Welcome to the August edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, Alice Walton, the world’s richest woman opened a medical school in Bentonville, Arkansas. At the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), “they will get all the science and disease knowledge they need to manage the ‘sick-care’ side of things,” Walton says. But “I wanted to create a school that really gives doctors the ability to focus on how to keep their patients healthy.”

In SKILLS, the new medical students are being trained in skills not emphasized in traditional medical schools. Besides learning the SKILLS of traditional medicine, they will have nutrition-related training and opportunities to integrate high-tech tools to improve home-based care and address health care gaps.

In SOUL, changing values, beliefs and behaviors on an individual level is hard enough. But doing that at a systems level is even more difficult. Add in financial incentives to keep the current system cemented in and it almost seems like an impossible dream. Bright-eyed, enthusiastic, new medical students have their chance at “changing the world” and Alice Walton is kick-starting the process.

 

Volume 23, No. 4 July 2025

Welcome to the July edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, I share excerpts from the farewell speeches of the CEO and Clinical Director of
an agency with which I consulted since 1998. In our work together, here are some TIPS
about Supervision and Mission and Values.

In SKILLS, some TIPS on skills to provide person-centered services inspired by the farewell speeches ending my 27 years of work with the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery (NCAAR).

In SOUL, cute stories on chance meetups and what it’s like to be in the honeymoon of retirement. There will be a time when my legacy will live on in the work of people who never knew me and would rightly say, “Dr. Who???”

 

Volume 23, No. 3, June 2025

Welcome to the June edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, note the shift away from spending time with friends and family to online activity. This highlights the importance of helping patients make friends; and especially for youth, to help them strengthen family ties and in-person social connections.

In SKILLS, a digital detox can be just as difficult as a substance detox. Strategies you might want to try. It’s time to educate ourselves about managing online activity and to teach our children and youth how to “drive” on the digital highway.

In SOUL, Father’s Day raises questions about the past as we reflect on what sort of dad did I have? Questions I wished I had a chance to ask my dad. Questions you might want to ask your dad if he is still alive.

 

Volume 23, No. 2, May 2025

Welcome to the May edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, a mother of five turns her focus from taking care of others to what it takes to find balance and purpose in The Free Me Life.

In SKILLS, Tips on where to get started when your energies have been centered on taking care of others. How to shift the balance from looking outward to discovering what lies within you.

In SOUL, what is freedom when your focus is not on daily survival? How does not caring what anybody else thinks bring you freedom? Artificial Intelligence helped me spell this out.

 

 

Welcome to the April edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, starting year 23 of Tips and Topics. Five ways to make helpful science-based information available to people in ways beyond face-to-face counseling. Introducing Atlas, and online digital interventions.

In SKILLS, excerpts from “Unlocking Transformation: David Mee-Lee’s Wisdom on Behavior Change and Person-centered Care”, an interview from CASAT — The Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies — a Center within the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno.

In SOUL, How would you describe your relationship with yourself today? This interview question sparked several awarenesses and existential questions like, “Can I live with myself by myself? Is there really self-love and the ability to be alone?”

Volume 22, No. 12, March 2025

Welcome to the March edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, in reviewing the manuscript for "Navigating the Methadone Maze: A Guide for Patients and Professionals," I had some concerns about the quality of counseling in Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT).

In SKILLS, even if taking a Harm Reduction approach for people suffering from Opioid Use Disorder, don’t give up on helping the client move in the right direction. Use counseling for their growth and development.

In SOUL, my granddaughter’s teenage birthday reminded me of Gail Sheehy’s 1977 book "Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life." How will my grandgirl handle each of life’s passages? Will she realize the opportunity for creative change and grow to her full potential? How many examples of age-related change will I be granted the opportunity to witness and enjoy in the sunset of my life?

Welcome to the February edition of Tips and Topics.

In SAVVY, It is six years since I lost my wife. In this update on my grief process, I have broadened what I have learned about Work, Love and Play. In SAVVY Tips I apply these to not just the loss of a loved one by death, but loss by divorce or any love partnership break-up.

In SKILLS, Tips on where to start after a death, divorce or breakup. Job 1 is doing the work to love yourself and know how to live alone. Once you are ready to date, caution about looking for love in all the wrong places... tips about dating apps.

In SOUL, I embrace my retirement and the Triad of Fulfillment, the US Surgeon General’s parting prescription. Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, the 19th & 21st Surgeon General of the United States, announced “My Parting Prescription for America” on January 7, 2025.

What distinguishes good therapy from not-so-good therapy? What to do to make each session as alive as possible? Guest writer Victor Yalom explains. Madison Keys, tennis and therapy.

Welcome to the January edition and may 2025 be a year of success and well-being.

In SAVVY, guest writer Victor Yalom, Ph.D. previews his new Masterclass video and answers, "What distinguishes good therapy from not-so-good therapy? What to do to make each session as alive as possible?"

In SKILLS, he offers SKILLS Tips on "How to help clients engage in an internal discover process so they discover new things about themselves? What exactly can therapists do to speed up this process?

In SOUL, Madison Keys, a USA tennis player won her first Grand Slam tournament January 25, 2025 after over a decade of trying. She credits therapy for helping her look at herself and stop self-defeating “internal talk” that allowed this particular first big win.

“The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Fix It”; Can something good come from Brian Thompson’s murder?; What you can do to improve your health; Do you care about the 26 million?

Welcome to the December edition and Happy Holidays to all.

In SAVVY, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024. His boss, Andrew Witty wrote an essay, “The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Fix It” that starts with looking at some cold hard facts about our US healthcare system.

In SKILLS, I don’t pretend to have solutions for improving the American healthcare system. But I refer you to a mix of research findings that recommend actions you can take as an individual to improve your physical, addiction and mental health.

In SOUL, why can’t the richest and most powerful country in the world care for the health of their citizens as a right and priority? It’s not about money, because we spend more than other developed countries but get far worse health outcomes.

Lessons from a Case Consultation on how to assess what a client really wants and engage them in treatment; Observations and insights about my world travel.

Welcome to the November edition.

In SAVVY, I discuss a Case Consultation on a client mandated for treatment. I explain how probing the information in the “Client Description” with a few more questions helps assess what is most important to the client, in hopes of enhancing their motivation for recovery.

In SKILLS, I suggest how to assess mandated clients who also seem to express some pain over how addiction has affected their lives. Are they really wanting treatment and recovery or are they ambivalent? And how do you collaborate with a person who wants a less intensive level than has been assessed and recommended?

In SOUL, I review the many countries I had the privilege to travel and see this year. I share some observations, feelings and insights that I experienced, grateful for the health and resources to make that travel possible.