The Spiritually Curious Therapist

Jodi Silverman, LCSW

The Spiritually Curious Therapist is a podcast exploring the intersection of nervous system science, mental health, spirituality, and healing. Hosted by Jodi Silverman, LCSW, this show is for therapists, healers, and curious humans who sense that true healing happens below the level of insight alone. Through thoughtful conversations and solo reflections, we explore trauma, chronic pain and illness, altered states, regulation, meaning-making, and what it really takes to help the nervous system feel safe enough to change. This is a space for grounded mysticism, where evidence-based practice meets soul-level wisdom, and where healing is approached with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the body’s innate intelligence. Whether you’re a clinician expanding beyond talk therapy or someone on your own healing path, this podcast invites you to listen differently — to symptoms, to stories, and to what’s asking to be integrated.

  1. 2D AGO

    Your Body Isn’t the Problem: Trauma, Fitness, and the Nervous System with Gabi Varga

    What if the way you’ve been trying to get healthy… is actually keeping your nervous system stuck? In this episode, I sit down with trauma-informed personal trainer Gabi Varga to explore the often-overlooked relationship between fitness, trauma, and the nervous system. Because here’s the thing, so many people are doing all the “right” things: working out, staying active, pushing themselves to be disciplined…but underneath it, their system doesn’t feel safe. And when that’s the starting point, even healthy behaviors can become part of a pattern of overdrive, disconnection, and burnout. Gabi shares her personal journey—from overtraining, unsafe patterns, and disconnection from her body… to discovering somatic work and building a completely different relationship with movement, health, and herself.  Together, we explore what it really means to be embodied and why that matters more than any workout plan. In this episode, we talk about:  Why over-exercising can reinforce nervous system dysregulation  The connection between trauma, validation, and body image  What “mind-muscle connection” actually means (and why many people don’t have it)  Dissociation and how it shows up in fitness and daily life  Why slowing down is often the key to real progress  The difference between pushing your body and listening to it  How embodiment leads to greater health, fulfillment, and connection  Why weight loss is a byproduct—not the goal A key takeaway: Your body isn’t working against you. It’s responding to patterns—many of which started long before you were aware of them.  And those patterns are changeable. Want to go deeper? If this conversation resonates, I’m hosting a workshop: ✨ Your Body Isn’t Broken: Understanding Neuroplastic Pain and Symptoms We’ll explore how the nervous system creates and maintains symptoms—and how to begin working with your body instead of against it. 👉 https://jsilverman.systeme.io/workshop Connect with Gabi: Website: thetraumainformedpt.com Instagram: @thetraumainformedpt Tik Tok: @thetraumainformed pt Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@thetraumainformedpt Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    44 min
  2. APR 27

    When the Body Speaks: Decoding Symptoms Through Mind, Body, and Energy with Denise Schonwald

    In this episode, I sit down with Denise Schonwald, a nurse, mental health counselor, and author whose work bridges physical health, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness. We start with Denise’s journey, from 20 years as a critical care nurse to stepping into mental health, and how she began noticing something that would shape her entire approach: physical symptoms and emotional patterns are not separate. They tell a story together. From there, we explore the connection between mind, body, and energy, and what happens when we ignore the signals our system is constantly giving us.  We explore the chakra system, the mind-body connection, how unprocessed emotions show up as physical symptoms, and why your inner knowing is not the same thing as your anxious mind. If you've ever wondered whether that stomach issue, back pain, or fatigue might be connected to something deeper, this conversation is for you.  We talked about: How Denise went from ICU nurse to holistic mental health counselorWhy a psychiatrist who was also a shaman changed the direction of her careerHow unprocessed emotions show up in specific areas of the body through the chakra systemThe difference between the fearful mind and the quiet inner knowingWhy the language we use about our problems actually affects our nervous systemDenise's work bridges physical health, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness, and she has a gift for seeing how the body communicates what the mind has not yet processed. Learn more about Denise and her books at  deniseschonwald.com.  She is offering a free book to any listener who reaches out and mentions The Spiritually Curious Therapist podcast. You can also find Denise on her socials https://www.facebook.com/deniseschonwaldllc  https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-schonwald  https://www.instagram.com/deniseschonwald  https://www.youtube.com/@deniseschonwald/videos  Share what resonated for you Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    43 min
  3. APR 20

    Biohacking and the Soul: Strength, Trauma, and Spiritual Bodybuilding with Nahum Vizakis

