Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories
183 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 195 ratingsHow do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics.
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Episodes
My dog saved my life-- Understanding the story of depression
April 19, 2024 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBA huge problem with current psychiatric diagnosis is that it often lumps completely unrelated things under the same vast and vague tent, such as with the diagnosis of "Major Depressive Disorder". Here Craig sits down with his patient Rebecca to try to make sense of her complex early onset depression and how it played out via addiction, anorexia, and pathological caretaking and how she was finally able find the grace and compassion to prioritize care for herself. Bringing Therapy into Med ...
Psychoanalysis, Dissociation, MDMA and What Lies Beneath
April 05, 2024 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBHere Dr. H sites down with Jenny, a psychoanalyst who shares her moving, then horrifying, then eventually cathartic tale of plumbing the depths of her traumatized psyche, first with years of psychoanalysis, then with five MDMA-assisted therapy sessions. This is a story of numbing and forgetting, then re-opening and remembering...of finding a way to make sense of a life of protective dissociation. Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive psychotherapy training in Colorado with Dr....
What I'm thinking about now-- MDMA, Sleep Meds, Motivation, Bipolar vs Borderline, and more
March 22, 2024 11:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBIn this solo episode Craig shares his current thoughts on MDMA medicalization, sleep meds, ADD, motivation vs self-discipline, benzos, how long to stay on psych meds, a change and a proposed addition to his top 10 med list, borderline vs bipolar, and marriage. Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive training with Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/training/ BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craighe...
Eating Disorders, Body Image, and Building an Alliance-- A Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani
March 08, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a nationally recognized expert on eating disorders to explore a wide range of topics including: • etiology and the relative influence of temperament, culture, and concomitant psychiatric illness •anorexia as a qualitatively different kind of treatment challenge •treatment ambivalence, building the alliance, respecting protectors •anosognosia and its relationship with severity of illness •how to talk about weight, body image, and eating with mindfu...
Sex, Drugs, and Neglect-- Self-Destruction and the Repetition Compulsion
February 23, 2024 12:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MBThe driving force of so many of our self-destructive tendencies is not conscious, it’s an unconscious drive called the repetition compulsion, where we try to reenact early child traumas or deficits, often consciously hoping for a different result but unconsciously walking directly and knowingly into the flames. One of the central tasks of therapy is often helping people identify their repetition compulsions and doing the deeply uncomfortable work of making different choices. For the repetit...
Psychiatry in the ER
February 09, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBThe rising tide of psychiatric emergencies in the US most commonly ends up in the emergency room, where psychiatrists are almost never found and the brunt of the heavy lifting falls on emergency medicine physicians. Here Dr. H sits down with Dr. Treve Henwood, an emergency med physician and host of the Rural EM podcast to explore the often overwhelming challenges inherent in trying to effectively manage and treat these psychiatric crises. BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.ins...
At the Crossroads of Psychiatry, Psychedelics and Spirituality--- Dr. H on the Radically Genuine Podcast
January 26, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBThis is an interview Dr. H did a few months ago on the Radically Genuine podcast. Although we posted about this interview on our Instagram feed back in August, we thought this was worth re-releasing on the main BFTA feed. Of all the podcast interviews Dr. H has done, this one might be the most interesting and relevant for our listeners. Here Dr. H discusses the deep structural problems with current psychiatry, the confusion around psychiatric diagnoses and nosology, controversies and mista...
Bipolar Mania-- Superpower or Kryptonite?
January 12, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBWhat does it feel like to be manic? It can be very difficult for people to accurately recall manic episodes— they aren’t stored like typical narrative memories, but rather they often feel like confusing and out of control reveries that seem to have happened to a different version of themselves. Then comes the guilt and the shame that often follows manic episodes, as a result of the loss of normal social inhibition, the lack of fear, and the surging dopamine levels… leading people to take ri...
Moving from the head to the heart-- The gifts and challenges of group therapy
December 29, 2023 12:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBCraig sits down with Carrie Haynes, a colleague and Colorado-based group therapist and host of the podcast The Art of Groups. They explore their shared love of group process, the unique benefits and risks of working with groups, specific challenges for the group therapist or leader, and finally how and why Carrie is moving away from traditional group therapy to a more heart-focused transpersonal group model. Carrie Haynes/The Art of Groups https://www.artofgroups.com/ BFTA on IG @backfrom...
