Shows
Sex and the PsycheRe-Published | Listen Again: Medicated Libido - When Antidepressants Dim the Spark, with Dr. Craig HeacockThis "Listen Again" episode was one of our favorites, and it deserves a re-visit! Dr. Jenni and Kim talk to Dr. Craig Heacock, an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado who hosts the psychiatric storytelling podcast “Back from the Abyss.” He is a co-therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and has particular interest in the use of psychedelics to treat severe mood disorders and PTSD. In this conversation, we talk about psychiatric drugs and their effect on our sex drive. Dive into this fascinating conversation for the first time, or again...with Dr...
2026-01-2339 min
Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesChris, Craig, and Special Guest Fish in Fishbowl 6Chris and Craig invite Antonio Sacre, an LA-based professional storyteller, author, and BFTA super-advisor into the Fishbowl to deconstruct season 6.BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/Support the show
2025-06-061h 51Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsychiatric Nurse Practitioners in the Treatment LandscapeCraig sits down with his mentee and colleague Mandy Bliss, a psychiatric NP in Louisville KY, to explore the compelling and complex challenges of meeting the ever-expanding need for psychiatric care. Unlike in psychiatric residencies, much of the current training of psychiatric NPs is done online. Does this constitute adequate training? And what of psychotherapy?Mandy Bliss MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BChttps://blisspsych.com/BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" An intensive ex...
2025-05-231h 02Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesThe Enneagram in the Therapeutic RelationshipCraig sits down with Colorado-based psychotherapist and Enneagram expert Joy Gribble (Elemental Psychedelics; Reflective Healing) to explore how the Enneagram can predict the strengths, fears, and blind spots of both the therapist and the client/patient in the complex dynamics of therapy.Joy Gribble https://www.reflectivehealing.com/about-joy-gribble-fort-collins"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.in...
2025-05-091h 18Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesDesperately seeking safety -- A trauma healing journey with Koelle SimpsonCraig sits down with Colorado-based equine and somatic therapist Koelle Simpson to witness her harrowing and moving story of healing from repeated sexual assaults through a deep psychospiritual connection with horses, then learning how to trust her male psychotherapist, and finally coming to face the darkness and shame head on through the use of psilocybin mushrooms.A heads up-- this episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault, please be mindful of whether this is the right time for you to hear this.Koelle Simpsonhttps://koellesimpson.com/
2025-04-112h 05Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesRecognizing and Treating OCDIn this solo episode, Craig synthesizes the most salient aspects of identifying and treating OCD, with some cool musical interludes to boot-- in just over 20 minutes!"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" A intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, May 28-30 in Victoria BChttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom-tickets-1112117516429?aff=ebdssbdestsearchBFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2024-12-2021 min
Psychedelics TodayPT553 – Healing Psychedelics: Where Science Meets Spirit, with Micah Stover & Craig Heacock, MDIn this episode, Joe interviews Micah Stover: certified psychedelic somatic therapist and author of the upcoming book, Healing Psychedelics: Innovative Therapies for Trauma and Transformation; and Craig Heacock, MD: adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatrist, and host of the Back from the Abyss podcast. Stover discusses the inspiration for the book: the ancestral voices she started hearing after she had children, being featured on Heacock's podcast and becoming fascinated with people's healing stories, and her move to Mexico, where she learned the beauty of a less complicated and more connected life. She learned that the village you surround...
2024-10-041h 11
SOUL SEEKREp 243: Understanding Psychiatry and Emergence Psychedelics w/ Craig Heacock📌Subscribe to my new Youtube Channel — SPIRITUALITY SIMPLIFIED: https://www.youtube.com/@Spirituality_SimplifiedWelcome back to the Soul Seeker Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the fascinating intersection of psychiatry and psychedelics with our special guest, Dr. Craig Heacock. Dr. Heacock is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in mental health, and he’s here to shed light on how the field of psychiatry is evolving with the emergence of psychedelics as a powerful tool for healing.In this episode, we’ll explore the latest research on h...
2024-09-041h 29Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBFTA Summer Special-- How to Change Your Mind About Mushrooms with Dori LewisCraig sits down with Dori Lewis of Elemental Psychedelics to explore the myths and realities of working with psilocybin mushrooms, including: •What do people not understand about psilocybin mushrooms?•Can mushrooms treat depression? If so, which types?•How should we think about the specific roles of mushrooms and ketamine in psychiatric and psychological treatment?•What kinds of problems are most amenable to psilocybin?•Why do some people have no psychedelic experience on apparently therapeutic doses of psilocybin?•Individual vs group work with mushroomsElemental Psychedelics-- Ketamine and Psilocybin therapist/facilitator trainings
2024-07-0559 min
The Therapy Alchemist#17: Beyond Psychiatry: Ketamine & Psychedelics with Dr. Craig HeacockSend us a textToday we have an enlightening episode as I sit down with my mentor and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock. Dr. Heacock, host of the 'Back from the Abyss' podcast, offers insights from his 20-year career in psychiatry, focusing on the therapeutic use of psychedelics, particularly ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The discussion explores the profound effects of ketamine in treating severe mental health disorders such as bipolar depression and trauma-induced depression. We also delve into the promising future of psilocybin and its potential benefits for mental health. Dr. Heacock shares personal anecdotes, scientific insights, and...
2024-06-2746 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesFishbowl 5Chris and Craig go meta to deconstruct season 5, explore the art of storytelling and music selection, and answer listener questions.BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2024-05-311h 00Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesMy dog saved my life-- Understanding the story of depressionA huge problem with current psychiatric diagnosis is that it often lumps completely unrelated things under the same vast and vague tent, such as with the diagnosis of "Major Depressive Disorder". Here Craig sits down with his patient Rebecca to try to make sense of her complex early onset depression and how it played out via addiction, anorexia, and pathological caretaking and how she was finally able find the grace and compassion to prioritize care for herself.Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive psychotherapy training in Colorado with Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/training/
2024-04-1956 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWhat I'm thinking about now-- MDMA, Sleep Meds, Motivation, Bipolar vs Borderline, and moreIn this solo episode Craig shares his current thoughts on MDMA medicalization, sleep meds, ADD, motivation vs self-discipline, benzos, how long to stay on psych meds, a change and a proposed addition to his top 10 med list, borderline vs bipolar, and marriage.Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive training with Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/training/BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2024-03-2229 min
Beyond The Balance Sheet PodcastRevisited - Ketamine Infusion Therapy: Expert Dr. Craig Heacock Discusses Safe Protocols & RisksIn this revisited episode of Beyond the Balance Sheet, Dr. Craig Heacock joins us. He is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado and the host and co-producer of the podcast Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories. First, Dr. Heacock gives us a brief history of ketamine from the last fifty years as an FDA-approved drug. We talk about how ketamine became a go-to treatment for resistant depression and bipolar disorder. Tune in as Dr. Heacock reveals how a state-of-the-art assessment delivery and follow-up for ketamine would look like. IN THIS E...
