DEPTH Work: A Holistic Mental Health Podcast Jazmine Russell

“When medical doctors or psychiatrists entertain incoherent ideas about the mind and body, they make bad decisions about how to assist us in being well.” - Diane O’Leary. Understanding how the mind and body are connected in mental health and medicine is critical, especially considering that when we fail to do so, many are harmed. Despite drawing on the Biopsychosocial model for the last few decades, psychiatry hasn’t gotten much closer to elucidating the connections between the mind, body, and society. Today, Diane O’Leary explains to us psychiatry’s big philosophy problem and how it leads to huge ethical concerns. In an effort to ‘not be dualists’ psychiatry often tries to lump the mental and physical together, but in doing so, fails to approach clients as ‘holists’. Here’s how we can bring the person back into mental health.

In this episode we discuss:


why medically unexplained physiological symptoms get labeled as ‘in your head’
why the way to be a ‘holist’ is not about eradicating dualism or separating mind and body
why the biopsychosocial model is incoherent and doesn’t do justice to patients
the roots of bad philosophy in psychiatry
women’s health and the history of manipulation in psychosomatic medicine
why psychiatry needs to reevaluate its bioethics and respect patients’ rights and personhood

Bio

Diane O’Leary, PhD is a philosopher whose research focuses on medicine and psychiatry. In particular, she sets out to apply philosophy of mind in a way that helps to clarify what biomedicine and psychiatry are aiming for with holistic practice – and what they should be aiming for. Dr. O’Leary is Professor of Philosophy at University of Maryland Global Campus, and a former visiting researcher at the Center for Philosophy of Science at University of Pittsburgh. She’s a strong advocate for change in the area of psychosomatic medicine, and she’s currently a Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with The Oped Project and Equality Now.

https://www.dianeoleary.com/



Links:

Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.idha-nyc.org

Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠⁠



Resources


How to be a Holist who Rejects the Biopsychosocial Model https://eujap.uniri.hr/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/17_2_5.pdf
John Read on the “Bio bio bio model” https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=fc53f77bec3514fe6c66f9216be662a89b78fa27
Prozac’s rebrand for PMDD to Serafim - https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/04/29/renamed-prozac-fuels-womens-health-debate/b05311b4-514a-4e65-aaa5-434cb2934271/ &
https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2016/11/how-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-was-defined-and-marketed-drug-makers/#:~:text=Lilly rebranded Prozac%2C changing the,feminine-sounding name — Sarafem.





Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Sometimes it takes a healing crisis to get to the roots of chronic illness and transform our life into something more sustainable and purposeful. For Fern Olivia, this crisis manifested as an autoimmune thyroid problem - Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - that forced her to quit her corporate job and led her down a healing path. Since then, she has developed Thyroid Yoga, along with other breath, movement, and vocal practices to support people who desire a more holistic way of dealing with whole-body health concerns.

In this episode we discuss:


the connections between the thyroid, hormones, and depression
why hypothyroidism is more prevalent in women and diagnostically overshadowed
messages from the body and why we ignore or normalize symptoms
the function of the thyroid, physically and energetically
the value of mentorship and community support
learning to not be antagonistic with the body
body talk practice and how to deeply listen
blending yogic traditions and holistic nutrition
using your voice to find your power

Bio

Fern Olivia is an internationally recognized teacher, speaker, and wellness influencer, as well as the founder of Thyroid Yoga®, a unique holistic program that has empowered thousands of women to reclaim their thyroid health and live a fuller, more radiant life. After fainting in the subway in NYC while working for seven years as a Vice President on Wall Street, she left the concrete jungle for the jungle of Costa Rica where she lives and guides retreats. Fern has birthed a new approach to healing through her own education in biomedical engineering and over a decade of experience and certifications in yoga, integrative medicine, breathwork and as a Medical Medium cleanse specialist. She combines targeted yoga sequences, breathwork, vocal activation, somatic intelligence, and brain rewiring to form a whole body approach to health. Through her masterminds, writings, retreats, workshops, and much more, Fern continues to educate and train thousands of women to reclaim their health and live their most fully expressed lives.

