Mental Wellness & Ketamine Assisted Therapy w/ Dr. James Leathem

Mental wellbeing is about more than just the absence of mental illness. It’s a multifaceted area of health that encompasses everything from physical to psychological to emotional health—but what are some of the ways we can achieve peak mental wellness? This week on Health is a Skill, Todd is joined by Dr. James Leathem, a board certified anesthesiologist and co-founder of Advanced Wellness and Pain, a clinic that specializes in ketamine assisted therapy. Dr. Leathem has been using psychedelic medicines for almost 30 years, working to allow the unconscious mind to reveal itself to the conscious mind and become the best version of himself. It’s a practice he’s passionate about, and one he’s now using to assist others on their health journey. Throughout today’s conversation, Todd and Dr. Leathem outline the many benefits of ketamine assisted therapy, what the process of receiving ketamine actually looks like, Todd’s own experience with this type of therapy and the benefits he’s seen to his health, and how ketamine plus therapy can revolutionize your mental health from the inside out. The two end the episode by emphasizing the importance of mental wellbeing as a key to achieving optimal health, without it—even if our physical bodies are in a peak state—our minds will always be pulling us down in some way. Ketamine assisted therapy is a useful tool to have in your toolkit when it comes to the journey of transforming your health into a skill. Learn more about Dr. Leathem and his practice at https://advancedwellnessandpain.com/ Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com   Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health  CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Mental Well-being03:40 The Connection Between Mental Well-being and Body Composition05:04 The Impact of Mental Well-being on Cardiovascular Health06:03 The Influence of Mental Well-being on Hormones, Sleep, and Recovery07:31 The Relationship Between Mental Well-being and Detoxification08:28 The Role of Mental Well-being in Gut Health and Nutrient Choices09:53 The Connection Between Mental Well-being and Orthopedic Health13:10 The Power of Psychedelics in Facilitating Self-discovery16:19 Understanding Ketamine-assisted Therapy18:14 The Mechanisms and Benefits of Ketamine Therapy24:30 The Magic of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy28:46 Becoming Consciously Competent29:45 The Importance of Integration32:27 The Foundation of Health35:46 The Ketamine Session Experience39:09 Dissociative Out-of-Body Experience41:41 Resetting and Transforming the Self45:04 Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Personal Evolution46:26 Addressing Mental Wellbeing and Physical Health Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health