2024-01-2424 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBipolar Mania-- Superpower or Kryptonite?What does it feel like to be manic? It can be very difficult for people to accurately recall manic episodes— they aren’t stored like typical narrative memories, but rather they often feel like confusing and out of control reveries that seem to have happened to a different version of themselves. Then comes the guilt and the shame that often follows manic episodes, as a result of the loss of normal social inhibition, the lack of fear, and the surging dopamine levels… leading people to take risks and do things they would never normally do, typically within the big three “...
2024-01-121h 12Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesMoving from the head to the heart-- The gifts and challenges of group therapyCraig sits down with Carrie Haynes, a colleague and Colorado-based group therapist and host of the podcast The Art of Groups. They explore their shared love of group process, the unique benefits and risks of working with groups, specific challenges for the group therapist or leader, and finally how and why Carrie is moving away from traditional group therapy to a more heart-focused transpersonal group model. Carrie Haynes/The Art of Groupshttps://www.artofgroups.com/BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www...
2023-12-2959 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWhat does it take to fill the void? Developmental trauma and dissociation with Saj RazviSaj Razvi returns to BFTA to discuss a listener letter, which leads to an exploration of treatment resistance, developmental trauma, the absence of experience ("the void") vs dissociation as experience. Saj and Craig also explore attachment vs love, whether trauma healing has to be difficult, and the common elements of successful trauma treatment.Saj Razvi and the Psychedelic Somatic Institutehttps://www.psychedelicsomatic.org/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2023-12-0132 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHealing the Wounds of Sexual and Spiritual AbuseIn this season 5 opener, Craig sits down with Shelly Winemiller, a Colorado-based trauma therapist, to witness her powerful story of reclaiming her body and spirit from the nightmare of clergy sexual abuse.Shelly Winemillerhttp://www.oasisforhealing.com/meet-shellyBFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2023-08-281h 17
Radically Genuine Podcast with Dr. Roger McFillin99. At the Crossroads of Psychiatry, Psychedelics and Spirituality w/ Dr. Craig HeacockIn this episode we sit down with Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock to discuss the state of psychiatry, informed consent, and the intersection of psychedelics and spirituality. Dr. Heacock, known for his engaging psychiatric podcast "Back From the Abyss," shares his unique perspective on these topics. As a co-therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for Severe PTSD, Dr. Heacock continues to work with MDMA and Ketamine as part of therapeutic interventions and is a fascinating listen.Craig Heacock, M.D.Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories on Apple Podcasts
2023-08-241h 27Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBFTA Summer Special at Psychedelic Science 2023 with Dr. Hillary McBrideCraig sits down with Dr. Hillary McBride, a psychologist, researcher, author, and podcast host (Other People's Problems) to explore all things psychedelic.Dr. Hillary McBridehttps://hillarylmcbride.com/Roots to Thrive-- a model of ketamine group therapy used by Hillary at Katalyst https://rootstothrive.com/Hillary's ketamine groups at Katalysthttps://www.katalystmentalhealth.com/Psychedelic Ceremony and the Art of Groups with Dori Lewishttps://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/psychedelictrainingDr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2023-06-2756 min
Modern Anarchy110. MDMA, Ketamine, or Psilocybin Psychedelic Therapy and Pleasure? with Dr. Craig HeacockOn today's episode, we have Dr. Craig Heacock (He/Him) join us for a conversation about the future of psychedelic healing. Together we talk about the varying experiences of different psychedelics, exploring these medicines in our relationship to pleasure, and the importance of connecting to our bodies.
If you enjoyed today's podcast, then please subscribe, leave a review, or share this podcast with a friend! To learn more, head over to the website www.modernanarchypodcast.com
And if you want to connect deeper with the Modern Anarchy Family, then join the movement by becoming a part of the conscious object...
2023-05-3149 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesChris and Craig in Fishbowl #4BFTA's co-conspirators explore what they learned this season, their favorite episodes, ideas/plans for season 5, whether BFTA has become too psychedelic-heavy, and what they most value in each other.BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2023-05-1857 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBrothers across the divide: Treatment-resistant depression, faith, and compassionIn this final story of season 4, Craig speaks with Wayne, a longtime patient of his who has battled treatment resistant depression and crippling anxiety for many years. Wayne's story highlights a few crucial things— the fact that sometimes you can do everything right, do all the self-care things, yet still be waylaid by the crushing dark force of depression…this story also illustrates the power of the therapeutic relationship, and the fact that two people can deeply respect and care for each other, even when they land on opposite ends of the religious and political divide.
2023-05-0451 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesA bridge between the Western and Indigenous ways— The curandera, plant medicine, and spiritCraig sits down with Ana, a Mexican medicine woman, or curandera. Ana shares a unique perspective and an earned wisdom that is particularly relevant today as we enter a veritable renaissance of plant medicines and psychedelics, while also trying to avoid the rampant mistakes and misuses of the past.Ana works with various medicines, including one that was mentioned in the “The Dark Side of Psychedelics” episode— that would be Bufo, also known as 5-MeO, or 5-methoxy-DMT. In contrast with that episode, Ana describes much more mindful and careful use of this powerful compound.The R...
2023-04-061h 20
The Testing Psychologist Podcast351. Psychedelic-Assisted Treatment w/ Dr. Craig HeacockWould you rather read the transcript? Click here.
Dr. Craig Heacock – friend, local psychiatrist, and fellow runner and podcaster – is back to talk about psychedelic-assisted treatment of depression, trauma, and other concerns. We dive deep into the three main psychedelic interventions available right now: ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin. For each intervention, we tackle the neurobiology of the substance and how it works in the brain, the ideal population(s) to benefit from the intervention, and contraindications for each intervention.
