Resilient Butterfly

Pam Feinberg-Rivkin
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Bimonthly

Resilient Butterfly is a heartfelt podcast dedicated to celebrating the strength of survivors and the extraordinary power of transformation, healing, and growth. Hosted by Pam Feinberg-Rivkin—a seasoned nurse, founder of Feinberg Consulting, and compassionate advocate with decades of experience—this podcast dives deep into life's messiest challenges: relationships, family dynamics, mental health, addiction, and more. Each episode features inspiring stories of resilience, expert insights, and meaningful conversations that remind us we are not perfect—nor are we meant to be. Pam invites you to explore the journeys of those who have faced life's darkest moments and emerged with newfound hope, dignity, and purpose. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, validation, or tools to navigate your own path, Resilient Butterfly offers a space for connection and empowerment. Together, let’s embrace the mess, honor the struggle, and celebrate the breakthroughs. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and join a community that believes in grace, hope, and the indomitable human spirit.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep. 51 - What Happens When You Ask for Help

    What happens after you finally make the call and admit that your family may need help? Pam Feinberg-Rivkin continues the From Crisis to Healing series with Steve Feldman, CEO of Feinberg Consulting, to talk about what families can expect when they reach out during a medical, aging, mental health, or addiction crisis. Making that first call can feel deeply vulnerable, especially when shame, fear, disagreement, or uncertainty are already present. Steve explains how creating a safe space begins with listening, finding common ground, and focusing on what everyone can agree on: someone they love needs support. Pam and Steve explore why families do not need to have every answer before reaching out. Using the idea of a GPS, they explain that the first step is understanding where the family is now and where they hope to go. From there, the path can be built through education, careful assessment, and a series of clear next steps rather than one overwhelming solution. At the heart of the conversation is the importance of trust. Families may feel relief simply from finally telling someone what has been happening, but healing requires continuing the process. Sometimes hope begins with something very simple: knowing what comes next and realizing you do not have to figure it out alone. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  2. Sep 8

    Ep. 50 - When Helping Others Becomes Too Much

    What happens when caring for others becomes so automatic that you forget how to care for yourself? Pam Feinberg-Rivkin is joined by Tom Parker, Director of External Relations at the Lindner Center of HOPE, for a thoughtful and surprisingly funny conversation about codependency. Drawing on more than two decades in behavioral health and family systems work, Tom shares the story behind So How Are You Doing?, the playful stage production he helped create to explore the many faces of codependency through humor, music, exaggerated characters, and plenty of self-reflection. Their conversation looks beyond the idea that codependency is simply something "wrong" with a person. Caring deeply, helping others, and wanting people to be okay can be beautiful qualities, but there can also be a point when giving too much, struggling to say no, or constantly trying to keep everyone happy becomes exhausting. Tom reflects on how those patterns can begin early in life and become so familiar that we barely recognize them. At the heart of the conversation is permission to take ourselves a little less seriously. Humor can create space to recognize our own patterns, listen to those internal warning signs, set boundaries, and occasionally admit, "I don't need to fix this." Sometimes resilience means helping others. Sometimes it means taking a break. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  3. Sep 1

    Ep. 49 - You Are Not Broken by Chronic Illness

    What if being sick does not mean your body is broken, but that it is asking to be understood differently? Dr. Karyn Shanks spent decades living with recurring injuries, fatigue, and symptoms that no one connected until she discovered she had Ehlers Danlos syndrome. That experience became part of the foundation for her book Unbroken and her belief that chronic illness requires a wider lens than simply treating individual symptoms. Karyn and Pam Feinberg-Rivkin explore what can happen when people are seen as a collection of medical problems instead of whole human beings, and why understanding the connection between body, mind, environment, relationships, and daily life can change the experience of healing. Their conversation moves into medical self-advocacy and the importance of maintaining agency when illness makes us feel vulnerable. Karyn reflects on listening to your body, asking questions, finding the right people to support you, and recognizing that healing does not always mean fixing something. They also explore the power of human connection, being truly witnessed during suffering, and how compassion and safety can help people move through frightening medical experiences. For anyone who has felt dismissed, misunderstood, or defined by a diagnosis, Karyn offers a different way of seeing yourself through self-awareness, compassion, and curiosity. Illness may become part of your story, but it never has to become the definition of who you are. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  4. Aug 25

