is a patchwork quilt created from a variety of fabrics which, when sewn together, create warmth and beauty as a whole. Her emotional honesty struck a chord and the project gained wide viewership in the MS community, especially among the newly diagnosed.What became clear to Kate through her own experience was that people need a way to connect each other not only via sharing the daily experience of illness (the clinical), but by sharing the emotions behind the illness (the psychological). Mycounterpane.com started with MS, but as the site gained traction, other communities were born.Our aim is to be the experiential version of a counterpane patchwork quilt: a community that celebrates the virtual, remembers the real, and

Two-time world champion boxer, Jesse James Leija, joins host Kristin Sunanta Walker on Mental Health News Radio to talk about the mind-body connection. Mental acuity, continued acts of service through advocacy, love of family, humility, and entrepreneurship are all at the heart of Jesse James Leija. He discusses the many phases of his career and how his training as a boxer kept him mentally and physically able to take on world champion competitors and stay in the ring. Please visit his website at www.jessejamesleija.com for more information about his organizations and the charities he not only supports financially but rolls up his sleeves and puts the hard work in day after day. 

Wendy Conquest is a psychotherapist, Director of SACC, a sex and addiction treatment center in Boulder Colorado and author of Letters To A Sex Addict: The Journey Through Grief and Betrayal. Ms. Conquest’s passion is to understand and create paradigms for change. She has developed programs dealing with drug, alcohol, sex addiction, and treating partners of sex addicts with hospitals, agencies and treatment centers over the last 17 years always using cutting edge research.  Wendy has also been successful incorporating Alma, her therapy dog, with clients in individual, couples, and group settings.  Her newest book, Letters From A Sex Addict; Seeing Inside My Mind, written with co-author, Dan Drake, will be available in 2017.www.wendyconquest.comDan Drake is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Supervisor, and a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist. He specializes in treating sex addicts, their partners and families. He is in p

Our friend and guest on the show, Shahida Arabi, inspired this podcast. Her articles on Daughters of Narcissistic Fathers can be found here. Definitely a trigger warning for listeners - be prepared prior to listening to this one with counselors Melanie Vann and Melissa Richards joined by host Kristin Sunanta Walker.We highly recommend you visit Shahida's website. 

Mike Rezendes is a member of the Boston Globe Spotlight Team and shared a 2003 Pulitzer Prize for revealing the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In more than two decades with the Globe, he has investigated a wide array of additional subjects, including the September 11 attacks, health care costs, and prison suicides. While working with the Spotlight Team, Mike was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice, once in 2007 for an investigation of the debt collection industry, and again in 2017 for an exposé of the mental health care system in Massachusetts. On this show our host, Kristin Sunanta Walker, and Mike discuss the mental health system failure in Massachusetts. Read the full blog articles on both of our Spotlight team interviews!For more information please visit The Boston Globe Spotlight team.

Jodee Prouse is an outspoken advocate to help eliminate the shame and stigma surrounding Addiction and Mental Illness from a family perspective. She is the author of the just released, powerful memoir, The Sun is Gone: A Sister Lost in Secrets, Shame, and Addiction, and How I Broke Free which instantly went to #1 in her 3 categories. (Adult Children of Alcoholics, Dysfunctional Families, and Alcoholism).www.jodeeprouse.comwww.facebook.com/jodee.tisdaleprousewww.instagram.com/jodeeprousewww.linkedin.com/in/jodee-prouse-530a8329/

John Bruna (Jangchub Chophel) is an author, counselor, educator, mindfulness and Dharma teacher. With humble and challenging beginnings, he grew up in a low-income environment, surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and violence. In 1984, at the age of 22, John began a spiritual journey that changed the course of his life. As a result of that journey, John has been able to turn his experiences of being a dishwasher, auto mechanic, corporate manager, graduate student, and spiritual practitioner into insights on how to live productively, creatively, and collaboratively. After living in different cultural and economic environments, along with educational and spiritual training, John has become an accessible, authentic teacher and role model for people who want positive change and progress in their life.John is the director of Way of Compassion Foundation and Co-Founder of the Mindful Life Program. He is also the author of the upcoming book, The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness.John's Tedx Talk Free

What on earth can we write about James Lott, Jr.? Witty, charming, warm, funny, charismatic - but the man knows. He knows what's up. Probably one of our most enjoyable podcasts with a fellow podcaster! Who introduced him to us? The great connector, Dr. Cali Estes. James is an artist, a writer, a television host, a podcast host, a professional organizationer, coach and so much more. He knows the ins and outs of the entertainment world and STILL laughs from his belly. This was a fun show where we stole his line, "You just can't fake the funk!"For more about James visit any of the amazing places below:James Lott, Jr. AFIS CNA CTACC The Super Organizer LLC 213.309.3685 thesuperorganizer.com thesuperorganizeruniverse.comthesuperorganieruniversetips.blogspot.com blakhopeproductions.com @blakhopela @thesupero @alottinla