    This is one of those conversations that stays with you. In this episode, I sit down with Nahum Vizakis—combat veteran, bodybuilder, and healer—whose journey spans trauma, identity loss, nervous system overwhelm, and a deep dive into both physical and spiritual transformation. We explore what it actually means to “build” yourself… not just physically, but emotionally, neurologically, and spiritually. We talk about:  How early trauma and lack of safety shape the nervous system  The role of fear and how it can become a compass instead of something to avoid  The intersection of biohacking and nervous system regulation  Spiritual experiences, embodiment, and the importance of integration  What “spiritual bodybuilding” really means (and what it doesn’t) We also begin to unpack the ideas behind his book, The Biohacker’s Guide to Spiritual Bodybuilding—a framework that blends physical training, nervous system work, and inner transformation. This conversation opens a lot of doors… and we’re not done. We’ll be bringing Nahum back for a follow-up episode focused more deeply on the book—and we want to include your questions. 💬 Call for Questions  What are you curious about? After listening, what questions came up for you? We’re especially interested in exploring:  What does “spiritual bodybuilding” actually look like in real life?  Where is the line between growth and pushing too hard?  How do you work with fear without overwhelming your system?  Can biohacking support healing—or can it become another form of control?  How do we integrate intense experiences (physical or spiritual) in a grounded way? Send your questions to me at thespirituallycurioustherapist.com You can learn more about Nahum here: IG: Spiritual_Bodybuilder  Youtube: Spiritual Bodybuilder  Tiktok: Spiritual Bodybuilder Website: www.optimizinghuman.com Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    42 min
  4. APR 13

    Psychodrama, Sand Tray & Tarot: Embodied Healing Beyond the Talking Cure with Karen Carnabucci, LCSW-TEP

    What happens when we stop talking about our inner world and start stepping into it? This week, I sit down with Karen Carnabucci, LCSW-TEP, therapist, trainer, and founder of the Lancaster School of Psychodrama, to explore the transformative power of action methods in healing. Karen shares how psychodrama, sand tray, family constellations, and tarot can reach places that insight and words alone cannot. Together, we explore how the nervous system responds to enacted experience just as powerfully as real-world events, and why that matters deeply for healing. In this episode: What psychodrama actually is (and why you don't need to be an actor)The nervous system science behind "do-overs" and enacted healingHow the "knowing field" in Family Constellations connects to somatic and ancestral experienceEpigenetics and what we carry from generations before usSand tray as a gentle on-ramp to embodied workUsing tarot as a therapeutic image tool — without the fortune-tellingPractical tips for therapists wanting to introduce more body-based workResources & Links: Karen's website: realtruekaren.comKaren's trainings: https://www.realtruekaren.com/training.htmlKaren's socials: www.facebook.com/lancasterpsychodrama www.instagram.com/realtruekaren www.threads.net/realtruekaren www.linkedin/in/karencarnabucci www.substack.com/@realtruekarenpsychodramacertification.org — find certified trainers nationwideShare what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    47 min
  5. MAR 30

    The Breath as a Pathway: From Regulation to Transformation with Blakey Hastings

    In this episode, I’m joined once again by Blakey Hastings - a mystic, yogi, and somatic practitioner whose work beautifully bridges the body, breath, and spiritual embodiment. If you heard our first conversation on craniosacral therapy, you’ll love where this one goes. Blakey shares how her work has evolved from hands-on healing into something even more empowering—helping people access their own healing through the breath. And this isn’t just about “taking a deep breath to calm down.” We explore the full spectrum of breathwork—from foundational functional breathing to expanded states of consciousness—and why building capacity, safety, and embodiment is essential for true transformation. This conversation weaves together nervous system science, somatic healing, and spiritual insight in a way that feels both grounding and expansive. We talk about:  Why breath is more than a regulation tool—it’s a pathway between body, mind, and soul The difference between release vs. true transformation Why safety and embodiment are required for healing to actually integrate  What it means to trust your felt experience as your inner authority How many of us are unknowingly breathing in ways that create anxiety The power of functional breathing as a foundation for deeper healing work  Why healing doesn’t come from analyzing the story—but from allowing the body to complete what’s unfinished One of my favorite takeaways:  👉 You already have everything you need inside of you. The breath is how you access it. 🌿 Work With Blakey Blakey is offering a 4-week Functional Breathwork Course starting in May—a live, guided experience where you’ll learn:  How to breathe in a way that actually supports your nervous system  The foundations of functional breathing (yes—most people are doing it wrong)  How to use your breath to shift your state—both up and down How to build the capacity needed for deeper somatic and transformational work This is not just a class—it’s a relationship with your breath. 👉 Learn more + sign up: https://www.northstarsomaticarts.com/group-sessions  Connect with Blakey https://www.northstarsomaticarts.com/ Facebook: northstarsomaticarts IG: northstarsomaticarts Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    50 min
  6. MAR 23

    Notice What You Notice: Curiosity, the Goddess, and the Intelligence of the Heart with Cynthia Abulafia

