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    All Things Substance

    Welcome to the All Things Substance podcast, the place for therapists to hear about substance use from a mental health perspective. I’m your host, Betsy Byler, and I’m a licensed therapist, clinical supervisor, and a substance abuse counselor. It is my mission to help my fellow therapists gain the skills and confidence needed to add substance use to their scope of practice. So join me each week as we talk about All Things Substance. You can visit me at https://www.betsybyler.com
    enBetsy Byler170 Episodes

    Episodes (170)

    Sex and Recovery

    Sex and Recovery

    Sex is a vital part of who we are as humans. When people are using substances, sex becomes entwined with their use. So what happens when a person has to navigate sexual experiences without the use of substances? It can be tricky to navigate and today we’ll talk about the things that should be addressed and considered. 

    All Things Substance
    enMarch 04, 2024

    Addiction and love-Andrea Owen interviews Betsy

    Addiction and love-Andrea Owen interviews Betsy

    Addiction and love? I got a chance to sit down with Andrea Owen (our January recovery story) on her podcast Make Some Noise. During that conversation she talks a bit about her own recovery journey and the concept of love addiction. We talked about addiction from the perspective of brain science and what love addiction means. 

    All Things Substance
    enFebruary 26, 2024

    Looking for love in all the wrong places: A Recovery Story

    Looking for love in all the wrong places: A Recovery Story

    It was all about love. That’s what Dufflyn was looking for from the time she was a small girl all the way into her 40’s. She consistently was seeking to fill a need and find a place to belong. For a long while alcohol and drugs were the answer. Recovery was a process and today we’ll hear her story of finding peace and freedom.

    All Things Substance
    enFebruary 19, 2024

    What does CBD do according to research?

    What does CBD do according to research?

    Is CBD good for anxiety and/or PTSD? Is CBD good for treating substance use disorders? Is CBD good for chronic pain and arthritis?

    With CBD being added to more things all the time (drinks, lotion, vitamins and even water) it can be hard to know what is real and what isn’t. In our work as therapists we really need to know what science is saying about CBD and its benefits. I took on the task of sorting through research to find the truth.

    All Things Substance
    enFebruary 12, 2024

    What is CBD? Part 1-The Basics

    What is CBD? Part 1-The Basics

    What is CBD? Is CBD what people say it is?

    We start from the beginning and go over its origins, how it works and what to look for.  In the second part we’ll talk about fact vs fiction according to the research. Join me as we this product that is popping up everywhere.  

    All Things Substance
    enFebruary 06, 2024

    Risks Associated with Rx Sleep Meds

    Risks Associated with Rx Sleep Meds

    In this episode we talk about the three most popular sleep medications used in the non-benzodiazepine class.  We’ll discuss the risks inherent in these medications as well as the risk of addiction.  

    All Things Substance
    enJanuary 29, 2024

    Sleep Disorders and the Role of Medication

    Sleep Disorders and the Role of Medication

    What type of sleep disorder warrants prescription sleep medication? What types of sleep medications are there? Sleep medications are an important tool in treating insomnia. There are different kinds that each act in a different way in the body. This episode addresses all of that and more. 

    All Things Substance
    enJanuary 22, 2024

    What Gets a Client Sober, Won’t Keep Them Sober

    What Gets a Client Sober, Won’t Keep Them Sober

    The key to staying sober isn't loving others enough, fear of getting in trouble, nor the hope of a good future. These reasons are unique to each person and vary wildly. The thing these people have in common is that the original reason that got them on this path won’t hold up forever. The reason to get sober isn’t going to be the reason to stay sober. That, is something else entirely.

    All Things Substance
    enJanuary 15, 2024

    The Complexity of ADHD Treatment for Adults

    The Complexity of ADHD Treatment for Adults

    ADHD treatment can bring to mind a few different things. Medications, particularly stimulants are usually at the top of the list. ADHD treatment for adults can be complicated due to the abuse of stimulant medications, the medical providers being hesitant to prescribe and the lack of access to psych testing to confirm a diagnosis. For our purposes, we are focused on the medication part and talking about what our role, as therapists, might be in this side of treatment. This is a repost of Episode 45

    All Things Substance
    enDecember 25, 2023

    All About ADHD Medications

    All About ADHD Medications

    ADHD diagnoses are becoming more common for children but especially in the adult population. Research tells us that approximately 70% of people with ADHD benefit from stimulant medication. This means that the number of prescriptions for ADHD medications are higher than ever. What impact do these things have on us and our clients? Check out this episode of All Things Substance.

