Choosing Help with Tracy Stecker, PhD

Hatherleigh Behavioral Health
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Hosted by Dr. Tracy Stecker, Choosing Help is a conversation about courage, connection, and the transformative power of asking for support. With each episode, Dr. Stecker invites listeners into a space where vulnerability becomes strength and where seeking help is celebrated as a vital step toward living fully. Through candid discussions, expert insights, and real-world stories, this podcast breaks down stigma and opens doors to understanding. Join a community committed to compassion and courage. Because when we choose help, we choose life.

  1. May 21

    The Hidden Health Cost of Loneliness (and How Connection Heals)

    Loneliness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a biological condition that can impact everything from your immune system to your ability to heal. In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker and Dr. Teresa Kelechi explore groundbreaking findings linking loneliness to gene expression, inflammation, and chronic illness. You’ll learn why some people don’t heal despite receiving the best medical care—and how connection can literally change the body. This conversation offers both science and hope, with practical insights on how small, meaningful connections can transform health outcomes.

    40 min

  2. May 15

    The Healing Power of Laughter: Why Humor Is Essential for Mental Health

    Laughter isn’t just a reaction—it’s a powerful tool for healing. In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker explores the science and soul of laughter with storyteller and former comedian Dee Kennedy. Together, they dive into how humor lowers stress, strengthens connection, and helps us navigate even the most difficult experiences. Through candid stories about family dynamics, recovery, caregiving, and grief, Dee shares how laughter became both a coping mechanism and a gift she offers others. This conversation reminds us that while life can be heavy, we still have the ability to shift perspective, find connection, and experience joy. Because sometimes, choosing help starts with choosing to laugh.

    34 min

  3. May 7

    PTSD, Addiction, and Healing: How Treatment Really Works (with Dr. Sudie Back)

    Trauma and addiction often go hand in hand—but recovery is possible. In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker speaks with Dr. Sudie Back, a leading expert in PTSD and substance use disorders, about how trauma affects the brain, why people turn to substances, and what real, effective treatment looks like. They explore: The difference between trauma and PTSDWhy avoidance keeps people stuckHow substance use becomes a coping toolThe power of integrated treatment like COPEHow therapy helps people regain control, connection, and meaning This is an honest, compassionate conversation about healing—and why choosing help can change everything.

    47 min

  4. May 1

    Overcoming Stigma: Why Choosing Help for Mental Health & PTSD Can Save Lives

    Stigma keeps too many people from getting the mental health support they need. In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stacker breaks down why stigma is one of the most powerful barriers to treatment—especially for veterans, families, and those living with PTSD or substance use challenges. Through real stories, cultural examples, and practical guidance, this episode offers hope and tools for anyone trying to support a loved one who says, “I don’t want anyone to know.” Because when we choose help, we choose life.

    13 min

  5. Apr 24

    Cultural Betrayal Trauma with Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez

    In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by psychologist and researcher Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez for a profound conversation about Cultural Betrayal Trauma—a form of trauma that occurs when harm is committed within one’s own marginalized community under conditions of systemic inequality. Dr. Gómez shares how cultural betrayal adds layers of silence, identity conflict, and fear to already devastating experiences, and why many survivors struggle to seek help when systems don’t feel safe. Together, they explore symptoms such as dissociation, depression, and shame, as well as pathways to healing that include—but are not limited to—therapy. From radical healing frameworks and creative expression to boundary‑setting within families and cultivating hope, this episode offers permission, validation, and possibility for anyone navigating trauma. Choosing Help is about breaking stigma and opening doors to understanding—because when we choose help, we choose life. 📖 Learn more about Dr. Gómez’s work and book: 🌐Website: https://jmgomez.org/cultural-betrayal-trauma-theory/ 📁 Article: https://theconversation.com/the-unique-harm-of-sexual-abuse-in-the-black-community-114948 📹Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zemMIJuv0Uo

    38 min

  6. Apr 17

    Wise Women

    What do you do when someone you love needs help — but doesn’t want it? In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker leads a heartfelt roundtable discussion with a group of women about how they talk to a loved one who may be struggling and resisting support. Together, they explore empathy, timing, boundaries, enabling, stigma, faith, and the fear of “saying the wrong thing.” Dr. Stecker shares her four go’s and four no‑go’s for having these emotionally charged conversations and offers practical, compassionate guidance for helping without fixing. This episode is for helpers, parents, friends, partners, and anyone trying to navigate hard conversations with love, courage, and respect. Because when we choose help, we choose life.

    39 min

  7. Apr 9

    When the Helpers Need Help

    In this episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Angela Geraci of the Geraci Zoo, a wildlife rehabilitator who spends her days—and nights—caring for injured, orphaned, and non‑releasable wildlife. Angela shares what it’s really like to be a helper who rarely gets a break, including compassion fatigue, grief, public criticism, and the challenge of knowing when to hold on and when to let go. This episode is a powerful reminder that caregivers need care too—and that choosing help takes courage.

    28 min

  8. Apr 2

    Politics Without the Drama: Finding Common Ground

    In this insightful episode of Choosing Help, Dr. Tracy Stecker is joined by Drs. Ashrafiune and Allan to explore the rising political anxiety many of us face today. They unpack the polarized “team A vs. team B” mentality fueling fear and division, and introduce practical strategies to manage anxiety and engage in healthier, more productive political conversations. Key Topics Covered: Understanding Political Anxiety: How extreme “all-or-nothing” thinking about opposing political sides creates fear, stress, and emotional distress.Managing Anxiety: Expert advice from Dr. Allen on calming political fears and reframing anxious thoughts.Breaking the Cycle: Discussion on how media and social platforms amplify polarization and reduce nuance.Approaching Political Conversations: Four essential principles — empathy, respect, authenticity, and active listening — to foster meaningful dialogue.Testing Your Assumptions: Encouragement to challenge your own beliefs and fears by having open conversations with friends and family, rather than avoiding them.When and How to Engage: Insights on recognizing the right time and person for political discussions, and when it’s okay to step back.Building Common Ground: Tips on finding shared values and gently persuading others without confrontation.Whether you’re dreading holiday gatherings or simply want to reduce political tension in your life, this episode offers compassionate, science-based guidance on how to stay connected across divides and lower your stress.Tune in to learn how to transform challenging political conversations into opportunities for understanding and connection. Visit choosinghelp.com for more resources.

    36 min
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About

Hosted by Dr. Tracy Stecker, Choosing Help is a conversation about courage, connection, and the transformative power of asking for support. With each episode, Dr. Stecker invites listeners into a space where vulnerability becomes strength and where seeking help is celebrated as a vital step toward living fully. Through candid discussions, expert insights, and real-world stories, this podcast breaks down stigma and opens doors to understanding. Join a community committed to compassion and courage. Because when we choose help, we choose life.

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