In this episode, Dr. Prav Grewal discusses his journey into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of emotional insight in healing trauma. He explores the impact of intergenerational trauma and the role of forgiveness in the healing process. The conversation delves into the biological mechanisms of psychedelics, the significance of spirituality, and the necessity of set and setting in therapeutic contexts. Prav also highlights the potential for psychedelics to be integrated into military mental health care, advocating for a compassionate approach to therapy that addresses both individual and collective trauma.

Takeaways

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can provide profound emotional insights.

Rigid personality structures can hinder personal growth and healing.

Emotional impact is often more significant than cognitive understanding in trauma.

Psychedelics can help integrate fragmented beliefs about oneself.

Forgiveness is essential for personal healing and letting go of trauma.

Intergenerational trauma can be addressed through psychedelic therapy.

The biological mechanisms of psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and healing.

Spiritual experiences during psychedelics can enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Set and setting are crucial for the effectiveness of psychedelic therapy.

Psychedelics have the potential to transform military mental health care.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health and Trauma Healing

00:43 The Journey into Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

03:50 Understanding Emotional and Cognitive Insights

07:02 The Role of Psychedelics in Therapy

10:09 Developing a Framework for Psychedelic Use

12:54 Personal Experiences with Trauma and Healing

16:08 The Impact of Intergenerational Trauma

18:32 Forgiveness and Self-Worth in Healing

21:24 The Dysregulated Externalized Matrix of Notions

24:24 Attachment Theory and Coping Mechanisms

27:32 Compassion and Understanding in Mental Health

31:45 Understanding Anxious Attachment and Its Impact

33:32 The Biological Mechanisms of Psychedelics

36:55 Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma

41:25 The Spiritual Component of Psychedelic Experiences

44:04 Integration and the Role of Action in Healing

45:56 Respecting Traditional Uses of Psychedelics

53:34 Psychedelics in Military Healthcare

58:43 Reflections on the Future of Psychedelic Therapy

01:00:54 Exit.mp4

In this episode we look at the function in what most people view as a dysfunctional symptom of mental illness that is rumination. We take a new and different view of rumination in looking for what role it is playing for the individual and how it may be part of the emotional work required to work through and integrate hard things into our psyche. The origin of the word rumination comes from the latin verb “ruminari” which means to chew the cud. We discuss the origins of the word and how this may give a different understanding of the function of rumination.

This is a unique and interesting podcast episode. We planned to have this episode with the mayor of Medicine Hat Alberta Canada, the city in which Trent, Jeremy and Amy reside. Mayor Linnsie Clark was having some technical difficulties and we weren't sure why she was not joining us at the designated time. So Trent and I began a conversation about something that had been on our minds in terms of understanding trauma as an injury and not an illness. The first part of the podcast explores this idea then our mayor connected with us within the middle of the podcast and we transition from there into talking about Community recovery and how connection and Community is Central to our Wellness as humans

Mayor Clark first took office in 2021 as covid restrictions began to lift and has guided our community through a broader social recovery from the mental health effects of the pandemic.

Resources mentioned:

PTSD coach is an app you can get from the Apple app store or from Google play.

The booked re: understanding Trauma and recovery: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk