Standing Tall for Mental Health and Well-Being

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Standing Tall for Mental Health, host Colleen Schuerlein sits down with Deb, Tanis, and their skilled facilitator Michelle Ericksen to explore the transformative world of guided psilocybin therapy. Through raw and heartfelt storytelling, Deb and Tanis share their courageous journeys—unpacking how psilocybin mushrooms helped them revisit, process, and release long-buried trauma. Michelle offers her professional insights into creating a safe, supportive container for this deeply vulnerable work, shedding light on the science, spirituality, and integration practices that make psychedelic healing possible. Whether you’re curious about alternative approaches to mental health, walking your own path of healing, or simply drawn to stories of resilience, this episode offers a rare and intimate look at how psilocybin therapy can help unveil the past and spark profound transformation. Learn more about Michelle’s work at https://www.yourwisewoman.com/ Visit Standing Tall Igniting Hope at www.standingtallignitinghope.org If this conversation inspires you, please share this episode, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review to help us reach more people on their healing journey.

Psychedelics, Soul and Science: Building Bridges Between Worlds - Join Colleen Schuerlein, founder of Standing Tall Igniting Hope, and Dr. Michelle Ericksen as they dive into the world of plant medicine and the benefits it can have on mental health. About Dr. Michelle Ericksen: Michelle Ericksen, PhD is a ceremonialist, medicine woman, and teacher. A mystic and a midwife of the soul, her work is deeply rooted in her diverse cultural heritage. As a first-generation daughter of Northern European immigrants, and the step-daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Argentina, Michelle’s roots are interwoven with various languages, spaces, practices, and values. Her engagement in ritual work began in her 20s, studying with a wide array of teachers from both South and North America. From these teachings, she has received lineage transmissions in Mayan, Mazotec, and Andean practices. Working with individuals and small groups, Michelle offers syncretic plant- and spirit-based practices that draw from her diverse teachers, wisdom, and shamanic traditions. Her practices also incorporate insights from education, psychology, neurobiology, trauma-informed care, quantum physics, and cultural anthropology. Michelle earned a master’s degree from Stanford and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. She is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church and a founding instructor in the Subtle Winds’ Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Teacher Training Program. Fluent in Spanish, Michelle has lived in and traveled to 47 countries. She currently resides in Redmond with her husband and two large, active dogs. ⁠https://www.yourwisewoman.com/

In this first episode of Standing Tall for Mental Health, Colleen Schuerlein, founder of Standing Tall Igniting Hope, and Dr. Christina Bethell, professor at the School of Public Health at John’s Hopkins University, discuss the ever-changing landscape of mental health research and treatment. The conversation ranges from ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and their impact on mental health all the way to psilocybin therapy and the hope that these new treatments are bringing to the table when it comes to supporting people on their mental health journeys.