    In this deeply expansive and grounding conversation, I sit down with author, educator, and yoga therapist Cynthia Abulafia to explore what it truly means to come home to the heart. Cynthia’s work bridges sacred texts, embodiment practices, and the often-overlooked wisdom of the divine feminine. Her debut book, Embodying the Goddess: How to Awaken Curiosity and Reverence on the Spiritual Path, invites us to question the ways spirituality has been shaped by separation—and to rediscover a path rooted in wholeness, curiosity, and lived experience.  Together, we explore:  What non-duality actually means (beyond the buzzword)  Why many spiritual frameworks subtly reinforce a sense of separation and “not enoughness” The difference between being “triggered” vs. activated—and why language matters How curiosity becomes a healing force that allows us to slow down, feel, and integrate  The concept of “cleaning the instrument of the heart” as a living spiritual practice  How to recognize the difference between reverence and compulsion in our daily lives  The role of the body and the earth in reconnecting us to wholeness  Why so much of what we’re seeing right now—personally and collectively—is a breakdown of old paradigmsOne of my favorite takeaways from this conversation is Cynthia’s simple but powerful invitation: 👉 “Notice what you notice.” Because when we begin there—without judgment, without rushing to fix—we open the door to something deeper:  curiosity, presence, and ultimately, a return to the heart. This episode is for you if you’re:  Feeling disconnected from yourself and craving a deeper sense of embodiment Curious about the intersection of spirituality, nervous system work, and healing Ready to shift from striving and fixing into listening, sensing, and allowingYou can find Cynthia's, Embodying the Goddess: How to Awaken Curiosity and Reverence on the Spiritual Path book here Connect with Cynthia CynthiaAbulafia.com @embodyingthegoddessbook, @cynthiaabulafiayoga, (YouTube) Embodying the Goddess, (Substack) @embodyingthegoddess Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    47 min
  7. MAR 15

    Widening Your Window of Tolerance: How the Nervous System Learns Safety - Solo Episode

    In this solo episode of The Spiritually Curious Therapist, I explore one of the most important concepts in nervous system healing: the window of tolerance.   I realized it's something I don't talk about enough and with so much information circulating about nervous system regulation, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what actually works. I So in this episode, I break down what we’re really talking about when we talk about “regulating the nervous system” and why the goal isn’t to stay calm all the time, but to expand the range of experiences your system can hold. You’ll learn how the nervous system moves between activation and shutdown, why these responses are protective rather than pathological, and how small experiences of safety can gradually widen the window of tolerance over time. Drawing on Polyvagal Theory, trauma-informed somatic work, and years of clinical experience, I explain why healing isn’t about thinking your way into regulation, it’s about experience, sensation, relationship, and repetition. I also offers a simple practice you can try immediately to begin supporting your nervous system. This episode is for therapists, healers, and anyone curious about how the body and nervous system shape our emotional and physical well-being. Stay up to date on offerings by joining our newsletter here Coming Up!   Join me in a FREE 90 minute talk: What is All Of This Nervous System BS Anyway? A no-nonsense conversation about feeling good in your own skin.  Register Here We are also launching an 8 week nervous system reset for professionals.  Learn more and register here Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    18 min
  8. MAR 9

    When the Nervous System is Stuck: Neurodivergince, Chronic Illness & the Path Back to Regulation with Micah Saviet, MSW, LCSW-C, NBC-HWC

    In this episode of The Spiritually Curious Therapist, I sit down with therapist, coach, and researcher Micah Saviet, MSW, LCSW-C, NBC-HWC to explore the powerful intersection of nervous system regulation, Neurodivergence, trauma, and chronic illness.  Micah is a therapist and board-certified health and wellness coach who specializes in working with adults at the intersection of trauma, ADHD, and chronic illness. His integrative somatic approach draws from mindfulness, energy psychology, emotional freedom techniques (EFT), brainspotting, somatic experiencing, and parts work to support lasting healing and nervous system regulation. Micah shares his personal story of living with ADHD and navigating years of unexplained chronic illness before discovering the role of nervous system dysregulation and limbic system patterns in driving both emotional and physical symptoms. Together, we dive into why traditional top-down therapies sometimes fall short, and why body-based approaches that work directly with the nervous system can create deeper and more sustainable healing. We also explore how many neurodivergent adults spend years compensating and masking before their systems begin to break down, and how therapy can help restore regulation, self-trust, and embodied awareness. If you’re interested in the connection between the nervous system, spirituality, embodiment, and trauma healing, this episode will open up an entirely new perspective. Micah is also the co-author of the upcoming book: Flourishing with Adult ADHD: The Evidence-Based Guide to Client Wellbeing for Therapists and Coaches The book offers a strength-based, research-informed framework to help clinicians support wellbeing, agency, and self-determination in neurodivergent adults. Connect with Micah: Webiste: www.adulttraumaandadhdsolutions.com LinkedIn: @MicahSaviet; @Adult Trauma and ADHD Solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adulttrauma_adhdsolutions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adulttraumaandadhdsolutions AND Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    46 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Spiritually Curious Therapist is a podcast exploring the intersection of nervous system science, mental health, spirituality, and healing. Hosted by Jodi Silverman, LCSW, this show is for therapists, healers, and curious humans who sense that true healing happens below the level of insight alone. Through thoughtful conversations and solo reflections, we explore trauma, chronic pain and illness, altered states, regulation, meaning-making, and what it really takes to help the nervous system feel safe enough to change. This is a space for grounded mysticism, where evidence-based practice meets soul-level wisdom, and where healing is approached with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the body’s innate intelligence. Whether you’re a clinician expanding beyond talk therapy or someone on your own healing path, this podcast invites you to listen differently — to symptoms, to stories, and to what’s asking to be integrated.

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