Every Brain Matters Monthly Speakers Meeting -Raquel Watkins-Jones-Rockstar Parenting
2024-07-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Online Zoom Meeting
In this new era of industrialized THC, families need support and hope.
Raquel Watkins-Jones is a dedicated professional coach specializing in family dynamics, parental support, adolescent development, and addiction recovery. She founded Rockstar Parenting™, Rockstar Teens™, and the “Lovin’ The Skin You’re In” Youth Empowerment Workshop™.
Raquel is devoted to equipping parents with the essential tools and strategies needed to serve as effective role models. She aims to cultivate a family legacy that will be honored by future generations. She is also passionate about aiding teens in their self-discovery and personal development, enhancing their self-esteem and self-worth. Raquel draws inspiration from her three remarkably resilient daughters and her beloved role as ‘Mama Roc’ to five grandchildren.
For additional information, please visit: www.rockstarparenting.com
Please join us on the second Wednesday of every month for messages of healing from the impacts of marijuana and the expanding drug crisis. There will be a Q&A at the end of each meeting. This meeting may be recorded at the presenter’s discretion.
Register for this meeting at this link. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link to join the meeting that you can save to your calendar. You will not be required to register again if you have already registered for a previous Speakers Meeting. If you have any questions, please email us at info@everybrainmatters.org.
This meeting is free, but donations are welcome to increase our effort to support and advocate for families impacted by industrialized marijuana.
Link To Register
Meeting ID: 872 9417 0134
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Climbers Family Support Group
2024-07-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-07-24 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-07-31 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-08-07 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-08-21 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-08-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-09-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:30 and 5 more dates
A professional counselor leads this weekly online support group for families affected by a loved one’s marijuana use. Participants learn recovery tools that empower them to take the next step while navigating through marijuana addiction, psychosis, hyperemesis, self-harm, or other destructive behaviors. Whether families decide to take small steps or hike the mountain, each step counts and can positively impact their families’ relationships and health.
In the world of recovery, families learn the 3 C’s about the disease of addiction.
We didn’t cause it.
We can’t control it.
And we can’t cure it.
In the Every Brain Matters Climbers meeting, we talk about a 4th C. How do we contribute to it positively or negatively? It’s difficult for families to know what that means, so by discussing these situations, we gain clarity on the best response for our families.
We encourage each family member to work on their own recovery program. We allow cross-talking to share ideas, experiences, strength, and hope. Every family makes their own decisions and heals at their own pace. We respect the feelings and privacy of those attending our meetings.
We ask for a donation to compensate for the professional expertise and time we provide, but this is not a requirement to attend. The suggested donation is $20.00 per person or $35.00 per family. Join us every Wednesday at 7 pm central time zone.

LINK TO REGISTER
Meeting ID: 827 4437 2483
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Young Adults’ Cannabis Recovery Support Meeting
2024-08-14 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-09-11 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-10-09 17:00 - 18:30
This support meeting is for individuals, ages 18 – 35, who have struggled with a cannabis use disorder (CUD), cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP), or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). This is a closed meeting for people who have struggled with these conditions. Attendees must be sober. We welcome newly sober newcomers seeking practical steps to stay sober and pursue a healthier life. We will not glorify the past; we will only look to learn from it. Our primary goal is to maintain sobriety, heal from the negative, long-lasting effects of using cannabis products, and help others achieve sobriety. These meetings will focus on abstinence. We do not support and will not discuss any form of marijuana maintenance plan.

The primary formula that we follow in our discussions is P.S.A. = Problem. Solution. Action.

