Behavioral Health Today

Latest Episodes:

From Parallel to Unified: Designing Mental Health Into Primary Care with Erik Osland of evolvedMD – Episode 393 Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

When mental health is integrated into primary care, patients are less likely to fall through the cracks. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon speaks with Erik Osland, co-founder and CEO of evolvedMD, a company redefining how behavioral health is delivered. With a background as a corporate leader turned serial entrepreneur, Erik has built and led multiple successful healthcare ventures, including a clinical lab that was acquired by a major diagnostic company in 2020. At evolvedMD, Erik is focused on bringing mental health care directly into primary care settings, making services more accessible, collaborative, and effective. He and Sharlee discuss the personal story that inspired the company, the challenges of our fragmented healthcare system, and how evolvedMD’s integrated model is improving outcomes for patients with both simple and complex needs. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in healthcare innovation, behavioral health, and the future of whole-person care.

For more information about evolvedMD, please visit: https://www.evolvedmd.com

If you would like to contact Erik Osland, please email at: erik@evolvedmd.com

If you would like to connect with Erik on Linkedin, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-osland-0a41b7133

Connect with evolvedMD on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/evolved_md

Connect with evolvedMD on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolvedmd

Connect with evolvedMD on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/evolvedMD

Challenging the System, Healing the Whole: Rethinking Addiction Recovery with Dr. Traci Sweet of Holon Health – Episode 392 Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

When we treat minds, bodies, and communities together, we don’t just reduce harm, we build hope. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Dr. Traci Sweet, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Holon Health. With more than 30 years of experience driving innovation in behavioral health and substance use treatment, Traci has been a leading force behind integrated care models that truly serve underserved populations. From launching the first integrated SUD treatment program at Catasys, to developing evidence-based curricula for incarcerated individuals and DUI programs, Traci has spent her career breaking down barriers to care. Her work has consistently focused on meeting people where they are—with respect, with science, and with systems that work. At Holon Health, she’s helping lead a systemic shift, one that seamlessly combines primary care, substance use treatment, and harm reduction into a collaborative, forward-thinking model. Holon is challenging outdated norms, bridging the divide between healthcare and the criminal justice system, and using technology to expand access and build trust. We're thrilled to have Traci on the show to explore how Holon is transforming what care looks like, and what recovery can truly mean.

For more information about Holon Health, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com

If you would like to refer a client, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com/client-referrals/

For more information about partnering with Holon Health, please visit: https://www.holonhealth.com/courts/

Connect with Holon Health on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holonhealth/

Connect with Holon Health on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holonhealthcare

Connect with Holon Health on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HolonHealth

Connect with Holon Health on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holonhealth/

Building Emotionally Intelligent Teams: Habits, Norms, & the New Leadership with Vanessa Druskat – Episode 391 Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Belonging, feedback, and trust aren’t soft skills. They’re the foundation of strong, high-performing teams. In this episode, Peter Fenger talks with Vanessa Druskat, associate professor of Organizational Behavior and Management at the University of New Hampshire and a leading expert on team performance and leadership. Vanessa is the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest, a practical guide to creating team cultures that foster motivation, collaboration, and results. Her best-selling article in Harvard Business Review, coauthored with Steven Wolff, has been featured in five of HBR’s most valued collections. Vanessa has advised leaders at more than a dozen Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, and her award-winning research continues to shape how organizations build emotionally intelligent teams. Together, Peter and Vanessa explore what makes a team emotionally intelligent—from the norms that create belonging and trust to the habits and feedback systems that help teams thrive in today’s evolving workplace.

For more information about “The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest” by Vanessa Druskat, please visit: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-emotionally-intelligent-team-building-collaborative-groups-that-outperform-the-rest-vanessa-urch-druskat/20207200?ean=9781647824877&next=t

For more information about Vanessa Druskat, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com

For more information about other books and publications written by Vanessa, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/books

For resources for fostering emotionally intelligent teams, please visit: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/resources

Watch Vanessa speak on Team El for TEDx Portsmouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wcdXXgG2rQ

BHT Bytes – From Villains to Vulnerability: Mental Health in the Media Spotlight– Episode 390 Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Mental wellness is no longer just a plot twist—it’s the story itself. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon explore how our work overlaps with the films, TV shows, and music we consume, especially when it comes to mental health. We’ve both seen it move from punchline or surprise reveal to something central, human, even heroic. Think back to horror-movie “madness” in the 1970s and ’80s, then fast-forward to recent, more nuanced portrayals in Silver Linings Playbook, 13 Reasons Why, or even The Thunderbolts. Media is changing quickly, and while greater visibility has brought many benefits, there are unintended downsides: everyday emotions get over-pathologized, diagnoses become identities, and awareness doesn’t always mean accuracy. Today we ask: when mental wellness goes mainstream, what improves, what blurs, and what should we watch closely?

