DEPTH Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast

“One reason why it can feel so hard to listen to your body is because it is not normalized to move in a variety of ways that you would want to. There are certain ways of moving that are allowed or socially accepted but others are very rare to see. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense that we don't know what our body wants or can't listen to it because we always shut it down.” - David BantjeIn this episode, I'm joined by natural movement practitioner, and my loving partner, David Bantje. In this episode, he offers a refreshing, intuitive reframe on how we can shift our relationship to movement for a more liberated , and playful life. Rather than treating movement as a chore, isolated workout, or something we only do in designated spaces, David invites us to see movement as a birthright—something our bodies crave and have evolved to do in diverse, dynamic ways. He discusses how mainstream exercise culture, with its narrow focus and rigid intensity, can leave us disconnected from the deeper intelligence of our bodies. Instead, natural movement emphasizes accessibility, variety, injury prevention, and playfulness, allowing us to reconnect and reclaim our capacity for taking risks, curiosity, and aliveness. This isn't about perfection or discipline, but about attunement: giving our bodies the space to lead.In this episode we discuss:How chronic pain and injuries "stack up" from habitual postures and sedentary lifestylesWhat natural movement is, and how it helps realign us with what our bodies evolved to doThe limits of conventional fitness culture and why high-intensity, short bursts of exercise can do more harm than goodThe power of movement snacks—simple, frequent movements throughout the day—to support flexibility, awareness, and healingMovement as medicine in the context of illness, disability, and injury (including David's experience with a herniated disc)Relearning how to listen to your body, even when it doesn't communicate in languageWhy reclaiming natural movement can be a path not only to health—but to joy, agency, and freedomBioLinksDavid's Substack: https://davidbantje.substack.com/Katie Bowman: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/Natural Movement Classes: https://movnat.com/Resources:Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠Become a member: ⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠Train with us: ⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum⁠Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Your questioning and critiquing is everything that is needed for 2025 and beyond. And if or when it is construed [by the system] as as a deficiency, unprofessionalism, or ineptitude, I hope that by priming people to keep their eyes open for those responses, it can be more of a collective yawn.” - Rupi LeghaIn this episode I'm joined by Rupi Legha, psychiatrist, educator, and scholar-activist—whose work radically interrogates the role of psychiatry in upholding racial injustice. Together, we explore what it means to be an anti-racist clinician in a field that silences dissent, punishes disclosure, and pathologizes defiance—especially in Black, Brown, and Indigenous folks. We talk about the emotional and ethical toll of navigating psychiatric training while attempting to stay true to liberatory values. We talk about forced restraint, overmedication, and the ways psychiatry can reinforce white supremacist ideology in both overt and covert ways. And we ask the hard questions: What is worth saving in psychiatry? What should be dismantled? What might take its place?Also in this episode:deciding how much to disclose about your own lived experiences with mental health as a clinicianwhat psychiatric residency training is actually likeexperiencing moral injurythe racist and coercive practices deeply rooted in the history of psychiatryadvice for younger cliniciansnavigating family dynamics in child crisis carethe future of psychiatry as a professionanti-racist training for cliniciansBioDr. Rupinder K. Legha is a double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, educator, and independent scholar-activist. She is the founder of the Antiracism in Mental Health Fellowship and a nationally recognized leader working at the intersection of structural trauma, racial justice, and youth mental health. Dr. Legha's clinical and scholarly work challenges how psychiatric systems interpret defiance and distress—especially in Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth—and seeks to transform the profession through person-centered, antiracist, and liberatory care.Links: Rupi's Website: https://rupileghamd.com/Shield Act: https://rupileghamd.com/shieldactAnti-Racist Fellowship: https://edu.rupileghamd.com/fellowship-sales-pageHistory of ODD Diagnosis video : https://rupileghamd.com/speaking/v/oddResources:Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumSessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

