Brainwaves by Opus
Brainwaves by Opus is a podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders in behavioral health and healthcare technology. Guests share their career journeys, discuss current trends, and explore how they are shaping the future of these fields. The show provides insights into the intersection of mental health and innovation.
Episodes
How to Know When EMDR Is the Right Fit | With Molly Halbrooks, Founder of Restore Counseling
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we’re joined by Molly Halbrooks, founder of Restore Counseling & Therapy in Belmont, North Carolina.Molly shares her journey from solo private practice to building a small group practice and why community matters, both for clients and therapists. We dive deep into trauma therapy, including why Molly chose EMDR, how it works in plain language, and why so m
How Online Therapy Cuts Cancellations and Expands Access | with Mark Nolte, founder of Start Talking
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Shawn Rickenbacker sits down with Mark Nolte, co-founder and CEO of Start Talking, a virtual therapy platform helping people access counseling through secure remote sessions.Mark shares how his own experience seeking help for depression revealed a major barrier: the fear of being seen, judged, or stigmatized. That insight sparked Start Talking’s mission to ma
Multi-Purpose Care for Autism | With Nafisa Obi, Founder of Essential Speech and ABA Therapy
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we’re joined by Nafisa Obi, licensed speech-language pathologist and co-founder of Essential Speech & ABA Therapy.What began as a single outpatient speech therapy clinic in 2017 evolved into a multidisciplinary autism care model offering speech, occupational, and ABA therapy under one roof. Nafisa shares how fragmented care was burning out families and cl
How Nurocoach Helps Patients Address Root Causes | With Alex Kurian, co-founder and CEO of Nurocoach
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Alex Kurian, co-founder of NuroCoach, to explore why so many patients feel stuck cycling through the same mental health treatments, and how NuroCoach is working to change that.Drawing from his own experience as a patient, Alex shares how repeated medication adjustments and disconnected care models often fail to address underlying trauma and l
Building Recovery Programs That Actually Work | With Brian Tierney, Executive Director of Curawest
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Brian Tierney, Executive Director of Cura West in Denver, part of the Guardian Recovery Network.Brian shares his journey from property management into addiction treatment, driven by his own long-term recovery and a desire to help others. Over the past decade, he’s worked his way up from entry-level roles to leading one of Colorado’s top detox
Why Sleep is the Front Door to Mental Health | With Tim Lewandowski, CEO of MindLab
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Tim Lewandowski, CEO of MindLab, a tech-for-good company launched from the Mental Health Association of San Francisco.Tim shares how MindLab was created to bridge nonprofit mission with scalable technology, bringing evidence-based mental health tools to people worldwide without geographic barriers.We explore Pocket Kado, MindLab’s first produ
How Online Therapy Cuts Cancellations and Expands Access | with Mark Nolte, founder of Start Talking
The Neuroscience of Trauma Recovery | With Jennie Marie Battistin, founder of Hope Therapy Center
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Jennie Marie Battistin, LMFT, trauma specialist, author of Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day, and founder of Hope Therapy Center, a multi-location practice integrating EMDR, brainspotting, psychiatry, and psychedelic-assisted therapy.Jennie Marie explains the neuroscience of trauma, why memories become “stuck” in the amygdala, and how
Breaking Cycles of Trauma | With Robyn Pendleton, LCSW
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Robyn Pendleton, LCSW, a clinician whose work spans foster care, shelters, community mental health, and culturally responsive trauma therapy.Robyn brings a rare blend of clinical experience, cultural perspective, and personal healing — including her own journey reframing and expanding beyond domestic violence — to help individuals break cycle
From Homelessness to Healing Others | With Wade Muhlhauser, founder & CEO of Plugged In Recovery
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Wade Muhlhauser, Founder and CEO of Plugged In Recovery, a rapidly growing recovery organization in Scottsdale, Arizona that is redefining what compassionate, client-centered addiction treatment looks like.Wade shares his powerful personal journey, from two decades of opioid addiction and homelessness to building one of Arizona’s most innovat
How Alumni Programs Prevent Relapse (And Help Organizations Scale) | With Cody Palmer of Team Recovery