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Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ

Trust, Tech, and Transformation: Human-Centered AI for Public Health Transformation with Sheetal Shah – Episode 389 Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Technology should serve the mission rather than take the lead. When guided by compassion, strategy, and inclusion, AI becomes a teammate instead of a threat. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon welcomes Sheetal Shah, founder and CEO of MettaHealth Partners, a consulting firm dedicated to helping public health and social service organizations navigate digital transformation with both compassion and efficiency. Sheetal’s career spans from the frontlines of a dengue epidemic in Brazil to leading digital health initiatives in Ethiopia, and even shaping national policy during the Obama Administration. With over two decades of experience supporting value-based care, Medicaid transformation, and health equity initiatives, she brings a global perspective grounded in deep expertise. Sheetal holds a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University, is pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and centers loving-kindness, or metta, in all aspects of her work. We are excited to have Sheetal on the show to explore how MettaHealth Partners is using AI and digital innovation to drive value-based, equitable transformation in public health by blending global insight, ethical technology, and compassionate strategy to help mission-driven organizations create meaningful and lasting impact.

For more information about MettaHealth Partners, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com

For more information about their AI Digital Learning Series, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/training-ai-25

For more information about MetttaHealth Partners and their services, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/services

If you are interested in contacting MettaHealth Parterns, please visit: https://mettahealthpartners.com/contact

Connect with Sheetal Shah on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheetalshahmph

Holding Space for Change: How Ketamine Therapy Unlocks the Body-Mind Dialogue with Christi Myers – Episode 388 Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Ketamine creates the space to see your truth, but its integration that transforms that truth into lasting change. In this episode, host Peter Fenger is joined by Christi Myers, Founder and CEO of Flow Integrative®, a pioneering Ketamine Infusion center focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy. With nearly 20 years of experience as a paramedic, Christi has served in high-impact roles, from working with the Department of Defense to educating the next generation of EMS professionals as a faculty member and assistant director of Emergency Medical Services at Victor Valley College. Her personal journey through PTSD and the emotional toll of frontline work inspired her to build Flow Integrative®, a center dedicated to destigmatizing psychedelic medicine and reimagining mental healthcare. Under her leadership, Flow has become a national model for employer-driven ketamine treatment, offering a trauma-informed, dual-modality approach that integrates both medical and mental health care. In today’s conversation, we explore how Ketamine Infusion Therapy offers a unique, action-oriented path to healing. We’ll dive into what makes Flow’s model different, the critical role of integration, and how this work is reshaping how we think about emotional well-being, trauma, and treatment access.

For more information about Flow Integrative and their ketamine clinic, please visit: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com
For more information about ketamine protocol, physician training, and practice integration, please visit: https://flowintegrative.org/services

For more information about ketamine infusion process and FAQs, please visit: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/faq/

For more information on what to expect, please visit the Flow Integrative Blog: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/blog/

Connect with Flow Integrative on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/getfikd/

Connect with Flow Integrative on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flow-integrative-psychedelic-wellness/?viewAsMember=true

Connect with Flow Integrative on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GetFIKd/

The Weightless Cure: Reimagining Mental Health Through Float Therapy with Dr. Katelyn Lehman– Episode 387 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Float therapy isn’t an escape—it’s a return: to your body, your breath, and your baseline. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon speaks with Dr. Katelyn Lehman, a pioneering psychologist and founder of Quantum Clinic, a Los Angeles-based wellness center at the forefront of heart-brain coherence and nervous system healing. Recognized by Goop, the LA Times, NBC, and Beverly Hills Times, Dr. Lehman is leading a movement of radical reconnection—bridging science and spirituality to transform how we heal. Her clinic blends floatation therapy, biofeedback, and coherence training to offer powerful, preventative mental health care. Together, we explore her journey from political and cultural psychology to founding Quantum Clinic, the therapeutic power of deep rest, how this model supports trauma recovery and psychedelic integration, and why she believes the future of mental health lies in stillness, safety, and self-awareness.