20% of the population is on the hypermobile spectrum and can struggle with chronic pain because of it. At the more extreme end of the spectrum is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a genetic disorder that affects not not muscles and joints but the whole body in ongoing feedback loops. Perhaps most significantly, 80% of people with EDS have generalized anxiety. Most doctors or practitioners seeing people with vague symptoms from chronic pain, allergies, SIBO, IBS, brain fog, POTS, autoimmunity, anxiety, and more are often unaware that EDS can be the cause. Even less know about holistic ways to intervene in the cycle of dysregulation. So I spoke with a specialist in EDS, Dr. Derik Andersen to get some answers.In this episode we discuss:what is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?the mast cell activation and EDS cyclewhat are the symptoms and how can someone test themselves?why are anxiety and nervous system issues associated with it?research on the Autonomic Nervous System and HRVneurodivergence and EDSholistic treatment approachesfocused shockwave therapynutritional interventionsbreathwork for the nervous sustemwhat practitioners should knowBioDerik S. Anderson, DC, CPT, CSN is the Clinic Director of the Muscle and Joint Clinic in Northern California. He helps his patients be healthier by utilizing his education and personal and professional backgrounds. Dr. Anderson grew up wanting to help people and initially planned to go to business school to work in energy conservation. But, after a good friend's life was positively changed by chiropractic care, he had a change of heart. His friend spent two years with horrific intestinal problems and saw over a dozen providers, but no one could help her – until she saw a chiropractor. The chiropractor knew that the vertebra and muscles around them affected the nerves that controlled the intestines. After treatment, she was no longer bed-ridden and went back to teaching, traveling and leading an active life. Dr. Anderson realized that health care was his calling and his passion for helping people was channeled into chiropractic.Education:Life Chiropractic College West, Doctor of ChiropracticUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts, EconomicsCompleted more than 1,000 hours of post-doctoral educationSports Nutritionist, CertifiedPersonal Fitness Trainer, CertifiedActive Release Technique, Certified 2011FAKTR, CertifiedMyofascial Decompression, CertifiedIronman® Healthcare ProviderThe Clinic: https://musclejointclinic.com/Resources:Dr. Jessica Eccles https://www.bsms.ac.uk/about/contact-us/staff/dr-jessica-eccles.aspxhttps://tmsforacure.org/ Links: Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumSessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Our brains are one of the most adaptable and dynamic parts of the body. Brain injuries, however, can disrupt all facets of our lives from personality to relationships to how we move through the world. Even a minor concussion can have lingering effects to mood and executive functioning and attention that can slip under the radar. On this episode, I'm joined by a lived experiencer of traumatic brain injuries, Kayleigh Stack. She shares her story, not sparing any of the ups and downs and talks about managing pain and easing the nervous system.In this episode we discuss:the lesser known impacts of traumatic brain injuriesthe importance of nervous system regulationtypes of treatments for TBIhyperbaric oxygen treatmentdealing with chronic painthe power of story and resisting reductionist narrativesBioKayleigh is an activist, artist, community steward, and medicine woman. Over the past ten years, she has orchestrated spaces for people to share recorded audios of poignant histories and stories oriented around critical social and political narratives to be presented in an Oral History Performance Initiative: The Community Storytelling Composition Project. Above all else, she believes that sharing personal stories has the power to restore humanity and resuscitate life back into one another when in need. Because “if we don't share your stories, Who will?” (Mia Mingus 2018)Most of her work focuses on socio-political discourse, drawing upon performance as a subversive tool to generate conversation around a particular poignant or charged subject. Her educational background spans degrees in Sociology from Hunter College, NY, Anthropology from SUNY New Paltz, NY, a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine where she became a Licensed Acupuncturist, and Masters of Oral History at Columbia University. Professional accomplishments include getting onto the Cirque du Soleil roster of Circus artists in 2014, Dance Oral Historian Assistant in New York Public Library's Library of Performing arts, Production Stage Manager with Roll the Bones Theatre at Dead Letter No. 9, Network Director of Zen Peacemakers International, and administration for a variety of reputable arts nonprofits. Currently she is Creative Learning Manager for the international civic production company, Forklift Danceworks. Outside of work, Kayleigh is often escaping into other worlds through reading, writing, or walking quietly in nature. Nowadays, mostly the latter.LinksKayleigh's  Linktreehyperbaric oxygen meta-analysis for tbi https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10072-015-2460-2 & https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/neu.2017.5225Resources:Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumSessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Any movement that aspires to be critical must be self-critical. There is value in approaching 'critical' not as an identity, a label, or a dividing line, but rather as a mode of engagement, as a virtue of philosophical and scientific thought. Critical psychiatry, if it is to embody this virtue, can only do so by insisting that it is a 'theory in the making' and by demonstrating continuous self-criticism, questioning, re-examination, and exploration of new possibilities.” - Awais Aftab, Conversations in Critical PsychiatryTo move beyond binaries in mental health, we must complicate questions such as: ‘to medicalize or not to medicalize?' or ‘is it a biological or a psychological problem?' Since psychiatrists get almost exclusively medical training, Dr. Aftab advocates for what he calls “conceptual competency,” problematizing basic assumptions about the mind and brain that can prevent clinicians from truly supporting people and safeguarding their agency. In this episode, we explore the tensions between orthodox psychiatry and its critics, the future of psychiatric diagnostics, and how learning from philosophy and neuroscience can bring fresh perspectives.In this episode we discuss: conceptual competency and challenging underlying assumptions in psychiatry ways in which critical psychiatry/psychology could benefit from being self-critical how modern neuroscience can help break down old binaries how to decide where to intervene across bio, psycho, social factors ADHD as an example of complex causal factors childhood trauma and brain/biological changes why issues in broader medical disciplines apply to psychiatry pluralism and how can disciplines can come together future of diagnostics beyond the DSM eraBioDr. Awais Aftab is clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and practices as a psychiatrist in Cleveland, OH, USA. His academic, educational, and public-facing work focuses on conceptual and critical issues in psychiatry. He led the interview series “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry” for Psychiatric Times, and a book adaptation has been published by Oxford University Press. He is a senior editor for the journal “Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology.” He peer-reviewed work has been published in top psychiatric journals, he has written for the New York Times, and has been quoted in publications such as the LA Times, VICE News, and the Rolling Stones Magazine. He blogs online at his Substack newsletter Psychiatry at the Margins, which has more than 10,000 subscribers from 120 countries.(https://psychiatrymargins.com/).Links Awais' Substack Conversations in Critical Psychiatry book (mentioned) The Entangled Brain by Luiz Pessoa Resources: Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠ Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠ Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumSessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“One thing that I want people to understand is that if you live in America, you live in a business and you are a customer in that business.” - Thabiso Mthimkhulu I'm really exited to have Thabiso Mthimkhulu back on the podcast for a follow up conversation. Our discussion on “Redefining Crazy” and how we think about mental health was one of the most popular episodes on Depth Work to date. In this episode, Thabiso and I talk about the roles of metaphor and symbol in the mind-body relationship in sickness and indigenous views of learning to let the body speak. He also opens up about his thoughts on the United States and his home country Eswatini. His piercing insight into the causes of division, violence, and systemic oppression in the US is a call to “remember where you come from” and your own ancestral lineages. In this episode we discuss: the role of symbol and metaphor in understanding sickness letting the body speak America's exploitative systems and societal division Reclaiming your roots Bio: Gogo Ndlondlo (whose given birth name is Thabiso Mthimkhulu) is an Indigenous Zulu and Swazi sangoma, from the lineage of Khuzalingezwa Emzini Wamadoda— born and raised in Hlathikhulu, Swaziland. Gogo Ndlondo was raised in a family of healers who hold a great body of knowledge and wisdom of traditional African herbal and ancestral medicine. Gogo Ndlondo experienced his calling illness, ukuthwasa, as a young child — seeing spirits, hearing voices, time traveling, having visions, and prophetizing about the future. Gogo Ndlondo's access to other realities and ancestral realms was affirmed within his cultural worldview, where his family and community recognized his soul calling as a sangoma— to continue practicing and carrying out this lineage of important healing medicine. Gogo Ndlondlo spent his life in training, and is formally engaged in a multi-year apprenticeship process, under the brilliant guidance and mentorship of Gogo Dabulamandzi in the lineage of Khuzalingezwa Emzini Wamadoda — in Barberton, South Africa. Links @thabisoheals on IG https://www.thabisoheals.com/ Resources: Get videos and bonus episodes: ⁠⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠⁠ Get the book: ⁠⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠⁠ Become a member: ⁠⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠⁠ Train with us: ⁠⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Building visions towards a liberatory future will take creative power, vulnerability, radical imagination, and the capacity to honor difference in all its beauty. Lyo-Demi exemplifies this courage and power in their writing and poetry: “My diagnosis of “bipolar disorder,” in my opinion, is both a sensitivity towards and reaction to traumas (both personal and systemic) that yields strength, creativity, and passion, and my diagnosis of “gender dysphoria”…well that just makes me fabulous.” (From essay: Not Confused, Not Crazy) As we ‘reinvent the world,' many of us have to wade through the nuances of adopting or rejecting labels, and find ways to support ourselves and each other, both within and outside systems. In this episode, Lyo-Demi and I talk about DSM categories, the generative and difficult aspects of mental health concerns, and the gift and power of creativity. In this episode we discuss: the power of mutual aid and peer support reframing and depathologizing mental health diagnoses generative aspects of what gets labeled bipolar and mania honoring difference at the intersection of neurodiversity and gender queerness using creativity, graphic novels and stories to build visions toward liberation Bio Lyo-Demi Green (they/them) is a queer and non-binary writer, graphic novelist and tenured community college professor living in the San Francisco Bay Area on Ohlone Land. They have been published on Salon, The Body is Not an Apology, Foglifter, and elsewhere. They have been featured at dozens of reading series, slams, showcases, and workshops in schools, colleges, and open mics locally and across the country. They co-edited We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health with Kelechi Ubozoh, published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Penguin Random House in 2019. They authored Phoenix Song, published by Black Lawrence Press in 2022. They received a BA from Vassar College and have an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. LD has attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, was a Lambda Emerging Writers Fellow, and was selected for Tin House and Stowe Story Labs. LD's queer and trans rom-com fantasy screenplay Journey to the Enchanted Inkwell was a finalist in several national contests. With the help of the Sequential Artists' Workshop, they adapted this project into a YA graphic novel script. They met their collaborating artist Jamie Kiemle through the online community Kids Comics Unite. LD is a decades-long fan of graphic novels, and they have taught them for over a decade at places like the San Francisco Art Institute and others. They are represented by literary agent Jennifer Newens of Martin Literary and Media Management. Links @leoninetales on IG and Threads www.ldgreen.org http://www.ldgreen.org/graphic-novel.html https://blacklawrencepress.com/books/phoenix-song/ Not Confused, Not Crazy Essay Resources: Find videos and bonus episodes: ⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠ Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠ Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠ Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“I wish somebody had presented these ideas that what we call mental disorders, they're not like diabetes. They're not like cancer. They're more like fever or pain. They're meaningful responses to something going on in your life. And they are part of your inner self trying to tell you to look more closely.” - Justin Garson If you've ever felt as though there may be a purpose or function to the experiences that get labeled as a ‘mental illness', you're not alone. Justin Garson spent his career advocating for the idea that madness should not be seen as purely dysfunctional, but rather that it can be an evolved signal or feature with a purpose in our lives. Rather than being a sign of a ‘broken brain', madness may play an important protective or illuminating role in our lives. In this episode we discuss: The 1980s prozac revolution & changing landscape of mental health Why viewing madness as a dysfunction is so ubiquitous How depression or other mental health concerns can be an evolved signal or designed response to a life crisis Who gets to decide what's functional or dysfunctional? The importance of alternative frameworks Meaningful pluralism Bio Justin is Professor of Philosophy at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, and a contributor for PsychologyToday.com, Aeon, and MadInAmerica.com. He writes on the philosophy of madness, evolution of the mind, and purpose in nature. He is the author of The Madness Pill: The Quest to Create Insanity and One Doctor's Discovery that Transformed Psychiatry (St. Martin's Press, forthcoming). He also has two recent books: Madness: A Philosophical Exploration (Oxford University Press, 2022) and The Biological Mind: A Philosophical Introduction, 2nd ed. (Routledge, 2022). Links: Website: www.justingarson.com Twitter: https://x.com/justin_garson Recent Book: Madness: A Philosophical Exploration Madness-as-Strategy as an Alternative to Psychiatry's Dysfunction-Centered Model Resources: Get videos and bonus episodes: ⁠DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM⁠ Get the book: ⁠⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health⁠ Become a member: ⁠The Institute for the Development of Human Arts⁠ Train with us: ⁠Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Have you ever felt frustrated by the narrow, rigid ways we're encouraged to think about mental health and experiences considered ‘madness'? Whether you are a person with mental health experiences and feel discouraged by the lack of options or support, a family member or clinician concerned by the way people are treated, a scholar who wants to think outside the box, or an activist combatting discrimination, you may be excited to hear about a field of study. In this very special episode, Dr. Alisha Ali, Dr. Bradley Lewis, and I discuss the emerging field of Mad Studies and the way it challenges conventional mental health narratives. IDHA is hosting an online event December 8th from 12-6pm EST for those who want to dive into this field, get tickets here: https://www.idha-nyc.org/mad-studies-symposium In this episode we discuss: what is mad studies and how is it different from anti-psychiatry and critical psychiatry/psychology? our cultural unquestioning reverence for science and how it deters important scholarship how specialization in academia can lead to reductive research and scholarship The power of language to shape how we think about madness and what's ‘normal' connections between activism and academia biologizing ‘normal', the hyperfocus on the brain, and neurodiversity movements the struggle against sanism across social movements Alisha Ali is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University where she heads the Advocacy and Community-Based Trauma Studies (ACTS) Lab. Her research examines the mental health effects of various forms of oppression... including racism and poverty. She is co-editor (with Bradley Lewis and Jazmine Russell) of the upcoming book “The Mad Studies Reader” (Routledge Press). Her current projects are investigating the effects of empowerment-based interventions for domestic violence survivors and low-income high school students, and the impact of an arts-based intervention to treat the effects of traumatic stress in military veterans. Alisha received her PhD in Applied Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto and completed her postdoctoral fellowship training in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto Bradley Lewis is a psychotherapist/psychiatrist in private practice and a humanities professor at New York University. He is devoted to enriching everyday life and clinical practice through integration with the arts, humanities, and cultural/political/religious study. In addition to co-editing the Mad Studies Reader, his books include Experiencing Epiphanies in Literature and Cinema; Narrative Psychiatry; and Moving Beyond Prozac, DSM, and the New Psychiatry: Birth of Postpsychiatry Jazmine Russell is the co-founder of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts, a transformative mental health educator, trauma survivor, and host of "Depth Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast." She is an interdisciplinary scholar of Mad Studies, Critical Psychology, and Neuroscience, and a postgraduate student at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain. Jazmine has worked in the mental health system as a crisis counselor and later as a peer counselor specializing in working with those experiencing 'psychosis.' Becoming disillusioned with the system, she became a grassroots mental health organizer and holistic counselor across many modalities since 2015. JOIN US FOR THE MAD STUDIES SYMPOSIUM ONLINE DECEMBER 8th  Links The Mad Studies Reader - https://www.routledge.com/Mad-Studies-Reader-Interdisciplinary-Innovations-in-Mental-Health/Lewis-Ali-Russell/p/book/9780367709082  https://imsj.org/what-is-mad-studies/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

