Title : Trauma: Till death do us part
John Michael Weber, Trauma Healed Life Coach, United States
In my recent effort to achieve disability compensation for the Department of Veterans Affairs, I was called upon to go back and recall what past events in the military affected my current mental health status. 25 years ago, I unlocked the key to my trauma with the help of the [....] » Read More


Title : The storm within: Neuropsychological insights into dysregulation and substance use in the adolescent brain
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Curry College, United States
Adolescents struggling with substance use often display emotional volatility, impulsivity, and behavioral dysregulation—hallmarks of a deeper neurodevelopmental imbalance. This keynote explores the “storm within,” a dynamic interplay between a hyperactive limbic [....] » Read More
Title : Addiction and the failure of meaning-forming
Jenni Guentcheva, GTI, United States
The current, predominantly reactive approach toward addiction is based on prevention and treatment intervention models connected to the motivation to use, such as peer pressure, boredom, coping with negative emotions, followed by maintaining a sense of normalcy and avoiding [....] » Read More
Title : What to do when a tragedy strikes
Alphonsus Obayuwana, Triple-H Project LLC, United States
Tragedy, by definition, is an event that causes great suffering. It is often sudden, usually unpredictable, and no one is immune. Examples include earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flooding, severe droughts, epidermic infections, and large-scale environmental p [....] » Read More
Title : Reward deficiency syndrome solution patient claims ‘dopamine homeostasis’ provided the neurological stability to begin focusing upon healing psychic fracture associated with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder dissociative multiplicity
Elizabeth Dale Gilley, The Elle Foundation, United States
Introduction: This Editorial provides an update to the Elle Foundation Research Institute 100’s Family Genomic Series, including Case Studies 101-104 and 106. Our proband in Case Study 101 is in year 6 of a 10-year longitudinal Reward Deficiency Syndrome Solution case study [....] » Read More
Title : The root causes of food addiction beyond physical cravings
David Amponsah, The Doctor of Results, United States
Many people who struggle with sugar cravings, emotional eating, or compulsive snacking focus almost entirely on food choices, willpower, and physical hunger. Yet repeated eating patterns can also be shaped by emotional triggers, learned associations, stress responses, and deeply [....] » Read More
Title : Leveraging music affordances across the recovery continuum: A roadmap for integrating neuroarts into addiction care
Joy Allen, Berklee College of Music, Music and Health Institute, United States
Recovery from substance use disorders is a dynamic, lifelong process characterized by evolving biological, psychological, social, and existential needs. While growing evidence demonstrates music's capacity to influence emotional regulation, stress response, motivation, social [....] » Read More
Title : Enhancing substance use disorder group therapy: Experiential methods for safety, engagement & impact
Mordy Gottlieb, The Mordy Effect, United States
Group therapy forms the backbone of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, yet many clinicians and paraprofessionals receive little formal training in how to facilitate effective groups. Shame, fear of judgment and disengagement often prevent clients from fully particip [....] » Read More
Title : Suicide prevention strategies for the law enforcement profession
Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon, SSD Consulting, United States
Suicide may be the most dangerous threat to a law enforcement officer's well-being, safety, and life in today's world. The exact number of law enforcement deaths by suicide remains unknown due to inconsistent data regarding law enforcement officer deaths by suicide even a [....] » Read More
Title : The digital frontline: Adapting crisis intervention models for text-based support during national conflict
Ayelet Bord, SAHAR-Online Mental Support, United States
As the landscape of behavioral health shifts toward digital accessibility, the necessity for evidence- based, scalable online intervention models has never been more urgent. This presentation examines the clinical framework of SAHAR-Online Mental Support, an Israeli organization [....] » Read More
Title : The gut brain axis in recovery
Katie Pierce, Ezer Health and Wellness, United States
Recovery from addiction is traditionally approached through psychotherapy, medication, peer support, and behavioral interventions. However, emerging research highlights the significance of physiological factors—such as gastrointestinal inflammation, dysbiosis, and compromis [....] » Read More
Title : Rebuilding from the inside out: The Well and the Tree model for sustainable recovery
Cameron Lundstrom, NAS Recovery Solutions, United States
Many recovery approaches focus primarily on stopping substance use. While abstinence is important, it does not always address the deeper internal patterns that lead individuals back into cycles of addiction. The Well and the Tree model offers a different perspective by focusing o [....] » Read More
Title : The ripple effect: A mother’s perspective on addiction, mental health, and family recovery
Linda Lundstrom, NAS Recovery Solutions, United States
When addiction and mental health challenges enter a family, no one remains untouched. While much of the conversation focuses on the individual struggling, the experiences of parents, siblings, spouses, and children are often overlooked. In this powerful and deeply personal presen [....] » Read More
Title : The twelve steps beyond alcohol: Applying recovery principles to food, perfectionism, and modern behavioral addictions
Mary Dobson, Liftwell Health, United States
This presentation explores how Twelve Step principles can be adapted to address emerging behavioral addictions beyond substance use. Contemporary clinical practice increasingly recognizes compulsive relationships with food, perfectionism, work, achievement, and digital engagement [....] » Read More
Title : Ancestral strengths: Understanding historical trauma and building resiliency through the collaboration of Native American teachings and evidence-based practices
Jerad E Todacheenie, Nat-su Healthcare, United States
