The Addiction Nutritionist

You will not want to miss this episode; it is near and dear to my heart! Jolene Park was one of three people who personally changed the trajectory of my life. When someone told me to check out Jolene Park's famous TED Talk, and her resources on Gray Area Drinking, I said, "Huh? Gray Area Drinking? What the heck is that?"....Little did I know in that moment that that phrase, and Jolene's description of what it means to be a Gray Area Drinker, would ultimately lead me to give up alcohol for good. Leaving alcohol behind has changed my life in such profound ways that it's difficult to capture in words. It often brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. I am so excited to bring this episode to the world because I know that so many people, especially women, are seriously struggling in this area. I see it in my friends, I see it on social media, and I see it in my community, even in my FAITH COMMUNITY, which Jolene and I decided was an important topic to discuss, so we did! I can't wait to hear how this episode blesses you, your family, your loved ones, your sisters in Christ, and beyond. It's a long one, but so worth your time friends. ************************** Jolene Park is a sought after speaker and leading authority on Gray-Area Drinking. Her pioneering TED talk has been viewed 400,000 times! Wowza! She’s a functional nutritionist and health coach who provides a new and revolutionary way to rewire, replenish and repair the nervous system after quitting drinking. Her NOURISH method is applicable to anyone questioning their drinking, or who has already quit — especially those who don’t have a crash-and-burn drinking story. Today, Jolene guides clients through the missing physiological pieces that they need to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, anxiety and cravings. She also trains healthcare practitioners on the importance of nourishing neurotransmitters and supporting their client’s nervous system in a comprehensive way. Her work has been featured on NPR and many other outlets. Jolene is a Colorado native and currently lives in Charleston, SC.  To learn more about Jolene and her offerings, you can find her at the following links: Website https://grayareadrinkers.com Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/jolene__park/ Coach Training https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/nourish TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jolene_park_gray_area_drinking?language=en

In this episode I chat with my teacher and mentor, Christina Veselak! I took Christina's course on Recovery Nutrition and Amino Acid Therapy in 2017. Her Level 1 training program helped launch me into the world of addiction nutrition and taught me what NO OTHER PROGRAM is teaching: how to feed a recovering brain! Christina is the founder of The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition, and she is on a mission to spread a vital message. If you are a clinician working in the field of addiction recovery, this episode will be of special importance. I had so much fun catching up with Christina, discussing her newest project, the non-profit Eating Protein Saves Lives, and her nationwide campaign.   Christina Veselak has over 40 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy and is a dynamic public speaker with an enthusiastic following. Her vision as a global changemaker is to make this life-saving information available to all people, from a kitchen in a mud-house in Africa to the White House. To learn more about Christina, the Academy, her non-profit, and all the programs she offers, please visit the following links. Options for Discovering & Experiencing more about Amino Acid Therapy and Nutritional Recovery. Option 1 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Christina                 https://calendly.com/aminoacidtherapy  Option 2 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Mark              https://go.oncehub.com/AcademyforAddictionandMentalHealthNutrition  Option 3 - “Discover The Power of Nutrition in Recovery” 6-Hour Introductory Training $180                 https://aminoacidtherapy.com/peer-coach-training-and-recovery/           NEXT COURSE: Sat 16th September Option 4 - “How To Do Amino Acid Therapy” On-demand training + 1 Coaching Call $129                   https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-lesson-1/#  Option 5 - Christina's Weekly Amino Club Weekly group ‘Using Amino Acid Therapy’ Case Coaching  $50 per month  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/the-amino-club/   Option 6 - ”Feed the Brain, First!” 12-Hour On-demand training $900 [ Deductible from any Full Coaching and Certification Courses]                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/two-day-intensive-course/  Option 7 - Full Coaching and Certification Courses $398 per month                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-all/                     NEXT On-Demand Core Training COURSE: Starts DAILY                   NEXT LIVE Core Training COURSE: Starts Tue 21st September                      Eating Protein Saves Lives Website -  https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/ Feeding Recovery Network Meetings - https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/feeding-recovery-network-meetings/ (Resumes on October)

In today's episode, I take on the topic of Healthy Fats. What are healthy fats, where can we find them in the diet, which specific types of fats may help recovery outcomes, and which fats should we all avoid. Healthy fats are an essential part of everyone's diet, but there is often confusion around how much we should consume and what are the best sources. I attempt to clear up some of the myths and confusion in this episode. If you have questions about anything related to nutrition in recovery, please send your questions to [email protected]. I will start to compile a list of questions that Nikki and I will answer on the air.

In today's episode I chat with Meghan Bottom, a faith based Mental Health Coach., We have a great discussion regarding anxiety and depression, and how practices that merge science and faith can help you to overcome various mental health disorders. Megan is a highly skilled Christian counselor and Christian Mental Health Coach dedicated to helping individuals and couples find healing, growth, and fulfillment in their lives and relationships. With a deep passion for integrating faith and clinical counseling techniques, Megan offers a compassionate and holistic approach that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and relational aspects of her clients' lives. With years of experience in the field, Megan has a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities that individuals and couples face. From an individual counseling standpoint, she is practiced in overcoming anxiety, beating depression, healthy boundary setting and overcoming trauma. She also enjoys working with couples and specializes in relationship struggles, communication issues, conflict resolution, premarital counseling, and marital enrichment. Megan believes that God's love and wisdom can transform relationships and guide individuals towards healthier connections and deeper intimacy. If you would like to learn more about Megan's resources or how to get in touch with her, she can be reached at the following links. https://www.facebook.com/MeganBottomSpeaker/https://www.instagram.com/_meganbottom_/https://bookme.name/broken2blessed

In this episode my friend and colleague Jeff Jones who is an LPC, CACIII, Nutritional Recovery Life Coach and owner of The Family Recovery Solution, shares with us what he calls a "spotlight diagram", that gives a visual of how family members organize themselves around their loved one who is struggling with addiction. You can access the Spotlight Diagram here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b72k1yskohwnp9v/Screenshot%20%28253%29.png?dl=0 Jeff discusses the different roles that family members play during the stress and chaos of navigating addiction, including what he calls the "blamer", the "helper", the "avoider", the "distracter", the 'distancer", and the "object of focus". Jeff shares why family members take on these roles, what that looks like, as well as what these individuals can do to move towards healthier interaction. Jeff's diagram and explanation of these roles can really help individuals better understand how they themselves have developed coping skills that may either be helping or hurting the situation, and how you can get really curious about your own behavior. Jeff believes that whole family healing must take place in order to give the person suffering from addiction their best shot at abstinence and recovery. Jeff is an amazing resource for families looking to develop their tool box of healthy coping skills so they can best support their loved ones. If you would like to learn more about Jeff's resources you can connect with him here: www.thefamilyrecoverysolution.comwww.alcoholbioquiz.com