Fern's "The Expressed Woman" 21-Day Quest to Confidence:

www.thyroid.yoga/products/theexpressedwoman

Join Fern's Medical Medium & Thyroid Yoga® Cleanse Retreat in Upstate NY this July 10-14: www.thyroid.yoga/products/upstateny

Retreats and Cleanses in Costa Rica: www.thyroid.yoga/cleanseretreat

Websites:

www.fernolivia.com

www.thyroid.yoga

https://embodiedvoicebreathwork.com

Instagram: @fernolivia

Research:

Epstein Barr Virus a possible cause for Autoimmune Thyroid conditions:


https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/epstein-barr-virus-thyroid
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5099387/

Thyroid Conditions and Increased Risk of Depression


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9392461/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9025086/



Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Ever have an existential crisis that made you upend all your beliefs about who you thought you were in life? Abby has, and today she speaks to the power of unlearning oppressive ideologies that we all have inherited, and how patriarchy can seep into all notions of what’s healthy, normal, and how we should live. Abby’s work centers on cultivating shame resilience through allowing ourselves to engage in “belief grief” - giving up toxic beliefs about our roles and identities so we can foster collective liberation. We also talk about bridging generational divides and the gifts that come when we can learn to listen especially to younger folks.

In this episode we discuss:


the value of existential crises
getting unstuck from gender roles and refusing to live someone else’s story
finding your voice in midlife
how mentors and teachers show up in all places in life - even within your children
knowing your privilege, cultivating shame resilience and being willing to change your mind
‘belief grief’ and letting harmful internalized beliefs go

Abby Kamen's Bio:

I am an artist, author, and energist. With candor and wit, I seek to provide a thought provoking look at generational trauma and the cyclical effects of survivalism. With my art, my writing, and my energetic gifts, I provide an innovative approach to collective healing that will enable all of humanity to create better, together. I live in Louisville, KY.

WEBSITE: abbykamen.com

Resources

What is Belief Grief: https://www.abbykamen.com/belief-grief-defined

Links

Generation We: https://www.abbykamen.com/generation-we





Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠

Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

They say many therapists get into this work for deeply personal reasons, but not many have held so many roles the way today’s guest, Denise Ranaghan, has. Denise gets real about what it was like being forcibly locked up in a psychiatric institute while in the military, working her way through school to become a therapist, directing community mental health services while being open about her mental health ‘status’ as a peer professional, and then having the courage to leave the system and go off on her own as an activist and therapist in private practice. Denise talks about the double edged sword of relying on oppressive authoritative systems while internalizing self-blame, and the courage it takes to bring a critical consciousness into your work.



In this episode we discuss:


growing up a ‘troubled teen’
forced involuntary psychiatric institutionalization
authoritative abuse and internalizing self-blame
identifying and de-identifying with the ‘patient’ label
swallowing vs acting out anger
moral injury as a provider in the system
being ‘out’ as a peer working in clinical settings
self doubt, endurism and developing better boundaries as a therapist
being a apart of a community and making local changes
knowing your privilege
intergenerational collaboration and undoing agism

Bio

Denise Ranaghan shares a powerful personal story of recovery that has driven her 20-year record of service in the mental health field. She has held multiple positions including Residential Manager, Peer Specialist, Director of Wellness Services, Director of Assertive Community Treatment, and Director of Peer Services. In all of her positions she strove to include the peer perspective and vehemently called out oppressive practices, and eventually came to terms with how she was contributing to them. She was one of the first in several agencies who publicly identified as a Peer while in professional roles. She introduced and supported alternative peer run self help groups that challenged the “clinician knows best” belief. Denise has presented on Peer Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Voice hearing, Cultural Diversity, Suicide and The Human Canine connection. She is the author of multiple essays on recovery as well as the book Institutional Eyes which profiles her experience in the military where she was first psychiatrically hospitalized. Presently she has a private practice in Woodstock, NY, she serves on the Ulster County Community Services Board, the Mental health subcommittee and is a member a local Social Justice Committee. She says she has found community with a purpose at IDHA!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/denise-ranaghan-lake-hill-ny/823460



Resources

Transformative Mental Health Training Institute (international membership) www.idha-nyc.org



Links

Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠



Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Some of the most egregious harms have been done in the name of “help,” and this is especially true when it comes to forced psychiatric interventions. Investigative journalist, Rob Wipond illuminates the systemic harms of the psychiatric system after experiencing his father attempt to get help and instead of care, be met with coercion and force. As many find out, this is an all too common story. The evidence that psychiatric detention is beneficial to people is lacking, yet rates continue to dramatically rise. From mental health laws and policies, to corruption in pharmaceutical companies, and even political organizations lobbying for more control, all grease the wheels of power and injustice.