This meeting will be held online on the 2nd Wednesday of the month starting August 14, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Central Time. For more information, contact Doug Dolan at dougdolan@recoveryinthepines.com

Doug Dolan will be the moderator for these sessions. He is in recovery, sobriety date is April 19, 1997. Doug works extensively in substance abuse, mental health, and personal life transformation. He sits on multiple committees focused on these issues, as well as those focused on reducing overdose fatalities, suicide prevention, helping families in crisis, and various aspects of brain health.
REGISTER HERE

Every Brain Matters Speakers Meeting- Kobi Russell - recovery cannabis psychosis
2024-08-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Zoom Meeting
In this new era of industrialized THC, families need support and hope. Please join us on the second Wednesday of every month for messages of healing from the impacts of marijuana and the expanding drug crisis. There will be a Q&A at the end of each meeting. This meeting may be recorded at the presenter’s discretion.
Kobi Russell is a recent graduate of Brandeis University who currently works in the fields of conflict resolution and accessibility. In late 2018, due to a “perfect storm” of triggers, including stress, lack of sleep, medication, and, most importantly, daily high-potency cannabis usage, Kobi had a severe and prolonged episode of cannabis-induced psychosis, CIP. During his recovery, a relative told him, “Kobi, you’ve gone to a place [mentally] that most people will never go.”
As he began speaking publicly about his experience with psychosis, sobriety, and recovery (both online and with his community), Kobi quickly reached the painful realization that he was far from alone. Kobi hopes that this talk and, ideally, future collaborations with Every Brain Matters will show that young people who experience CIP are not alone, that there are others who understand their experience on a deeply personal level, and that recovery is a journey––and it is absolutely possible!
Kobi is 25 years old and lives with his family in Somerville, MA. He enjoys getting active in nice weather and hiding inside when it snows!
Register for this meeting at this link. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link to join the meeting that you can save to your calendar. You will not be required to register again if you have already registered for a previous Speakers Meeting. If you have any questions, please email us at info@everybrainmatters.org.
This meeting is free, but donations are welcome to increase our effort to support and advocate for families impacted by industrialized marijuana.
Link To Register
Meeting ID: 872 9417 0134
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Taking on the Cannabis Industry and Winning - Patrick Kenneally
2024-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Zoom Meeting
Patrick Kenneally successfully sued the cannabis industry in McHenry County, Illinois. As a result, cannabis dispensaries are now required to warn customers of the negative health consequences with in-store signage of the mental-health dangers associated with cannabis use, including psychosis, depression, and suicidal ideation. Cannabis businesses are also required to scrub their marketing and website of any suggestion that their products have medical benefits.
Mr. Kenneally believes more lawsuits are needed to protect people from the cannabis industry’s predatory practices. To learn more from Patrick Kennealy, join us on Sept. 6, 2024, at noon central time zone.
REGISTER AT THIS LINK.
Patrick joined the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2007 as an assistant state’s attorney. During his tenure as an assistant state’s attorney, Patrick worked in traffic court, misdemeanor court, felony court, as a special prosecutor, in the Civil Division, and as the First Assistant. He handled thousands of criminal prosecutions and represented the County in civil litigation and on government-related legal matters. Patrick was elected McHenry County State’s Attorney in 2016.
Patrick believes it is his duty to stand in solidarity with victims who often must endure for a lifetime the consequences of the senseless criminal acts of others. He is committed to resolutely prosecuting criminal offenders, but doing so without ever losing sight of his ultimate ethical responsibility to seek justice before all else and ensure a defendant’s rights are protected.
Patrick has been awarded the Turning Point Peace and Justice Award for his work on behalf of victims of domestic battery and currently serves on the Executive Board of the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition. He is also a member of the McHenry County and Illinois Bar Associations.
Personal
Patrick is the proud husband of Colleen. He, Colleen, and their four sons live in Crystal Lake. Patrick and his family are members of St. Thomas Church in Crystal Lake, where Patrick is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Education
Patrick earned his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 2005 and also has a master’s degree in environmental law from the University of Vermont. Prior to law school, Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and liberal arts from College of the Holy Cross. At Holy Cross, Patrick was named to the All-Time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Court and Bar Admissions