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Cody Palmer, Director of Business Development at Team Recovery Technologies, a company helping addiction treatment programs strengthen alumni engagement through technology and community.Cody shares his personal journey from construction to behavioral health, how a family crisis led him into recovery, and how Team Recovery’s tech platform is h
Building Continuous Care For Rural Children | With Craig Aasved, CEO of Shodair Children's Hospital
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Craig Aasved, CEO of Shodair Children’s Hospital, Montana’s only psychiatric facility dedicated exclusively to children and adolescents.Craig shares how Shodair is redefining youth mental health care in a rural state, expanding beyond inpatient services to include outpatient clinics, school-based therapy programs, and telehealth to reach kids
Scaling Your Behavioral Health Organization Without Losing Culture | With Andy Flanagan, CEO of Iris Telehealth
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Andy Flanagan, CEO of Iris Telehealth, a leading telepsychiatry company connecting patients to licensed mental health providers across the U.S.Andy shares lessons from his career leading startups and global enterprises, from scaling Iris fivefold since 2020, to fostering culture and accountability, to reimagining telehealth as a seamless part
Scaling Your Behavioral Health Organization Without Losing Culture | With Andy Flanagan, CEO of Iris Telehealth
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Andy Flanagan, CEO of Iris Telehealth, a leading telepsychiatry company connecting patients to licensed mental health providers across the U.S.Andy shares lessons from his career leading startups and global enterprises, from scaling Iris fivefold since 2020, to fostering culture and accountability, to reimagining telehealth as a seamless part
How Warm Handoffs Improve Outcomes | With Karri Francisco, Executive Director of Telehealth at APN
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we talk with Karri Francisco, Executive Director of Telehealth at All Points North (APN), one of the most innovative and outcomes-driven behavioral health organizations in the country.Karri shares how APN built an integrated model connecting detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, IOP, and outpatient services into one coordinated continuum of c
When the Solution Becomes the Problem | With Dr. Michael Barnes, Director, Michael Barnes Family Institute @ NRT Health
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Dr. Michael Barnes, counselor, educator, and clinical leader at The Foundry Treatment Center and The Michael Barnes Family Institute.Dr. Barnes shares his decades of experience helping families navigate trauma and addiction, and why lasting recovery requires healing not just the individual, but the entire family system.Topics include:-How add
What Families Can Do In Addiction Recovery | With Jennifer Chase, Founder, Rise Addiciton Life Counseling
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Jennifer Chase, Life Coach and Founder of Rise Addiction Life Coaching.Jennifer shares her extraordinary story of transformation, from growing up in a family marked by addiction and trauma, to battling her own opioid dependence, to watching her son face the same struggle. Today, she helps families heal generational patterns and find peace, ev
How AI Is Helping People Reprogram Their Minds | With Michelle Walters, Creator of Make My Hypno
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Michelle Walters, Clinical Hypnotherapist and creator of Make My Hypno, an AI-assisted platform that delivers personalized hypnosis recordings in minutes.Michelle shares her journey from corporate marketing into clinical hypnotherapy, how COVID pushed her to pursue a purpose-driven career change, and what inspired her to merge her love of tec
Why Women Leaders Matter in Recovery | With Ajita Shah & Melissa Maranzano of Innerspace Counseling
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Ajita Shah, LPC, ACS, PMH-C, founder of Innerspace Counseling, and Melissa Maranzano, Administrative Director. Together, they share how they built a trauma-informed, female-led practice in New Jersey offering PHP and IOP programs for children, adolescents, and adults.Ajita and Melissa discuss their personal journeys in behavioral health, the
Why Investing in Staff Creates Better Recovery Outcomes | With Bill Bailey CEO of Cenikor Foundation
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Bill Bailey, President and CEO of Cenikor Foundation, one of the most respected nonprofit recovery organizations in the U.S.Bill shares how Cenikor grew from serving fewer than 1,000 people a year in 2004 to over 15,000 individuals annually today, without ever losing sight of its mission. From blending lived experience with formal education,
The Power of Breathwork in Addiction Recovery | With Greg Vorst and Michael Nolan, Co-Founders of Embodied Recovery