Unhoused and Unwell-- The Nexus of Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Addiction
December 15, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 42.8 MBIn the streets and sidewalks of every American city, a slow motion disaster is unfolding, with ever increasing numbers of people suffering from serious mental illness and/or addiction. Why is this happening? What can we do to help our most vulnerable citizens? Here Dr. H sits down with Dr. Dave Iverson, a Colorado psychiatrist, advocate, and policy expert who has devoted his entire career to caring for the most ill patients with the least resources. We get to hear what it's like to work ...
What does it take to fill the void? Developmental trauma and dissociation with Saj Razvi
December 01, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBSaj Razvi returns to BFTA to discuss a listener letter, which leads to an exploration of treatment resistance, developmental trauma, the absence of experience ("the void") vs dissociation as experience. Saj and Craig also explore attachment vs love, whether trauma healing has to be difficult, and the common elements of successful trauma treatment. Saj Razvi and the Psychedelic Somatic Institute https://www.psychedelicsomatic.org/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Ketamine-- Lessons from 3000 Sessions
November 17, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBSome of the most basic questions about ketamine are still under investigation— Which patients are ideal responders? What is the therapeutic dose range? Is there a meaningful dose/response curve? Are fully dissociative treatments necessary for optimal efficacy? How important is psychotherapy after a higher dose IV or IM session? And how should we think about frequency of initial treatments and then ongoing maintenance treatments, if needed? Here Dr. H synthesizes and summarizes his experien...
Love and Therapy-- A Conversation with Dr. Adele LaFrance
November 03, 2023 11:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBIs there a role for love in therapy, whether in the traditional psychotherapeutic context and/or in the psychedelic space? And if we were to more consciously invite love into therapy, how could we do this in a safe and boundaried way? Dr. Adele LaFrance, a Colorado-based psychologist, the co-creator of Emotion Focused Family Therapy, and now the principal investigator of a fascinating study called "The Love Project" shares her stories and wisdom on all things love. The Love Project https:...
Holding on to hope-- Caring for adult children with serious mental illness, Part 2
October 20, 2023 11:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MBDave and Laurie sit down with Dr. H to share their journey through the denial, fear, grief, and eventual acceptance of their son’s life-altering psychiatric illness. NAMI Family to Family support https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Family-to-Family BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
What will happen when we're gone? Caring for adult children with serious mental illness
October 06, 2023 11:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBOne of the tragic truths of psychiatry is that the sickest patients more often than not either don’t realize they are ill, or are convinced that treatment will do nothing. No group of patients better exemplifies this than those with schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. A common presentation in Dr. H's office is an older adolescent or young adult, often male, who is descending into psychosis and also completely unaware of the illness or need for treatment. Meanwhile, the parents are ...
Psychedelic Psychiatry-- The Swiss Model
September 22, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Julia King Olivier, a Swiss psychiatrist and co-founder of the Compassionate Care Center in Geneva, Switzerland, to explore the fascinating landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapy there. Julia is one of a small group of physicians in Switzerland who has permission to work with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine, and she shares her clinical experience and wisdom in this emerging realm. BFTA among the Top 15 Psychedelic Podcasts of 2023! https://podcasts.feedspot.c...
When THC turns on you-- Cannabis, THC concentrates, and psychiatric breakdown
September 09, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MBDr. H's patient Lindsey shares her story of self-medicating her anxiety and depression with cannabis, then steadily building tolerance and moving on to THC concentrates. This led to full-blown dependence and a spiral downward into daily bouts of terrible nausea, near constant panic, and emerging hopelessness. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Healing the Wounds of Sexual and Spiritual Abuse
August 27, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 53.5 MBIn this season 5 opener, Craig sits down with Shelly Winemiller, a Colorado-based trauma therapist, to witness her powerful story of reclaiming her body and spirit from the nightmare of clergy sexual abuse. Shelly Winemiller http://www.oasisforhealing.com/meet-shelly BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
BFTA Summer Special at Psychedelic Science 2023 with Dr. Hillary McBride
June 26, 2023 22:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBCraig sits down with Dr. Hillary McBride, a psychologist, researcher, author, and podcast host (Other People's Problems) to explore all things psychedelic. Dr. Hillary McBride https://hillarylmcbride.com/ Roots to Thrive-- a model of ketamine group therapy used by Hillary at Katalyst https://rootstothrive.com/ Hillary's ketamine groups at Katalyst https://www.katalystmentalhealth.com/ Psychedelic Ceremony and the Art of Groups with Dori Lewis https://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/psych...
