Podcasts

WJ Entry 045 – One Size Does Not Fit All: Part 2 of a Discussion on the Role of Medication in a Windhorse Therapeutic Environment

November 15, 2019 by Windhorse Community Leave a Comment

Chris Emerson, Eugenie Morton, Emily Ashley, Joe Calgano

Dear Listeners,

Today’s podcast, the last in an 8-part series on psychotropic medications, is an open-hearted conversation between Windhorse community members Emily Ashley, Joe Calcagno, Chris Emerson, and Eugenie Morton.

Looking back, we initially didn’t anticipate spending this much time on meds. But once entering the discussion—and knowing how critical it is to accurately understand the issues at hand—we decided to deepen our presentation with Windhorse staff and clients who actually use or have used them. Today you’ll hear a conversation with people who have extensive personal experience in this territory. [Read more…]

Journal Entry 043:One Size Won’t Fit All: Part 1 of a Discussion on the Role of Medication in a Windhorse Therapeutic Environment

October 18, 2019 by Elysa Polovin Leave a Comment

Dear Friends!

Today’s podcast (part one of a two-part series) features the recording of an important conversation I recently participated in about the efficacy and pitfalls of using psychiatric medications. Joining me were members of the Windhorse community: Emily Ashley, Eugenie Morton, and Joe Calcagno.

This topic hits close to home for me as someone who was diagnosed with a chronic mental illness but no longer uses these medications for wellness. In this podcast, you will hear a variety of perspectives on this controversial topic from staff and clients who currently take or used to take these substances. We share our experiences, weigh the pros and cons of use, explore the nature of stigma, and offer what has helped us along our path. [Read more…]

Journal Entry 041: Medication, Observation and Collaboration: Part Two of a Discussion on the Role of Psychiatry in a Windhorse Therapeutic Environment

September 20, 2019 by Elysa Polovin Leave a Comment

Gretchen Kahre, Jeanne Christensen, Earle Shugerman and Jeffrey Fortuna

Dear Friends,

In this podcast, we return to the conversation between Dr. Earle Shugerman and Windhorse senior clinicians Jeffrey Fortuna, Gretchen Kahre, and myself. Chuck Knapp hosts and facilitates the discussion.

In Part One, Dr. Shugerman reflected on what it is like for him to work with Windhorse teams and what makes the Windhorse approach unique in the field of mental health treatment. We also heard from members of Windhorse teams about their experiences in partnering together with clients and Dr. Shugerman. [Read more…]

Journal Entry 039: Opportunities to Collaborate: Part One of a Discussion on the Role of Psychiatry in a Windhorse Therapeutic Environment

August 22, 2019 by Elysa Polovin Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

I hope you enjoyed the previous journal entry about my experiences as a psychotherapist with clients as they navigate their journeys with psychiatrists and medications. Here, we present you with a podcast which continues to explore the subject of medications and the relationship between psychiatry and Windhorse teams. This is a small group discussion between some of Windhorse’s senior clinicians and Dr. Earle Shugerman.

Dr. Shugerman has been a close colleague of Windhorse Community Services for many years. He is the treating psychiatrist for many of our clients, he participates in periodic team meetings, and he consults with our Team Supervisor group once a month. [Read more…]

Journal Entry 037: TRAINING OUR INNATE CARE & CONCERN – Part 3 of the dialogues on tsewa.

August 2, 2019 by Elysa Polovin Leave a Comment

Polly Banerjee Gallagher, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Stephanie Kindberg, Charles Knapp

Dear Readers,

Over the past year, Windhorse Journal has presented five entries on the topic of TSEWA. The entry you’re now reading will be the sixth. By now, it could be said, we have some kind of fascination with tsewa.

Admittedly, six journal entries examining a Tibetan word is perhaps excessive. Since there are two additional tsewa related entries planned for the near future, it might be a little premature to cry “excessive!” just yet. Let’s instead say that our present fascination with tsewa would be more accurately identified as “inspiration”. [Read more…]