On Wednesday, August 24, Talk Therapy TV will travel to Paramount Studios in Hollywood to join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in presenting the Voice Awards.  These awards honor consumer/peer leaders in recovery from mental and substance use disorders who have successfully advocated for the rights of trauma survivors and promoted the importance of trauma-informed care, as well as the writers and producers of entertainment programming that highlights stories of resilience, courage, and recovery. We’ll celebrate Voice Award-winning individuals, community leaders, and productions that include "The Fighter," "The King’s Speech," “Glee,” “Harry’s Law,” “Private Practice,” and “Treme.”

Talk Therapy TV is proud to be a Program Partner in the Voice Awards and congratulates all of this year's awardees on a job well done.

Talk Therapy TV is a proud to be a new member of the Association for A Better New York (ABNY). 

ABNY is a coalition of business, labor, non-profit and political leaders focused on exploring and implementing ideas that keep the city moving forward. With more than 300 member organizations, ABNY incorporates a comprehensive and diverse view of the issues and challenges facing New York City. Our members work as catalysts to contribute fresh ideas and innovative plans that set a clean course for managing solutions to the city’s challenges before they become overwhelming problems.

Check it out! Talk Therapy TV is one of 5 featured items on the National Recovery Month website. 
National Recovery Month is a national initiative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that promotes the idea that recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders is a real and achievable goal.  Talk Therapy TV is a Recovery Month Planning Partner.

This past Wednesday, the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies held their annual awards gala at Pfizer World Headquarters. Talk Therapy TV taped speakers and interviews including CBHA Executive Director Phillip Saperia, President Donna Colonna, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hogan, and Linda Rosenberg CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
Here's a few pictures from the event, full video coverage is coming soon.

Talk Therapy TV was invited to cover portions of a national conference for Chaplains of the National Guard today at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan.  The conference provided a unique forum where chaplains from around the country gathered together with experts in military stress and reintegration to discuss common problems that service members face and best practices for chaplains in addressing these issues. 

We taped portions of the conference and will be broadcasting and sharing information with the public about military mental health, including warning signs, symptoms, and models of intervention.  Be sure to watch for the announcement of broadcast dates for this episode.

This past Friday, Talk Therapy TV's Executive Director Jacob Berelowitz and Executive Producer Ralph Gonzalez were invited to participate and inform the White House Office of Public Engagement about issues affecting our community.  We were given the oppurtunity to interact with President Obama's Chief-of-Staff Bill Daly, Deputy Assistant to the President Michael Strautmanis, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson, and several other key White House staff.
They then scheduled a meeting for us with the Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) to discuss the Affordable Care Act and get our feedback on how it would impact the behavioral health field.

BREAKING NEWS: At Talk Therapy TV we have long believed that behavioral health disorders (including mental illnesses and substance use disorders as they are so closely interconnected) need more recognition.  The millions of individuals courageously battling the challenges of these disorders every day, simultaneously shoulder the additional burden of public stigma and misinformation. 
After educating dozens of legislators about the importance of giving recognition to behavioral health disorders, including the individuals working in the field as well as the millions living with these disorders, action has been taken.  This past week, with the leadership of State Senator Shirley Huntley and State Assembly Member Vivian Cook, both the State Senate and State Assembly have adopted a resolution proclaiming October 2011 as Behavioral Health Recognition Month and requesting that Governor Cuomo do so as well.

This is the first time (to our knowledge) that any state has proclaimed a "Behavioral Health" recognition month, acknowledging the close relationship between mental illnesses and substance use disorders.  We are thankful and proud of the leadership shown by the New York State legislature and look forward to celebrating Behavioral Health Recognition Month this October.

> Read the dual Senate/Assembly resolution.
> Sign up for E-Newsletter and stay up to date on our plans for celebration in October.

During the month of June 2011, we are once again partnering with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and broadcasting 4 episodes of the Road To Recovery TV series on the topics of: "Homelessness and Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Recovery-Oriented Housing and Achieving Healthy Lifestyles" and "Treatment and the Justice System: Preventing Problems and Ensuring Recovery". 
The shows will be broadcast in Queens on Queens Public Television (QPTV), in Manhattan on Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), and in Long Island on Long Island Public Access.  Use the widget below to find show times or check out our broadcast schedule.