Psychedelics, mindfulness, and contemplative practices

10/12/21 • 70 min

In this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined for the second time by Dr. Paul Theilking, MD. Paul is a psychiatrist, zen practitioner, and Chief Scientific Officer at Novamind. They cover the following topics:
(2:45) What is a contemplative practice?
(4:38) Contemplative practices go by many names (e.g., "spiritual")
(10:45) Mindfulness and the mystical experience
(16:55) Paul discusses mindfulness form a Zen perspective
(20:44) The Zen practice of Koan contemplation
(24:00) What it means to "practice" mindfulness
(27:25) The difference between resisting and not resisting the contents of the present moment
(32:40) Is the mindful state of non-striving compatible with accomplishing goals?
(39:17) Why are contemplative practices often used for integration after psychedelics?
(47:22) Yoga as a contemplative practice
(53:28) Contemplative practices and the purpose of life
(01:00:16) The neuroscience of mindfulness
(01:02:55) Mindfulness and psychedelics help us understand the "self"
Email us questions and feedback at [email protected]
Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/
Learn more about Novamind at https://www.novamind.ca/

Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/
Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinus.com/training/
Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinus.com/clinical-trials
Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/
Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/
https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/
https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Send us a text

Previous Episode

Self-compassion, forgiveness, and judgment detox

Send us a text

In this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss self-compassion, why it is so hard (but so important) to forgive, and how to detox from judgement. They cover the following topics:
(1:29) The pitfalls of the self-esteem movement
(3:47) Self-compassion vs. self-love/-esteem
(6:49) Scrupulosity and OCD
(9:09) The contributors to the development of the internal critic
(12:05) The distinction between shame vs. guilt
(15:55) The nature of human judgement
(17:49) Stigma, biases, and judgement around psychedelics and other drugs
(18:50) Dr. Carl Hart and Drug Use for Grown-Ups
(21:35) Thinking critically, evaluating assumptions, and updating beliefs
(23:46) Defining compassion being worthy of love
(24:50) Dr. Kristen Neff's work on self-compassion
(29:25) Social media tends to promote negative self-evaluation and using humor as a defense mechanism
(35:05) How psychedelic psychotherapy (ketamine in this case) can facilitate self-exploration and healing
(38:15) Emotions are powerful signals that give us information that we need to navigate life
(45:47) Tara Brach and Radical Compassion
Email us questions and feedback at [email protected]
Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/
Learn more about Novamind at https://www.novamind.ca/

Next Episode

Finding your purpose in life

Send us a text

In this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss finding purpose, meaning, mental health stigma, and diagnostic labels. They cover the following topics:
(2:44) The pressure to "find your purpose"
(4:39) Perhaps the purpose of life is simply to "live"
(7:51) Living in alignment with your truest self. Know yourself and follow your bliss.
(10:15) Jonathan Fields and the "Sparketype"
(12:40) Simon Sinek's TED talk on the "Start With Why" concept
(14:05) The "negative" parts of your journey might be the most important parts
(15:40) Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
(16:43) Follow your curiosity as a stepping-stone to following your bliss
(18:57) There is a need for a balance between "doing" and "being"
(20:50) Marcus Aurelius and Stoic philosophy on purpose
(21:43) Waking Up Course by Sam Harris
(24:15) How mindfulness frees you from unnecessary suffering
(25:29) The risks of over-identifying with diagnostic labels
(33:28) The benefits of making a diagnosis
(39:59) Nature AND nurture influences who we become
(45:34) Let go of the parts of you that are not yours
(50:15) Jay Shetty
(51:56) Jim Collins, From Good to Great
(53:25) Ikigai
Email us questions and feedback at [email protected]
Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/
Learn more about Novamind at https://www.novamind.ca/