Chris and Craig in Fishbowl #4
May 17, 2023 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBBFTA's co-conspirators explore what they learned this season, their favorite episodes, ideas/plans for season 5, whether BFTA has become too psychedelic-heavy, and what they most value in each other. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Brothers across the divide: Treatment-resistant depression, faith, and compassion
May 04, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBIn this final story of season 4, Craig speaks with Wayne, a longtime patient of his who has battled treatment resistant depression and crippling anxiety for many years. Wayne's story highlights a few crucial things— the fact that sometimes you can do everything right, do all the self-care things, yet still be waylaid by the crushing dark force of depression…this story also illustrates the power of the therapeutic relationship, and the fact that two people can deeply respect and care for eac...
The 10 Best Psychiatric Medications
April 20, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MBCan you treat >95% of all patients with mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders with just ten meds? Dr. H says YES. Here he posits his top ten, based on efficacy, safety, tolerability, and cost. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
A bridge between the Western and Indigenous ways— The curandera, plant medicine, and spirit
April 06, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBCraig sits down with Ana, a Mexican medicine woman, or curandera. Ana shares a unique perspective and an earned wisdom that is particularly relevant today as we enter a veritable renaissance of plant medicines and psychedelics, while also trying to avoid the rampant mistakes and misuses of the past. Ana works with various medicines, including one that was mentioned in the “The Dark Side of Psychedelics” episode— that would be Bufo, also known as 5-MeO, or 5-methoxy-DMT. In contrast with ...
A bridge between the Western and Indigenous ways— The curandera, medicine, and spirit
April 06, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBCraig sits down with Ana, a Mexican medicine woman, or curandera. Ana shares a unique perspective and an earned wisdom that is particularly relevant today as we enter a veritable renaissance of plant medicines and psychedelics, while also trying to avoid the rampant mistakes and misuses of the past. Ana works with various medicines, including one that was mentioned in the “The Dark Side of Psychedelics” episode— that would be Bufo, also known as 5-MeO, or 5-methoxy-DMT. In contrast with ...
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Ketamine vs MDMA vs Psilocybin
March 23, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBDr. H explores how to think about psychedelic assisted therapy with ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin in terms of patient selection, ideal indications, psychiatric diagnosis, trauma history, medical comorbidities, medication interactions, cautions, and contraindications. This episode comes from a recent interview that Dr. H did on the podcast The Testing Psychologist. "The Unwell Doctor" episode on the podcast The Nocturnists https://www.thenocturnists-shame.org/episodes/9-the-unwell-doctor...
What's the deal with Psychiatry? What's hopeful, what's gone amiss with Dr. Will Van Derveer
March 09, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Will Van Derveer of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and Higher Practice podcast in a wide-ranging exploration of what's good (and not so good) in current psychiatric practice. They explore topics including: •Problems with diagnostic nosology •Depression as a spiritual problem or a symptom of disconnection •Integrative psychiatry and how this differs from standard psychiatry •Getting at root causes of psychiatric illness •The role of psychotherapy in good psych...
Trauma in the Transference—Repairing the therapeutic relationship
February 23, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.7 MBThe magic of psychotherapy is that it brings forth transference— the patient’s most important and formative relationships, typically with early caregivers, are unconsciously re-enacted in the therapy room. And this transference necessarily creates countertransference, the therapist’s unconscious reactions to the transference. Alexandria came to Dr. H originally due to her severe harm OCD. But over time, it became clear to him, and eventually to her, that she was increasingly, and unconscio...
The lives I didn’t get to live- Shame, psychedelics, and owning one’s story
February 09, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBThirty years ago, a 10 year old boy was found stabbed to death in a park…the same park where 18 year old Stephanie and three young men were seen riding bikes the night before. Stephanie and the others were repeatedly questioned, they became the prime suspects…..yet they, nor anyone, was ever charged for the murder. It remains unsolved to this day. This is the story how how one event can alter the course of your life, how so many possibilities for the future can disappear overnight….this is ...
Thinking Through Emotions— DBT Part 2
January 26, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBAfter years of crippling anxiety, substance abuse, mood instability, and loss, Daniel had finally found the path to impending fame and success beyond his dreams. Then everything fell apart, and he was forced to face the fact that he lacked the skills to face life on life's terms. Enter DBT, and Daniel began to piece his life back together with increasing confidence and competence. To contact Daniel about Peer-led DBT groups or Dual Diagnosis 12 step meetings: [email protected] ...
