The Higher Practice Podcast for Optimal Mental Health

For decades, Dr. Charles Grob has been researching applications of MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca for a variety of human conditions including end of life anxiety, PTSD, depression, addiction, and more. His contributions have significantly shaped what we know about psychedelics today and how much of an impact it has on our patients. In today's episode, we hear about the early challenges in psyched...

Psychedelic research is gaining momentum, and Robin Carhart-Harris with his team at Imperial College, London is one of the most prolific groups pushing the science forward. In May 2021, the New England Journal of Medicine published their head to head depression study of an SSRI vs. psilocybin. In today's episode, we are joined by a pioneering neuroscientist, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. We dive into...

The stress response impacts every aspect of health, not only mental health. The vagus nerve is a major connector between mind and body and a big part of the parasympathetic nervous system. In today's episode, we are honored to welcome Dr. Stephen Porges, the author and mind behind Polyvagal Theory. Dr. Porges has committed decades of research to uncover the various aspects of how the vagus nerve i...

What is art and where does it come from? How can art provide a window into the divine nature of reality? In this episode, we take a deep dive into answering these questions along with an exploration into broader mystical experiences, transcendence and the role of psychedelics. We are honored to host Alex and Allyson Grey, two of the most respected visionary artists in the world. They share some gr...

To make it to the top of professional sports takes a lot of hard work, mental toughness, and physical discipline, and to always be one step ahead of the game. What happens to athletes when they pivot and walk away from a lifetime of commitment and immersion in their sport? What experiences, challenges and psychological difficulties do they go through, and how do they cope? In this episode, we're e...

Psychedelics have been used to heal people for thousands of years in traditional indigenous ceremonial contexts. Psychiatric research is showing very promising results for psychedelic therapy. But can psychiatry address the spiritual dimensions of healing with psychedelics? In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Joe Tafur, author, speaker and an integrative medicine doctor at the Ocotillo Center...

Mental illness stigmatization remains one of the biggest issues in the battle against the global mental health crisis. It's very taboo to openly and publicly discuss our mental health, and the struggles that we all face from time to time. #Same Here founder Eric Kussin is on a mission to change that by bringing together personalities from the MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA/WNBA, MLS, Pro Boxing, Pro Volleybal...

Trauma causes pain that many people seek to alleviate by turning to substances. Many high achieving people have experienced trauma and addiction while somehow maintaining an extremely high level of performance in their chosen field. In today's episode, we are fortunate to have former Olympic gold medalist, Stanley cup champion, speaker and author, Theo Fleury. Join us as we dive into his gripping...

Interpersonal connection is essential for optimal mental and physical health, and even more challenged inside the social isolation brought on by this global pandemic. We don't often think of ourselves as walking chemistry sets. But, when we view the body under this lens, we can discover powerful insights into our connections with ourselves and others, and how to optimize them. In today's episode,...

Actor Kiko Ellsworth began his career thinking that acting was the last profession he would ever pursue. It wasn't until he got on stage that he realized how terrified he was to express his voice in the world. At that moment, he knew he needed to use acting as a vehicle for self-expression. But that was just the beginning. After years as a successful actor on TV and film, he decided to give it all...

Sleep health is one of the most overlooked and essential factors for physical and mental health, as well as longevity. Yet, so many people worldwide suffer from sleep disorders, and this issue seems to only be increasing in modern times. Although sleep aids may help people fall asleep, they don't necessarily support sleep efficiency which is a better indicator of restfulness and rejuvenation. In t...

In today's episode, we are joined by Tripp Lanier, a professional coach, author, and host of The New Man Podcast. As a coach, Tripp has been guiding men toward connecting deeply with themselves, living lives of meaning, and achieving success from the inside out. We dive into topics around what hinders men from moving forward with their lives in terms of relationships, career, and business. Show no...

