Hope, Resiliency & Mental Health Recovery: Dr. Barker with Dr. Keith Morgen | Holding Space Podcast

In this episode of Holding Space, Dr. Christopher Barker sits down with mental health expert and author Dr. Keith Morgen to explore the powerful connection between hope, resiliency, and mental health recovery. Dr. Morgen discusses why true healing requires shifting from “recovery from” past trauma or addiction to “recovery toward” meaning, purpose, and a new identity.
Drawing from his work in mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and co-occurring disorders, Dr. Morgen explains how individuals often rely on substances or maladaptive behaviors to escape emotional pain—behaviors that ultimately weaken (“atrophy”) their natural coping abilities. Effective therapy, he argues, requires building hope as the foundation for resiliency, allowing clients to face discomfort, rewrite old narratives, and develop healthier ways to coexist with challenges rather than avoid them.
Dr. Barker and Dr. Morgen discuss the myth of instant change (“the magic wand”), why progress in mental health is nonlinear, and how learning to tolerate discomfort is essential for long-term stability. They connect these themes to existential psychology, addiction recovery models like the 12 steps, and the vital role of meaning-making in mental health. The episode closes with Dr. Morgen’s work as a professor, researcher, and author on addiction and trauma—offering listeners deep insight into how hope fuels growth in all areas of mental health.

Email Us: BarkerHoldingSpace‪@Gmail‬