DBT, Self-Harm, and Suicidality with Dr. Kelly Sonnenfeld
January 12, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 46.9 MBHere Dr. H sits down with Dr. Kelly Sonnenfeld, a psychologist and DBT expert, in this first of a two part look at dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT. This episode is a primer on DBT-- what DBT is, how it works, and how it fits into the landscape of therapy options. Part Two explores Daniel’s story of how DBT helped him recover from a terrible period of psychiatric suffering. DBT is best known for successfully treating self-harm and suicidality, particularly in the context of complex ...
DBT, Self-Harm, and Suicidality
January 12, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.3 MBHere Dr. H sits down with Dr. Kelly Sonnenfeld, a psychologist and DBT expert, in this first of a two part look at dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT. This episode is a primer on DBT-- what DBT is, how it works, and how it fits into the landscape of therapy options. Part Two explores Daniel’s story of how DBT helped him recover from a terrible period of psychiatric suffering. DBT is best known for successfully treating self-harm and suicidality, particularly in the context of complex ...
Why psychiatric illness strikes young (and what to do about it)
December 29, 2022 12:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBMost medical illnesses appear later in life, as organ systems fail and the decades of wear and tear eventually erode the body's innate homeostatic mechanisms. Psychiatric illness, however, is profoundly different. Here Dr. H explores six central reasons why serious psychiatric illness tends to appear in mid to late adolescence. These factors include: •Leaving the tribe •Contagion and heightened peer influence •Early existential life crises •Developmental brain changes •Sleep deprivation ...
Psilocybin Comes to Colorado
December 15, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBLast month marked a fairly momentous occasion in Colorado, the statewide passage of Proposition 122, the Natural Medicines Health Act. Coloradoans voted, by a tally of 53 to 47%, to approve both the decriminalization of psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline, along with the medicalization of psilocybin, with the possibility of a medicalization pathway for the others in 2026. This is a landmark, tipping point kind of social change, and one that triggers a huge number of hopes, concerns, a...
Psilocybin comes to Colorado
December 15, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBLast month marked a fairly momentous occasion in Colorado, the statewide passage of Proposition 122, the Natural Medicines Health Act. Coloradoans voted, by a tally of 53 to 47%, to approve both the decriminalization of psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline, along with the medicalization of psilocybin, with the possibility of a medicalization pathway for the others in 2026. This is a landmark, tipping point kind of social change, and one that triggers a huge number of hopes, concerns, a...
The way out of psychosis-- Psychopharmacology as magic
December 01, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBPsychiatric meds so often get demonized in the media, including the podcast world, and while psych meds are far from perfect and often cause problematic side effects, they also literally save people’s lives every single day. Steve grew up as the youngest of four, a happy boy in a happy family, a “golden” childhood as he describes it….until everything fell apart. Within a period of just a few years, he lost his father and both his beloved older brothers, all while still a young teenager, l...
Abortion in Three Acts
November 17, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 48.7 MBThree women. Three stories. One must listen. Act 1- Sarah Music by Dori Lewis Act 2- Karen Music-- Karen and Craig, "Waterfall of Wisdom" by Fia Act 3- Elizabeth BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
From Beauty Queen to Psychedelic Guide
November 03, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBRaised in an abusive misogynistic home amidst deep shame and the purity culture of her parents' faith, Micah's journey carried her though Southern pageant culture, anorexia, estrangement, birth trauma, and, eventually, connection and acceptance and grace. Micah Stover http://www.micahstoverconsulting.com/ BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Autism Spectrum Disorder-- A journey from alienation to attachment
October 20, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBAnne grew up always feeling on the outside-- outside her family, her peers, her species. She knew something was "wrong", but a diagnosis would not arrive until she was well into adulthood. Meanwhile she became an expert in studying the ways of people, of "operating in manual", consciously and methodically using the lessons she had learned to know what to do in social situations and how to pass as "normal". Unlike so many others with ASD, Anne was able to marry and have two children and even ...
Psychedelics, Psychosis, and Risk Reduction
October 06, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBThis is a talk that Dr. H gave in Denver at the Nowak Society in Aug. 2022. Medicalization and/or legalization of psilocybin is likely coming to Colorado soon, with other psychedelics soon to follow. This will foster both a new era of psychiatric treatments and psychospiritual exploration, as well as a significant increase in adverse psychiatric events, including psychotic breaks. Dr. H explores the various classes of psychedelics (cannabinoids, tryptamines, phenethylamines, ketamine, e.g....