State of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Climbers Family Support Meetings - Saturdays
2024-09-07 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-09-14 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-09-21 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-09-28 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-10-05 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-10-12 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-10-19 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-10-26 10:30 - 12:00 and 1 more date | Climbers with Joe Parker
Joe Parker leads this online family support group where participants learn family recovery tools that empower them to take the next step to help them navigate through a loved one’s marijuana addiction, psychosis, hyperemesis, and other destructive behaviors. Whether families decide to take small steps or hike the mountain, each step counts and can positively impact their families’ relationships and health. These are open cross-talking meetings where people can ask questions and share ideas. We will focus on a different recovery topic each week.
This is a free meeting for everyone. A donation is NOT required to attend, but if you can help us compensate Joe for his professional expertise and time, please consider a donation of $20.00 per person or $35.00 per family. Donations can be made on our website or at everybrainmatters.org/donate/.
Join us every Saturday from 10:30 am to noon central time zone.
REGISTER AT THIS LINK. Please note this is a different registration than the Wednesday Climbers meeting.

Every Brain Matters Speakers Meeting - Dr. Anette Edens- Monster to Miracles: Parent-driven recovery tools that work
2024-09-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Online Zoom Meeting
In this new era of industrialized THC, families need support and hope. Please join us on the second Wednesday of every month for messages of healing from the impacts of marijuana and the expanding drug crisis. There will be a Q&A at the end of each meeting. This meeting may be recorded at the presenter’s discretion.
Dr. Anette Edens is a clinical psychologist and published author. She has presented professional papers, lectures, and workshops addressing mental health professionals, teens, college students, and parents regarding substance abuse and recovery, associated family dynamics, and codependency. Her book, “From Monsters to Miracles: Parent-driven recovery tools that work” is widely used by treatment programs across the country. She is a founding member and past president of the Association of Alternative Peer Groups (AAPG) board.
Dr. Edens began her academic career at a small private university researching the efficacies of various treatment modalities for adolescents, ultimately consulting with various alternative peer group (APG) programs. She facilitated the development of Archway Academy, a sober high school in Houston that is now recognized as exemplary among sober high schools. She has developed and consulted with numerous APG programs over the past 25 years. Her keen insights into the needs of teens and their families as they move through adolescence has earned wide acceptance in the academic, professional, and recovery communities.
Register for this meeting at this link. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link to join the meeting that you can save to your calendar. You will not be required to register again if you have already registered for a previous Speakers Meeting. If you have any questions, please email us at info@everybrainmatters.org.
This meeting is free, but donations are welcome to increase our effort to support and advocate for families impacted by industrialized marijuana.
Link To Register
Meeting ID: 872 9417 0134
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Every Brain Matters Monthly Speakers Meeting
2024-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Zoom Meeting
In this new era of industrialized THC, families need support and hope. Please join us on the second Wednesday of every month for messages of healing from the impacts of marijuana and the expanding drug crisis. There will be a Q&A at the end of each meeting. This meeting may be recorded at the presenter’s discretion.
In October, we welcome Nina Manolson.
Nina Manolson’s son had a severe episode of CIP (Cannabis-Induced Psychosis), and she was an important part of his recovery. Her experience underscores the power of family as a grounding and healing force during unstable times. She is passionate about the need for society to speak more openly about mental health, psychosis, and the dangers of cannabis.

Professionally, Nina Manolson, M.A., is a Body-Peace® coach who helps people end their battles with food and body image, guiding them to feel at home in their bodies as they are. As a therapist, she focuses on helping women break free from dieting cycles and adopt compassionate, empowering approaches to eating and living, fostering lasting positive changes in their relationship with their bodies.
Register for this meeting at this link. Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link to join the meeting that you can save to your calendar. You will not be required to register again if you have already registered for a previous Speakers Meeting. If you have any questions, please email us at info@everybrainmatters.org.
This meeting is free. However, donations are welcome to increase our efforts to support and advocate for families impacted by industrialized marijuana.
Link To Register
Meeting ID: 872 9417 0134
Passcode: [REDACTED]
