Many Unseen Factors
Human trafficking is one of the most toxic violations of a person, taking away elements of a person’s core dignity. This problem is also connected to topics including drug abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. On this episode of Through the Trees, we sit down with Caroline McKinnon, Executive Director of Street’s Hope, a Denver organization committed to providing services for human trafficking victims and empowering our community to effectively address this problem. Special thanks also to the University of Denver Human Trafficking Center for providing research and advocacy.
Safe Spaces
At CeDAR, we focus on helping people reach a life of sobriety and recovery. This path also includes an emphasis on a positive lifestyle. What options are available to help someone both preserve their recovery while enjoying life? On this episode of Through the Trees, we sit down with CeDAR’s Jay Voigt and the founder of Sober AF Entertainment, Duke Rumley. We talk about organizations that provide safe spaces in recovery, including through such venues as sports and music. A culture of excitement and activity can be blended well with a life of addiction recovery.
Dispelling Stigma
Opioid addiction stigma needs to change. On this episode of Through the Trees, Dr. Fehling talks with CeDAR’s Blair Hubbard about her work with state and national policy campaigns to improve patient access to treatment.
Cannabis Complexity
The topic of cannabis is a big one. Issues of legalization, medicalization and complex research are important parts of this discussion. How does this look behind the scenes? For this episode of Through the Trees, I sit down with Dr. Christian Hopfer, a psychiatrist and premier researcher for the University of Colorado. We talk about twin-based research, harm vs beneficial evidence with marijuana, and public health needs for greater guidance for the population.
ACEs in Recovery
Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are some of the most of the most common topics in the world of addiction treatment today. On this episode of Through the Trees, we sit down with Dr. Robyn Hacker, Psychologist at CeDAR who specializes in trauma assessment and treatment. We review some of the more sophisticated research on the topic including adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs study.
Psychological Ink
Ourselves – through thoughts, emotions, and how we construct and deconstruct information – all projected onto ink. The Rorschach inkblot test has been used for almost 100 years to shed light on the complexities of the mind. On this episode of Through the Trees, I sit down with Dr. Harlan Austin, Psychologist and Director of Clinical Quality at CeDAR, to delve into the themes of this fascinating test and its role in psychological assessment.
Coverage Clarity
Navigating healthcare insurance can make or break someone’s ability to effectively recover from addiction and mental illness. On this episode of Through the Trees, I’m joined by Jay Voigt, Director of Operations at CeDAR. We talk about some of the legal aspects of healthcare insurance and connect this to national data around addiction treatment access to care.
Spiritually Connected
If you are a spiritual person, what would that mean? Spiritual themes are integrated within the areas if wellness, therapy, and especially addiction recovery. On this episode of Through the Trees, we sit down with Adam Richardson, Spiritual Counselor at CeDAR. We explore the topic of spirituality on a deeper level, with an emphasis on the most important ingredient – feeling connected.
Smoke Free
If you were asked what substance causes the most deaths, what would you say? Alcohol? Heroin? The combined deaths from alcohol and all other drugs of abuse are still less than those from the most lethal killer of all. Tobacco. On this episode of Through the Trees, we sit down with Dr. Laura Martin, former Medical Director of CeDAR. We talk about how six years ago, CeDAR made a groundbreaking change in the addiction treatment world by becoming a tobacco-free recovery program. Demonstrated clearly by clinical research, quitting tobacco both extends someone’s life and extends their probability at overall recovery.
Codependent
Our first season of Through the Trees took us on a trek across CeDAR visiting with professionals in multiple departments, ranging from the Medical Detox program to the Spiritual Center. We reviewed principles of harm reduction, dialectical behavioral therapy, and psychological testing. As we begin our second season we’ll talk with Blair Thurston, CeDAR Family Program Educator, about codependency in the family system and how it affects addiction treatment.