Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories

By: Craig Heacock MD
  • Summary

  • How do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics.

    © 2025 Back from the Abyss
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Episodes
  • Meds can't fill the trauma hole-- Attachment, maternal wounding, and the challenges of coming off meds
    Apr 25 2025

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    Here Dr. H sits down with Lisa, a pediatric nurse practitioner, to witness her story of developmental trauma, concomitant chronic depression, and eventually her path of healing and rebuilding trust and connection, largely through psychotherapy. During her years of intermittently crippling and suicidal depression, she was put on various psych meds, which might have helped at the time, but later became shockingly difficult to try to taper and stop. This is a story of overcoming shame, a story that looks at the question of whether people need meds for life….and it turns out, surprise surprise, that what’s causing or driving depression actually really matters….and when that’s a Mom wound, most psych meds are really just acting as flimsy bandages.


    "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, May 28-30 in Victoria BC
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom-tickets-1112117516429?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

    BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast
    https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/

    BFTA/ Dr. H
    https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/



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    55 mins
  • Desperately seeking safety -- A trauma healing journey with Koelle Simpson
    Apr 11 2025

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    Craig sits down with Colorado-based equine and somatic therapist Koelle Simpson to witness her harrowing and moving story of healing from repeated sexual assaults through a deep psychospiritual connection with horses, then learning how to trust her male psychotherapist, and finally coming to face the darkness and shame head on through the use of psilocybin mushrooms.

    A heads up-- this episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault, please be mindful of whether this is the right time for you to hear this.


    Koelle Simpson

    https://koellesimpson.com/


    "I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?" A intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, May 28-30 in Victoria BC
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom-tickets-1112117516429?aff=ebdssbdestsearch


    BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast
    https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/

    BFTA/ Dr. H
    https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/



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    2 hrs and 6 mins
  • The Art of Deprescribing
    Mar 28 2025

    Send BFTA a comment

    Dr. H breaks down the complex task of deprescribing into six clear steps, starting with the most important and challenging question of all: Who is the patient and why are they suffering?

    "Bringing Therapy into Med Management"-- a psychotherapy training intensive with Dr. H for psych NPs and PAs this October in Ft Collins

    https://www.craigheacockmd.com/training/


    BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcast
    https://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/

    BFTA/ Dr. H
    https://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/

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    23 mins
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Emotional, interesting, informative

Dr H is a strong story-teller and brings these stories to life. He also provides valuable information about many topics from treatments to medications.

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