Thought Leadership
Welcome to the J. Flowers Health Institute Thought Leadership Hub
Here you’ll find blogs, podcasts, and educational resources that make complex health information easier to understand.
Our work brings together medical science, psychology, and wellness to reveal how mind and body influence one another. In collaboration with specialists at the Texas Medical Center, we study how these connections shape diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
This is where we share what we learn so that we can help families, clients, and professionals make confident, informed decisions about their care.
Jump to topic:

Mental Health
We take a comprehensive view of mental health.
Our research spans anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, and other complex conditions that often overlap with medical issues. By examining each person’s full story (mind, body, and environment) we uncover patterns that lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective care.
Each article explains findings in clear, practical terms to support understanding and encourage thoughtful next steps.
Complex Medical Conditions
Some conditions are rooted in more than biology alone.
Our research explores chronic pain, migraines, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune issues, and other challenges that cross medical and psychological lines. And by bringing physicians, psychologists, and wellness specialists together, we reveal the hidden connections that isolated treatments sometimes miss.
Each publication translates this integrated approach into practical guidance that helps clients and providers move forward with clarity.


Substance Use Disorders & Addiction
We take a comprehensive view of addiction and recovery.
Our research explores alcohol and drug use disorders, prescription medication dependence, and behavioral addictions that often overlap with mental health and medical conditions. By examining each person’s full story — including neurobiology, trauma history, environment, and lifestyle — we uncover patterns that contribute to compulsive use and relapse risk.
Each publication translates this integrated approach into practical guidance that helps clients, families, and providers better understand addiction and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Understanding the Human Condition
A Podcast with Dr. James Flowers

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How Trauma Manifests In The Body With Dr. Melanie Somerville
Episode 88
Dr. Melanie Somerville gives expert insight into the power of Mindfulness. Tune in every Monday to learn more.
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How To Parent A Child With A Mental Illness And Prevent Parent Burnout
Episode 87
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…
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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. James Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Tonda, Candy,…
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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,…
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Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin – Part One – Spirituality & Family: From The Bridge Of Reason To The Shore Of Faith
Episode 84
In Part One of a very special three-part series, Dr. James Flowers welcomes to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin. Today, Tonda, Candy,…
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The Mind-Body Connection With Aproteem Choudhury
Episode 82
Aproteem Choudhury is a mind-body interventionist who focuses on integrative behavioral health consultancy and public health with six years of experience empowering traumatized clinical populations, communities,…
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Saying Yes To Opportunity With Amanda Blanco
Episode 83
Amanda Blanco is the CEO of the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire, who started her career with UHS as a Mental Health Technician over 10 years ago.…
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Farideh Banafshei – Telemedicine, Therapy & Access To Quality Mental Healthcare
Episode 81
Farideh Banafshei is a relational integrative therapist who integrates and tailors evidence-based psychological interventions for mental healthcare, drawing knowledge from diverse schools of thought, to optimally…
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Eve Ruff – Helping Struggling Families With Addiction And Substance Abuse
Episode 79
Eve Ruff is a Senior Consultant with Clere Consulting, a firm specializing in working with families presenting with a constellation of complex behavioral health and addiction…
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Claudia Schwarz – From Advocate To Patient
Episode 78
Claudia Schwarz is the Vice President of Clinical Outreach at J. Flowers Health Institute. She’s a clinician who had her own private practice for years before…
The J. Flowers Health Institute Blog
A Comprehensive Resource from Our Specialists

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Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
Getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be very difficult. This chronic pain disorder can cause issues that interfere with daily life. Going through the process of diagnosis takes a long time, so it is important to get started right away.
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Fibromyalgia Tender Points
There are eighteen fibromyalgia tender points within the body. These are points that are extra sensitive to pain for people that have fibromyalgia. This is a complex condition that is hard to diagnose, but it affects nearly 2% of Americans each year.
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What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be hard to understand, even for healthcare providers. Surrounded by plenty of speculation and with no known cause, it affects millions of people worldwide.
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Adult ADHD Symptoms
What is ADHD? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized by trouble paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors.
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How to Diagnose ADHD in Adults
What is ADHD? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized by hyperactivity, trouble concentrating, and impulsive behaviors. Oftentimes, ADHD is diagnosed in childhood when a child is showcasing behavioral issues at school. However, some cases of ADHD may not be diagnosed until adulthood. Approximately 2.5% of U.S. adults struggle with ADHD. Adult…
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Adult ADHD
Adult ADHD, a relatively misunderstood disorder in the medical community, affects 4% of adults worldwide. Many of these adults may not even be aware they are suffering from the disorder. Here is detailed information on how to recognize adult ADHD and what you can do to manage your symptoms.
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Brain Optimize
There is research that supports the idea that brain training exercises can improve brain function. This blog post explores the topic of brain optimization and offers strategies for optimizing your brain to achieve peak performance.
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Symptoms of OCD
What is OCD? Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that involves the destructive cycle of obsessions and compulsions. While many people will experience some form of obsessions and compulsions throughout their life, what sets OCD apart from these common behaviors is that those with OCD will experience extreme levels of anxiety and their OCD…
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What is ADHD in Adults?
Before we get to what ADHD is in adults, we first should answer the question, what is ADHD? According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children.”1 Some ADHD symptoms are an inability to stay focused alongside hyperactivity and impulsivity.

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