Recovery Centered Podcast | Real Talk on Recovery & Mental Health

Beachway Therapy Center
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Semimonthly

Hope. Healing. Recovery. The Recovery Centered Podcast explores the journey of addiction and mental health recovery through real conversations with experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Hosted by Tim Roberto, and sponsored by Beachway Therapy Center, this series offers insights, strategies, and support for individuals and families navigating the challenges of substance use, trauma, and mental health disorders. From expert interviews with therapists, medical professionals, and legal advocates to personal stories of resilience, we dive deep into the issues that matter most. Whether you're in recovery, supporting a loved one, or seeking knowledge on addiction treatment, this podcast is your trusted resource for education, empowerment, and inspiration. Tune in and take the next step toward healing. email: info@beachway.com www.beachway.com https://www.instagram.com/beachwaytherapycenter/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8VvNANSoGdKddbHG4z70rg https://www.facebook.com/BeachwayTherapy/

  1. Nutrition, Mental Health, and the Power of Small Habits with Marianne Walsh

    2d ago

    Nutrition, Mental Health, and the Power of Small Habits with Marianne Walsh

    In this episode of Recovery Centered, Tim Roberto sits down with registered dietitian and soon-to-be PhD Marianne Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about nutrition, mental health, recovery, and the small habits that create lasting change. Marianne shares her personal experiences with ADHD, anxiety, motherhood, and burnout, while explaining how proper nourishment can support emotional well-being, recovery from addiction, and overall quality of life. Together, they explore the dangers of nutrition misinformation, the influence of social media "experts," the importance of meeting basic needs before pursuing bigger goals, and why consistency matters more than perfection. The conversation also touches on purpose, self-esteem, relationships, recovery, and learning to build a life based on what truly works for you—not what others say you should be doing. Whether you're navigating recovery, looking to improve your health, or simply trying to find more balance in a noisy world, this episode offers practical wisdom and a refreshing reminder that meaningful change often begins with the smallest steps.

    1h 49m
  2. From Rock Bottom to Building Something Real: Recovery, Resilience, and Reinvention with Jared B.

    5d ago

    From Rock Bottom to Building Something Real: Recovery, Resilience, and Reinvention with Jared B.

    What happens when recovery becomes the foundation for an entirely new life? In this episode of Recovery Centered, Tim Roberto sits down with longtime friend Jared B., a veteran, entrepreneur, father, and person in long-term recovery whose journey is a testament to perseverance and personal growth. Jared shares his experience growing up in a home affected by alcoholism, finding recovery at 23, navigating divorce after a decade of sobriety, confronting unresolved childhood trauma, and ultimately taking the leap to start his own business. The conversation explores the realities of mental health, therapy, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and the courage it takes to keep showing up when life gets difficult. Jared also discusses helping his father find recovery, breaking generational cycles, and learning that true strength often comes from vulnerability rather than self-reliance. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing isn't about perfection—it's about continuing to move forward, one day at a time

    1h 49m
  3. From Addiction to Doctorate: Dr. Kate Smith on Trauma, Resilience, and the Work of Real Recovery

    May 24

    From Addiction to Doctorate: Dr. Kate Smith on Trauma, Resilience, and the Work of Real Recovery

    Dr. Kate Smith, DSW, LCSW, joins the podcast to share her progression from early struggles with addiction to becoming a clinician, leader, and doctoral-level expert in trauma-informed care. Drawing from both lived experience and over a decade in the field, she offers a grounded perspective on what recovery actually requires—and what it does not promise. The conversation examines the long-term realities of sobriety, including continued exposure to pain, stress, and life challenges without numbing. Dr. Smith discusses how trauma reshapes the brain and nervous system, why many individuals remain stuck in the past, and the sustained effort required to build new patterns of thinking and behavior. Additional focus areas include clinician burnout, the psychological toll of working in treatment settings, and the gap between academic training and real-world practice. Dr. Smith also addresses stigma around asking for help—particularly among high-risk groups like first responders—and outlines the importance of vulnerability, discomfort, and consistency in long-term recovery. Themes include trauma, identity, resilience, addiction, clinician fatigue, and the practical application of recovery principles in both personal and professional contexts.

    2h 42m
  4. Integrating Fitness, Mental Health, and Recovery: Stephanie Weiss on Discipline, Vulnerability, and Not Quitting

    May 21

    Integrating Fitness, Mental Health, and Recovery: Stephanie Weiss on Discipline, Vulnerability, and Not Quitting

    Stephanie Weiss, an integrative wellness professional and soon-to-be licensed mental health counselor, joins the podcast to discuss her path from personal training to clinical work. She shares how years of working with clients in physical transformation revealed deeper mental health challenges, leading her back to counseling. The conversation focuses on the connection between physical health and emotional recovery, the role of discipline and consistency, and why vulnerability remains a barrier for many people struggling with addiction and mental health. Stephanie also outlines her work with high-performing individuals who often lack safe spaces to process stress, and how she approaches care through a holistic, individualized framework. Themes include recovery, identity, high-achiever burnout, the importance of movement in healing, and the practical reality of building a career in the mental health field. The episode closes with a direct message: ask for help and do not quit.

