The Good Ahead

Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, identifies certain life experiences that could be key indicators of health problems that surface later in life. What’s made this study so impactful? Alex Colston, a New Vista Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinician Educator for Children’s Services, joins us in this episode to unpack the ACEs study and to highlight the importance of having Protective Factors to move deeper into a healthy life.

*Trigger Warning*

In this episode, we discuss signs to know to prevent suicide. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255. There is help available for you.

Suicide continues to be a prevalent issue in our world today. How do we engage in helping those that might be experiencing suicidal ideation? What are the signs to look for and when is the right time to intervene?  New Vista’s Director of Community Engagement and Clinic Operations of the Boyle County Hub, Anna Duncan, sits down with us to discuss suicide and the role we can play in preventing this issue that is wreaking havoc in our world today.

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Go into your first counseling session with confidence! A wide range of thoughts and feelings may accompany you leading up to your appointment. This episode exists to help you create a healthy framework for what you can expect with that first session. There are plenty of stigmas that surround seeing a counselor, all of which haven’t done us any favors in convincing us to take that first step in our mental health journey. Heather Larrabee, New Vista Outpatient Clinician Educator, addresses some of these common hesitations and fears, describes what goes on in the beginning stages of your sessions and dispels common myths associated with therapy.

Let’s find out how psychology and romance collide! One of New Vista’s Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Andi Bruhn, comes on the show to discuss attachment theory and knowing your own attachment style. What does finding “the one” really mean? How can you be on the lookout for red flags and green flags? Are there some key elements to a healthy romantic relationship that we should look for and develop? Find the answers to these pressing questions and more in this jam-packed episode!

A new year means new opportunities for change. What is it about the calendar year moving up a number that makes us think more about eliminating or adopting new habits/behaviors – “New Year’s Resolutions”? Change can be hard. Natasha Painter, New Vista’s Clinician Educator, helps explain why. This episode looks into how people change, providing helpful steps and resources to make the change you hope to see in your life a reality. Remember to be gracious and patient with yourself. And if you need a professional cheerleader, New Vista is here to help you!

Substance use destroys lives. But when addiction leads to the lowest places, there is opportunity to find new hope and meaning. That new hope and meaning is found through the long road of recovery. And how beautiful is it that one’s lowest places could ultimately be used for the good of helping another person along their own painful life experiences? Therein lies the powerful profession of a Peer Support Specialist. One of New Vista’s many Peer Support Specialists, Glinda Smith, tells us her story of substance use addiction, recovery and how it all led to a career in Peer Support. You’ll learn why this form of treatment has proven to be highly effective in recovering from addiction.

Every day there are factors that play into our mood. Maybe you’re in a bad mood because the weather isn’t your preference today. Maybe you’re in a great mood because you played your favorite song on your way to work. Maybe your self-critique is louder than usual today. However your mood is panning out, we’re here with Laua Becker, Jail Triage Clinician at New Vista, to give insight to why you might be experiencing the mood you’re in. You’ll also hear 10 practical steps that can help improve your overall mood.

Mental health is relevant to everyone, and in this episode we discuss how important of a topic this is in raising the next generation. There’s no question that kids are facing many challenges, especially living in an increasingly digital age. How can parents monitor their child’s mental health, and when should there be a move towards seeking therapy? The Regional Director of Children’s Services at New Vista, Randa Bush, gives her professional perspective on mental health in kiddos today, and discusses steps parents can take to care for their child’s mental health.

In the world of mental health, depression seems to be one of the most prevalent struggles that people face today. But how do we know when depression is actually present? Is it something everyone is susceptible to or just certain people? And if you do see the signs, how can you seek help? New Vista’s Regional Director of Emergency Services, Darcy Miller, sits down with us to answer these questions and more.

Welcome to The Good Ahead Podcast, where we host important conversations around the areas of Mental Health, Substance Use, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This podcast is hosted by New Vista, a community mental health center based out of Lexington, KY. Our experts are licensed professionals that work every day to help people live their best lives.