The Intelligence of Survival
We’re Not Broken—We’re Adapted “What if your symptoms are not signs of dysfunction—but evidence of how intelligently you adapted?” I often hear people describe themselves as “broken” or “dysfunctional.” And I understand why—it can feel that way when you’re anxious, shut down, overwhelmed, or caught in patterns you don’t fully understand. But clinically, I don’t experience people that way. I experience them as adapted. Each of us comes into the world with a certain sensitivity—biological, emotional, relational. And over time, we develop ways of organizing ourselves that help us feel safe enough to function in the environments we’re in. Some [...]
The Nervous System Runs the Show
Insight can bring awareness -but true healing is an embodied experience. When I reflect on my own process of healing—and I imagine it will be ongoing for the rest of my life—I can see how long I tried to create change “from the neck up.” I worked to shift my thoughts, behaviors, even emotions. And while that brought awareness, it didn’t always create lasting transformation. It took me years to recognize what was missing. Real change began when I started to include the body When I began to understand the role of the nervous system in shaping how we [...]
Resilient by Design
When things break down, it can feel disorienting, painful, or even like failure. But breakdown also carries within it the possibility of rebuilding into something stronger and more resilient. We see this in simple ways: when we exercise, muscles “break down,” sometimes to the point of shaking, and yet it’s precisely this process that allows them to rebuild stronger than before. Embracing imperfection, change, and transformation This philosophy is beautifully illustrated in Kintsugi —the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold-tinted lacquer. What was once considered broken or flawed becomes even more beautiful and more valuable, carrying a history [...]
Balancing Intuition and Knowledge
Recently, I have been exploring Taoist philosophy, which dates back to 300 BC. A central theme in Taoism is the importance of maintaining an open awareness of the world and trusting in one’s inner self. When this state of being is lost, we may begin to look outside ourselves for answers, potentially creating systems that restrict our personal freedom. “When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend on authority.” —Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching Senses vs Measurable Scales This is an interesting idea to contemplate. Reflecting back [...]
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as Published in Los Angeles Psychotherapy Association Digest, Spring Volume 2024
Eva Altobelli, MD David Laramie, PhD We are experiencing a mental health crisis, and rates of depression and suicide continue to rise. According to the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, “Mental health has become the defining public health and societal challenge of our time ” (CDC, 2023). Over 30% of the population is suffering from mental health disorders and addiction (SAMHSA, 2021), and seventy percent of those suffering do not receive any mental health treatment. (Chatterjee, 2023). In the face of this, it is imperative that the field of mental health broaden its horizons in search of potential treatments.
On Time, Space, and Being Human
Space, Time, & Einstein Lately I’ve been reading Einstein’s biography, where he talks about space, time, mass, and energy in such creative ways. He describes how space and time cannot be defined without each other—how they are interwoven, inseparable. This led me to reflect on how we, too, exist within the fabric of time. Not just the hours on a clock or the phases of a life, but time as a living element we move through. The Invitation Our language is full of sayings like time is money, the early bird catches the worm, or love at first sight—little cultural [...]
Search Our Archive
Latest articles
June 2, 2026
June 2, 2026
June 2, 2026