Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories | Psychotherapy, Trauma, and Psychedelics

Craig Heacock MD
  • 4.9 (500)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

How do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics.

  1. 5D AGO

    Complex PTSD vs Classic PTSD-- Healing medical trauma with MDMA assisted therapy

    Amidst a long catalog of previous BFTA stories featuring complex or developmental PTSD, today’s story is one of classic DSM-style PTSD, it’s a story of both medical and parenting trauma, of facing the fear of annihilation and death.  In this three part story,  first we hear Tracy tell of the increasingly severe medical challenges of her children, then Tracy flashes back to describe her own terrifying emergency hospitalization as a 5 year old, then finally we trace Tracy’s treatment journey through traditional psychotherapy and eventual MDMA-assisted therapy as she tries to find a way to calm her nervous system and find peace. Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Explore every episode through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to the podcast. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ Support the show

    1 hr

  2. APR 17

    The hidden minefield of Positive Countertransference

    In this solo episode Dr. H shares his thoughts on the unexpected risks of feeling too much positive energy and/or identification with a patient.  This talk is also a sneak preview into the workshop that Dr. H teaches with Dr. Hillary McBride called "I Love You I Hate You...Are You My Mom?' Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Explore every episode through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to the podcast. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    14 min

  3. APR 3

    The gasoline and the match— Bipolar disorder, THC, and manic activation

    Today’s story is one of genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and finally a psychiatric flame thrower.  Whitney’s uncle had a particularly severe form of bipolar disorder and she too began to develop mood instability and depression as an adolescent. When we think of environmental triggers for mania, we tend to think of sleep deprivation, substances, and the postpartum period. And through her 20s and 30s, Whitney began to have more serious bouts of hypomania during times of sleep deprivation or in her postpartum periods. But it took an increasingly severe weed habit to bring her to the horrors of mania with psychosis.  Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Explore every episode through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to the podcast. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    49 min

  4. MAR 20

    How can we actually prevent suicide? Guns, access to means, and the hope of Donna's Law

    The US has a major suicide problem, around 50,000 people every year, and 60% of these suicides are gun suicides. The number one risk factor for completed suicide is not depression or anxiety or addiction….it’s access to means, and it turns out that it’s actually not that easy to impulsively kill yourself, unless you have ready access to a gun.  We are finally starting to talk about ways to keep guns out of the hands of potentially suicidal people, and a concrete step in that direction is something called Donna’s Law— a program where people can voluntarily be put on a no-sell list during times of psychological crisis or instability.  Donna’s Law is named after Donna Nathan, who impulsively bought a handgun in 2018 in New Orleans and shot herself during a period of psychiatric crisis.  There were no barriers in place, no waiting period or no-sell list...Donna found easy access to means and paid the ultimate price. We first hear the voice of Katrina Brees, Donna’s daughter. Katrina tells us more about who Donna was, how she lived and how she died. After we hear from Katrina, Dr. H leads a discussion with two prominent Colorado voices for both Donna’s law in particular and suicide prevention in general— Dr. Dave Iverson is a Denver-based psychiatrist, a board member of Colorado Ceasefire, and lifelong advocate for society’s most vulnerable folks, including those on the streets or in the justice system… also Ginny Mack joins the conversation, she is a Ft Collins-based psychiatric nurse practitioner, a Navy Veteran, and a longtime advocate for suicide prevention efforts on the state and local level.  Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Donna's Law for Suicide Prevention https://www.donnaslaw.com/ Donna's Law for Colorado https://www.donnaslawforco.com/ Colorado listeners who would like to get involved in the awareness campaign for Donna's Law, please email: donnaslawforco@gmail.com Golden Gate suicide study https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/6/suicide-deterrent-seiden-study.pdf Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Explore every episode through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to the podcast. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    1h 1m

  5. MAR 6

    A somatic therapist and her apprenticeship of grief

    Today’s story explores how we love, how we grieve, and how we eventually find some sort of equilibrium thereafter. This episode is a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story by Colorado-based somatic therapist Darci Meyers about her journey through multiple losses, grief, and ongoing recovery. Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Darci Meyers http://www.darcimeyers.com/ Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Explore every episode through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to the podcast. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    1h 5m

  6. FEB 20

    A gift of therapy- Discovering the wisdom of the body with psychedelic-assisted therapy

    Kari reconnected with her birth mother in her 40s and finally began to understand the suffering for which she had no words. This is a story of adoption and reunification, of forgetting and remembering, of finding a truth without words in the wisdom of the body.  Kari’s birth mother was able to see something deep in Kari that she had never had words for….and thus began her path toward healing. Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference and countertransference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, June 18-20 2026 in Vancouver/Chilliwack BC https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/ Elemental Psychedelics Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Training https://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/ketaminetraining Explore the podcast through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to every episode. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    48 min

  7. FEB 6

    A Nurse + Grief + Alcohol + Adderall— Finding Hope for Healers

    Kate started her addiction journey at a young age, using substances as a salve for her terrible grief. Later, drugs and alcohol helped her to cope with the transition to nursing and the unending demands of a hospital setting.  But as with all addicts, this strategy worked until it didn’t….Kate eventually had to find a new way to cope if she was going to survive past her 30s. Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Kate Gibson (The Coleman Institute) Kate@thecolemaninstitute.com; Kate.gibson.dnp@gmail.com Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/ Explore the podcast through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to every episode. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    1h 5m

  8. JAN 23

    The Scary Med List-- A Case Consultation with Dr. H

    Dr. H dives deep into a patient's scary, confusing, and ill-advised list of psych meds to illustrate some deeper truths and lessons about psychopharmacology and the med management model of psychiatry. Support the show!  https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support Bringing Therapy into Med Management-- An intensive workshop for psych NPs and PAs, June 3-6 2026 in Ft Collins https://www.craigheacockmd.com/bringing-therapy-into-med-management/ Explore the podcast through themes, domains, formats, and speakers. The BFTA CODEX is a listener-built and curated field guide to every episode. https://bfta-codex.org BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast page https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/ Support the show

    23 min
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4.9
out of 5
500 Ratings

About

How do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics.

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