Cool Things Mentioned
The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consultingCraig’s podcast: Back From the Ab...
2023-03-061h 32
The Chalene Show | Diet, Fitness & Life BalanceThe Right Prescription | Navigating ADHD Medication Options for Adults and Kids with Dr. Craig HeacockIn this episode we explore treatment options for focus and attention issues, with special focus on ADHD, ADD. Our special guest is Dr. Craig Heacock, a practicing psychologist who shares his extensive experience in treatment of both adults and children with issues around focus. Chalene and Dr. Heacock delve deep into this important topic, discussing why ADHD diagnoses are on the rise, why anxiety and depression are often mistaken for ADHD, the potential benefits and risks of relying on stimulant based medications, and the range of alternative treatments available. This episode explores the uni...
2023-03-0650 min
Beyond The Balance Sheet PodcastRevisited - Ketamine Infusion Therapy: Expert Dr. Craig Heacock Discusses Safe Protocols & RisksIn this revisited episode of Beyond the Balance Sheet, Dr. Craig Heacock joins us. He is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado and the host and co-producer of the podcast Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories. First, Dr. Heacock gives us a brief history of ketamine from the last fifty years as an FDA-approved drug. We talk about how ketamine became a go-to treatment for resistant depression and bipolar disorder. Tune in as Dr. Heacock reveals how a state-of-the-art assessment delivery and follow-up for ketamine would look like. IN THIS EP...
2023-01-1824 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsilocybin comes to ColoradoLast month marked a fairly momentous occasion in Colorado, the statewide passage of Proposition 122, the Natural Medicines Health Act. Coloradoans voted, by a tally of 53 to 47%, to approve both the decriminalization of psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline, along with the medicalization of psilocybin, with the possibility of a medicalization pathway for the others in 2026. This is a landmark, tipping point kind of social change, and one that triggers a huge number of hopes, concerns, and questions. Here Craig sits down with Shannon Hughes, a CSU Professor of Social Work who specializes in issues of drugs, m...
2022-12-151h 11Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesAbortion in Three ActsThree women. Three stories.One must listen.Act 1- SarahMusic by Dori LewisAct 2- KarenMusic-- Karen and Craig, "Waterfall of Wisdom" by Fia Act 3- ElizabethBFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2022-11-171h 10The Testing Psychologist Podcast320. Substance-Induced Psychosis w/ Dr. Craig HeacockWould you rather read the transcript? Click here.
I’m honored to chat today with Dr. Craig Heacock, a good friend, local psychiatrist, and fellow runner and podcast host. Craig and I take a deep dive into substance-induced psychosis, a problem that is, unfortunately, becoming more and more prevalent in young adults, particularly young men. These are a few discussion points that come up:
What exactly is substance-induced psychosis?Is it qualitatively different than “regular” psychosis?What are the risk factors for developing substance-induced psychosis?What is the prognosis after a substance-induced psychotic break?
Cool Things...
2022-10-031h 02Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBFTA Summer Special-- Trauma, Spirit, and Psychedelics with Laura Mae NorthrupCraig sits down with Inside Eyes creator Laura Northrup for a wide-ranging discussion where they explore topics including:•Trauma as a spiritual wound •How psychedelics can help reach the realm of trauma•Why psychedelic trauma therapy can be so profoundly painful•The uniquely damaging sequelae of sexual trauma•What it means for a therapist to have adequate trauma training•How and why therapists hurt their clients/patients, particularly in the psychedelic space•The crucial nature of preparation•Therapist burnout and spiritual practice•Coming to terms with our conscious and unconscious belief...
2022-07-231h 24Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesFishbowl 3Chris and Craig celebrate season 3, discuss the results of the listeners poll (with a surprising reveal of their unconscious motivation for producing BFTA), offer their curated episode sampler plates, and then settle into a detailed deconstruction of the Psychedelic Somatic Therapy episode.BFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2022-06-021h 02Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsychedelic Somatic Therapy with Saj RazviSaj Razvi returns to BFTA to share and discuss a mind-blowing audio recording of a ketamine-facilitated somatic therapy session. This session was from a recent training workshop with experienced trauma therapists, and Saj uses a somatic exercise-- staring into the client/participant's eyes- as a way to elicit a rapid and powerful transference reaction, with the psycholytic catalysts of ketamine and oxytocin already on board. We hear Saj handle the mounting fear and dread of the emerging traumatic transference, then work through this with the therapist in training to find nervous system resolution and safety on the other side. In...
2022-05-191h 23Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsychotherapy Twice ToldOne of Craig's heroes is Dr. Irvin Yalom, a psychiatrist and writer— Yalom's books inspired him in the early years of learning to become a psychiatrist. Today’s story concept was sparked by Yalom's book “Every day gets a little closer—A twice told therapy.” To create this book, Yalom asked one of his long-term patients to keep a weekly diary of their therapy sessions, and he did the same. He wove their two very different but fascinating perspectives together to write the book. Craig just loved this idea and thought it would be really cool to do the BFTA v...
2022-05-051h 06Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWorking with families and psychiatric illnessDr. H sits down with Dr. Usha Udupa, a Colorado-based child and adolescent psychiatrist, to explore the complexities of working with patients in the context of the family. They discuss topics such as:How and when family members should be included in treatmentWhat if the patient refuses family involvementWhen the identified patient isn't the problemHow and when to break confidentiality, especially with substance abuseWhat are the hidden stories behind what people believe about medsWhy so many young men are failing to launchWhat to do when o...
2022-04-071h 02Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesTreatment resistant depression: Ketamine vs ECT vs TMS with Dr. Daniel FisherECT (electroconvulsive therapy) has long been the last stop for severe and treatment resistant depression, but now there are at least two other good options for those who don't respond to meds and therapy. Dr. Dan Fisher, an ECT expert, founder of Colorado's Guerra Fisher Institute , and Craig's go-to psychiatrist for tough cases, joins BFTA to discuss how and when to think about ECT vs ketamine vs TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) .BFTA on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2022-01-141h 17
Beyond The Balance Sheet PodcastKetamine Infusion Therapy: Expert Dr. Craig Heacock Discusses Safe Protocols & RisksDr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado and the host and co-producer of the podcast Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories. First, Dr. Heacock gives us a brief history of ketamine from the last fifty years as an FDA-approved drug. We talk about how ketamine became a go-to treatment for resistant depression and bipolar disorder. Tune in as Dr. Heacock reveals how a state-of-the-art assessment delivery and follow-up for ketamine would look like. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:00] Ketamine: a brief history of the past fifty ye...