In everyday life, we might label irrational, illogical, or absurd beliefs as ‘delusional', and dismiss the person who expresses them on these grounds. This tendency is common when it comes to conspiracy beliefs or beliefs held by individuals labeled with psychosis, where such views are frequently pathologized. But can beliefs themselves really be pathological? What if they can also be meaningful, informative, and important? We all hold some beliefs that, to others, might appear “delusional.” Communicating more effectively with those whose beliefs differ radically from our own is a crucial skill to develop. Dr. Lisa Bortolotti, philosopher and author of “Why Delusions Matter” advocates for a more compassionate approach—one that respects the agency of those with unconventional beliefs. Especially in a world of increasing political divide and a loss of trust in our broader systems, media, and government, it's crucial to be able to find some common ground and develop the capacity to listen well. In this episode we discuss: The roles of curiosity and compassion when engaging with those who hold fundamentally different beliefs Why delusions in clinical and everyday contexts share significant similarities How conspiracy thinking often stems from a legitimate loss of trust and can serve adaptive purposes The potential value and meaning embedded in delusional beliefs Why epistemic justice is essential Lisa Bortolotti is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, working in the philosophy of psychology and interested in belief, agency, self-knowledge, and mental health. Her latest book is Why Delusions Matter (Bloomsbury, 2023) and she is the editor in chief of *Philosophical Psychology* (a Taylor and Francis journal). Lisa is the founder of the Imperfect Cognitions blog, and of The Philosophy Garden, a virtual philosophy museum gathering resources to bring philosophy to everyone. Currently, Lisa is co-investigator in project EPIC, a six-year project funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award, investigating epistemic injustice in healthcare. Links Launch of project EPIC: What interests me about epistemic injustice. (Project EPIC, 2024). Brief video. Delusions and Philosophy (Awais Aftab's Mixed Bag Psychiatry at the Margins series, 2023). Online article. How to give young people agency in mental health. (McPin Foundation, 2021). Podcast. Why Delusions Matter by Lisa Bortolotti Resources: Find videos and bonuses: DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM Get the book: ⁠Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health The Institute for the Development of Human Arts Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“It is valuable for our culture and our society to work towards disability rights, disability justice, and a disability inclusive lens, because it's going to benefit all of us.”- Sarah Napoli Each of us, at some point in life, will have some type of disabling experience whether that's from natural aging, illness, burnout, trauma, accidents or structural factors. Building communities of care and mentorship, and undoing ablism is integral to our collective sustainability and wellbeing. In today's episode, disability activist Sarah Napoli and I talk about visible vs. invisible disability, why chronic illness and experiences like long covid count as disability, and the bridges between mental health and disability communities. In this episode we discuss: the importance of disability identity and mentorship why ablism isn't just about access invisible disability and overcoming the ‘pity' or ‘superhero' narratives why disability rights benefit all of us owning your own narrative why chronic illness communities should start to use disability and power in unity learning different types of rest dating and having relationships with disabilities difference between disability rights, disability inclusion, and disability justice mental health and disability intersections passions hobbies and the things that make us feel alive - bridging hip hop and activism Bio Sarah Napoli has been teaching and training in the field of social justice, diversity and inclusion, intercultural relations, advocacy and human rights for over 20 years. She is originally from northwest Indiana, outside of Chicago and has called Japan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont, England, New York and currently New Jersey home. She is the learning services director at the Disability & Philanthropy Forum. From 2019-2023, she acted as the lead disability inclusion project officer within the people and culture Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity team at Open Society Foundations, where she developed and facilitated disability inclusion learning and embedded proactive disability inclusive practices throughout the global network. Sarah spent many years teaching and conducting training on social justice and advocacy in higher education and nonprofits, most recently as the director for the inaugural Center for Inclusion at Manhattanville College and as the assistant head of Goodricke College at the University of York, England. She specializes in facilitating engaging workshops and designing curriculum that challenge and encourage participants to foster a culture of inclusion. She holds two MA degrees, one in social justice in intercultural relations from the SIT graduate institute and one in applied human rights from the University of York. She identifies as a proud disabled person and enjoys chatting about Geek culture—all things fantasy and sci/fi and her former life as a hip hop researcher and dancer. Her research on how hip hop creates human rights identities was recently published in the University of Michigan press text, For the Culture: Hip Hop and the Fight for Social Justice. She has conducted workshops and training all over the USA and in the world, including Japan, Guatemala, throughout Europe, South Africa, and Canada. Sarah's LinkedIn The Disabled Mindset - Embracing My Disability Identity For the Culture: Hip Hop and the Fight for Social Justice Links Skin tooth and bone by Sins Invalid Black Disability Politics book The Future is Disabled book Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.IDHA-nyc.org Get The Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“As long as we insist that we absolutely don't want dark, freaky, unpleasant things, a major part of our full spectrum human curiosity gets cut off, repressed, denied, and made unconscious.”- Carolyn Lovewell, Existential Kink With the rise in popularity of shadow work, inner child work, and healing unconscious pain and trauma, many are eager to explore the depths of our wholeness. However, a willingness to do this work requires an acceptance of the dark, “yucky”, and uncomfortable things that can be hard for us to forgive or acknowledge in ourselves. Carolyn Lovewell wrote “Existential Kink,” a hallmark book in this area drawing on jungian psychology and western esoteric traditions. She explains the importance of ‘unironically' embracing the parts of ourselves that may have been repressed - not to change ourselves, or spiritually bypass - but to truly accept the full spectrum of our wholeness In this episode we discuss: the windy path from academia to magic links between existential kink & erotic energy embracing the parts of ourselves that are hungry for experiences of pain shadow work, the unconscious, and repression dealing with a divided will a short intro shadow work practice Bio Dr. Carolyn Lovewell has helped thousands of people around the world transform their lives for the way-better using shadow work and applied occult philosophy.  She's the author of the cult-classic creativity guide, Awaken Your Genius, and the book that rocked the coaching world, Existential Kink: unmask your shadow and embrace your power.  She's the co-founder of the world's only in-person Mystery School in the Western Esoteric Tradition, Sleep Over Mystery School. She earned her doctorate in Critical and Cultural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family.  She offers online courses and memberships in magick and transformation via the Immortal College. Dr. Carolyn Lovewell adept of the Immortal College leader of Sleep Over Mystery School author of Existential Kink: unmask your shadows and embrace your power co-host of The Sleep Over Podcast with Carolyn and Laila Free Breathwork Practice: https://depthwork.substack.com/p/free-meditations-practices-and-workbooks Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Commercialized psychiatric and psychological knowledge encourages us to think of ourselves primarily as consumers and promotes a set of values that suggest some of us have minds or brains that should be ‘fixed' with particular products or services. These neoliberal values have led to a great deal of institutional corruption and also has been exported beyond the western world across the globe. Many researchers, clinicians and activists have rallied together to fight against medicalized global mental health initiatives which promote a narrow westernized notion of wellness and defined how treatment should look, often at the expense of local healing practices and without the participation of people with lived experience. Justin Karter, couseling psychologist, and research news editor at Mad In America, has spent a long time advocating for epistemic justice in the psy disciplines and helping to expose practices and policies that undermine people's human rights and agency. In this episode we discuss: how the political and psychological meet within and outside of therapy commercialization of psychopharmaceuticals and institutional corruption how neoliberalism and capitalist values are embedded in psychiatry the global mental health movement and psychiatric export as a neocolonial practice the ways in which global advocates with lived experience uniting and fighting back the need for epistemic justice, humility, and polyphony legal updates from the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities psychological humanities, mad studies, and other exciting emerging disciples of study Bio: Justin M. Karter, PhD, is a Counseling Psychologist in private practice in Boston and an instructor for the Center for Psychological Humanities & Ethics at Boston College. He is also the long-time research news editor of the Mad in America webzine. He completed his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2021. Justin does research in critical psychology, critical psychiatry, and philosophy of psychology. He is currently working on a book on the activism of psychosocial disability advocates in the context of the movement for global mental health. Links: Exploring the Fault Lines in Mental Health Discourse - Mad In America - https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/10/interview-psychologist-justin-karter/ Can Psychosocial Disability Transform Global Mental Health? - https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/08/can-psychosocial-disability-decolonize-mental-health-a-conversation-with-luis-arroyo-and-justin-karter/ Boston College Psychological Humanities - https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/sites/Psychological-Humanities-Ethics/About.html#tab-mission_and_history Justin's Research Gate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin-Karter Resources Mentioned Psychiatry Under The Influence by Robert Whitaker and Lisa Cosgrove - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137516022 Vikram Patel lancet article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02241-9/abstract UN CRPD: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-Disabilities.html Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

The language we have for describing mental health challenges and suffering can constrict or expand the realm of possibilities for how we define ourselves. Sascha Altman DuBrul has spent his life challenging mainstream assumptions about mental health, what's normal and abnormal, and built a community around shifting the narrative. Drawing from his personal experiences of getting locked up in a psych ward, he co-founded a radical mental health support group and media project (The Icarus Project) which proliferated the language of mental health concerns as ‘Dangerous Gifts,' to be harnessed and worked with rather than obliterated and erased. Today we talk about lessons learned, the challenges and necessity of community organizing, developing ethical values as a provider outside the system, and visions for the future of mental health. In this episode: 02:30 Sascha's Story & The Icarus Project07:53 From Punk Rock Subcultures to Radical Mental Health 11:11 Challenges and Transitions in Mental Health Organizing 17:14 Dangerous Gifts and other language 26:46 Using Internal Family Systems to Process Shame42:35 Self-reflection in Community Organizing 51:30 A Vision for the Future Bio Sascha DuBrul is a writer and educator that has been facilitating workshops and community dialogues at universities, conferences, community centers and activist gatherings for more than two decades. From the anarchist squatter community in New York City to the Lacandon jungle of Chiapas, Mexico, to the Earth First! road blockades of the Pacific Northwest, Sascha is a pioneer in urban farming and creative mental health advocacy. He is the co-founder of the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library, the first urban seed library in North America, and The Icarus Project, a radical community support network and media project that's actively redefining the language and culture of mental health and illness. He is currently working in private practice and raising two children in Oakland, California. Sascha's Website & Private Practice: https://www.saschadubrul.com/ Underground Transmissions Substack : https://undergroundtransmissions.substack.com/ The Icarus Project Archive and Resources: https://site.icarusprojectarchive.org/about-us Icarus Project Archive Survey 2024https://forms.gle/3EvDGq7NoyHa2Rzr9 Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Are most mental health concerns a result of issues with cellular metabolism? In this episode, I discuss Dr. Chris Palmer's 'brain energy theory,' which draws on decades of cross-disciplinary research, positing that metabolic dysfunctions throughout the body may underlie various mental health conditions. I explore how mental health, chronic illness, stress, modern lifestyle, and cellular metabolism are all related in an ongoing feedback loop. I review a landmark pilot study from Stanford on the ketogenic diet, and other research supporting this theory. This is a really exciting time for psychiatry as we move beyond neurotransmitter imbalance theories and understand the complex nuances of brain and body health. Studies such as these can promote more agency to make healthy choices and options to intervene at many levels in service of our health. 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Challenging the dominant paradigm 01:23 The Brain Energy Theory of metabolic health explained 06:00 The Role of Cellular Metabolism & Mitochondria 11:25 How our environment sets the stage 14:16 Nutritional interventions and the ketogenic diet 15:42 Case Studies and Research Findings Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links Brain Energy by Chris Palmer https://brainenergy.com/ Metabolic Mind https://www.metabolicmind.org/ Stanford Pilot Trial description: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/04/keto-diet-mental-illness.html Case study of depression and anxiety: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1396685/full Review of Keto for Mental Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11122005/ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Our mental health is a cumulative product of the story of the body.” Why do mental and physical health concerns seem to go hand in hand? At which levels can and should we intervene and develop more agency in our whole health trajectory? Too many people are getting more sick with traditional interventions, but many are taking their power back and finding ways that basic and sustainable changes can change our outcomes. In this episode, I share personal and professional lessons in healing from over a dozen chronic conditions (celiac, depression, IBS, Lyme, anemia, schizophrenia, PMDD, etc.), revealing how they were all connected and how I came to understand the importance of sustainable changes. I am not here to offer a “magic pill” kind of story, but rather to reveal and embrace the complexity of healing and offer a different framework for understanding mind-body health. In this episode we discuss: chronic illness and mental health overlap early cascades of symptoms that lead to chronic health crises surprising roots causes no one ever told me about why getting diagnosed is not enough to determine interventions interpreting the body's messages why western world has worse rates of chronic illness and mental health concerns determining the most basic and sustainable interventions Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠ Links chronic illness rates : https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/study-chronic-disease-increased-25-percent-over-last-decade global chronic disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214883/ c section and swabbing : https://www.science.org/content/article/swabbing-c-section-babies-mom-s-microbes-can-restore-healthy-bacteria effects of overuse of antibiotics: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4939477/ pans and step bacteria: https://www.psych.theclinics.com/article/S0193-953X(22)00101-0/abstract Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“A new order will emerge from within the chaos” - Sara Avant Stover Being human means experiencing loss. If we let it, these moments can propel us towards a deeper, richer inner journey. In this episode of the Depth Work podcast, Sarah Avant Stover shares her profound experiences through many circumstances of grief and heartbreak, detailing the events that led her to write her latest book. She discusses the unique nature of betrayal trauma, the transformative power of grief, and the significance of ritual and communal support in healing. Her exploration into Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and its impact on her is also highlighted. In fact, she was generous enough to demonstrate an IFS session in real time with yours truly 00:06 Sara's story 02:13 Betrayal Trauma and Its Unique Challenges 04:14 The Transformative Power of Grief 12:16 Navigating the Early + Later Stages of Grief 14:51 Collective Grief and Community Healing 19:48 The Role of Rituals in Healing 25:20 Exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) 32:29 Demonstrating a session - Jazmine's parts 48:35 Understanding Inner Child Dynamics Bio Sara Avant Stover is an author, Certified Internal Family Systems practitioner, and teacher and mentor of women's spirituality and entrepreneurship. Her work—integrating Buddhism, embodiment, and psychology—has uplifted the lives of countless women worldwide. She has taught at Kripalu, 1440 Multiversity, and Shambhala Mountain Center and has been featured in Yoga Journal, HuffPost, Newsweek, Natural Health, and more. She lives in Boulder, Colorado. For more, visit saraavantstover.com. Links Handbook for the Heartbroken: A Woman's Path from Devastation to Rebirth By Sara Avant Stover https://www.soundstrue.com/products/handbook-for-the-heartbroken?variant=43436021809351 Website https://saraavantstover.com/about Programs: https://saraavantstover.com/offerings Podcast: https://saraavantstover.com/podcast/ Resources Mentioned Jody Day https://gateway-women.com/ Sobonfu Some https://www.sobonfu.com/ Daniel Foor https://ancestralmedicine.org/bio/ Get bonus episodes now on substack! ⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