    All Things Substance
    enDecember 18, 2023

    Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax

    Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax
    • What are the benzodiazepines used for anti anxiety?

    • What’s the difference between them?

    • Are benzodiazepines ever safe?

    Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin are some of the most prescribed medications in America for anti anxiety.. What’s the difference between them? Tune in to this week’s episode of All Things Substance.

    All Things Substance
    enDecember 11, 2023

    Benzodiazepines: Benefits and Risks

    Benzodiazepines: Benefits and Risks
    • What are benzodiazepines?
    • How are they used?
    • What are the risks?

    Benzodiazepines can feel like a miracle for a person with anxiety. Feeling panicked to feeling ok in a matter of minutes. But there’s more to them than that.  Tune in to this week’s episode of All Things Substance.

    All Things Substance
    enDecember 04, 2023

    Legalization of Marijuana-Repost

    Legalization of Marijuana-Repost

    Why is marijuana illegal anyway? What’s the difference between legalization and decriminalization? What implication does this have for therapists?

    The debate over legalization of marijuana is all around us. It’s a complex issue and there are a lot of terms used that we should know and understand. This podcast explores the origins of the ban on marijuana and talks about the reasons for and against legalization.

    All Things Substance
    enNovember 27, 2023

    Common Claims about Marijuana-Repost

    Common Claims about Marijuana-Repost

    What are common things people say about marijuana? What are the facts about those common claims? What implication does this have in therapy?

    Marijuana conversations give rise to really interesting information being shared. Much of it isn’t based on science or fact. It can be really hard to know what the real truth is, even if you know where to look. This week we’ll be discussing the common things people say when they talk about marijuana. 

    All Things Substance
    enNovember 20, 2023

    Marijuana Basics-Repost

    Marijuana Basics-Repost

    What is marijuana and how is it used? Why is THC potency important? What does this have to do with therapy?

    Marijuana is here to stay and it looks like we’re heading towards legalization. The use of marijuana comes up often in therapy circles and we need to know about it. Join me for an up-front conversation about weed.

    All Things Substance
    enNovember 13, 2023

    Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Holiday Skills (Repost)

    Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Holiday Skills (Repost)

    The holidays are here, no matter what your faith tradition or country, there's a holiday in here for everyone. For some the holidays are a joyful time where they look forward to seeing family and friends. For others, the holidays can be a difficult time. For people who struggle with substances, it tends to be a difficult time to navigate. There's an expectation that we will "indulge" ourselves with food and alcohol. If someone chooses NOT to drink, they would get questioned on a normal day. During a holiday though, it feels almost anti-holiday to not partake.

    Today we're talking about managing the holidays without using substances. Our clients have all sorts of opinions about the holidays, family and the expectation of spending money. They often talk with us about these challenges. It's a great time to review skills that they can use to manage stress. Your client won't think its odd if you bring up stress, drinking and skills. So, listen in on the discussion today about using skills over the holidays.

    All Things Substance
    enNovember 06, 2023

    Meeting Our Own Professional and Personal Needs

    Meeting Our Own Professional and Personal Needs

    I don’t believe we can rely on our agencies or employers to take care of our development or help us with safe care. I believe we need to make sure we are being proactive to make sure we have what we need to help us keep developing as therapists and that we are doing what we can to prevent burnout so we can continue to do the work we love. This is why I LOVE THERABUNDLE. Today I want to introduce you to my friend and colleague, Tamara Howell who created it. 

    All Things Substance
    enOctober 16, 2023

    Substance Use in the LGBTQ+ Community

    Substance Use in the LGBTQ+ Community

    Trauma and substance use have a bidirectional relationship. According to my guest, Eric Sullivan, growing up gay is a form of complex trauma. The LGBTQ+ community faces a lot of factors that put them at risk for higher rates of problematic substance use. Today I’ll talk with Eric, a therapist and member of the LGBTQ+ community about what contributes to this risk, his professional and personal experiences.

    All Things Substance
    enOctober 10, 2023

    Therapists Deserve to be Cared for Too

    Therapists Deserve to be Cared for Too

    How do we not just survive, but thrive in our work? How do we get to keep being our badass therapist selves and still enjoy what we do? There really are things we can do to help ourselves. 

    Our workplaces, agencies or bosses aren’t going to take care of us the way we need. Today, I continue my conversation about how we can help protect ourselves and even walk-back from burnout. I’m joined by two friends and colleagues who share their experiences with us. 

     

    All Things Substance
    enSeptember 13, 2023