All Things ADD/ADHD with Dr. Jeremy Sharp
September 22, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Jeremy Sharp, Director of the Colorado Center for Assessment and Counseling and host of The Testing Psychologist podcast, for an exploration of the psychological and psychiatric aspects of ADD/ADHD. Dr. Jeremy Sharp https://www.coloradocac.com/about/dr-jeremy-sharp/ The Testing Psychologist podcast https://www.thetestingpsychologist.com BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craighe...
Understanding ADD/ADHD with Dr. Jeremy Sharp
September 22, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Jeremy Sharp, Director of the Colorado Center for Assessment and Counseling and host of The Testing Psychologist podcast, for an exploration of the psychological and psychiatric aspects of ADD/ADHD. Dr. Jeremy Sharp https://www.coloradocac.com/about/dr-jeremy-sharp/ The Testing Psychologist podcast https://www.thetestingpsychologist.com BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craighe...
Finding a way back to each other
September 08, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBIn this season 4 opener, we hear the unforgettable story of a mother and daughter torn apart by addiction, then slowly finding the path of compassion, acceptance, and grace. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Finding a way back to each other: Addiction, a mother, and her daughter
September 08, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBIn this season 4 opener, we hear the unforgettable story of a mother and daughter torn apart by addiction, then slowly finding the path of compassion, acceptance, and grace. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
BFTA Summer Special-- Trauma, Spirit, and Psychedelics with Laura Mae Northrup
July 23, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBCraig sits down with Inside Eyes creator Laura Northrup for a wide-ranging discussion where they explore topics including: •Trauma as a spiritual wound •How psychedelics can help reach the realm of trauma •Why psychedelic trauma therapy can be so profoundly painful •The uniquely damaging sequelae of sexual trauma •What it means for a therapist to have adequate trauma training •How and why therapists hurt their clients/patients, particularly in the psychedelic space •The crucial nature of p...
Fishbowl 3
June 02, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBChris and Craig celebrate season 3, discuss the results of the listeners poll (with a surprising reveal of their unconscious motivation for producing BFTA), offer their curated episode sampler plates, and then settle into a detailed deconstruction of the Psychedelic Somatic Therapy episode. BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ BFTA/ Dr. H https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
Psychedelic Somatic Therapy with Saj Razvi
May 19, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBSaj Razvi returns to BFTA to share and discuss a mind-blowing audio recording of a ketamine-facilitated somatic therapy session. This session was from a recent training workshop with experienced trauma therapists, and Saj uses a somatic exercise-- staring into the client/participant's eyes- as a way to elicit a rapid and powerful transference reaction, with the psycholytic catalysts of ketamine and oxytocin already on board. We hear Saj handle the mounting fear and dread of the emerging tra...
Psychotherapy Twice Told
May 05, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 46 MBOne of Craig's heroes is Dr. Irvin Yalom, a psychiatrist and writer— Yalom's books inspired him in the early years of learning to become a psychiatrist. Today’s story concept was sparked by Yalom's book “Every day gets a little closer—A twice told therapy.” To create this book, Yalom asked one of his long-term patients to keep a weekly diary of their therapy sessions, and he did the same. He wove their two very different but fascinating perspectives together to write the book. Craig just...
MDMA, MAPS, and Cover Story's Power Trip-- Another perspective
April 21, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBThe podcast Cover Story just released a series called Power Trip, an expose of the dark side of the psychedelic treatment world. The series highlights the stories of a few women, including the co-host, who were sexually assaulted in psychedelic treatment spaces….mostly in the underground, but also one woman who was abused by her therapist both during and after her participation in the MAPS PTSD study. Later in the series, Cover Story shifted to a double barrel assault on MAPS as an organiza...
Working with families and psychiatric illness
April 07, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBDr. H sits down with Dr. Usha Udupa, a Colorado-based child and adolescent psychiatrist, to explore the complexities of working with patients in the context of the family. They discuss topics such as: How and when family members should be included in treatment What if the patient refuses family involvement When the identified patient isn't the problem How and when to break confidentiality, especially with substance abuse What are the hidden stories behind what people believe about meds Why...
Attachment and Adoption Part Two— Ridghaus and the Six Word Adoption Memoir
March 24, 2022 11:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MBThis is the second in our two part series on adoption and attachment wounds. Ridg and his girlfriend Rebecca got pregnant when he was 19, and they made the difficult decision to give their son up for adoption. Fast forward 16 years, and Ridg is 35, married to another woman, with their own biological children…and he’s about to have his world torn apart by a stunning revelation. Six Word Adoption Memoirs https://vimeo.com/161846105 https://vimeo.com/211568644 Ridghaus on IG-- @ridghaus ...