2022-01-1224 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHold on to memories-- The aftermath of suicide with Doug FriedmanDoug Friedman, the co-host and producer of the podcast Your Mental Breakdown, contacted Craig last spring and said that he was ready and wanting to tell his abyss story-- that of his wife’s death and his journey of recovery thereafter. Doug has mentioned a number of times on his podcast that his wife passed away the same week in 2018 that he was diagnosed with MS… but the details of his loss are actually much more profound and heartbreaking. That’s because Doug’s beloved wife Kim, who was also a psychotherapist, died by suicide when her bipolar disorder overtook...
2021-11-181h 01
A Positive PodcastEpisode 15- Back From The Abyss - A Deep Dive Into Mental Health With Dr. Craig HeacockJoin us as we discuss mental health, the role of medication, exercise, hormones, genetics, sleep and more in the totality of a true picture of psychological well being with Dr. Craig Heacock. Dr. Heacock is a Psychiatrist out of Boulder Colorado who practices "whole psychiatry" meaning he tries to get the roots of what is causing any given mental health challenge before immediately running to medication. He is also the founder of the incredibly popular psychedelic podcast BFTA - Back From The Abyss
2021-11-101h 12Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesDoing the loving thing-- An exploration of marriage with Jeff PincusHere Craig sits down with Jeff Pincus, a nationally recognized couples therapist and trainer from Boulder, they explore why it’s so challenging to be an effective marriage therapist, why we are all destined to marry the wrong person (hint….our partners eventually become a mirror for us and our issues), and how marriage can be the most nourishing yet also the most difficult and painful relationship of our lives.Jeff's work is informed by cognitive neuroscience, somatic psychotherapy, systems thinking, and Tibetan Buddhism. He is an expert in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) and was one o...
2021-11-0458 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesThe Secret Sauce-- Treating PTSD with MDMAAn amazing healing journey deserves a detailed post-game analysis and deconstruction. Here Elizabeth, a participant in the MAPS MDMA study, sits down with Craig and co-therapist Karen Cooper to look back at what were the crux moves and essential ingredients that shifted Elizabeth's PTSD into remission. BFTA/Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2021-10-0700 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCraig and Antonio Sacre talk shopCraig sits down with LA-based Cuban American storyteller, author, BFTA super-advisor, and longtime dear friend Antonio Sacre to explore the art and power of storytelling, their personal abyss moments, friendship and vulnerability, and their shared love of air conditioning. Antonio Sacrehttps://www.antoniosacre.comBFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2021-09-231h 06
From Doctor To PatientDr. Craig Heacock: Psychedelics and the Future of PsychiatryDr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado, He is the co-producer and host of the psychiatric storytelling podcast Back from the Abyss and was a co-therapist and study physician in the MAPS Phase 3 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD study. He is an expert in the use of ketamine to treat depression and PTSD and has a deep interest in the emerging psychedelic revolution in psychiatry. Dr. Heacock is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and did his psychiatry training at Brown University. 3:40 Dr. Heacock's personal introduction to ps...
2021-08-1244 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesSpiritual gaslightingWe're back!!Sometimes it's irresistible, necessary even, to lose ourselves into the greater collective, to become a honeybee buzzing with the ecstatic singular purpose of the hive.In this season 3 opener, Jamie tells Dr. H her story of trying to save herself by losing herself, then finally coming to face the fact that she had to plumb the depths of her trauma alone, culminating in a high dose DIY psilocybin session and the rediscovery of herself.A heads up-- this episode contains a description of a sexual assault. BFTA/Dr...
2021-07-231h 08
Your Mental BreakdownRoundtable #3: Psychedelics and Therapy with Dr. Craig Heacock and José MataIn this Roundtable episode, Doug and Meredith are joined by fellow therapist José Mata and psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock, both of whom work with the intersection of psychedelics and therapy. They look at current trends, research, and experiences of healing with the assistance of certain substances like MDMA, Ketamine, Ayahuasca, and Psilocybin. Join Doug and Mer for a unique conversation with these colleagues in the growing world of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mentioned in this episode: Meredith Levy Doug Friedman Dr. Craig Heacock - check out "Back From The A...
2021-06-1754 min
The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyPsychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D.Psychedelic-Assisted TherapyAn interview with Dr. Craig Heacock, M.D., about innovative treatments in psychiatry. Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Heacock about psychedelic-assisted therapy – looking at efficacy, safety, and risks for these promising treatments (ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA) for depression and trauma. We also discuss the debate about medicalization versus legalization of these substances. It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in th...
2021-05-1737 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesFishbowl #2-- Chris and Craig talk shopIn this final episode of season 2, Chris and Craig explore the highs and lows of the last year and plans for season 3.Craig discussing the psychedelic revolution in psychiatry on the Modern Therapist Survival Guide podcasthttps://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapist-podcast/psychedelic-assisted-therapy/BFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show
2021-05-1740 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories(Almost) Everything about psych meds... in under 16 minutesAntidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, stimulants.....READY SET GO!Med cheat sheetSSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)-- Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft, Luvox, Trintellix, Viibryd-- They are generally NOT antidepressantsMainly helpful for OCD, body dysmorphia, panic (if not from trauma), depression if postpartum or fueled by neuroticism or ruminative anxietySNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)-- Effexor/venlafaxine, Cymbalta/duloxetineMostly helpful for combined depression/anxiety, especially with insomniaWellbutrin/bupropion-- very stimulating (prison crack!), true antidepressant; c...
