Understanding the Human Condition

J. Flowers Health Institute
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

In each episode of “Understanding The Human Condition”, Dr. Flowers and his most-admired mentors, respected colleagues and VIP guests, share valuable insight into underlying health causes, conditions and issues. These in-depth yet approachable episodes are a great resource for both private individuals and industry professionals. Our esteemed host, Dr. James Flowers, is one of the most recognized and respected names in the field of chronic pain, mental health, and substance use disorders, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Flowers is the founder of J. Flowers Health Institute located in Houston, Texas. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

  1. Finish Strong: Beating Holiday Stress And Starting The New Year Ahead With Claudia Schwarz

    04/18/2025

    Finish Strong: Beating Holiday Stress And Starting The New Year Ahead With Claudia Schwarz

    The holidays are just around the corner — and while most people are bracing themselves for the chaos, Claudia Schwarz wants you to take a different approach: start planning now. In this episode, Claudia joins me to talk about why waiting until January 1st to make your New Year’s resolutions is a recipe for disappointment. From holiday stress, financial strain, and family tension to business delays and recovery setbacks — we dive into how preemptive planning, starting small, and prioritizing your well-being before the calendar flips can be the game-changer you need. Whether it’s walking your way to better health, preparing your practice for success, or avoiding the holiday crash altogether, Claudia brings real-world insight, practical tips, and just the right dose of motivation to help you finish the year strong — and start the next one ahead of the game.

    21 min
  2. How Do You Define Wellness...With Dr. Gaetano Vaccaro, Psychologist, Certified Sex Addiction Counselor

    11/27/2024

    How Do You Define Wellness...With Dr. Gaetano Vaccaro, Psychologist, Certified Sex Addiction Counselor

    How would you define wellness?   MY ANSWER:   Wellness is more than a physical condition, and so much more than just the absence of illness or disease.   WELLNESS IS A STATE OF BEING.   I think about it as the body-mind (because body and mind are reciprocally linked) being in alignment with your behavior and habits.   And if you are truly committed to that state of being, then you will establish a daily, weekly, or monthly practice of those behaviors.   And, if you strive to be disciplined and consistent with that practice, it can contribute to your quality of life. It can help sustain mental health and physical vitality and ultimately, I believe that this mental and physical practice will promote longevity.

    31 min
  3. Roots And Resilience: Counseling, Culture, And Choice With Dr. Selina Hernandez, LPC-S, RPT

    11/20/2024

    Roots And Resilience: Counseling, Culture, And Choice With Dr. Selina Hernandez, LPC-S, RPT

    Culture plays a significant role in shaping our identities and experiences. In this episode, Dr. James Flowers sits down with Dr. Selina Hernandez, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and registered play therapist, to delve into the profound influence of culture on the human condition. Dr. Selina shares how her experiences with cultural identity and resilience have shaped her counseling approach. They discuss the importance of cultural strategies in therapy, personal responsibility, and the transformative power of sand tray therapy. Dr. Selina also explores the challenges faced by women and men, the importance of a counselor's orientation, and the role of understanding one's roots in building resilience.

    27 min
  4. How Somatic Experiencing Can Unpack Trauma With Andrea Battle

    09/17/2024

    How Somatic Experiencing Can Unpack Trauma With Andrea Battle

    In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Battle, a J. Flowers Provider and expert in Somatic Experiencing, to explore how our bodies hold and release trauma. Andrea breaks down the science behind this powerful approach to healing, and shares real-life tips for anyone looking to reconnect with their body and ease the effects of stress. Whether you are new to the concept or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is your guide to "shaking it off" and moving towards a more balanced and peaceful life.

    30 min
  5. Marc Kantor Joins the Team at J. Flowers Health

    09/10/2024

    Marc Kantor Joins the Team at J. Flowers Health

    Interventions aim to impact the human condition by helping individuals see themselves as they truly are, rather than through the distorted lens of addiction or untreated mental illness. This process is challenging because their brains have been hardwired by years of substance abuse or mental health issues. Essentially, Marc Kantor is asking people to make logical decisions with a brain that is not functioning logically. Marc enjoys sharing his own story of recovery, but other topics that are important to us including co-dependency, trauma and intergenerational trauma, binge eating disorder, attention deficit disorder, compulsive behaviors, spirituality, and the gift of desperation. Dr. Flowers will ask Marc about his transformation and his road to J. Flowers Health Institute.