Getting up-to-date on the research and practical application of psychedelic-assisted therapy is only half the story. Ketamine is a unique medicine in its bioactive properties for treating depression, but it can also produce a powerful psychedelic experience that can be leveraged with psychedelic-assisted therapy. In today's episode, Keith and Will discuss their personal experiences with ketamine-a...

We are entering a psychedelic renaissance with psychedelic therapy trials showing promising results and the shift in cultural opinions following the release of Michael Pollan's book, How to Change Your Mind in 2018. There are still many questions that mental health care providers have about psychedelics: Can psychedelics cause psychosis? If an individual has an underlying mental illness will psych...

Countless technological breakthroughs with mental healthcare applications have been made in the last couple of decades. Thanks to the tireless efforts made by Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, ABP and other researchers, virtual reality (VR) is now a viable option for the treatment of PTSD and anxiety conditions. In today's episode, Dr. Rothbaum discusses the revolutionary treatment of virtual reality for PTS...

What is the relationship between mental health and spiritual health? How do we define spirituality? Are there differences between a mental illness and spiritual illness? That is the topic of today's episode, where we explore the shared elements of spiritual well-being and mental health, how they support one another, and where these areas diverge. Will and Keith dive deep into a conversation around...

In today's episode, we are delighted to have a conversation with one of psychiatry's visionary pioneers and one of the first proponents of the ADHD syndrome. John Ratey, MD has expanded the conceptualization of ADHD and has deeply explored the role of exercise in mental health. Dr. Ratey has written several books about mental health, and he joins us to talk about his latest book, ADHD 2.0, which b...

Thanks to the work of two very committed researchers, there is a growing body of research linking micronutrients to mental health. This research is not well known but should be. In today's episode, we are delighted to discuss with Dr. Bonnie Kaplan and Dr. Julia Rucklidge what they've learned through many years of clinical research about the role of nutrition and supplements in mental health. They...

Dr. Steven C. Hayes founded Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) over 20 years ago, with the view in mind to increase psychological flexibility through mindfulness and the acceptance of life's inevitable challenging experiences. Using the problem-solving mind to try to address life's emotional challenges has its limitations. This was a very interesting conversation for us with a true pioneer in...

The integration of mindfulness with psychotherapy is an important aspect of supporting people to achieve wellbeing. How we relate to the disturbances we frequently feel throughout our lives can be a significant determinant of our quality of life, and of the possibilities we perceive. As we work toward a Buddhist psychotherapy modality, we will look at the practical application of bringing together...

The trauma of racism is a serious challenge for us to address as a society. The challenges faced by the BIPOC community are not only personal but also intergenerational. Traumatized individuals and communities of color face specific challenges in the healing path. Psychotherapists who work with clients facing these challenges need to know how to become sensitive to these specific challenges, in or...

Overcoming the everyday challenges of life can be really tough for most of us. But if you look at it through a different lens, these obstacles are really just opportunities for us to grow into someone more resilient, be it in our relationships, careers, our well being, and in business. At the end of the day, it really is just all about our mindset. In today's episode, we explore topics around food...

2020 has been such a massive and eventful year for all of us in the world, especially with the threat of COVID still lingering. On the flip side, it brought an opportunity for all of us to connect through different means and paved a new way to essentially enrich relationships, build connections and bring us closer together. As we enter the New Year, we thought a compilation of insight and wisdom f...

Often we think that parenting is common sense. However, as the world becomes more complex, our parenting knowledge needs to grow with it. At times, the responsibility that goes into raising children can feel overwhelming and can lead to physical, emotional and mental distress when we aren't properly resourced. Although parenting has its challenges, there is so much knowledge available to make the...

Throughout human history, we have always had a desire to achieve wellness and fulfillment in all aspects of daily life. The ancients may have already uncovered the secret by developing practices and rituals that involve conditioning the body and the mind, and incorporating the spiritual component. With the impact and extent of damage that trauma, PTSD, anxiety and other similar disorders brings in...