2021-04-2715 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesAll we have is now-- A psychotherapist faces mortalityHow do you show up for others when you are facing the loss of everything you have ever known and loved?Here Leah Barrett, a Colorado-based psychotherapist, opens her heart and shares her story of managing the careful dance of witnessing her clients' pain and trauma while she faces her own unfolding medical nightmare. Leah and Craig explore this immediacy and the implications for doing the sacred work of psychotherapy. Leah Barrett's podcast --Precarioushttps://www.leahbarrett.com/precarious-podcastBFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/
2021-04-1351 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHow healing happens with Dr. Hillary McBride-- Eating disorders and body dysmorphiaWhat's the special sauce of psychological and psychiatric treatment? How do we change, particularly in relationship with others? Here Dr. Hillary McBride, a psychotherapist, researcher, author, and podcast host (Other People's Problems) opens up about the details of her years of psychiatric treatment, what worked (often surprising!), what did not, and how she had to leave home to find a home in herself. Dr. Hillary McBridehttps://hillarylmcbride.comHillary's new book-- The Wisdom of Your Bodyhttps://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Your-Body-Wholeness-Connection/dp/1587435527/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hillary+mcbride&qid=1617029987&sr=8-2
2021-03-291h 08Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesAddiction treatment-- What works, what definitely doesn't with Dr. Jeremy DubinHow can we stop the heartbreaking and horrific spiral of addiction? Dr. Jeremy Dubin, the Medical Director of Colorado's Front Range Clinic, sits down with Dr. H to discuss their top five things that actually work....and the five factors which most predict jails, institutions, and death.Dr. H and BFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2021-03-131h 22Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesA superhero at night-- Lucid dreaming, opioids, and ibogaineBFTA takes a wild ride with Colorado based artist, writer, and video producer Ian Jaydid as he tells his double abyss story of lucid dreaming, out of body experiences, REM deprivation and transient psychosis....which then led to the blissful but ultimately destructive salve of opioids and a life changing encounter with the African psychedelic Iboga (ibogaine). Ian Jaydidhttps://ianjaydid.comIan's novel Tripping the Fieldhttps://www.amazon.com/Tripping-Field-Existential-Ungodly-Proportions/dp/0991193199Ian's first lucid dreaming experiencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-WaA3SGl9M&t=26s
2021-03-011h 05Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWhy is it so hard to find a good psychiatrist?In the context of an increasingly severe shortage of psychiatrists, Dr. H discusses some uncomfortable truths about why finding a good outpatient psychiatrist is even more difficult than ever.Psychedelics and Psychiatry-- Dr. H on The Third Wave Podcasthttps://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-112-craig-heacock/BFTA and Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2021-02-0910 min
The Psychedelic PodcastCraig Heacock, M.D. - Staunching Spiritual Wounds: New Hope Through New ModalitiesDr. Craig Heacock, psychiatrist and ketamine treatment provider, offers a counterpoint to a previous guest's view on mental illness and psychiatric medications. While his goal is always to have patients on as few medications as possible, Craig stresses the importance of correctly understanding the nuances of mental health and mental health treatments instead of painting with a broad brush. He and Paul also discuss the current state and near-future of psychedelic treatments for mental health, as well as the reception of psychedelics among the psychiatric community.
2021-02-011h 08Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesNo one believed me-- Complex PTSD and BPDThe therapeutic relationship is built on trust, we come to therapy expecting that we are going to be heard and believed.Jeanine wasn't believed-- about her childhood sexual assaults, or the emerging psychotic symptoms, or her intractable suicidality....even after many near fatal attempts and over 40 inpatient stays.This episode looks at how and why we believe some people and discount others. It turns out that the way people tell us their stories matters just as much as the actual words they choose. And, unfortunately, certain clinical presentations make patients/clients much less likely to b...
2021-01-2638 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsychedelic mushrooms and the magic of lifeSome things in life defy explanation...like tripping on mushrooms and arresting the plunge into alcoholism.Here Stella shares her story of childhood abuse and neglect, her reenactment of the abuse through toxic relationships with men, and then her life-changing sessions with both psilocybin and MDMA. Stella and Dr. H explore how she was able to first bring her dissociated and numbed self back to life with the help of psilocybin and later heal her attachment wounds and trauma with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. BFTA and Dr. Hhttp://craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2021-01-1252 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesThe clinical moment in psychotherapy-- A conversation with Dr. David PuderDr. H sits down with Dr. David Puder, a psychiatrist and host of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy podcast, to explore the beauty and challenge and mystery of psychotherapy. What are Chris and Craig wanting for Christmas...??? How about writing us a review!Dr. Puder and the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy podcasthttps://www.psychiatrypodcast.comDr. H essay on psychedelic healing for CNN.comhttps://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/opinions/psychedelics-trauma-healing-this-is-life-heacock/index.htmlBFTA and Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2020-12-2255 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesDiagnosis guides treatment....except when it doesn'tIn most specialties of medicine, the dictum "Diagnosis guides treatment" is the law of the land. In psychiatry, however, most of what we treat are often overlapping syndromes, not actual diseases, and these syndromes involve hugely varying dimensions of symptoms with a vast array of potential causes and exacerbating factors.Maggie came to Dr. H with a challenging clinical presentation: likely genetic loading for a mood and/or anxiety disorder, childhood emotional neglect, years of school problems, hormone irregularities and progesterone hypersensitivity, all leading to steadily worsening mood instability, depression, and hopelessness. Over the course of the las...
2020-12-0851 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCraig Plays Goalie-- The Psychedelics Today interviewThe podcast Psychedelics Today recently released a two part interview with Will Hall, an author, podcaster, therapist, and voice of the anti-psychiatry community. This BFTA episode came about after Dr. H reached out to the hosts of PT and asked for a counterpoint to Will's complete dismissal of psychiatry as a meaningful part of the mental health treatment community. Here Dr. H presents a more nuanced, balanced, and hopeful perspective, one that recognizes the harm that psychiatrists and other physicians have caused in the past and continue to cause today, while also asking that we try to le...
2020-11-241h 03
Psychedelics TodayPTSF 34 (with Craig Heacock)In today's Solidarity Fridays episode, the typical Solidarity Fridays format is switched up again, this time with Joe interviewing podcast host and psychiatrist specializing in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, Craig Heacock. Will Hall's 2 recent SF episodes spurred a lot of conversation, and led to Heacock reaching out to Psychedelics Today to counter some of Hall's points, and stand up a bit on behalf of psychiatry. He feels that while psychiatry isn't perfect, saying to replace it isn't helpful, and doesn't feel that anyone in psychiatry is saying a pill will fix anything, but rather, that if psychedelics can help...
2020-11-201h 10Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesSteering into the hard stuff-- A father and husband's storyDr. H sits down with his friend Brian, who watched his daughter, and then his wife, plunge into the depressive abyss. This is the journey of a father and husband, of a "we can fix this" engineer trying to find a path through the ambiguity and uncertainty of psychiatric treatment.This is the second in an intermittent series of family members describing their journey of trying to support their loved ones through their darkest times.Grief and loss raft trips (mentioned by Brian)https://www.pathfindersforyou.orgDr. H/Back f...
