Whole by Design

The Viva Center
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to Whole by Design, a transformative podcast that challenges traditional mental health narratives and reminds us that our experiences make perfect sense no matter how challenging. Join Dr. Julie Lopez, founder of the Viva Center, as she brings her expertise in human systems to illuminate the complexities of mental health with compassion and clarity. Each month, Dr. Lopez and her remarkable guests explore beyond conventional thinking to reveal the brilliance of our human system and its innate resources for healing and adaptation. Through intimate conversations and powerful storytelling, you’ll discover fresh perspectives backed by science that pave the way to flourishing and authentic joy. Whether you’re navigating your own healing path or supporting loved ones, each episode offers practical insights, inspiring stories, and evidence-based approaches that honor your unique experience. Tune in to any episode that speaks to you and join a community that’s redefining wellness through a trauma-informed lens. When we understand ourselves more accurately as whole by design we shortcut the path to healing and thriving.

  1. EP 23: Complicated Grief and Life Beyond Loss with Aurena Green

    APR 22

    EP 23: Complicated Grief and Life Beyond Loss with Aurena Green

    Grief doesn’t always follow a clear path. For many people, it can feel layered, disorienting, and difficult to move through, especially when the emotions don’t resolve in the ways we expect. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your grief or unsure how to carry both the love and the pain, this conversation offers a way of understanding what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez and grief expert Aurena Green explore the reality of complicated grief, why it can feel so complex, why it doesn’t follow a predictable timeline, and what it can look like to begin moving through it in a way that honors your full emotional experience. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to stay present with intense emotions without shutting down, how to hold both the beauty and difficulty of your relationships, and how to begin reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels more grounded, more open, and more alive. This is a thoughtful, honest look at grief that makes space for the full experience, without rushing it or trying to simplify what it means to move forward.   Learn more about Aurena Green and her work: https://www.inner-compass-therapy.com/   https://hackyournervoussystem.org/products/planetgrief  https://www.instagram.com/planet.grief  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/aurena-r-green-clifton-va/1407401 Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    28 min
  2. EP 22: The Stress Equation and the Hidden Path to Resilience with Amanda Good

    MAR 20

    EP 22: The Stress Equation and the Hidden Path to Resilience with Amanda Good

    Stress is often treated like something to eliminate, but what if understanding it differently could help you move through life with more clarity, strength, and intention? In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by clinician and clinical director Amanda Good to explore the stress equation, a practical framework for understanding why stress affects people differently and how lasting balance is created. Together, they break down how demands, coping capacity, internal beliefs, and support systems interact to shape your experience of stress. Amanda explains why managing stress is not just about coping in the moment, but about identifying where imbalance lives and knowing how to shift it. This conversation also explores how difficult experiences can become catalysts for growth, offering insight into resilience, deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, and renewed meaning after hard seasons of life.   Learn more about The Sibley Group & Amanda Good:  thesibleygroupdc.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-good-85844a1ab  https://www.instagram.com/amandagoodlicsw/ Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    30 min

  3. MAR 2

    EP 21: The Unseen Patterns Behind Strong Relationships with Lee Collins

    What do high-pressure emergency response and intimate relationships have in common? Communication under stress. In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Lee Collins to explore what truly strengthens connection in relationships. Drawing from his background in corporate leadership, emergency response, and clinical counseling, Lee shares how high-pressure environments reveal the communication patterns that either build trust or break it down. He unpacks the subtle shifts that move relationships from conflict to connection and explains why emotional awareness is the foundation. This episode offers actionable insight into relationship skills, communication, and emotional regulation, helping you show up stronger in love, work, and life.   Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    27 min
  4. EP 20: The Hidden Factors Shaping Every Type of Fertility with Dr. Natalie Grigorian

    JAN 27

    EP 20: The Hidden Factors Shaping Every Type of Fertility with Dr. Natalie Grigorian

    Fertility is often framed as a purely biological issue, but what if there’s more shaping our ability to create and receive in life than we realize? In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by Dr. Natalie Grigorian, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Master of Acupuncture, to explore the hidden factors that influence fertility, not just in conception, but across all areas of life. Together, they discuss how stress, the nervous system, and natural rhythms shape fertility and vitality. Dr. Gregorian shares how listening to the body’s signals, honoring cycles, and creating conditions for safety and receptivity can support healing, growth, and resilience. This conversation offers perspective, insight, and practical guidance for anyone feeling stuck, depleted, or curious about how fertility extends beyond reproduction into creativity, work, relationships, and overall well-being.   Learn more about Dr. Natalie Grigorian & Aetherium Health:  https://aetheriumhealth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliegrigorian/ https://www.instagram.com/aetheriumhealth/ https://www.instagram.com/dr.natalieg/ Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    28 min
  5. EP 19: Could AI Be Your Next Therapist? Expert Insights from Dr. Rachel Wood