https://depthwork.substack.com/

Its becoming more well known that gut health impacts mental health, but with the rise of ‘wellness culture' how do we separate fact from fiction? Dr. Supriya Rao of Gutsy Girl MD bridges the gap between medicine and lifestyle to give patients simple and effective support for gut health, motility, and nutrition. We talk about the topics patients are often too embarrassed to discuss (elimination!), what trauma has to do with the gut, and the things we can do each day to support ourselves. In this episode we discuss: how gut health is linked to mental health the enteric nervous system and trauma why it's important to screen for sexual abuse motility and issues with constipation and diarrhea simple effective nutrition tips 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine dispelling wellness myths Bio Dr. Supriya Rao (she/her) is a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine who focuses on digestive disorders, gut health, obesity medicine, and women's health and wellness. She received her undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after which she graduated from Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to complete her fellowship in Gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center. She joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2014 and is now a managing partner. She completed further certification in obesity and lifestyle medicine and is the Director of Medical Weight Loss at Lowell General Hospital and runs the Metabolic & Lifestyle Medicine Program at IGIC. She also runs the motility program, which focuses on disorders of the esophagus, irritable bowel syndrome and anorectal disorders. She is passionate about empowering people to improve their health through sustainable changes in their lifestyle. She enjoys cooking, traveling, running, yoga and spending time with family and friends. You can also find Dr. Rao on Instagram @gutsygirlmd. Links https://www.gutsygirlmd.com/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Millions of people are put on psychiatric drugs each year. For some, these drugs are desired and effective, but for many, whether taken willingly or by force, they create multiple harmful side effects, long-term health complications, and are incredibly challenging to taper off of. Users of psychiatric drugs also rarely find professional or even peer support for tapering off due to the stigma and discrimination and a false narrative that implies users must remain on them for life. Chaya Grossberg, psychiatric survivor and ally, has supported people for over 15 years in finding alternatives and maintaining their agency, a role that is much needed. After becoming ill and nearly dying from the multiple psychiatric drugs she was prescribed, she decided to slowly taper off with support from the Freedom Center (a peer support organization) and heal the damage done to her body. Now, an activist, community organizer and writer of her book: “Freedom from Psychiatric Drugs”, Chaya shares her wisdom. In this episode we discuss: what it was like to take 7 different psychiatric medications how to change and reclaim your narrative crisis as a retrieval of life purpose what we want young people to know today how pharmaceutical companies use non-profits and peer organization to perpetuate propaganda why nutrition matters when coming off psych meds case studies of successful tapering off withdrawal symptoms and the false narratives told about them the risk of SI due to being on or coming off psych meds taking a basic needs framework Bio Author Chaya Grossberg discusses her book Freedom from Psychiatric Drugs about what people go through coming off psychiatric drugs and what helps them. Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs is a manual and workbook for psychiatric survivors and their allies, friends and families. Chaya is not a medical practitioner, does not give medical advice, and supports the autonomy of each individual to make their own decisions on when or whether to come off psychiatric drugs. She advocates for increased options, support and safe spaces for people seeking alternatives to psychiatric drugs. website: http://www.chayagrossberg.com Book: Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs: First edition Resources the freedom center - https://www.freedom-center.willhall.net/node/463.html Links Institute for the Development of Human Arts (mental health training institute) - www.IDHA-NYC.org Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

"When someone says that they want to end their life, it just means that they don't want to be living the life that they're living" (Icarus Project). It's overwhelmingly common for people to experience a suicidal ideation at some point in their life. As a society, we have to find better ways of preventing or approaching these experiences. Currently, our traditional psychiatric approaches seem to often do more harm than good for folks in vulnerable states. In this episode, I review some of the concerning research around SI interventions, and what we can do better. In this episode we discuss: myths about folks who experience SI why structured clinical assessments aren't predictive of SA what traditional mental health systems get wrong about approaching SI why there are higher rates of SA after psychiatric hospitalization research on efficacy of emergency services alternative options when someone's experiencing SI Resources Institute for the Development of Human Arts : www.idha-nyc.org peer run respite centers: https://power2u.org/directory-of-peer-respites/ Alt 2 Su (australia): https://alt2su-nsw.net/support-groups/ Alt 2 Su charter https://wildfloweralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CHARTER_alt2su_August-edits.pdf Research: safety contracts https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18638213/ assessments and lack of predictive power https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11673-022-10189-5 post-hospitalization suicide risk https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2629522 higher risk post emergency services https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-014-0912-2 coercion survey https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31162700/ harm disguised as help https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/09/suicide-police-harm-disguised-as-help/ hospitalization both increased and decreased risk https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37851457/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“When medical doctors or psychiatrists entertain incoherent ideas about the mind and body, they make bad decisions about how to assist us in being well.” - Diane O'Leary. Understanding how the mind and body are connected in mental health and medicine is critical, especially considering that when we fail to do so, many are harmed. Despite drawing on the Biopsychosocial model for the last few decades, psychiatry hasn't gotten much closer to elucidating the connections between the mind, body, and society. Today, Diane O'Leary explains to us psychiatry's big philosophy problem and how it leads to huge ethical concerns. In an effort to ‘not be dualists' psychiatry often tries to lump the mental and physical together, but in doing so, fails to approach clients as ‘holists'. Here's how we can bring the person back into mental health. In this episode we discuss: why medically unexplained physiological symptoms get labeled as ‘in your head' why the way to be a ‘holist' is not about eradicating dualism or separating mind and body why the biopsychosocial model is incoherent and doesn't do justice to patients the roots of bad philosophy in psychiatry women's health and the history of manipulation in psychosomatic medicine why psychiatry needs to reevaluate its bioethics and respect patients' rights and personhood Bio Diane O'Leary, PhD is a philosopher whose research focuses on medicine and psychiatry. In particular, she sets out to apply philosophy of mind in a way that helps to clarify what biomedicine and psychiatry are aiming for with holistic practice – and what they should be aiming for. Dr. O'Leary is Professor of Philosophy at University of Maryland Global Campus, and a former visiting researcher at the Center for Philosophy of Science at University of Pittsburgh. She's a strong advocate for change in the area of psychosomatic medicine, and she's currently a Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with The Oped Project and Equality Now. https://www.dianeoleary.com/ Links: Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.idha-nyc.org Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠ Resources How to be a Holist who Rejects the Biopsychosocial Model https://eujap.uniri.hr/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/17_2_5.pdf John Read on the “Bio bio bio model” https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=fc53f77bec3514fe6c66f9216be662a89b78fa27 Prozac's rebrand for PMDD to Serafim - https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/04/29/renamed-prozac-fuels-womens-health-debate/b05311b4-514a-4e65-aaa5-434cb2934271/ & https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2016/11/how-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-was-defined-and-marketed-drug-makers/#:~:text=Lilly rebranded Prozac%2C changing the,feminine-sounding name — Sarafem. Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Sometimes it takes a healing crisis to get to the roots of chronic illness and transform our life into something more sustainable and purposeful. For Fern Olivia, this crisis manifested as an autoimmune thyroid problem - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - that forced her to quit her corporate job and led her down a healing path. Since then, she has developed Thyroid Yoga, along with other breath, movement, and vocal practices to support people who desire a more holistic way of dealing with whole-body health concerns. In this episode we discuss: the connections between the thyroid, hormones, and depression why hypothyroidism is more prevalent in women and diagnostically overshadowed messages from the body and why we ignore or normalize symptoms the function of the thyroid, physically and energetically the value of mentorship and community support learning to not be antagonistic with the body body talk practice and how to deeply listen blending yogic traditions and holistic nutrition using your voice to find your power Bio Fern Olivia is an internationally recognized teacher, speaker, and wellness influencer, as well as the founder of Thyroid Yoga®, a unique holistic program that has empowered thousands of women to reclaim their thyroid health and live a fuller, more radiant life. After fainting in the subway in NYC while working for seven years as a Vice President on Wall Street, she left the concrete jungle for the jungle of Costa Rica where she lives and guides retreats. Fern has birthed a new approach to healing through her own education in biomedical engineering and over a decade of experience and certifications in yoga, integrative medicine, breathwork and as a Medical Medium cleanse specialist. She combines targeted yoga sequences, breathwork, vocal activation, somatic intelligence, and brain rewiring to form a whole body approach to health. Through her masterminds, writings, retreats, workshops, and much more, Fern continues to educate and train thousands of women to reclaim their health and live their most fully expressed lives. Fern's "The Expressed Woman" 21-Day Quest to Confidence: www.thyroid.yoga/products/theexpressedwoman Join Fern's Medical Medium & Thyroid Yoga® Cleanse Retreat in Upstate NY this July 10-14: www.thyroid.yoga/products/upstateny Retreats and Cleanses in Costa Rica: www.thyroid.yoga/cleanseretreat Websites: www.fernolivia.com www.thyroid.yoga https://embodiedvoicebreathwork.com Instagram: @fernolivia Research: Epstein Barr Virus a possible cause for Autoimmune Thyroid conditions: https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/epstein-barr-virus-thyroid https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5099387/ Thyroid Conditions and Increased Risk of Depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9392461/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9025086/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Ever have an existential crisis that made you upend all your beliefs about who you thought you were in life? Abby has, and today she speaks to the power of unlearning oppressive ideologies that we all have inherited, and how patriarchy can seep into all notions of what's healthy, normal, and how we should live. Abby's work centers on cultivating shame resilience through allowing ourselves to engage in “belief grief” - giving up toxic beliefs about our roles and identities so we can foster collective liberation. We also talk about bridging generational divides and the gifts that come when we can learn to listen especially to younger folks. In this episode we discuss: the value of existential crises getting unstuck from gender roles and refusing to live someone else's story finding your voice in midlife how mentors and teachers show up in all places in life - even within your children knowing your privilege, cultivating shame resilience and being willing to change your mind ‘belief grief' and letting harmful internalized beliefs go Abby Kamen's Bio: I am an artist, author, and energist. With candor and wit, I seek to provide a thought provoking look at generational trauma and the cyclical effects of survivalism. With my art, my writing, and my energetic gifts, I provide an innovative approach to collective healing that will enable all of humanity to create better, together. I live in Louisville, KY. WEBSITE: abbykamen.com Resources What is Belief Grief: https://www.abbykamen.com/belief-grief-defined Links Generation We: https://www.abbykamen.com/generation-we Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