2020-11-1043 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesTouching the edges of life-- Healing from divorceIn this third of an intermittent series about therapists in the abyss, Dr. H sits down with his colleague Dr. Elena Estanol, a Colorado-based psychologist, to explore Elena's "fourth dark night of the soul". Her story serves as a springboard for exploring how to cope with the randomness of life, learning to go inward to heal relational wounds, differentiating pain vs suffering, and finding peace with who shows up for us and who doesn't. Dr. Elena Estanolhttps://www.synapsewellness.com/Dr. H and BFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the sho...
2020-10-2049 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCraig's letters from the past: Mistakes made, lessons learnedDr. H finds a trove of patient letters from the last 15 years and shares three of the most poignant, using each as a springboard for lessons learned.Dr. H and BFTAhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2020-10-0625 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesA mother's story-- When your child can't see what's wrongAfter a difficult final year of high school, Tessa hoped and prayed that her youngest son would make the transition to college and find a way to thrive. He would be only an hour away, he wanted to go, and she was hopeful that getting a new start there could reverse whatever was happening to him. Yet just two months into his freshman year, it was apparent that he was sinking fast into a maelstrom of panic, body dysmorphia, delusions, and hopelessness. This is Tessa's story of trying to find the strength, and eventually, the self-compassion, to...
2020-09-2241 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesTrauma, yoga, and spiritual recoveryTrauma embeds in the complex zone between body and spirit, deep within the realm of primary consciousness. The typical psychiatric approaches of meds and talk therapy rarely access these unconscious realms. In prior episodes of BFTA, we have heard accounts of healing these deep wells of trauma with EMDR, psilocybin, and MDMA-- this episode highlights the unexpected power of a loving teacher and a guided spiritual practice.Jeff Finlin, a Colorado-based singer/songwriter and recovery coach, shares his story of recovery after recovery, accessing his embodied trauma and deeper self years into sobriety, through a practice of...
2020-09-0138 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesPsychiatry in one question + When ketamine therapy gets difficultIn the first half of this two part mini-episode, Dr. H explores the four stages where fully dissociative doses of ketamine can get a little rocky: *reaching escape velocity*re-entry*dissociative shatter*post-session processingWhat if a psychiatrist were allowed to ask only one question at a session....what might that be? In the second part of this episode, Dr. H ties together sleep, mood, hormone cycling, friendships, work, circadian rhythm, addiction, and dogs vs cats into just one question.Comments, suggestions, questions? We'd love to hear them! Email us via h...
2020-08-1815 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCraig and Saj Razvi talk shop— Dissociation, the unconscious, countertransference sadism, and psychedelicsSaj Razvi (of Innate Path and Psychedelic Somatic Institute) returns to BFTA to help Craig do a deep dive into listener questions. Have questions you want us to address in a future episode? Email them via craigheacockmd.com Psychedelic Somatic Institutepsychedelicsomatic.orgVideo showing somatic/primary consciousness trauma work catalyzed by THChttps://vimeo.com/442544334Support the show
2020-08-0437 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesA special place in my drug addict heart-- Finding safety with SuboxoneWe typically think of addiction as a symptom of a deeper issue, such as trauma or a psychiatric disorder. Sometimes, however, addiction is the main event, and powerlessness is the starting point, not some ambiguous distant stop on the substance abuse train.Lena fell hard into addiction by sixth grade and by all rights should have been dead or imprisoned long ago. Yet today she is fully alive, deeply grateful, and six years clean and sober.Dr. H and Lena explore her journey out of darkness and the varied and often surprising roles that jail, a...
2020-07-2159 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesIn SessionStep inside Dr. H's office to eavesdrop on a therapy session with his patient Jasmine (from the Delta Flight Attendant episode in season 1). This session explores an extremely painful but ultimately transformative relationship that Jasmine had with a much older man just prior to starting therapy. Relationships are human growth machines, and Dr. H and Jasmine unpack what she learned about idealization, her defaulting to black/white thinking, setting boundaries, what it means to be a "friend", and assigning guilt and blame/shame. Dr. H/ Back from the Abysshttps://www.craigheacockmd.comOn T...
2020-07-0739 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesLosing patients, one after another--Craig's meditation on loss and lifeSeason 2 is here! We kick off our new season with Dr. H going deep into the immediate aftermath of losing four patients and his eventual path back into the light. Save this one for when you are in the right headspace. Dr. H and Back from the Abysshttp://craigheacockmd.comOn Twitter @bftapodSupport the show
2020-06-2311 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBonus episode-- Inside Eyes: Ayahuasca and sexual traumaCan a podcast have an identical twin separated at birth? If so, then "Inside Eyes" might possibly be that long lost twin of BFTA. Laura Mae Northrup is the creator of Inside Eyes and a trauma therapist in the Oakland area. She put a ton of work into these moving stories of healing from childhood sexual trauma with entheogens and psychedelics. She is planning to soon feature a favorite BFTA episode on her show, while Dr. H picked this one as a favorite. This episode is the story of Shan, an NYC tattoo artist who f...
2020-06-0944 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBonus Episode-- Conversations with a Wounded Healer (Interview with Dr. Hillary McBride)Self-described podcast junkie Dr. H reached out to Sarah Buino, host of the excellent podcast Conversations with a Wounded Healer, and they agreed to do this super nifty episode swap, in which Sarah will feature a favorite BFTA episode on her show, and Dr. H chose a favorite episode to feature here. In this episode Sarah interviews one of the more thoughtful and compelling people in the podcast universe, Dr. Hillary McBride (of both The Liturgists and Other People's Problems). They explore Hillary's journey of healing and how this informs her current work as a therapist and r...
2020-05-2645 min
Conversations With a Wounded HealerCraig Heacock - Back From the Abyss With Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy"I've had a lot of losses and vicarious trauma in my practice and, I think, starting Back From The Abyss was also a way for me to put out just balloons of hope into the world and to remind myself that people do get better and people heal and people do the hard work of therapy." ~Dr. Craig Heacock For every harrowing loss with which Dr. Craig Heacock has had to come to terms, his practice is also populated by people who are recovering and thriving. He created Back From The Abyss in 2019 with those clients in...