    12/19/2025

    EP 19: Could AI Be Your Next Therapist? Expert Insights from Dr. Rachel Wood

    AI is changing the way we approach mental health, but what does that mean for our relationships, emotions, and even therapy itself? In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Dr. Rachel Wood, a licensed counselor and leader in cyber psychology, to explore the growing role of AI in mental health. They discuss how AI is being used for therapy, companionship, and self-reflection, the potential benefits and risks of synthetic relationships, and the one crucial step to stay empowered and safe when interacting with AI. This conversation offers insight, clarity, and practical guidance for anyone curious about how technology is reshaping mental well-being.   Learn more about Dr. Rachel Wood: www.dr-rachelwood.com  Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    29 min
  6. EP 18: A Mom’s Willingness to Help her Daughter Die: A Conversation With Faith & Brenda Ferber

    11/21/2025

    EP 18: A Mom’s Willingness to Help her Daughter Die: A Conversation With Faith & Brenda Ferber

    Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and self-harm. Suicidality can be complex, painful, and often misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Faith Ferber, a trauma-informed Viva therapist, and her mother, Brenda Ferber, a writer, to explore Faith’s journey with mental health challenges from childhood through adolescence. They discuss early warning signs, the impact of family dynamics, and the one thing that ultimately helped Faith shift her relationship to suicidal thoughts. This conversation offers insight, validation, and hope for anyone navigating mental health struggles in themselves or their loved ones. Learn more about Faith Ferber - https://www.vivapartnership.com/our-team/faith-ferber-licsw-lcsw-lcsw-c/  Learn more about Brenda Ferber - http://brendaferber.com/  Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    35 min
  7. EP 17: Sleep Matters: How Sleep Apnea Impacts Mental Health | Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo

    10/21/2025

    EP 17: Sleep Matters: How Sleep Apnea Impacts Mental Health | Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo

    Poor sleep can affect more than just energy. It can shape mood, focus, and mental health in surprising ways. In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo to explore the hidden connection between sleep apnea and mental health. They discuss why sleep apnea often goes unnoticed, how it can mimic depression or ADHD, and what steps you can take to uncover and treat it. This episode is an empowering discussion on the hidden impact of sleep apnea and why it is essential to take action so that you can restore your mental and physical vitality. Learn more about Dr. Barkil-Oteo - https://www.washingtoninterventionalpsychiatry.com/team-member/andres-barkil-oteo/ Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    31 min
  8. EP 16: All Bodies Rock: Breaking Free from Disordered Eating | Christie Dondero Bettwy

    09/23/2025

    EP 16: All Bodies Rock: Breaking Free from Disordered Eating | Christie Dondero Bettwy

    Disordered eating impacts millions of Americans, yet so many people face it in silence. If you’re struggling, you are not alone. In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery, to talk about her personal journey of disordered eating recovery and her work making treatment more accessible. Together, they explore how cultural messages about food and bodies fuel shame, why so many people feel “not sick enough” to seek help, and what it takes to begin moving toward healing. This conversation invites you to rethink the stories you’ve been told about bodies, worth, and food, and to imagine the possibility of making peace with your body, exactly as it is today.   Learn more about Rock Recovery - https://www.rockrecoveryed.org/  Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Whole by Design, a transformative podcast that challenges traditional mental health narratives and reminds us that our experiences make perfect sense no matter how challenging. Join Dr. Julie Lopez, founder of the Viva Center, as she brings her expertise in human systems to illuminate the complexities of mental health with compassion and clarity. Each month, Dr. Lopez and her remarkable guests explore beyond conventional thinking to reveal the brilliance of our human system and its innate resources for healing and adaptation. Through intimate conversations and powerful storytelling, you’ll discover fresh perspectives backed by science that pave the way to flourishing and authentic joy. Whether you’re navigating your own healing path or supporting loved ones, each episode offers practical insights, inspiring stories, and evidence-based approaches that honor your unique experience. Tune in to any episode that speaks to you and join a community that’s redefining wellness through a trauma-informed lens. When we understand ourselves more accurately as whole by design we shortcut the path to healing and thriving.

Information

  • Creator
    The Viva Center
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Whole by Design