    57 min
  5. First Responders and Trauma: Treating What Happens After the Call

    Apr 24

    First Responders and Trauma: Treating What Happens After the Call

    Natalia German, LMHC, focuses her work on first responders—law enforcement, firefighters, and dispatchers—addressing the cumulative trauma that develops from repeated exposure to high-intensity events. Drawing from both professional training and personal proximity to the field, she outlines how trauma presents differently in this population, particularly through disrupted sleep, avoidance patterns, and delayed emotional processing. The discussion centers on what happens after the call—when the immediate crisis ends but the psychological impact remains. Natalia explains how many first responders operate in cycles of high activation followed by abrupt disengagement, often without structured decompression. Over time, this pattern contributes to burnout, emotional numbing, and increased suicide risk. She introduces treatment approaches including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and EMDR, emphasizing efficiency and physiological regulation. The goal is not to erase memory, but to remove the physical and emotional intensity attached to it. The conversation also highlights the importance of cultural competence—clinicians must understand the operational realities and internal culture of first responders or risk losing credibility and trust. Additional focus areas include: Why first responders often avoid care until symptoms escalateThe role of peer support and informal “kitchen table” conversationsSleep disruption as a primary indicator of unresolved traumaExposure-based approaches to reduce avoidance behaviorsThe limits of willpower in trauma and addictionTherapist self-care and secondary trauma managementNatalia positions accessibility and trust as central to effective care—meeting first responders where they are, both physically and psychologically.

    55 min
  6. The Therapist’s Reality: What 30 Years in the Room Teaches You

    Apr 21

    The Therapist’s Reality: What 30 Years in the Room Teaches You

    Mary Young Olitzky, LMHC, brings nearly three decades of clinical experience and long-term personal recovery into a grounded discussion on what therapy actually looks like beyond textbooks. She explains how addiction operates despite insight, why “one day at a time” remains clinically relevant, and how genetics, environment, and lived experience interact in substance use and mental health. The conversation examines therapist development in real conditions—learning directly from clients, managing uncertainty, and recognizing patterns that are not taught in training. Mary outlines the role of intuition, the limits of academic preparation, and the necessity of ongoing self-work for clinicians. She also addresses difficult realities, including client suicide, relapse cycles, and the emotional burden of long-term care. Her book, A Therapist’s Little Guide to Sanity, is positioned as both a practical framework and a reflection on the profession—covering burnout, boundaries, and the unpredictable nature of treatment work. The discussion emphasizes that meaningful change often comes from small, repeatable actions rather than insight alone.

    55 min
  7. Coming Out of the Storm: First Responder Trauma, Peer Support, and the Cost of “I’m Fine”

    Apr 1

    Coming Out of the Storm: First Responder Trauma, Peer Support, and the Cost of “I’m Fine”

    Lieutenant Drew Masters of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department joins the conversation to examine the psychological toll of first responder work and the systems designed to support it. Drawing from years of leadership in peer support and critical incident stress management, he outlines how departments respond to high-impact events—from pediatric fatalities to large-scale disasters—and why early intervention and follow-up are essential to long-term mental health. The discussion moves beyond protocol into lived experience. Masters describes the cumulative impact of trauma exposure, the normalization of suppressing distress, and how compassion fatigue can develop even in those responsible for supporting others. He recounts a period marked by personal loss, professional strain, and emotional deterioration that ultimately led him to seek help—highlighting the gap between knowing resources exist and actually using them. Key themes include: Why “I’m good” is often a default defense, not a realityThe structure and role of peer support, clinicians, chaplaincy, and CISM teamsHow repeated exposure to trauma alters baseline functioning over timeThe importance of informal processing (crew conversations, decompression) after critical callsBarriers that prevent first responders from seeking help, including stigma and identityMasters frames recovery through the metaphor of a storm: gradual buildup, crisis impact, and eventual stabilization. The focus is not on eliminating exposure to trauma, but on improving how it is processed—through connection, communication, and timely support.

    1h 7m
  8. From Mayhem to Mindset: Rewiring Thought Patterns in Addiction and Recovery

    Mar 29

    From Mayhem to Mindset: Rewiring Thought Patterns in Addiction and Recovery

    Dr. Laura Ellick, a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction, eating disorders, and chronic medical conditions, joins the conversation to examine how mindset shapes both the development of disorder and the path to recovery. Drawing from decades of clinical experience across detox units, jails, and medical settings, she outlines how underlying trauma, emotional avoidance, and cognitive patterns drive maladaptive behaviors—and how they can be changed. The discussion centers on the distinction between psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral approaches, with a clear emphasis on how thoughts directly influence emotional states and behavior. Dr. Ellick explains why relapse is rarely sudden, how subtle internal shifts accumulate over time, and why early awareness is critical for intervention. Key themes include: The “three C’s” of recovery: consistency, lack of complacency, and connectionHow trauma and unmet coping capacity create vulnerability to addiction and eating disordersThe role of emotional regulation and body awareness in preventing relapseWhy isolation is a common thread across mental health conditionsHow mindset—not circumstance—often determines long-term outcomesThe episode frames recovery as a process of closing the gap between what life demands and what a person is equipped to handle—by building awareness, strengthening coping mechanisms, and maintaining connection.

    53 min
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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Hope. Healing. Recovery. The Recovery Centered Podcast explores the journey of addiction and mental health recovery through real conversations with experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Hosted by Tim Roberto, and sponsored by Beachway Therapy Center, this series offers insights, strategies, and support for individuals and families navigating the challenges of substance use, trauma, and mental health disorders. From expert interviews with therapists, medical professionals, and legal advocates to personal stories of resilience, we dive deep into the issues that matter most. Whether you're in recovery, supporting a loved one, or seeking knowledge on addiction treatment, this podcast is your trusted resource for education, empowerment, and inspiration. Tune in and take the next step toward healing. email: info@beachway.com www.beachway.com https://www.instagram.com/beachwaytherapycenter/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8VvNANSoGdKddbHG4z70rg https://www.facebook.com/BeachwayTherapy/

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