2020-05-2048 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesChris and Craig in the FishbowlBFTA's two co-conspirators sit down together for a look back at the first year-- the origin story, highlights, points of gratitude, mistakes made, Craig's most poignant/painful moment, the Enneagram, and Chris' desert island albums (no Meat Loaf!)Back from the Abysshttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2020-05-1245 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesAdventures in Exposure TherapyIn this second of a two part exploration of OCD, Dr. H and Dr. Amy Indermuehle, a Colorado-based OCD expert, deconstruct Erin's treatment. Dr. Amy is a big fan of in vivo exposures, whether that be watching stomach-churning Youtube videos, touching forbidden items at Target, or riding out the anxiety wave in a public bathroom. Dr. Amy highlights how OCD treatment is so different from typical psychotherapy for anxiety and why so many therapists default to the much more comfortable (but counterproductive) option of trying to help patients soothe their nervous systems. OCD is arguably the most-missed...
2020-04-2843 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesOCD in the Time of CoronaThe postpartum period is by far the most psychiatrically vulnerable time in a woman's life. Erin had always some some mildly annoying obsessive-compulsive tendencies, but they were never a major factor in her life, until just after her daughter was born. Almost immediately she was flooded with horrific violent images and urges, these then morphed into a paralyzing dread of viral contamination. This is the first of two parts. This episode is Erin's story of learning to lean directly into her fears, the next episode will be Dr. H and Dr. Amy Indermuehle, an OCD expert and...
2020-04-1454 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesKetamine therapy update + Listener questionsListeners ask: "Can I tell my story on Back from the Abyss?""Can you heal trauma that you cannot remember?Dr. H then looks back at 3 years of 800+ ketamine sessions and further explores the question of intramuscular (IM) vs intravenous (IV) treatment, as well as whether reaching full dissociation is necessary for optimal efficacy. Dissociation improves ketamine responsehttps://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/depression-advisor/ketamine-induced-dissociative-symptoms-predict-antidepressant-response/Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comOn Twitter @bftapodSupport the show
2020-03-3114 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesThe two loves of her life-- Alcohol, self harm, and the path of recoveryIf only swimming or meditation were as good as vodka. Unfortunately, the most powerful and rapid-acting coping strategies also tend to be the most damaging and addictive. Annie learned this the hard way. After her father's death when she just 9 years old, she eventually found two of the most alluring and effective coping strategies, and they made day to day life possible, even manageable. They worked fantastically well, until they didn't. Annie found healing through 12 step groups and also through DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and now works as a clinical psychologist, sharing her hard-earned wisdom and relentless...
2020-03-1759 min
The Trauma TherapistEpisode 431: Craig Heacock, MD. Stories of Hope & HealingFirst, a huge-thank you to my sponsors for this episode:Gould FarmGould Farm is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery, health and greater independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care.In a supportive community environment made up of residents, staff and their families, we help adults begin to rebuild and regain their lives. Gould Farm offers a full continuum of care, with programs in both Boston and Western Massachusetts for those ready for new challenges and str...
2020-03-0239 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesMDMA and the Inner HealerAfter a nightmarish sexual assault at age 15, Mitch's life felt over. Wracked by daily dread, panic, and a desperate longing to die, he eventually found his way 22 years later to the MAPS trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for severe PTSD. In this astonishing account, Mitch describes how MDMA was able to reactivate his innate healing intelligence to allow him to go directly into the hottest fires of his trauma with a powerful shield of openness, safety, self-compassion, and trust. Mitch describes the actual "how" behind MDMA-assisted therapy and why it shows such promise for the future of trauma...
2020-03-011h 18
Therapy Chat218: Understanding The Research On Psychedelics with Trauma Survivors With Dr Craig HeacockThank you to this episode's sponsor, TherapyNotes. Get a 2-month free trial of TherapyNotes by going to www.TherapyNotes.com and using the promo code TherapyChat. On today's episode host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C speaks to Dr Craig Heacock about understanding the research on psychedelics with trauma Survivors. Dr. Craig Heacock is an adolescent/adult psychiatrist and addiction specialist in Colorado and is the host and co-producer of the psychiatric podcast Back from the Abyss. He is a co-therapist in the Phase 3 trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and has particular interest in the use of ketamine...
2020-02-2151 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWhen a tree falls twice-- OCD, emotional neglect, and resilienceThe root system of a tree is its hidden protection against the harsh realities of wind and drought and disease. For people, loving and healthy childhood attachments are our central hidden protection against the inevitable losses and tragedies of life. But what happens when these early attachments aren't safe and secure?Jami's childhood emotional neglect and abuse and profound loneliness left her attachment roots shallow and damaged, yet her inner fire and natural resilience helped her to grow up strong and healthy despite the childhood challenges. When the winds of loss and grief started to blow, she ca...
2020-02-1738 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesBright and Shiny and Exciting: An Adderall storyLife is much better on Adderall, until it's not.In this episode, Dr. H and Dan Ronken, a Boulder-based psychotherapist and addiction specialist, explore the double edged sword of stimulants. Using Dan's ADHD and addiction story as a launching point, they explore questions including: Do stimulants make us smarter and more productive? What is the saliency circuit and why is it so relevant here? Are some stimulants safer than others? Can they safely be used by people in active addiction or in recovery? What behavioral strategies are helpful with ADD? Can you ever get that sa...
2020-01-3132 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesUnderstanding DepressionIn this mini-episode Dr. H explores the critical implications of thinking about Depression as a syndrome rather than as a meaningful clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis of Depression is but the first tiny step in the journey of exploring biological, psychological, and interpersonal causes and factors which might then point toward effective treatment.Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2020-01-1707 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCan you take someone where you haven't gone yourself?In this second installment of therapists in the abyss, Dr. H sits down with Jungian analyst and master therapist Dr. Michael Daine to explore how facing death catalyzed an exploration of the unconscious and the eventual rebirth both of his career and sense of purpose in the world. This then leads to a discussion of whether one can be a capable and resilient therapist without having successfully passed through periods of darkness and despair.Dr. Michael Dainehttp://www.dainepsychservices.comDr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2020-01-0329 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesTherapists in the abyss: Vicarious traumaThis is the first of an intermittent series of therapists sharing their abyss stories. Samantha was a newly minted therapist just out of her MSW program, full of hope and excitement for her new career, when she met a client whose horrific trauma story and rapid disappearance from therapy haunted her for years. Dr. H and Samantha explore how she was able to eventually move from the grief and regret of this vicarious traumatization to a place of acceptance and self-compassion. A heads up— this story contains a description of a sexual assault. Dr. H / Back...
