One of the most overlooked experiences is menopause and perimenopause and impact on mental health. Many people feel isolated and alone in their mind-life experiences, and for some this can have extreme consequences…
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Depression can be a challenging, incredibly painful experience, but it can also pave the path to change and transformation. Experiences of numbness, despair, emptiness, fatigue, loss of meaning and all the things that get labeled as depression are emotional and physiological responses from the body. The question that has always been quite interesting to me is: what is my body trying to tell me through depression? What is the message behind these signals?
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What’s it like to spend 20 years locked up in a psychiatric asylum? Issa Ibrahim knows this intimately. As a survivor of complex trauma, drug-induced-psychosis, sexual and institutional abuse, Issa’s story holds up a mirror to America’s racist and coercive mental health system as a microcosm for our sick society.
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In this podcast episode, I discuss the 11 self- protection strategies outlined by psychologist Stefanie Stahl in her book The Child In You. When we are aware of which self-protection strategies we tend to use most often, we can actively chose differently and cultivate more connection in our lives.
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In this podcast episode, I share perspectives around martyrdom and saviordom in life and work and how we can take the pressure off ourselves, stop feeling the need to prove our worth, and take ourselves less seriously with the sustainability of lightness and play and joy.
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Celiac disease is an unfortunately common autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people. There's also a high correlation between celiac, psychosis (and other mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and OCD) and childhood trauma. This is the trifecta that has affected me personally, and many of my clients. So in this episode, I tell you my whole story on finding out about and healing autoimmunity and mental health issues.
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In this episode, Dr. Randall Gates, a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist discusses the profound impact of childhood trauma on long-term disease, the intriguing connection between schizophrenia, psychosis, and gluten, and the significance of inflammation in the brain.
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I interviewed Asia Suler, an herbalist, nature philosopher, and author who has experienced deep transformation through chronic pain and illness. Asia's insights, shared in her new book "Mirrors of the Earth," sheds light on the importance of depathologizing sensitivity and celebrating being a highly sensitive person (HSP) as a unique superpower. In this episode, we explore the significance of safeguarding our sensitive nervous systems, setting boundaries, and recognizing the signs of nervous system overwhelm.
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Why are so many mental health professionals, researchers, and activists critiquing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or researching other ways of understanding mental health concerns? In this episode of Depth Work, we dive deep into the implications of labeling and codifying human experiences, and unravel the hazards of pathologizing human behavior, especially when we don’t have the scientific evidence to back up.
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In a society that often defines success and fulfillment for women through the lens of motherhood, it's essential to honor and celebrate the diverse paths individuals choose for their lives. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ruby Warrington, author of "Women Without Kids," as we delved into the multifaceted world of non-motherhood and the societal constructs that perpetuate binary thinking and erode the value of alternative choices.
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Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Harm Reduction Specialist and Peer Counselor, David Levine as we delved into the complexities of the war on drugs in the United States and how drug laws and policies disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
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In this highly-requested episode, we explore the topic of shame and blame, how we can become mired in these emotions, whether by taking on too much responsibility or deflecting it onto others. What does centered self-accountability look like and when and why do we engage in both over and under-accountability? In other words, how do we move forward and find agency, power, and creative potential without ignoring or denying the pain of the past?
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Despite the wealth of research on trauma and what truly helps when people are suffering, the fields of psychiatry and psychology stubbornly cling to pathologizing, dogmatic and harmful ways of approaching mental health which are counterintuitive to healing. The voices of those with lived experience and dissenting clinicians are silenced under a system that aims to uphold the status quo. Clinical psychologist and advocate, Noelle Hunter, knows this better than most.
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If you’ve ever felt like you’re “going crazy,” heard voices, or had strange and unusual experiences, you’re not alone. My guest today, Brittany Quagan, a therapist and psychic medium is ultra familiar with all things “spooky” - both in terms of trauma and spirituality. We discuss what it’s like to struggle as an empath, coming out of the broom closet while working in traditional mental health systems and some pretty amazing research on how to control experiences that most of the clinical world would describe as “psychosis”.
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Mental health concerns have multiple roots and many contributing factors. We cannot reduce mental health symptoms to a single cause or origin. In this episode, we’ll be discussing what a truly holistic framework for mental health looks like…
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In this episode, I speak with a trauma-informed couple’s therapist about the qualities of healthy loving relationships, how toxic and transactional societal values shape how we relate, and real-life examples of moving through triggers and developing deeper intimacy.
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Addiction is not a moral failing nor an unrecoverable disease. Addiction is often a way we learn to lessen the pain of overwhelming trauma and isolation. In this podcast episode, my dear friend Daryl Rocco shares her story of what it took to get sober after a lifetime of interpersonal and intergenerational trauma.
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What if “going crazy” was part of a larger process? What if it was a message from your body, your ancestors, or a wisdom larger than yourself? Thabiso, a traditional Swaziland Healer who moved to the U.S. in 2020, shares his story about training as a healer in a context where madness wasn’t stopped or something to be fixed, but rather the sign of a bigger calling.
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In this episode, with my good friend and colleague, Katrina Michelle, a psychotherapist specializing in spiritual integration, we discuss different kinds of spiritual experiences, why psychedelic-assisted therapies often are faster and where to find psychedelic-assisted therapy research, programs and training.
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If you were ever described as “too-sensitive”, you probably felt that your sensitivity wasn’t honored. In this podcast episode of Depth Work, you will learn different ways we can be highly-sensitive: emotionally, physically, or spiritually, and why it is actually a gift, not a curse.
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