They say many therapists get into this work for deeply personal reasons, but not many have held so many roles the way today's guest, Denise Ranaghan, has. Denise gets real about what it was like being forcibly locked up in a psychiatric institute while in the military, working her way through school to become a therapist, directing community mental health services while being open about her mental health ‘status' as a peer professional, and then having the courage to leave the system and go off on her own as an activist and therapist in private practice. Denise talks about the double edged sword of relying on oppressive authoritative systems while internalizing self-blame, and the courage it takes to bring a critical consciousness into your work. In this episode we discuss: growing up a ‘troubled teen' forced involuntary psychiatric institutionalization authoritative abuse and internalizing self-blame identifying and de-identifying with the ‘patient' label swallowing vs acting out anger moral injury as a provider in the system being ‘out' as a peer working in clinical settings self doubt, endurism and developing better boundaries as a therapist being a apart of a community and making local changes knowing your privilege intergenerational collaboration and undoing agism Bio Denise Ranaghan shares a powerful personal story of recovery that has driven her 20-year record of service in the mental health field. She has held multiple positions including Residential Manager, Peer Specialist, Director of Wellness Services, Director of Assertive Community Treatment, and Director of Peer Services. In all of her positions she strove to include the peer perspective and vehemently called out oppressive practices, and eventually came to terms with how she was contributing to them. She was one of the first in several agencies who publicly identified as a Peer while in professional roles. She introduced and supported alternative peer run self help groups that challenged the “clinician knows best” belief. Denise has presented on Peer Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Voice hearing, Cultural Diversity, Suicide and The Human Canine connection. She is the author of multiple essays on recovery as well as the book Institutional Eyes which profiles her experience in the military where she was first psychiatrically hospitalized. Presently she has a private practice in Woodstock, NY, she serves on the Ulster County Community Services Board, the Mental health subcommittee and is a member a local Social Justice Committee. She says she has found community with a purpose at IDHA! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/denise-ranaghan-lake-hill-ny/823460 Resources Transformative Mental Health Training Institute (international membership) www.idha-nyc.org Links Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Some of the most egregious harms have been done in the name of “help,” and this is especially true when it comes to forced psychiatric interventions. Investigative journalist, Rob Wipond illuminates the systemic harms of the psychiatric system after experiencing his father attempt to get help and instead of care, be met with coercion and force. As many find out, this is an all too common story. The evidence that psychiatric detention is beneficial to people is lacking, yet rates continue to dramatically rise. From mental health laws and policies, to corruption in pharmaceutical companies, and even political organizations lobbying for more control, all grease the wheels of power and injustice. In this episode we discuss: the politics of forced psychiatric treatment and why it is harmful how the evidence on forced treatment is systematically hidden the ins and out of mental health laws why there's a higher suicide risk in the weeks after psychiatric hospitalization how giving people the label of ‘lacking insight' is dangerous and false several alternative interventions and why we need more advocates advice for family members the cultural shift that's needed Rob Wipond is a freelance investigative journalist who writes frequently about the interfaces between psychiatry, civil rights, community issues, policing, surveillance and privacy, and social change. His articles have been nominated for seventeen magazine and journalism awards in science, law, business, and community issues, and he's the author of the book Your Consent is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships. Links Rob's Website: https://robwipond.com/about Book: Your Consent is not Required: https://robwipond.com/your-consent-is-not-required Socials: https://twitter.com/robwipond https://www.facebook.com/RobWipondAuthor https://www.youtube.com/user/robwipond Resources: US rates of committment: Lee, Gi and David Cohen. “Incidences of Involuntary Psychiatric Detentions in 25 U.S. States.” Psychiatric Services 72, no. 1 (January 1, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900477 European rates of commitment: Sheridan Rains, Luke. “Variations in Patterns of Involuntary Hospitalisation and in Legal Frameworks: An International Comparative Study.” Lancet Psychiatry 6, no. 5 (May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016%2 FS2215-0366(19)30090-2 Suicidality after hospitalization: Whitaker, Robert. “Suicide in the Age of Prozac.” Mad in America (August 6, 2018). https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/08/suicide-in-the-age-ofprozac/ & Simons, Peter. “Involuntary Hospitalization Increases Risk of Suicide.” Mad in America (June 24, 2019). https://www.madinamerica. com/2019/06/involuntary-hospitalization-increases-risk-suicide-study-finds/ United Nations statement: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/10/statement-mr-dainius-puras-special-rapporteur-right-everyone-enjoyment-highest Find all notes, research, and resources list on Rob's Website Become a member of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts: ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

In popular culture, we tend to think of eating disorders as a reaction to toxic societal messages about our bodies. While this may in part be true, for many people complex trauma is often at the root. Our guest today, Katie Kilbourn, co-founder of a dance company helping people heal through expressive arts, courageously shares about many aspects of eating disorders that are silenced, including the links between addiction, trauma, and eating disorders. We discuss the adaptive coping strategies we develop as a result of trauma, and the double-edged sword of escapism, perfectionism, and control. She also shares about what it's like to navigate pregnancy while recovering from an eating disorder, and why it's critical for mothers to stay authentic and boundaried in caring for their own mental health. We also discuss: redefining body ‘positivity' and body ‘neutrality' the toxic pressure on dancers and performers how eating disorders are like many other addictions how pregnancy and motherhood could trigger patterns exploding the myth of ‘selfishness' in motherhood the light and shadow of escapism, perfectionism and control what makes expressive arts so healing Bio Katie Kilbourn was born in Sacramento, California and trained all over the West Coast before she moved and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Dance Performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to New York, Katie had the privilege to dance with several companies including Balasole, J/D Dansfolk, and IKADA. From a young age Katie realized there is a generic pressure within the dance community to maintain a specific body type and she realized that many people, herself included, engage in unhealthy behaviors to achieve a certain look. In 2015 she co founded Borne Dance Company with Kianna Moye and together they created a company dedicated to mental health and eating disorder awareness. As someone who has dealt with mental health concerns her entire life, Katie strived to create a company that would inspire body positivity, self appreciation, and the idea of recovery through art. She was a volunteer at the National Eating Disorders Association for over four years and has personal history with mental health and recovery. She has closely worked with therapists and specialists in the mental health field to create content and workshops that are therapeutic, inspiring, and compassionate for the community. Resources Website & Donate to Borne Dance which offers donation based artistic shows, events, and workshops to the public that serves as an educational entity for mental health awareness, healing through the arts, as well as prevention and treatment of eating disorders. https://www.bornedance.com/ Dance Shows: Feb 24-25 2024 in Sacramento, March 2nd 2024 NYC Links Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