2019-12-2027 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesMy desert island psych medsIn this mini-episode Dr. H opens himself up for major audiophile shaming as he (reluctantly) reveals his three desert island albums. With this revelation complete, he then moves on to the challenge at hand-- which three psychiatric medications are at the top of the heap, combining efficacy, safety, and breadth of symptom coverage?A hint-- they all start with the same letter. And they are all generic. And psychiatry would be greatly hamstrung without them. Guesses?? Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the show
2019-12-0510 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHealing trauma with psychedelics with Saj Razvi— Part 2In this second part of Saj's story, he continues to explore the transformative healing of his MDMA session. Initially believing his therapy journey to be complete, his mother later develops terminal cancer and his attachment wounds reactivate. This impending loss leads him to seek even more advanced and difficult work with psilocybin and the support of two experienced guides in the Netherlands.Saj further develops the idea that while psilocybin may well have major therapeutic potential, it is definitely not a starter psychedelic medicine, but rather one that requires significant psychological preparation and scaffolding in order to h...
2019-11-1936 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHealing trauma with psychedelics with Saj Razvi— Part 1This is the first of a two part very special interview with Saj Razvi, the Director of Education at Innate Path in Denver, CO. Saj weaves together his three fascinating perspectives— that of a nationally recognized trauma expert, his own personal story of early childhood neglect and how this shaped everything else to come, and finally his long journey of healing the deepest wound a person can have, eventually coming to MDMA and then psilocybin at the latter part of his therapy journey.The episode starts with some foundational concepts in understanding trauma and its long term ef...
2019-11-051h 05Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesHow to think about anxietyAnxiety and pain are the primary drivers of medical visits, as well as two of the more complicated symptoms to break down in a meaningful way. In this mini-episode, Dr. H presents the metaphor of "below the neck" vs "above the neck" anxiety to help us think about anxiety in a way that might better guide diagnosis and treatment. "Above the neck" anxiety emanates from the ruminating/imagining/obsessing/spin-cycle brain, while "below the neck" anxiety is the body's fight/flight response, with adrenaline coursing through the body to send the blaring smoke alarm signal of impending danger...even...
2019-10-2307 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesThe Delta Flight Attendant-- BPD and psychotherapyIn psychotherapy, it’s the relationship itself that heals. In this episode of BFTA, Dr. H and his patient Jasmine explore their always complicated, often humorous, and at times very painful journey through the minefield of borderline personality disorder. A heads up on this episode— Jasmine and Dr. H discuss self-harm/cutting and suicidality in a very frank and perhaps unsettling manner. BPD overviewhttps://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Borderline-Personality-Disorder/OverviewLifetime course of BPDhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500179/Dr. Hhttps://www.c...
2019-10-0651 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesOne phone call changed everything: EMDR Part 2As her father descended into years of meth-induced rages and psychosis, Kate and her family repeatedly tried to flee...but there was no place to hide. And when at last, after finishing college and starting a new life with her husband, she thought she had escaped the demons of her past, a phone call lit her world on fire. Kate eventually found a way to heal through a six year treatment journey with the help of a deeply caring and skilled therapist and the tool of EMDR.This episode is the second in a two part exploration o...
2019-09-2344 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesWhen the past haunts the present: An EMDR storySometimes trauma settles deeply in the mind and body and wreaks a kind of clandestine subterranean warfare, turning the body against itself and manifesting strange, frightening, disabling, and even life-threatening symptoms. Sophie's trauma simmered for 16 years, making her life difficult but still mostly manageable. Suddenly, however, she was waylaid as her trauma metastasized into something infinitely more dangerous. A long torturous course through emergency rooms and various specialists eventually ended up on a therapist's couch, holding an oscillating paddle in each hand, walking directly into the mindscape of her mother's death.LinksEMDR (Eye movement d...
2019-09-0436 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesCan marijuana be medicine? A psychiatric perspectiveIs marijuana a medicine or a coping strategy? Is it safer than alcohol, or in some people, much more risky? Does it help anxiety or does it trigger panic symptoms? This mini-episode explores the complex landscape of "medical" marijuana and what this looks like in Colorado.LinksMJ and psychosishttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033190/MJ as mania triggerhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25285897Adolescents and MJ-- increasing risk of developing psychosishttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25774457https://w...
2019-08-2108 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesDesperately NOT seeking meth: A harm reduction storySobriety can sometimes be a bridge too far. In a last ditch attempt to escape his methamphetamine-drenched life, Larry moved 1000 miles away to live with his father, he threw away his cell phone, gave up all drugs and alcohol, started running, got a good job...and found himself increasingly overwhelmed by the need to put a needle in his arm.His eventual solution wasn't perfect, but it may have saved his life. LinksHarm reductionhttps://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-7517-6-35Marijuana and cognitionhttps://www.ncbi...
2019-08-0721 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesKetamine treatment for depression: Seven questionsThis mini-episode explores some of the most frequently asked questions about ketamine: •What is ketamine?•How does it work?•Who responds best to ketamine?•What is the ketamine experience like?•What is the best way to do ketamine treatments?•What are the side effects/risks?•Who definitely shouldn't do ketamine?Interview with Dr. H about ketamine on Rural Emergency Medicine podcasthttps://www.ruralem.org/2019/03/07/episode-17-ketamine-revisited/Dr. H and Back from the Abysshttps://www.craigheacockmd.comSupport the s
2019-07-2416 minBack from the Abyss: Psychiatry in StoriesA power wash of the brain-- Ketamine, depression, and suicidalityChris successfully hid his increasingly severe depression throughout middle and high school, but by his first year of college he could no longer ignore the horrifying signs that his brain was losing touch with reality. Inanimate objects began to radiate into his thoughts, and suicide seemed the only way to escape. Fortunately Chris took the scariest leap of all and began to open up to a therapist about what was happening in his mind, leading to an exploration of shame, a reformulation of the self, and finally the unexpectedly powerful healing of ketamine. Dr. H...
2019-07-0950 min