Native American communities continue to face signi?cant challenges related to substance use, including higher rates of addiction, limited access to effective treatment, and experiences shaped by stereotypes and systemic inequities. Many current treatment models do not fully acc [....] » Read More
Title : Leading through tragedy: Crisis leadership and building resiliency
Robert Reardon, Duxbury Fire Department, United States
True leadership is revealed not in calm, but in crisis. As a fire chief and emergency management leader, I have guided teams through incidents that demanded split-second decisions under national scrutiny. Among them was the Lindsey Clancy tragedy, where a mother took the lives of [....] » Read More
Title : Medical innovations in addiction relapse prevention: Emerging neurobiologic and psychedelic-assisted therapies
Stephanie Leopold, KNEW, United States
Substance use disorders remain a global public health challenge, with relapse rates frequently exceeding 50–70% depending on substance type and comorbid psychiatric conditions. Despite established interventions such as medication-assisted treatment, behavioral therapy, and [....] » Read More
Title : Sex and love addiction in the digital age
Jeffrey M Robbins, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States
The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed human sexuality, creating unprecedented access to sexual content, anonymous interactions, virtual relationships, and high-intensity stimulation through internet pornography, social media, dating applications, webcams, virtual r [....] » Read More
Title : Stages of change and recovery engagement: Evidence from URICA assessments in residential treatment
Ahmad Ahnaf Amin, Georgia Health Policy Center, United States
Substance use recovery among adolescents and emerging adults is a dynamic process that involves changes in motivation, behavior, and the ability to sustain recovery over time. This study utilized the URICA (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment) tool to examine readiness f [....] » Read More
Title : From home to abroad: Understanding personality, wellbeing, stress, social support and cultural adjustment
Priyanka, University of West London, United Kingdom
Moving abroad is often viewed as an exciting opportunity for personal, educational, or professional growth. However, adjusting to life in a new country can also bring considerable psychological and social challenges. Being away from familiar surroundings, relationships, cultural [....] » Read More
Title : Arts therapy: From free expression in psychiatric asylums to currently therapeutic recognition
Scharbach Hugues, Paris University, France
Mental health issues often lead individuals to express themselves through drawing, painting, clay modeling, wood and decoration, as well as writings, either spontaneously or guided by psychotherapists. Within the psychiatric field, particularly in institutional settings, psych [....] » Read More
Title : Factors of psychological well-being among practicing psychologists in the context of axiopsychological model of posttraumatic growth
Yuriy Nazar, University of Turku, Finland
The global crisis conditions characterized by systemic instability may cause unprecedented psychological challenges for well-being of mental health professionals. Practicing psychologists must navigate their own personal safety while simultaneously providing critical care to a tr [....] » Read More
Title : Hydrogen medicine: A novel antioxidant strategy for neuroprotection, stress resilience, and mental wellness
Ashot Khachatryan, New Hydrogen Technologies LTD & National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Armenia , Armenia
Oxidative stress is a key mechanism underlying aging, chronic diseases, and behavioral health disorders. The primary source of this oxidative damage is endogenous intoxication - the accumulation of metabolic toxins that continuously generate free radicals. Conventional antioxidan [....] » Read More
Title : Novel interdisciplinary approach integrating oral health care into primary care for patients with severe mental illness and substance use disorder
Sophia Lee, Strong Memorial Hospital, United States
Adults with severe mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorder (SUD) face disproportionate oral health challenges, in part due to challenges with access as well as low health literacy. To better understand these disparities, we conducted a quality-improvement p [....] » Read More
Title : Recovery education through synergistic partnerships to address OUD for primary clinical providers (RESPOND)
Erin Miess, Viterbo University, United States
Recovery Education through Synergistic Partnerships to Address OUD for Primary CliNical ProviDers (RESPOND) is a nine-month, asynchronous online training program developed at Viterbo University and supported by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funding. Th [....] » Read More
Title : Preparing social workers to address substance use disorders: Perceived gaps in education, training, and practice readiness
Elizabeth Brooks, Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, United States
Substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to represent a significant public health concern in the United States, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to treatment services is limited. Social workers play a critical role in the prevention, assessment, treat [....] » Read More
Title : Gamification of treatment and exposure to positive feeling states via virtual reality in substance use disorder: A literature review
Lisa Starkman, Freedom from Addiction Inc., United States
Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a promising treatment modality for substance use disorder (SUD), offering repeatable, customizable therapeutic exposures difficult to replicate in traditional clinical settings. Despite growing interest, the combined potential of VR-delivered [....] » Read More
Title : Association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent substance use: a critical literature review
Kaitlin Paczosa, Azusa Pacific University, United States
Adolescent substance use is a growing public health concern in the United States and a global burden that research shows is connected to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The purpose of this literature review is to understand the relationship between ACEs and adolescent subst [....] » Read More