One of the most overlooked experiences is menopause and perimenopause and impact on mental health. Societally we treat it like a disease or an ‘untapped market' to sell more products. Many people feel isolated and alone in their mind-life experiences, and for some this can have extreme consequences. Today we have three experts by experience and training talking about how the system fails menopausal people and sharing their lived experiences in approaching this time of life as an incredibly transformative experience. We also discuss: how early trauma and sexual abuse can re-emerge in midlife the “second peak” of psychosis spiritual emergency and holistic healing dealing with mortality and fear of dying sacred rage in menopause developing new archetypes for the "elder" the medicalization of pms and menopause hormone replacement therapies, estradial, etc. diagnostic overshadowing capitalism and the menopause “market” Bios Leah Harris is a psychiatric survivor, activist, and independent journalist. Their work examines mental health and disability policy, with a focus on deinstitutionalization and involuntary psychiatric intervention. Leah's writing appears in Truthout, the Disability Visibility Project, The Progressive, and Mad in America; and in the anthologies We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health (North Atlantic Books (https://www.wevebeentoopatient.org/⁠) and the forthcoming Mad Studies Reader (Routledge). Their memoir-in-progress, NONCOMPLIANT, traces two generations of psychiatric survivorship and resistance in their family, alongside in-depth reporting and analysis of America's failed mental health policies. https://www.leahiharris.com/ Lynda Wisdo, MA, CYT: Lynda is a survivor of childhood trauma and a menopause/trauma-related Spiritual Emergency.  After several years of mind/body healing, she went on to earn an MA degree in Transpersonal Studies and Spiritual Guidance along with certifications in Trauma-Informed Yoga, Transpersonal Hypnosis, Reiki, and Tarot for Women.  She has written a memoir about her experience with spiritual emergency titled Menopause in Crisis—When Spiritual Emergency Meets the Feminine Midlife Passage (⁠https://menopauseincrisis.weebly.com⁠) her hope being to offer insights and support to women who may be undergoing similar experiences.  She can be reached through her websites at https://lyndawisdo.weebly.com  or by email at lyndawisdo@gmail.com Trauma & Menopause Conference 2024: Healing the Effects of Trauma Through the Challenges of Perimenopause with Lynda Wisdo, MA, CYT https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trauma-menopause-conference-2024-the-intersection-of-trauma-menopause-tickets-798528298637 Marie Brown, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist working in private practice and the public mental health system in New York City. She is the current President of the US Chapter of the International Society for the Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis and an original co-founder of Hearing Voices Network NYC. She is co-editor of Women & Psychosis: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (with Marilyn Charles) https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498591935/Women-and-Psychosis-Multidisciplinary-Perspectives⁠ and Emancipatory Perspectives on Madness (with Robin Brown) https://www.routledge.com/Emancipatory-Perspectives-on-Madness-Psychological-Social-and-Spiritual/Brown-Brown/p/book/9780367360160⁠. Website: https://mariebrownphd.com/ Twitter: @BrownMarieC Resources: Yale Study on Menopause & Psychosis + All resources mentioned here: https://www.jazminerussell.com/blog/menopause-trauma-psychosis-holistic-approaches-in-midlife-undoing-patriarchal-conditioning Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“If I don't feel like I fit in to these linear and binary systems, it's because I don't. It's because they're not actually reflective of my true nature.” In our lives, each of us will have experienced some challenges within our bodies, whether related to injury, stress, the pressure of expected ‘norms', disability, illness, pain, or simply aging. Our relationships to our bodies often reflect internalized oppressive systems that keep us disconnected. Abigail Rose Clarke, a somatic facilitator, tells us the ways she's come to view our connection to nature and relationship to our bodies as prime ways to push back against systems that were not built for us. In this episode we discuss: navigating disability in an ableist world healing after a car accident and navigating the medical industrial complex practices for grounding and remembering you are part of nature the fallacy of hierarchy dealing with emotional resistance healing an eating disorder the book writing process Abigail Rose Clarke is a somatic facilitator who currently lives in Western Massachusetts. Using somatics and mindfulness, Clarke teaches people to use the inherent wisdom of their bodies to be in direct conversation with creativity and aliveness, as a way to dismantle oppressive systems and build generative and deeply relational futures. Clarke has worked with people ranging from CEOs and board directors to schoolteachers and parents. She holds a weekly somatic learning space called Anchor Community, and is also the creator of The Somatic Tarot, a method of engaging with the archetype Tarot in ways that are rooted in liberatory practices. Her work is enormously influenced by her study and practice of Embodyoga®, of which she is a senior teacher, as well as her background in kinesiology and psychology. Links: Abigail's website: abigailroseclarke.com Abigail's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigail.rose.clarke/ Returning Home to Our Bodies (book) https://www.abigailroseclarke.com/books People Mentioned: Patty Townsend https://www.embodyoga.com/ Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen https://www.bodymindcentering.com/about/bonnie-bainbridge-cohen/ Nothing to see here (netflix show) https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/nothing_to_see_here Andrea Gibson https://andreagibson.org/ Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Cycle-breakers see the pain that flows through their families and say: this pain ends with me.” - Dr. Mariel Buqué Through family narratives, structural oppression, and inside our bodies, trauma can be passed down through generations. When we are willing to be with the shame, anger, fear, and grief, we may come to recognize that we are carrying the pain of our ancestors. Being willing to face intergenerational pain and trauma can also make us confront present realities of injustice, and in the process, we can become change-makers and cycle-breakers. Dr. Mariel Buqué shares her stories of intergenerational trauma and the ways she has helped clients move through the shame and grief. Her new book: Breaking The Cycle is out now! In this episode we discuss: Mariel's experiences navigating intergenerational trauma, racism, immigrant status and poverty The importance of moving through shame and grief Why the nervous system is a big part of trauma healing What it means to be a cycle breaker Bio Dr. Mariel Buqué is a Columbia University-trained Psychologist, intergenerational trauma expert, and the author of Break the Cycle: a book that focuses on healing wounds of intergenerational trauma. She has been featured on major media outlets including The Today Show, CNN, The Real, and ABC News. You may find her work at www.drmarielbuque.com. Links Mariel's Website: https://www.drmarielbuque.com/ Break The Cycle Book: https://www.drmarielbuque.com/breakthecycle Resources: Breathwork for Trauma Healing [15 min practice] : Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Ever been in a relationship or went through a breakup that had you feeling completely confused, disoriented, made you lose trust in yourself and impacted your sense of worthiness? Chandni and I have, and today in a very intimate episode, we discuss what it's like to get out of emotionally abusive relationships and come out the other side with a whole heck of a lot of clarity, centeredness, and joy. We both agree that while no one is ever to blame for another person's harmful behavior, yet it also takes two to engage in any relationship and so we find a lot of healing in self-accountability, discussing what made us choose these relationships, and breaking the cycle of trying to earn love or play the role of “fixer”. Chandni has some immense grace and truly powerful perspectives and it was joy to discuss and share our stories. We also get into: the difference between a “shitty breakup” and what commonly gets referred to as ‘narcissistic' abuse if it's better to go or stay ‘no contact' how to get closure without repair why we stayed even when we knew it wasn't right chronic health conditions & relationships listening to anger and disappointment as a compass choosing the right people to surround yourself with breaking the cycle of addiction to unbalanced relationships when emotional abuse runs through your family the joys that come after grieving Links: Study on conscientiousness and relationship success: Lampis, J., Cataudella, S., Busonera, A., & Carta, S. (2018). Personality Similarity and Romantic Relationship Adjustment During the Couple Life Cycle. The Family Journal, 26(1), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480717741689 Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Whatever happens in the body affects the brain, and what happens in the brain affects the body” - Dr. James Greenblatt. The biomedical model of mental health is critiqued for being “one size fits all” and ignoring multiple pathways that can lead to whole system dysfunction. Dr. James Greenblatt, a psychiatrist and early adopter of the now popularized functional medicine lens to mental health, is working to bridge disciplines in order to treat the individual more holistically and uncover hidden root causes of dysfunction. In this episode, we talk about why different physiological concerns have multiple pathways that manifest in a vast variety of mental health outcomes. For any one person with a mental health condition, it may be rooted partially in trauma, hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, food allergies, celiac disease, diabetes, and so much more. Greenblatt argues for the power of testing many biomarkers and using nutrition to help heal and even taper off of psychopharmaceuticals when possible. In this episode: bridging functional medicine with psychiatry treating eating disorders, ocd, anxiety, psychosis, depression, adhd and more the impact that food allergies and vitamin deficiencies have on the brain and mental health how to treat the individual rather than using a “one size fits all” approach coming off of SSRIs and psychotropic medication A pioneer in the field of functional and integrative medicine, board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, James M. Greenblatt, MD, has treated patients since 1988. After receiving his medical degree and completing his psychiatry residency at George Washington University, Dr. Greenblatt completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School. He served as the Chief Medical Officer at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA for nearly 20 years and has been an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine. He is the author of eight books, including the best-seller, Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD. His updated edition of Answers to Anorexia was released in October 2021 and his newest book, Functional & Integrative Medicine for Antidepressant Withdrawal is available now.  He is the founder of Psychiatry Redefined, an online learning platform, dedicated to an evidence-based, personalized treatment model for mental illness. Links: www.PsychiatryRedefined.org Sessions & Information about the host: JazmineRussell.com Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

It's common for survivors of trauma to feel pressure to forgive and/or to let go of relationships with family members who have caused harm. There are a lot of unhelpful notions around forgiveness and repair, and it's easy to feel guilt or shame when we don't feel ready. Today we discuss how to get out of the binary, redefinging forgiveness. and finding a sense of peace with or without repair. Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