    Ep. 48 - When Aging Parents Need More Care

    What happens when the people who once took care of you suddenly need you to take care of them? As the From Crisis to Healing series continues, Pam Feinberg-Rivkin and Steve Feldman explore the complicated role reversal families face when an aging parent begins needing more support. Adult children can suddenly find themselves managing medical appointments, making difficult decisions, coordinating care, and navigating disagreements with siblings, all while trying to preserve their parent's independence and dignity. Steve explains why planning for aging before a crisis happens can make an enormous difference for everyone involved. Pam and Steve also look at what happens after hospitalization, when families may assume discharge planning will cover everything their loved one needs. From medications and medical equipment to home modifications, specialists, caregivers, and ongoing advocacy, coordinating care for aging parents can quickly become overwhelming. They reflect on how experienced care management can help families move from reacting to emergencies toward anticipating needs and making thoughtful decisions together. But caring for someone is about more than managing their medical needs. It is also about remembering the person who still wants music, lunch with family, meaningful experiences, and a life that feels like their own. Aging may change what someone needs, but it does not erase who they are. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  5. Aug 18

    Ep. 47 - What Parents Need to Know About Teen Marijuana Use

    The marijuana many parents remember is not the marijuana their teenagers are using today. John Lieberman, CEO of Visions Adolescent Treatment in Malibu, joins Pam Feinberg-Rivkin for an honest conversation about how dramatically teen marijuana use has changed. With higher-potency THC, vape pens, concentrates, gummies, and products that can be used without the familiar smell, substance use can be much harder for parents to recognize. John explains the behavioral and emotional changes families may see, including anxiety, paranoia, isolation, and in some cases THC-induced psychosis, while challenging the assumption that cannabis is harmless simply because it has become more accepted. The conversation also looks at the pressures surrounding adolescents beyond substance use. Social media, cyberbullying, loneliness, academic expectations, and constant comparison can leave young people increasingly vulnerable. John and Pam explore warning signs, treatment decisions, and why looking at how a teenager is functioning at home, at school, with friends, and within the family can reveal more than focusing on one symptom alone. For parents, treatment can bring its own grief, fear, and shame, but John emphasizes that healing is possible when the entire family participates in change. A struggling child can become the catalyst that helps generations of a family begin doing things differently. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  6. Aug 11

    Ep. 46 - When Addiction Becomes a Family Problem

    What if the hardest part of addiction isn't knowing someone needs help, but realizing the whole family needs a different way forward? As the series on moving from crisis to healing continues, Pam Feinberg-Rivkin is joined by Steve Feldman to explore the profound impact addiction has on families. They challenge the common belief that someone simply has to "hit rock bottom" before recovery is possible, explaining how loved ones can unknowingly lower that bottom through unhealthy caregiving, blurred boundaries, and repeated attempts to protect someone from the consequences of their actions. Together, they offer a compassionate look at why families often feel stuck, frightened, and unsure of what to do next. Pam and Steve also talk about the importance of education, especially as families navigate questions about prescription medications, cannabis use, and substance use in young adults. They explain how stigma, fear, and isolation can keep addiction hidden for years, making it even harder to recognize when professional guidance is needed. Through honest conversation, they emphasize that families don't have to wait for a catastrophic event before reaching out for information and support. The conversation is a reminder that addiction thrives in secrecy, while healing begins when families come together with a shared purpose and a willingness to face the truth. Sometimes the first step toward recovery is realizing that no one should have to carry the burden alone. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  7. Aug 4