For more information about Quantum Clinic, please visit: https://www.quantumclinic.com/

For more information about Quantum Clinic services, please visit: https://www.quantumclinic.com/wellness-services-los-angeles

Connect with Quantum Clinics on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@quantumclinic

Connect with Quantum Clinics on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/quantumclinicusa/

Connect with Quantum Clinics on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/quantumclinicusa

Connect with Quantum Clinics on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantumclinicusa

For articles and thought leadership by Dr. Katelyn Lehman, please visit: https://drklehman.medium.com

Connect with Dr. Katelyn Lehman on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynlehman/

Beyond Naloxone: Rethinking Overdose Prevention Through Harm Reduction with Dr. Jorge Petit & Leah Harris – Episode 386 Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Overdose prevention starts before the crisis, with compassion, planning, and real-world tools that save lives upstream. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Jorge Petit and Leah Harris from Zero Overdose, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing overdose deaths through education, empowerment, and harm reduction. Dr. Jorge Petit, Strategy and Development Officer at Zero Overdose, brings over 30 years of experience in community and public psychiatry, advocating for people impacted by mental health and substance use. He has led major initiatives at Coordinated Behavioral Care and Beacon Health Options, and is the founder of Quality Healthcare Solutions. Leah Harris, a Trainer at Zero Overdose, draws on two decades of experience as a speaker and advocate, along with her own lived experience with substance use and recovery. She’s worked with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, NASMHPD, and PEERS to advance trauma-informed, person-centered approaches. Together, Jorge and Leah introduce the Overdose Safety Planning Specialist Training—a transformative program that equips providers, peers, and loved ones with the skills to assess and reduce overdose risks. Through frameworks, roleplay, and harm reduction strategies, the training empowers people to meet individuals where they are, without shame or stigma. We’ll explore why this training is making waves across healthcare systems, how it centers lived experience, and why overdose prevention must be everyone’s responsibility, from parents and providers to communities at large.

For more information about Zero Overdose, please visit: https://zerooverdose.org

For more information about upcoming trainings and events, please visit: https://zerooverdose.org/services/

Connect with Zero Overdose on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/zerooverdose/

Connect with Zero Overdose on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-overdose/

Connect with Zero Overdose on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ZeroOverdoseOrg

Connect with Zero Overdose on X at: https://twitter.com/zerooverdoseorg

The Heart of the Work: Reflecting on the Journey with Dr. Graham Taylor – Episode 385 Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

The legacy of these 300+ episodes isn’t just insight, it’s connection, courage, and a trail of conversations that mattered. In this special episode, Producer Peter Fenger turns the spotlight toward our very own host of Behavioral Health Today, Dr. Graham Taylor. Over the past five years, Graham has guided listeners through more than 300 episodes, creating space for honesty, healing, and human connection. His voice has become a trusted presence on the show, and his work in the field, whether as a clinician in Honolulu, founder of a nonprofit connecting clients to pro-bono therapy, or developer of test prep programs for aspiring professionals—has touched lives in countless ways. While Graham will be stepping back from his regular role on the podcast, this isn’t goodbye. The door remains open, and we know this won’t be the last time we collaborate. Today, we pause to reflect on the journey so far: the conversations that moved us, the lessons we’ll carry, and the heart behind the work. Join us as we celebrate the impact of this podcast, and the person who's helped shape its soul.

For more information about Behavioral Health Today Podcast and our episode archive, please visit: http://www.triadhq.com/bht

Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/

Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ

BHT Bytes – The Cost of the Climb: What Student Loans Are Really Costing Us – Episode 384 Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

College was once promised as a path to security, but for millions, it became the gateway to lifelong debt. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Sharlee Dixon and Peter Fenger unpack the heavy toll of student loan debt, an issue that now affects nearly 1 in 5 American adults and fuels ongoing political debate. For decades, higher education has been hailed as the great equalizer, a launchpad for upward mobility and financial stability. But for 45 million Americans, that dream comes with a staggering price tag. With U.S. student loan debt now topping $1.7 trillion, the impact stretches far beyond individual bank accounts, delaying homeownership, family planning, and career fulfillment while widening racial, gender, and generational wealth gaps. Sharlee and Peter explore how debt has reshaped not just personal futures but the structure of society itself. They also examine the intersections of the pandemic, shifting government policy, and the consequences of limited financial literacy. This episode asks a deeper question: What is student loan debt really costing us, not just in dollars, but in opportunity, equity, and well-being?

Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/

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