In this episode we discuss:


the politics of forced psychiatric treatment and why it is harmful
how the evidence on forced treatment is systematically hidden
the ins and out of mental health laws
why there’s a higher suicide risk in the weeks after psychiatric hospitalization
how giving people the label of ‘lacking insight’ is dangerous and false
several alternative interventions and why we need more advocates
advice for family members
the cultural shift that’s needed



Rob Wipond is a freelance investigative journalist who writes frequently about the interfaces between psychiatry, civil rights, community issues, policing, surveillance and privacy, and social change. His articles have been nominated for seventeen magazine and journalism awards in science, law, business, and community issues, and he’s the author of the book Your Consent is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships.

Links

Rob’s Website: https://robwipond.com/about

Book: Your Consent is not Required: https://robwipond.com/your-consent-is-not-required

Socials:

https://twitter.com/robwipond

https://www.facebook.com/RobWipondAuthor

https://www.youtube.com/user/robwipond



Resources:


US rates of committment: Lee, Gi and David Cohen. “Incidences of Involuntary Psychiatric Detentions in 25 U.S. States.” Psychiatric Services 72, no. 1 (January 1, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900477
European rates of commitment: Sheridan Rains, Luke. “Variations in Patterns of Involuntary Hospitalisation and
in Legal Frameworks: An International Comparative Study.” Lancet Psychiatry 6, no. 5 (May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016%2
FS2215-0366(19)30090-2
Suicidality after hospitalization:
Whitaker, Robert. “Suicide in the Age of Prozac.” Mad in America (August 6, 2018). https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/08/suicide-in-the-age-ofprozac/
&
Simons, Peter. “Involuntary Hospitalization Increases Risk of Suicide.” Mad in America (June 24, 2019). https://www.madinamerica.
com/2019/06/involuntary-hospitalization-increases-risk-suicide-study-finds/
United Nations statement: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2020/10/statement-mr-dainius-puras-special-rapporteur-right-everyone-enjoyment-highest
Find all notes, research, and resources list on Rob’s Website



Become a member of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts: ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠



Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

In popular culture, we tend to think of eating disorders as a reaction to toxic societal messages about our bodies. While this may in part be true, for many people complex trauma is often at the root. Our guest today, Katie Kilbourn, co-founder of a dance company helping people heal through expressive arts, courageously shares about many aspects of eating disorders that are silenced, including the links between addiction, trauma, and eating disorders. We discuss the adaptive coping strategies we develop as a result of trauma, and the double-edged sword of escapism, perfectionism, and control. She also shares about what it's like to navigate pregnancy while recovering from an eating disorder, and why it’s critical for mothers to stay authentic and boundaried in caring for their own mental health.

We also discuss:


redefining body ‘positivity’ and body ‘neutrality’
the toxic pressure on dancers and performers
how eating disorders are like many other addictions
how pregnancy and motherhood could trigger patterns
exploding the myth of ‘selfishness’ in motherhood
the light and shadow of escapism, perfectionism and control
what makes expressive arts so healing

Bio

Katie Kilbourn was born in Sacramento, California and trained all over the West Coast before she moved and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Dance Performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to New York, Katie had the privilege to dance with several companies including Balasole, J/D Dansfolk, and IKADA. From a young age Katie realized there is a generic pressure within the dance community to maintain a specific body type and she realized that many people, herself included, engage in unhealthy behaviors to achieve a certain look. In 2015 she co founded Borne Dance Company with Kianna Moye and together they created a company dedicated to mental health and eating disorder awareness. As someone who has dealt with mental health concerns her entire life, Katie strived to create a company that would inspire body positivity, self appreciation, and the idea of recovery through art. She was a volunteer at the National Eating Disorders Association for over four years and has personal history with mental health and recovery. She has closely worked with therapists and specialists in the mental health field to create content and workshops that are therapeutic, inspiring, and compassionate for the community.

Resources


Website & Donate to Borne Dance which offers donation based artistic shows, events, and workshops to the public that serves as an educational entity for mental health awareness, healing through the arts, as well as prevention and treatment of eating disorders. https://www.bornedance.com/
Dance Shows: Feb 24-25 2024 in Sacramento, March 2nd 2024 NYC

Links

Sessions & Information about the host: ⁠⁠JazmineRussell.com⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.