    Ep. 45 - Who Are You Beyond the Labels

    What if the way you see yourself has been shaping your life more than any diagnosis ever could? Pam Feinberg-Rivkin welcomes Dr. Jeremy Thompson, a family physician and author whose work bridges medicine, cognitive therapies, and narrative approaches to personal growth. Together, they explore how many people come to define themselves by labels, diagnoses, or painful experiences rather than by their strengths, values, and natural abilities. Dr. Thompson shares why he believes a healthy sense of identity is one of the strongest foundations for emotional well-being and lasting relationships. Their conversation examines the difference between experiencing anxiety and believing anxiety is your identity, how childhood messages can quietly shape the way we see ourselves, and why many people carry negative beliefs that no longer serve them. Dr. Thompson introduces his concept of a "positive-centered" identity, encouraging people to recognize that difficult experiences and personal struggles are part of their story, but they do not define who they truly are. He also discusses practical ways to build greater self-awareness, strengthen resilience, and create more balanced relationships. Pam and Dr. Thompson remind us that healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about uncovering the person who has been there all along beneath the fear, criticism, and self-doubt. Sometimes resilience begins with seeing yourself through a kinder and more truthful lens. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

  8. Jul 28

    Ep. 44 - When Mental Health Becomes a Family Crisis

    What happens when the struggle has been there for so long that no one realizes how much life has quietly changed? As the series on moving from crisis to healing continues, Pam Feinberg-Rivkin is joined by Steve Feldman to explore what mental health crises really look like inside a family. They talk about how anxiety, depression, isolation, and other mental health challenges often develop gradually, becoming the family's "new normal" before anyone recognizes how deeply everyone has been affected. The conversation looks at why finding the right diagnosis, level of care, and treatment plan can feel overwhelming, especially when previous attempts haven't led to lasting change. Pam and Steve also discuss the growing number of young adults who find themselves isolated at home, disconnected from work, school, relationships, and purpose. They explore how family dynamics, boundaries, substance use, excessive screen time, and untreated mental health concerns can become intertwined, making it difficult for anyone to know where to begin. Rather than searching for a quick fix, they emphasize the importance of understanding the whole family system and creating a thoughtful path toward healing. The conversation is a reminder that recovery is rarely about changing one person alone. When families are willing to learn, grow, and heal alongside the person they love, hope becomes something everyone can begin to experience together. Sometimes the first step forward is realizing that no one has to carry the weight of the crisis alone. Looking for a practical takeaway from this conversation? Download our complimentary companion resource, Looking Beyond the Behavior, designed to help parents and caregivers shift from asking "What's wrong with my child?" to "What might my child be communicating?" The guide explores how looking at children's emotional, behavioral, and physical health through a holistic lens can open the door to greater understanding, connection, and support. Contact Pam Feinberg-Rivkin: Facebook: @FeinbergCare Instagram: @FeinbergCare LinkedIn: Feinberg Consulting Inc YouTube: @FeinbergConsulting8059

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Resilient Butterfly is a heartfelt podcast dedicated to celebrating the strength of survivors and the extraordinary power of transformation, healing, and growth. Hosted by Pam Feinberg-Rivkin—a seasoned nurse, founder of Feinberg Consulting, and compassionate advocate with decades of experience—this podcast dives deep into life's messiest challenges: relationships, family dynamics, mental health, addiction, and more. Each episode features inspiring stories of resilience, expert insights, and meaningful conversations that remind us we are not perfect—nor are we meant to be. Pam invites you to explore the journeys of those who have faced life's darkest moments and emerged with newfound hope, dignity, and purpose. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, validation, or tools to navigate your own path, Resilient Butterfly offers a space for connection and empowerment. Together, let’s embrace the mess, honor the struggle, and celebrate the breakthroughs. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and join a community that believes in grace, hope, and the indomitable human spirit.

Information

  • Creator
    Pam Feinberg-Rivkin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Resilient Butterfly
  • Show Website
    Resilient Butterfly