About Don St John, Ph.D. Author: Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture: An Adventure of a Lifetime Very early on in my educational career I realized that the "box" of traditional clinical psychology and psychiatry was too small to hold all the tools and concepts needed for my healing. I'm forever grateful I searched outside that box. Over time, I encountered not just tools and techniques, but different schools of thought, both novel and derived from wide-ranging sources. Decades of exploration led me to construct a view of healing, purpose and human potential that includes four essential and interrelated components: the Somatic (Body), the Psycho-Emotional, the Relational, and the Spiritual. 1. The Somatic. Our bodies are feeling, sensing, moving structures. Our culture emphasizes appearance, endurance, strength, and of course freedom from symptoms. They are important! Yet, our very sense of ourselves, who we take ourselves to be, and our sense of well-being, depend on the connectivity, the consciousness of our bodies. Our bodies are also architectural marvels, and as such, require optimal alignment for optimal functioning. 2. The Psycho-Emotional. We form core beliefs about our worth and potential early and throughout our upbrings that for better or worse, define how we see ourselves and interact with the world. Becoming ready to embody our best selves requires revisiting our fundamental assumptions; stepping into our best selves requires identifying and redesigning our core beliefs. It is also important that we cultivate positivity in our hearts and minds. 3. The Relational. Human beings are fundamentally social, and forming close bonds is not just important—it's essential. Our ability to share emotional intimacy is hampered by the traumas and wounds we inevitably receive along our journey. My professional experience supports a model that relational starvation is at the root of most cases of addiction, depression, relational distress and more. 4. The Spiritual. The drive to wonder at and experience the universe's greater order is part of the human fabric. From time immemorial we have asked questions such as: Is there life after death? how are we related to each other and to the entire web of life? is there a force, an intelligence superior to my personal agency and if so, how do I relate to that force? In my own journey, psychedelic spiritual medicine has enhanced my openness to spiritual exploration and discovery. As a psychotherapist, teacher, author, and Mestre (teacher in a Christian-Ayahuasca church), I have been immersed in the psychological, somatic, relational, and spiritual worlds for more than fifty years. As a child I endured years of intense physical and verbal abuse in my Italian-American Catholic home. I entered adulthood in a physically hyper-tense body, emotionally frozen, relationally retarded, and spiritually void. This healing adventure of fifty plus years has resulted in a fulfilling marriage (38 years) to my life partner, the enjoyment of being in my body, trust in my own abilities and instincts, the trust given me by others to guide their journeys, a love for life, and wonderment at a higher power. Contact John- psychedelictreatmentpodcast@gmail.com www.psychedelictreatmentpodcast.com Disclaimer: The Pros and Cons of Psychedelic Treatment's content and the views, thoughts, and opinions of the host, guests, and contributors is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult with a medical provider or mental health care professional about your health-related questions. The Pros and Cons of Psychedelic Treatment does not encourage illegal activity, including but not limited to the illegal sale, purchase, or use of controlled substances.