What happens when someone who has spent her career helping others navigate healing has to find her own way through it? In this deeply personal episode of The Live Free Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Natalie R. Cohen—clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychedelic-assisted therapist, and author of Radical Return—to explore trauma, embodiment, healing, and what it means to reclaim yourself after experiences that change the way you relate to your own body. Natalie's journey through sexual violence, medical trauma, and institutional betrayal led her to explore healing in ways that extended far beyond traditional talk therapy. Through psychoanalysis, dance, movement, ritual, and psychedelic experiences, she began finding new ways to reconnect with herself and express what words alone couldn't capture. One of the most important themes in our conversation is that healing isn't linear, and there is no single formula that works for everyone. Natalie shares why what happens after a profound experience can be just as important as the experience itself, and why integration, self-awareness, and listening to the body matter so much. We also explore the relationship between psychology and the body, the power of creative expression, and the importance of reclaiming choice in our own healing journeys. At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that healing isn't about following someone else's path. It's about discovering what helps you find your way back to yourself. 🎧 In This Episode We Explore: – Natalie's personal journey through trauma and healing– What happens when a psychologist becomes the person navigating her own healing– Why healing is nonlinear and deeply individual– The role of psychoanalysis, embodiment, and somatic approaches– Psychedelic-assisted therapy and why integration matters– How dance and movement can help us express what words cannot– Reclaiming choice and reconnecting with the wisdom of the body– Finding your own path toward healing and transformation 🌿 About Dr. Natalie R. Cohen Dr. Natalie R. Cohen is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychedelic-assisted therapist, and SourcePoint Therapy™ practitioner. Her work bridges psychoanalysis, embodiment, and plant medicine, with more than two decades of experience working with adults, adolescents, children, and couples. Specializing in human sexuality, trauma, and personal transformation, Natalie brings together clinical insight and creative, movement-based approaches to healing. She is the author of Radical Return: Reclaiming My Body Through Coffee, Drugs, Dance, and Psychoanalysis, a memoir-in-essays exploring sexual violence, medical trauma, ancestral trauma, and institutional betrayal. Through her writing, teaching, clinical practice, and six integration dances, Natalie invites us to consider the many ways we can reconnect with our bodies, reclaim our voices, and find our way back to ourselves. 🔗 Find Dr. Natalie Cohen Instagram: @drnataliercohen Instagram (writing): @drnataliercohenwrites Substack: Natalie R. Cohen, Psy.D. Book: Radical Return — Find the book on Amazon