A bio from Ryan Orrock is never going to be a traditional bio. So let's play but please read his bio here. Best to listen to the show to hear what he does, why he does it, and how he can help you.  Student. Writer. Facilitator. Communicator. Coach. Mindworker. Bodyworker. Counselor. Healer. Trainer and even Dom.Most of all, Energy Worker.www.ryanorrock.comwww.patreon.com/ryanorrockwww.facebook.com/ryan.orrock

Thanks to Bree Bonchay, LCSW for calling June 1st the date of World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day. It was important for our host, Kristin Walker, to interview the friends that brought this awareness to Mental Health News Radio: Andrea Schneider and Christine Louis de Canonville. We've shared this walk for many years before we knew each other and then together the past 3 years. A whole lot of healing has gone on for each of us and for listeners of our shows. Please visit Christine's website here for more information about her and her work.Please visit Andrea's website here for more information about her and her work. Join us as we talk about what this day means for us, our friendship, and the thousands of people that have reached out for help upon finding our writing, hearing a podcast, being a part of a training session, or bumping into us on the street!  www.mhnrnetwork.comwww.mentalhealthnewsradio.com  

One of our best interviews to date is with Dr. Adi Jaffe of www.igntd.me. His talks all over the globe are always a surprise for the audience. You'll find out why on this show. Great back and forth discussions about how the industry behind behavioral health has got to change in order to truly be effective. He's a disrupter - expect the unexpected and enjoy the show!Dr. Jaffe received his Ph.D., in Psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and his TEDx talk has been watched, and lauded, throughout the world for its authenticity and insight. Check out his visit with Dr. Oz here. Using tools as varied as cognitive behavioral education, mindfulness techniques and the latest in biofeedback and neurofeedback, Dr. Jaffe has been known to change lives.www.nationalcouncil.orgwww.igntd.me

Eating disorders are widely misunderstood and yet they effect all races and all genders.This is a global epidemic that has been ravaging people for centuries.Two counselors, Shari Botwin and Melanie Vann, join host Kristin Walker for a very intimate conversation about treatment, our personal histories, and how misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated people are that suffer from this lifelong problem. Recovery takes on many forms over the course of someone's life. Certainly Western culture plays its negative role but this a problem all over the world.Melanie Vann is the Program Director for Mental Health News Radio. For more information about Melanie click here.Kristin Walker is the host of Mental Health News Radio and Founder of MHNRNetwork.com.Shari Botwin, LCSW has been counseling survivors of trauma and abuse for over 20 years. She has given expert testimony on most major news outlets and will be featured in a documentary later this year on healing from sexual trauma. She is working on her second book,

Dave Vigerust, Ph.D. is the Chief Science Officer of MyGenetx. Dr. Vigerust is a strategic scientist, consultant, teacher, and inventor, particularly in the areas of infectious disease, oncology, genetics, pharmacogenetics (PGx) and immunology. Dr. Vigerust earned his BS degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in Biology and Chemistry, a MS degree in Immunology and Microbiology from Texas Tech University and his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in infectious disease first at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and second at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Pediatrics. After completing his fellowships in 2009, he joined the faculty of Vanderbilt School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology and was concurrently a Health Research Scientist for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Vigerust currently maintains an Adjunct Assistant Professor positio

Barbra Russell joins us LIVE from Navigating the World of Addiction in Littleton Colorado. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor as a “second career” and has spent many hours working with individuals, couples and families in her private practice. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Counseling and that “second career” prompted a move from Pueblo to Denver, Colorado where she works as the Director of the Counseling Department at the Potter’s House Church.Joins us as we discuss her new book, "Yes! I Said No!" which is now available through Amazon.com.www.barbrarussell.com

Author and businessman Kevin Cullis joins us LIVE from Navigating the World of Addiction in Littleton Colorado. We discuss his theory on having a poverty mindset and how to change your thinking about prosperity. His books can be found on Amazon here.Kevin Cullis is a former USAF officer, currently a business geek and an entrepreneur. He has his Masters Degree in Administration as well as 12 years of face-to-face experience selling both Macs and PCs to businesses. He loves helping entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners integrate, utilize, and optimize their marketing, sales, and business management processes to be profitable. The combination of both a business and a computer process perspectives makes him unique in saving and making money, especially when using a Mac. "How to Start a Business: Mac Version" is his first book.His second book, "HWJDB How Would Jesus Do Business?: Bible Secrets for Startups and Entrepreneurs" came about while discussing business with former Navy SEAL SOC Jimmy Graham.