"My Voice is My Channel" So many of us experience fear around our self expression. We may prefer to be in the role of "curator," helping to uplift other peoples' voices, perhaps, even at the expense of our own. In today's episode, Jocelyn talks all about shifting her relationship to anxiety after transformative experiences with plant medicine, and how energy work, and tending to our own rhythms and cycles help support us in being more fully expressed. Jocelyn has coined the term "tender discipline" which is a beautiful word to describe how we can divest from toxic productivity culture, and invest in ourselves and our relationships to each other in the world around us. We discuss: The power of plant medicine The relationship between anxiety and the voice Tools for dealing with insecurity and self-doubt around using your voice The concept of tender discipline as an antidote to our hyper-growth, speed, and efficiency-fixated culture Practical tips for writing and expressing yourself Insights into the throat chakra and other energy centers Links:General info: https://jkg.co Finding Your Voice: A practice for sacred self-expressionhttps://jkg.co/voice  RESET: A cosmic tune-up for your workdayhttps://jkg.co/reset-course Hurry Slowly Podcast: https://hurryslowly.co Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“Rage has many facets, and grief cannot be separated from rage.” If you've worked in mental health, social work, psychology, healing or mutual aid, you're likely very aware that this work is unsustainable and often dehumanizing. So, what can we do about it and how can we use our collective power for change? In this conversation, I get to speak with Dr. Jennifer Mullan, a force of nature and founder of Decolonizing Therapy®, a groundbreaking psychological paradigm that seamlessly integrates political, ancestral, therapeutic, and global well-being. As a major disruptor in the mental health industrial complex, Dr. Jenn's work is an urgent call to dive to the root of global and intergenerational trauma, unlocking the wisdom of our sacred rage. In this episode, we delve into the profound impact of ancestral and historical trauma, illuminating the ways in which these wounds reverberate through our collective psyche. Dr. Jenn offers invaluable insights for support workers seeking to shift and politicize their practice. We discuss**:** The profound impact of ancestral and historical trauma and what decolonizing mental health really means How psychology was founded on the co-optation and exploitation of indigenous practices Sacred rage as a powerful force for collective transformation Practical guidance for navigating the complexities of being a support worker in a eurocentric, capitalist society Why mental health can't be separated from political and spiritual work Bio: Jennifer Mullan, PsyD, is a major disruptor in the mental health industrial complex. Her work is an urgent call to dive to the root of global and generational trauma to unlock the wisdom of our sacred rage. Dr. Jennifer Mullan birthed Decolonizing Therapy ®, a psychological evolution that weaves together political, ancestral, therapeutic and global well-being. She is also the creator of the popular Instagram account @decolonizingtherapy and recipient of Essence magazine's 2020 Essential Hero Award in the category of mental health. Links: www.decolonizingtherapy.com Decolonizing Therapy ® Instagram @decolonizingtherapy Decolonizing Therapy ® Twitter @drjennyjennm Decolonizing Therapy ® Youtube @decolonizingtherapy Pre-order Dr. Jenn's book here Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.idha-nyc.org Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum: https://www.idha-nyc.org/core-curriculum . References: Ruth King: https://ruthking.net/ Mariel Buque : https://www.drmarielbuque.com/ People's Institute for Survival and Beyond: https://pisab.org/ Eldridge Cleaver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldridge_Cleaver Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“It is incredibly subversive to say that our body has a wisdom of its own, that we can heal and release shame and pain, and trauma.” Luis Mojica We experience pain and trauma in the body, and it is through the body that we heal from trauma. Luis Mojica, a trauma survivor himself, is a somatic therapist dedicated to sharing the language and practices of the body to help people be in deep authentic relationship with themselves,. In this episode we dive into his story and discovery of the biology of trauma, healing shame, somatics as a decolonial practice, how to work with rather than dominate the body, fawning, and how to find repair in ourselves rather relying on repair in the relationships with those who caused harm. Also in this episode: Luis' story of being born intersex the biology of trauma healing shame and the concept of overcoupling cycles of rupture and repair decoloniality in our relationship to the body - what is relational vs what is dominant dynamic? fawning as an ancient physiological response how to navigate ‘forgiveness' and repair with those who have harmed Links: Luis' Website: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/about Finding Safety In Yourself Course: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/course-sign-up-2 Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Traditional mental health practices and treatment have garnered a lot of critique from concerned clinicians, researchers, and activists. However, when it comes to shifting practice, we have to change what's being taught in schools, institutions, and non-profits. Mental health education for social workers, clinicians, and even family members, advocates, peers, and care workers has the potential to be truly transformative if we are willing to question our old outdated assumptions. In this episode I speak with Noah Gokul and Jessie Roth, the staff at The Institute for the Development of Human Arts who are leading the next wave of transformative mental health education. In this episode: Why what's being taught in schools is disconnected from what's happening on the ground in mental health treatment Why providers are burning out and not finding the resources they need The #1 thing people say to us when they find IDHA and transformative mental health training Links: IDHA's Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum (ENROLLMENT OPENS TUESDAY SEPT 5, 2023!): https://www.idha-nyc.org/core-curriculum IDHA's Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum is a training for people who want to transform how they approach personal and collective healing, gain tangible advocacy skills, and shift broader systems of care. This self-guided, virtual training centers lived experience and is a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge spanning dozens of disciplines, social movements, geographies, and perspectives. Dive into 20+ hours of video content, facilitated by 40+ experts-by-experience and experts-by-training. Institute for the Development of Human Arts ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠ Articles mentioned: Time article: https://time.com/6308096/therapy-mental-health-worse-us/ Noah (they/them) is a Queer multidisciplinary artist and educator here to create liberated worlds through art, storytelling, and sound. They grew up in Oakland, CA/unceded Ohlone land, and identify as a trauma survivor with sensitivities to the world around them. They use music and art for meaning-making and the healing of others, integrating these passions into their work as a peer for young adults in a first-episode psychosis program. They have facilitated in a wide variety of settings, at the intersections of anti-oppression, trauma, incarceration, Caribbean ancestry, music, and mental health. Through their incantations they create spaces of radical imagination and possibility. Jessie Roth is a writer and movement organizer with more than a decade of experience at the intersection of mental health and social justice. She is the Director of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts (IDHA), a transformative mental health training institute bringing together mental health workers, peers, survivors, activists, artists, and other advocates for education and community development. Inspired by personal and family mental health experiences, Jessie's work is focused on the healing power of storytelling and the importance of cross-movement organizing for mental health liberation. A longtime IDHA member, Jessie supported the development of initiatives such as Mental Health Trialogue, a forum bridging the perspectives of peers, family members, and providers; and Decarcerating Care, an ongoing panel series discussing the carceral nature of the mental health system, rooted in the voices and experiences of survivors. Her writing has been published in We've Been Too Patient: An Anthology of Voices from Radical Mental Health, the Intima Journal of Narrative Medicine, and the Village Voice. She is also an avid home cook, passionate about the power of cooking as a care-centered creative practice. Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

We are celebrating 1 year and 61 episodes of Depth Work in this very special compilation episode. Hear from clinicians, healers, activists, and experts on the biggest things that need to shift in mental health and society at large as well as visions for change. Guests and episodes in order: ⁠⁠⁠Noel Hunter⁠ DSM Jagger Waters⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Issa Ibrahim⁠ ⁠⁠Jessie Roth⁠ Ana Florence Milta Vega Cardona Kim Wichera ⁠⁠Brittany Quagan⁠⁠ ⁠⁠David Levine⁠⁠ Holistic Mental Health Rebecca Nidorf ⁠⁠Veronica Agard⁠ Leah Pressman & Jay Stevens ⁠⁠Christopher Rhodes⁠ ⁠⁠Thabiso Mthimkhulu⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Noah Gokul⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

We are celebrating 1 year and 60 episodes of Depth Work in this very special compilation episode. Hear from leaders and experts on redefining mental health, uncovering root causes of concerns, and what truly helps. Guests and episodes in order: Noah Gokul Asia Suler Sensitivity Is A Gift Elmina Bell Thabiso MThimkhulu Katrina Michelle Daryl Rocco Randall Gates Gifts of Depression Ruby Warrington Jagger Waters Issa Ibrahim Caitlyn Lune Holotropic Breathwork Brittany Quagan Veronica Agard Christopher Rhodes David Levine Noel Hunter Jessie Roth Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

The quality of the questions we ask can drastically shape our lives. We consciously and subconsciously ask questions throughout our day, but how many of these inquiries are really offering generative possibility and how many are simply limiting or keeping us stuck? This is a love letter to asking questions and an exploration into why questions are more important than answers. Also in this episode: The questions that have opened doors for me and have changed me why questions are seeds that we plant why being compassionately curious is useful for our mental health how to frame questions in more generative ways Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

We've been raised to fear the ‘yes' within ourselves, our deepest cravings - Audre Lorde The distrust of our desires and of pleasure is a huge disservice to the world. Because when we are cut off from our deepest desires, from our pleasure, from our sense of satisfaction, how can we really put our life force energy towards meaningful change? In this episode, I talk about cultural toxic beliefs we have around pleasure and desire, and the main fears that pop up when we think about following our authentic desires. I also discuss the value of our discontent in showing us where we might be enduring or self abandoning. Connecting to pleasure and satisfaction in our bodies, learning what that really feels like, helps us point our compass in the direction of more joy for ourselves and our communities. Also in this episode: The consequences of endurism and self abandonment what happens when we refuse to ask ourselves “is this really satisfying to me”? 2 main fears that crop up around acknowledging desires distorted pleasure and addiction vs. embodied pleasure learning what enough feels like - embodied satisfaction Goal Setting for Creatives Course - https://jazminerussell.lpages.co/goal-setting-for-creatives/ Notion Life Dashboard Template - https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/life-dashboard-goal-setting-project-managing Monthly Planning Canva Template - https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/monthlyplanningtemplate Weekly Planning Canva Template -https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/weeklyplanningtemplate Resources: Uses of the erotic by Audrey Lord - https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11881_Chapter_5.pdf Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown - https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Wellness plans and crisis plans (sometimes called psychiatric advance directives) are documents that outline our mental health needs and can even help prevent or avoid a crisis. These plans not only give us the opportunity to self-reflect but also can help us communicate with our community in times of need. No one wants to plan for a crisis, but when we're struggling, these documents can get us through some of the toughest times and help us maintain agency, self-determination, and support. Whether you've used mental health services or want to engage in mutual aid and peer support, wellness plans can be applied. In this episode I discuss 3 types of wellness/crisis plans and how they can be applied within or outside the mental health system. Also in this episode: why wellness & crisis planning is crucial when it comes to avoiding, preparing for, or communicating with community in times of need how to create a crisis or wellness plan with examples the difference between Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), Transformative Mutual Aid Practices (T-MAPS), and Psychiatric Advance Directives how the system is set up to protect the provider not the client and how crisis plans help us maintain agency Using these plans with clients & concrete examples Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.IDHA-NYC.org Resources: TMAPS - https://tmapscommunity.net/make-your-own-t-map-2/ Wrap Plans - https://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com/what-is-wrap/ Peer Respite Directory- https://power2u.org/directory-of-peer-respites/ Psychiatric Advance Directive Template - https://docs.google.com/document/d/14l5wlpZ1BVYXoH0GUtUbjTgKYxTL5Abe/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101616156886737959846&rtpof=true&sd=true Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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? “Depression makes holes in our theories and assumptions, but even this painful process can be honored as a necessary and valuable source of healing” as psychologist Thomas Moore says. So in this episode we explore depression as complex trauma processing, nervous system overwhelm, a values crisis, a signal of physiological illness, basic needs not being met, a response to toxic culture and society, and a spiritual awakening. Also in this episode: Is there value in the experience of depression? What are some of the messages depression may hold for us? Does our reductionistic way of viewing depression as something to be eliminated limit our healing capacity? What changes in our lives or society could depression stir up if we can be in the experience? Resources: Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/295132.Care_of_the_Soul JAMA article on brain-body health - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2804355 Depression: Integrating Science Culture and Humanities by Dr. Bradley Lewis https://www.routledge.com/Depression-Integrating-Science-Culture-and-Humanities/Lewis/p/book/9780415877213 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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. Through it all, Issa is a memoirist and artist, whose subversive provacative art has been shown in numerous galleries and non-profit spaces. Art and compassion were his pathways out of the asylum and continues to be some of his greatest gifts that Issa shares with the world. Also In this episode: healing grief, shame and complex familial trauma liberatory art practices surviving institutional abuse in psychiatric institutions and how he got out how compassion, forgiveness, and self-reflection can be healing Issa Ibrahim is a visual artist, author, musician and filmmaker born and raised in Queens, New York. He has exhibited in numerous galleries and non-profit spaces in the greater New York area as well as in group shows at Hofstra University and the Queens Museum of Art in addition to fairs and showcases the Netherlands and South Korea. Issa has been featured on German Public Television, in the 1999 HBO documentary The Living Museum, by Academy Award winning director Jessica Yu, and the 2015 documentary That Which Is Possible. He was also the subject of an hour-long NPR audio story that won the 2014 Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and the 2014 Third Coast Director's Choice Award Issa's 2016 memoir The Hospital Always Wins, published by Chicago Review Press, has the notable distinction of being the first work published by an African American written from behind the walls of a mental institution. Issa is also a member artist represented by Fountain House Gallery in New York City; the premier gallery dedicated to promoting the artwork of artists with mental health issues. Issa will continue to use his creativity to challenge preconceived and prejudicial ideas in society, combat stigma, expose the realities of our broken mental health system. He wishes to and explore how openness can aid in respecting psychiatric sufferers and survivors who are our fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, neighbors and ourselves. Links: Art: https://www.artsy.net/artist/issa-ibrahim The Hospital Always Wins: https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/the-hospital-always-wins-products-9781613735121.php Fountain house : https://www.fountainhouse.org/ Living Museum : https://thelivingmuseum.org/about/ IDHA: ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