    30 min
  6. 087 John Karren - Wilderness Therapy - Why Does it Work?

    11/16/2023

    087 John Karren - Wilderness Therapy - Why Does it Work?

    John Karren is the owner and co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program in Utah. John helps run two therapeutic wilderness programs: Elements is for boys thirteen to seventeen, and Traverse is all gender, young adults eighteen to twenty five. Today, John joins the show to discuss ‘non-traditional’ therapies and how the outdoors can be such a great benefit to everyone. Key Takeaways01:03 – Shay Butts welcomes John Karren to the show to discuss wilderness therapy and other ‘non- traditional’ therapy options 10:08 – How Elements Wilderness Program works 14:42 – Dealing with the negativity surrounding outdoor therapy 18:51 – Striving for excellence 23:40 – The role parents play in Elements Wilderness Program 26:53 – Shay thanks John for sharing his story today Tweetable Quotes“I think the biggest thing for us is that if the client doesn’t buy in, there will be no change. If we’re punishing them or consequencing them, they’re going to do it until the consequence has been lifted. So, really the focus for us is to get them to buy into themselves - to get them to understand what I’m feeling.” (10:29) (John)“For us - the clinical approach - we think of ourselves as a high-intense therapeutic intervention. And so, it’s a deep dive into what’s going on for me, for my family, for everything in my life, and then working through that in different ways.” (12:09) (John)“That’s the hardest part for me, it just tears at me knowing the value of what can happen with [outdoor therapy], and the change that can occur, and the excitement, and then to hear people just bash it and speak negatively about it. It’s hard.” (17:32) (John)“When people think about Wilderness, they think it’s just sending their child off. And I tell parents all the time, ‘You’re not sending your child away. You’re going on the journey with them.’” (23:50) (John)Resources Mentioned JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/ JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655 Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen John’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkarren/ Elements Wilderness Website – https://www.elementswilderness.com/ Shay Butts’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-butts-8963b217/ **The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

    29 min
  7. Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin - Part Three - When Enough Is Enough [Episode 86]

    09/21/2023

    Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin - Part Three - When Enough Is Enough [Episode 86]

    In Part Three of this very special series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Today, Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about their experiences with interventions, reflect on servant leadership and share their passion for helping others. Key Takeaways 00:02 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about interventions 07:18 – Servant Leadership 08:41 – Dr. Flowers opens up about the passion he has for helping people and how he manifested the life that he wanted 14:47 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Three of this series Resources Mentioned JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655 Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154 Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068 Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939 Book Mentioned:  When Enough Is Enough – ThriftBooks **The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

    17 min
  8. Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin - Part Two - The Family Choice: Using "Bad" Words Like Intimacy And Vulnerability [Episode 85]

    09/07/2023

    Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin - Part Two - The Family Choice: Using "Bad" Words Like Intimacy And Vulnerability [Episode 85]

    In Part Two of this very special three-part series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about the critical role that family plays in recovery and the value of intimacy and vulnerability. Key Takeaways 01:31 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about intimacy and vulnerability 07:52 – Tonda speaks to the importance of family in the process of recovery 11:14 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Two of this episode and encourages them to return for Part Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie Resources Mentioned JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655 Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/ Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/ Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/ **The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

In each episode of “Understanding The Human Condition”, Dr. Flowers and his most-admired mentors, respected colleagues and VIP guests, share valuable insight into underlying health causes, conditions and issues. These in-depth yet approachable episodes are a great resource for both private individuals and industry professionals. Our esteemed host, Dr. James Flowers, is one of the most recognized and respected names in the field of chronic pain, mental health, and substance use disorders, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Flowers is the founder of J. Flowers Health Institute located in Houston, Texas. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Information

  • Creator
    J. Flowers Health Institute
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 J. Flowers Health Institute
  • Show Website
    Understanding the Human Condition