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
-
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.
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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,…
-
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,…
-
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,…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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
-
Concierge Medicine
In the mid-1990’s the idea of bespoke medicine was first introduced. This delivery model of medical care, often referred to as “luxury medical care,” allowed people to get direct access to their primary care physician for a fee. The healthcare model of bespoke medicine offers around-the-clock physician access, same-day appointments, and comprehensive healthcare highly personalized…
-
Problems with Insurance Coverage for Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a diagnosable medical condition. However, the stigma associated with addiction can lead to insurance coverage issues for medical care and rehabilitation. Some health plans have financial incentives to deny treatment, and they may word health policies to misrepresent what is covered under the insurance plan.1 This runaround leads to people jumping through hoops…
-
PTSD Self-Test
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often linked to images of military personnel amid war and combat. However, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder goes much further than battle and the difficulties of war. Take, for example, a story from P.K. Philips. Several traumas, including a childhood of physical, mental, sexual abuse and ultimately an attack at knifepoint, lead…
-
Medical Condition or Learning Difference?
A learning difference is a neurological condition that impacts the way that someone learns. It has to do with how information is received and processed in the brain, and has nothing to do with natural intelligence or motivation.1 Some of the main learning differences include:
-
Autism Spectrum Disorder in School
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that causes challenges with social interactions, communication, and certain behaviors. ASD is considered a developmental disorder because although it can be diagnosed at any age, symptoms typically appear within the first two years of life.
-
Diagnosing ADHD and Self Test
Commonly known by its acronym, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically occurs in children but can also be diagnosed in adulthood. The symptoms or characteristics for diagnosing ADHD include: Difficulty concentrating or staying focused Difficulty staying organized Forgetfulness about completing tasks Difficulty sitting still Short attention span
-
Signs of Teen Drug Use
Learn the Signs of Drug Use in Teens
-
Signs of Drug Use in Teens
The Adolescent Brain Substances Most Abused Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction Risk Factors Video: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Signs of Drug Abuse Consequences or Drug Use Video: Generation X: The New Teen High What to Do if Your Teen is Abusing Drugs Talking to Your Teen Additional Prevention Tips When It’s Time for Treatment Homepage
-
ADHD Guide
All children deserve to feel seen, appreciated, and accepted for who they are. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly diagnosed in children. The National Institute of Mental Health defines attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as “a disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”
-
Learning Disabilities and Learning Differences
There are many different types of learning disabilities and understanding what makes them unique can improve the quality of life for those who experience them as well as their loved ones. Though “learning disabilities” and “learning differences” can be used in the same way, it’s important to acknowledge that the latter is the preferred term.…
Our learnings directly informs how we care for every client.
Our Programs
Through our Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation and Wellness Program, we apply these insights to design personalized treatment plans that address the full scope of each person’s health. The same curiosity that drives our research guides every decision we make in care.
Our Newsletter
Clear insights. Current research.
Get our latest findings delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up now.
Start Here. Start Now.
Your path to wellness begins the moment you arrive. From accommodations to scheduling to treatment coordination, a J. Flowers Health Institute professional manages every detail so you can focus entirely on healing.