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Humberto sits down with Greg Vorst (therapist) and Michael Nolan (certified addiction counselor in long-term recovery), co-founders of Embodied Recovery in California.Greg and Michael share how their personal experiences in recovery, one through addiction, one through spiritual seeking, shaped their mission to build a treatment center that treats the whole pe
Integrating Mind, Body & Community Care | With James Granger, COO of Southeastern Integrated Care
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with James Granger, COO of Southeastern Integrated Care, to explore what it really means to treat the whole person, blending mental health, primary care, and even unconventional therapies to improve lives in rural North Carolina.James shares his unique journey from hospitality into healthcare leadership and how that background shaped his servant l
Balancing Clinical and Business Operations | With Nick Howell, CEO of Northern Illinois Recovery Center
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Nick Howell, CEO of Northern Illinois Recovery, to explore what it really takes to build sustainable, community-based recovery care.Nick shares his journey from corporate healthcare into behavioral health leadership, weaving in his own recovery story and the operational lessons he’s applied to grow a local treatment center into a nationally r
Building Ethical, Veteran Centered Treatment | With Tom Sauer, Co-Founder and CEO of MacArthur Group
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Humberto Buniotto sits down with Tom Sauer: A former Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer and now the Co-Founder and CEO of MacArthur Group. Tom shares his personal journey from losing his father to addiction, serving in some of the most high-stakes military environments, and ultimately building a network of veteran-focused mental health and addiction pro
Fixing the Business Side of Healthcare | With Heather Signorelli, DO, Founder of NatRevMD
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Heather Signorelli, a board-certified pathologist, healthcare executive, and founder of NatRevMD. With experience managing lab services for nearly 200 hospitals and building a thriving medical billing company, Heather brings a unique perspective on fixing what’s broken in the business side of healthcare.We talk about why too many practices ig
Changing How We Heal Our Kids | With Jacintha Field, Founder of Happy Souls Kids
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Jacintha Field, the founder of Happy Souls Kids. Happy Souls Kids is a digital platform that helps children build emotional regulation and resilience through gamified tools, storytelling, and real-life role models.Born out of her own solo parenting journey during a difficult separation and COVID, Jacintha's mission is to give kids the emotion
How Virtual Reality is Changing Exposure Therapy | Peter Oykhman, Co-Founder and CEO of PsyTech VR
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Peter Oykhman, co-founder and CEO of PsyTech VR, to explore how virtual reality is transforming the delivery of mental health care, from exposure therapy to stress recovery and beyond.With 30+ years in tech entrepreneurship, Peter shares how he shifted from IT to behavioral health and built a platform designed to help patients overcome anxiet
Making Prescribing Smarter, Safer, and Simpler | With John Ketcham, CRO at DAW systems and ScripSure
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we talk with John Ketcham, Chief Revenue Officer at DAW Systems, the company behind ScriptSure — a powerful ePrescribe tool used by over 30,000 healthcare professionals.John shares what treatment centers often overlook when it comes to prescription workflows, and why better prescribing isn’t just about convenience. It’s about outcomes, compliance, patient tru
Supporting Mental Health Between Therapy Sessions | With Johnny Crowder, Founder & CEO of CopeNotes
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Johnny Crowder, suicide survivor, death metal frontman, TEDx speaker, and founder/CEO of Cope Notes: a text-based mental health support service grounded in peer connection and science-backed psychology.Johnny opens up about his early resistance to therapy, the slow and unglamorous nature of real recovery, and how he transformed personal pain
Social Media and the Rise of Teen Anxiety | With Austin Davis, Founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy
In this episode of Brainwaves, we meet with Austin Davis, founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy, a recovery center for teenage boys based in Texas. Austin shares how his work is helping adolescent boys navigate anxiety, depression, substance use, and identity, while also helping parents and families heal alongside them.From the impact of social media to the role of faith and community, this episode