If we want more Intimacy and connection with others, it requires vulnerability. We all have ways that we protect ourselves from potential rejection, pain, and vulnerability. Many of these self-protection strategies are depely subconscious and picked up in childhood as ways we had to adapt and survive in our life context. But in adulthood they become ways we distance from oursleves, each other, and the world at large. In this 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. In this episode: Projection and repression: the two ways we distance ourselves to avoid pain 11 self-protective strategies that our inner child uses to try to stay safe ways to heal and become more aware of each strategy Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Links: The Child In You by Stephanie Stahl: https://stefaniestahl.com/books Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“If you've come here to help me, then you're wasting your time. But if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Lila Watson Martyrdom, or self-abandoning and self-sacrificing for the sake of a mission or cause, is so highly rewarded in our culture. It can show up in our interpersonal relationships, but also when it comes to our work, our creativity, or ‘purpose' in the world. We can even start to sacrifice our health and wellbeing for the sake of a ‘mission' in attempts to prove our worthiness. In today's 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. the familial and cultural roots of martyrdom why playing the savior is a codependent strategy the victim, savior, perpetrator drama triangle framework why martyrdom is transactional and disconnects us from ourselves and others how martyrdom shows up in creativity, work, our mission, and purpose ending the game of proving your worthiness through contribution being process vs outcome oriented Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Resources: Karpman Drama Triangle: https://www.karpmandramatriangle.com/ https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/6e5efd05/files/uploaded/Drama  Lila watson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilla_Watson Liz Gilbert Interview on Martyrdom - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4THxJpSZZLmIz7TPKcOf5W?si=4486ca107db14aed Big Magic - https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Celiac disease is an unfortunately common autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people. That's 1%, a HUGE proportion of the population. What's most concerning is that many aren't ware they have celiac often because many of the symptoms are mental health related and treated solely by psychological means. However, we need to rethink this approach. There's 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 today, I tell you my whole story on finding out and healing autoimmunity and mental health issues. I also discuss: common & lesser known symptoms of celiac why you probably won't notice if you have a gluten allergy why going gluten free isn't always enough what role the nervous system plays in it all emergent research on links between autoimmunity, inflammation and Mental Health Research: - The Inflamed Mind by Dr. Edward Bullmore - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250318145/theinflamedmind - Stress & autoimmunity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29922828/ - Autoimmunity and psychotic disorders - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00131/full - Childhood stress and autoimmunity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19188532/ - Gluten psychosis - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26184290/ - Depression and inflammation - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21927805/ - Inflammation and schizophrenia - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26359903/ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Functional medicine and psychoneuroimmunology is on the rise as a more integrative way of understanding the physiological roots of mental health concerns. For decades we've been obsessed with the theory that mental health concerns are solely about chemical imbalances in the brain - but that's not what the research has shown. The truth is much more complex since environmental, societal factors, childhood trauma, gut health, and so much more impact our brain health. 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. We talk about why going gluten free isn't the only fix and why sometimes mental health issues are the primary if not, only, sign of an underlying autoimmune issue. We also delve into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and PANS/PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), as well as Hashimoto's disease, the most common autoimmune disorder, often manifesting as brain fog and depression. Moreover, we delve into the potential synergy between functional medicine and psychiatry, and why our current system needs an integrated approach. We also discuss: how childhood trauma makes you more likely to develop an autoimmune condition links between schizophrenia, celiac and gluten sensitivity brain inflammation and the gut brain connection the role of diet and food allergies OCD, anxiety and PANS/PANDAS Hashimoto's disease what tests you may request from your doctor if you're struggling with mental health concerns how functional medicine can work with psychiatry For the past thirteen years, Dr. Randall Gates, D.C., Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, has dedicated his life to helping people discover the causes of their chronic health conditions. Shortly after graduating in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology, Dr. Gates started his doctoral program in Chiropractic. During Chiropractic school, he was introduced to Functional Neurology. When he learned about Functional Neurology, everything clicked! He became fascinated/obsessed with neurology and spent much of his free time studying the brain in-depth including its dysregulations and rehabilitation. In 2009, Dr. Gates graduated from Life Chiropractic College West receiving his Doctorate of Chiropractic, as well as being Valedictorian of his class. Simultaneously, he was completing 300 additional credit hours in the field of neurology, and in 2010, Dr. Gates passed the rigorous American Chiropractic Neurology Board Examination. At 28 years old, Dr. Gates attained his designation as a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist- one of five hundred in the world. Dr. Gates has since completed 250 hours of additional training in Traumatic Brain Injuries, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Movement Disorders. He continues to spend countless hours researching conditions that are not well understood, as well as conditions that are treated primarily through pharmacological medications. Website: https://www.gatesbrainhealth.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3edfdLeVw7tvOTziAnTEew Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity freebie ⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠ Find the links to all cited research from this episode here: www.jazminerussell.com/blog/functional-neurology-mental-health-research Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“We arise out of the very conditions that will heal us.” - Asia Suler In this episode, herbalist, nature philosopher, and author Asia Suler shares lessons from her journey through chronic pain and illness and the transformative power of the natural world, which she most recently has written about in her new book - Mirrors of the Earth. She is a wise proponent of the importance of depathologizing sensitivity, and celebrating being a highly sensitive person (HSP) as a superpower. We dive into what it looks like to protect and live synergistically with our sensitive nervous systems, establish boundaries, and notice the often overlooked signs of nervous system overwhelm. We discuss practices for reconnecting with ourselves, communicating with plants, and embracing our multidimensionality, as returning to an indigenous remembrance of all things as animate conscious beings. We also discuss: why humans are, in general, highly sensitive mammals why gardens serve as good boundary practice listening to the messages of chronic illness and pain practices for coming back to the self how to talk to plants, step-by-step motherhood and embracing all our paradoxes Asia Suler is a writer, teacher, earth intuitive and author of Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World.  Asia began her journey after early years of chronic pain and illness. The experience— which pushed her into a deep search for healing, both within and without— led her to the altar of the green world and the creation of One Willow Apothecaries, an Appalachian-grown company that offers handcrafted medicines and educational experiences in herbalism, animism, and earth-centered personal growth. Asia has guided over 20,000 students in 70+ countries through her immersive online programs. Through her work, Asia helps people embrace their own unique medicine through a joyful engagement with the natural world. Asia's Website: www.onewillowapothecaries.com Asia's Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/asiasuler/ Asia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiasuler/ Asia's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/asiasuler Asia's Book: www.mirrorsintheearth.com Intuitive Plant Medicine Course: https://onewillowapothecaries.com/classes/online-learning/intuitive-plant-medicine/ Asia's Mothering Depth Substack : https://asiasuler.substack.com Research: Dr. Elaine Aron's books on being a highly sensitive person: https://hsperson.com/books/ Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Why are so many mental health professionals, researchers, and activists critiquing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)? In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities surrounding mental health diagnoses and explore the limitations and hazards of labeling and codifying human experiences. We look at why researchers have called the DSM “scientifically meaningless” as statistically unreliable and invalid and what this means for those receiving diagnoses. We look at who gets to decide what is normal vs. abnormal human behavior, and why more input is needed from other related fields to truly do justice to the nuances of human emotion and behavior. Key Topics Discussed: Limitations of labeling and codifying human experiences Reliability and validity of the DSM and the absence of biomarkers The development of the DSM and its political underpinnings Why pathologizing can be antithetical to healing Links: IDHA - www.idha-nyc.org Research: Kate Allsop's Research in Neuroscience News: https://neurosciencenews.com/meaningless-psychiatric-diagnosis-14434/ Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good by James Davies The Reliability of Psychiatric Diagnoses: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2990547/ & https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00101/full New Version of DSM critique https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/02/new-dsm-coming/ RDOC - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-funded-by-nimh/rdoc JAMA article on other biological factors https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2804355 Once Radical Critiques of Psychiatry are Now Mainstream, So What Remains Taboo? by Bruce Levine - https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/05/once-radical-critiques-of-psychiatry-are-now-mainstream-so-what-remains-taboo/ Criticisms of psychiatry: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/its-time-for-us-to-stop-being-so-defensive-about-criticisms-of-psychiatry Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“There's something incredibly dangerous to the status quo about us no longer feeling ashamed for choosing lives that are right for us, and within that choosing to direct our creative life force energy that we all embody into whatever we so choose.” - Ruby Warrington Today I delve into the complex and often ignored topic of non-motherhood with author Ruby Warrington. Ruby wrote “Women Without Kids” to challenge the prevailing societal narratives surrounding motherhood and unravel the inherent binary thinking that erases the diversity of human relationships and caregiving experiences. We explore the broad motherhood spectrum, which encompasses women who are unable to have children and those who consciously choose not to. Ruby passionately dissects the harmful effects of pronatalism, an ideology that values parents over non-parents within a colonial capitalist framework. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the vital role of non-parents, particularly women, in societal transformation amid the daunting challenges of climate impact and economic collapse. Furthermore, we explore the notion of deviance and shame associated with choosing alternative paths in life and how shedding shame can unleash our creative potential and empower us to challenge the status quo. Also in this episode: breaking down the mommy binary undoing the ideology of valuing parents over non-parents within colonial capitalism women without kids as a necessary vital part of societal transformation among decimating climate impact and economic collapse found family and less hierarchical ways of creating community and family what caregiving looks like within and outside the role of motherhood social life in berlin and the value of community engagement undoing shame of being “deviant” or “other” and taking back our creative potential Ruby Warrington is creator of the term Sober Curious. Author of the 2018 book and million download podcast of the same title, her work has spearheaded a global movement to reevaluate our relationship to alcohol. Other works include Material Girl, Mystical World (2017), The Numinous Astro Deck  (2019), and The Sober Curious Reset (2020). With 20+ years' experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is known as an astute cultural commentator and true thought leader. She is also the founder of self-publishing incubator Numinous Books. Her new book, Women Without Kids, is out now. Links: Ruby's Website: https://www.rubywarrington.com/ Ruby's Books: https://www.rubywarrington.com/books/ Women Without Kids Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-without-kids/id1642683714 Women without Kids Retreat at Krippalu Center in June https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/women-without-kids Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64 Research: Gateway women, Jody Day https://gateway-women.com/ Regretting Motherhood by Orna Donath https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/552538/regretting-motherhood-by-orna-donath/ Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.