Strategically Scaling Your Practice | With Jacob Lynch, Managing Director at Healthcare Capital Advisors
Are you looking to scale or sell your practice?Jacob Lynch from Healthcare Capital Advisors specializes in scaling and selling behavioral health practices of all shapes and sizes. Throughout this episode of Brainwaves, Jacob offers tips that every behavioral health practice should implement whether they're looking to merge, sell, or just increase value.You can find Jacob's company Healthcare Capit
Why Families Need Treatment Too | With Andrew Engbring, founder of Reflection Family Interventions
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Andrew Engbring, founder of Reflection Family Interventions, to talk about one of the most overlooked elements in addiction recovery: the family system.Andrew shares his personal journey from addiction to leadership, and explains why real recovery doesn’t just involve sending someone to treatment, but healing the ecosystem they return to.Some
The Future of Compassionate Treatment | With Ray Wolber, Owner & CEO of Slate Recovery
What does compassionate treatment really look like, and how can we build recovery spaces that prioritize dignity, purpose, and human connection?In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Ray Wolber, Owner & CEO of Slate Recovery, shares how his personal recovery journey inspired him to create a new kind of outpatient treatment center; one that treats the whole person, honors setbacks without shame
Building Resilience Before Crisis Hits | With Jeffrey Johnston, Founder & CEO of Brightn
Jeffrey Johnston’s story is one of unthinkable loss, and powerful transformation.After losing his son to fentanyl and his wife to grief-fueled addiction, Jeffrey stepped away from a successful wealth management career to ask a new question: "What if we could help people before they reach crisis?"In this episode, Jeffrey shares how that question led him to create Brightn, a digital mental wellness
Balancing Care and Culture In Behavioral Health | Featuring Kimberly Cox
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Kimberly Cox, Director of Clinical Services at Pathways Recovery Centers, for a candid conversation about burnout, leadership, and building a culture where both patients and providers thrive.Kimberly shares how she’s led high-performing clinical teams while also advocating for balance, trust, and transparency in behavioral health settings. Fr
Turning Patient Interest Into Admissions | Jessica Walker, CEO of Care Sherpa | Brainwaves by Opus
How many calls are your admissions teams missing—and how much revenue is slipping through the cracks because of it?In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, host Humberto Buniotto sits down with Jessica Walker, the founder and CEO of Care Sherpa, to talk about the “last mile” of patient access—and how behavioral health organizations can transform patient inquiries into actual care.With 20+ years of e
How Opus Started | With Humberto Buniotto, CEO of Opus
What happens when behavioral health providers decide to build their own tech—because nothing on the market truly understands their needs?In this special story episode of Brainwaves by Opus, CEO Humberto Buniotto joins host Shawn Rickenbacker to take us back to the earliest days of Opus. From sitting in detox facilities on Day 2 of the job to reshaping how documentation, billing, and compliance wor
Behind the Billing: How Opus RCM Is Reshaping Behavioral Health Finance | With Alyssa Putman, Director of Revenue Cycle at BHRev, a partner of Opus RCM
Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) might not sound glamorous—but for behavioral health organizations, it’s often the difference between staying open and shutting down. In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we sit down with Alyssa Putman, the expert leading Opus’ RCM Services, to uncover the real challenges providers face—and how the right RCM strategy can unlock long-term sustainability and growth.Ho
Steve Donai, Founder of Growth Sherpa | Scaling Success: Unlocking Growth Potential in Behavioral Health
Scaling behavioral health organizations requires a holistic approach, not just departmental fixes. Join us as we talk with Steve Donai, founder of Growth Sherpa, about the common missteps in scaling and how to achieve sustainable growth. Discover the importance of a solid tech stack, from telephony to CRM, and how to track your spend effectively. Learn about outcome-based marketing, the cautious u
Chris Wolfington, Founder & CRSO of FinPay | Boost Revenue by Improving Patient Financial Engagement
In the behavioral health space, patient financial management is often overlooked, but it's crucial for both revenue and patient well-being. Join us as we talk with Christopher Wolfington, Founder and Chief Revenue & Strategy Officer of FinPay, about the direct correlation between patient financial engagement and practice revenue. Discover practical tips and real-world examples of how to improv
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