Dori Lewis | Should you Consider Integrating Psychedelics into Trauma Work in Private Practice? | TPOT 384
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Release Date: 06/02/2025
Dori Lewis | Should you Consider Integrating Psychedelics into Trauma Work in Private Practice? | TPOT 384
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
What if the path to healing trauma isn’t just through talk therapy, but through carefully guided psychedelic experiences? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Dori, an experienced therapist and psychedelic facilitator, who shares her deeply informed perspective on the nuanced, responsible, and transformational use of medicines like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms. Dori doesn’t just follow trends—she’s been on the frontlines, participating in research, working underground before legalization, and now helping clients access inner healing...
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Tamar Blue | Creating a Safer Space for Peer Support and Digital Therapy | TPOT 383
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Are you ready to discover a powerful new way to support your clients—and yourself? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon sits down with Tamar Blue, founder of , a revolutionary platform that empowers therapists, coaches, and mental health advocates to create secure, community-driven support groups online. Whether you're a provider looking to scale your services or someone seeking a safe space to heal and connect, this conversation is packed with insight, innovation, and heart. Don’t miss this inspiring story of how one woman turned a passion for peer support into a...
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Steve Bisson | Let the Work Find You: Niching with First Responders Through Podcasting | TPOT 382
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
What Happens When the Work Finds You? Steve Bisson didn’t plan to become a go-to therapist for first responders—but sometimes, purpose arrives without a roadmap. In this episode, Steve shares how a chance encounter on a crisis team back in 1999 set off a chain of events that led to a passionate, purpose-filled career. From riding along in police cruisers to launching a podcast that speaks directly to the hearts of firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers, Steve’s story is a powerful reminder that when you say yes to the work that moves you, incredible things happen. Whether...
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Jeremy Zug | Private Pay, Insurance, or Hybrid? Decide For Your Private Practice | TPOT 381
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
What if the two most important questions in your practice— 'Is this financially viable?' and 'Am I doing the work I love?' — didn’t have to compete? In this eye-opening episode, Jeremy dives deep into the strategic crossroads every private practice owner faces, especially when considering whether to take insurance, stay private pay, or explore a hybrid model. He breaks down the real numbers, state-by-state reimbursement differences, and the often-overlooked red flags in insurance relationships—like sneaky non-quantitative treatment limitations and the true cost of claim denials....
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James Marland | Stop Trading Hours for Income: Scalable Growth in Private Practice | TPOT 380
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Are you tired of the “time for dollars” trap—where every vacation, sick day, or even slow week hits your bottom line? In this episode, James Marland gets real about the burnout that comes from trading hours for income and why the solution isn’t just slapping together an online course. He dives into what it really takes to build something scalable and sustainable—without losing yourself or your sanity in the process. Whether you’ve toyed with the idea of creating a course or you’re just craving more freedom in your practice, this conversation is a must-listen. It's honest,...
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Dr. Robyn Miller | Preparing For The Worst: Professional Wills in Private Practice | TPOT 379
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
What happens to our clients when we’re suddenly not there to care for them? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Dr. Robyn Miller dives into the difficult but essential topic most therapists avoid: what happens when a therapist dies or becomes incapacitated. With compassion, clarity, and deep professional insight, Dr. Miller reveals the ethical, legal, and emotional chaos that can follow when we don’t have a solid closure plan in place—and how TheraClosure offers a dignified, comprehensive solution. If you’re a mental health professional who’s ever told yourself, “I’ll...
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Natalie Moore | How to Rank on Google: The Private Practice Guide to Keyword Research | TPOT 378
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
If you’ve ever poured your heart into writing a blog post only to hear crickets, this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast is for you. Natalie Moore breaks down exactly why keyword research is the non-negotiable first step to getting found online—and she does it with a dartboard metaphor you won’t forget. From picking the right phrases (think “EMDR therapist LA” instead of “trauma therapist California”) to building backlinks that actually move the needle, Natalie shares the exact strategies therapists need to compete online—without trying to beat Psychology Today at their...
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Jordanne Sculler | Why Every Therapist Needs Therapy: The Key to a Stronger Private Practice | TPOT 377
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Tune into this episode to explore why therapists must do their own self-work to be truly effective. Jordanne shares why personal growth isn’t optional—it’s essential for providing ethical, insightful, and compassionate care. She discusses how ongoing self-reflection helps therapists navigate complex client dynamics, avoid burnout, and foster deeper therapeutic relationships. Using the powerful analogy, "Would you take a cooking lesson from someone who doesn’t cook?" she emphasizes the importance of therapists engaging in their own healing and development. Whether you're a therapist or...
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Whitney Owens | Retaining Therapists in Your Group Practice for Long-Term Success | TPOT 376
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, host Gordon Brewer welcomes Whitney Owens, a seasoned group practice owner and consultant, to discuss the critical issue of therapist retention. Whitney shares her insights on why losing a therapist can be costly—not just financially, but in terms of client care, team morale, and overall practice stability. She breaks down practical strategies to create a supportive work environment, improve hiring and onboarding processes, and foster long-term commitment among therapists. Whether you're struggling with turnover or looking to build a...
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Christy Pennison & Steph Korpal | Cultivating Joy and Intentionality in Private Practice | TPOT 375
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
In the fast-paced world of private practice, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind—managing clients, handling business operations, and juggling personal life—while neglecting the very thing that can lead to lasting success and fulfillment: reflection. But what if you had a simple, structured way to pause, recalibrate, and infuse joy into your practice? Enter the Five R’s of Reflection—a framework designed by Christy Pennison and Steph Korpal to help practice owners thrive with intention. In this episode, we’re diving deep into Rhythm, Ritual, Relationship, Realignment, and...
info_outlineWhat if the path to healing trauma isn’t just through talk therapy, but through carefully guided psychedelic experiences?
In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Dori, an experienced therapist and psychedelic facilitator, who shares her deeply informed perspective on the nuanced, responsible, and transformational use of medicines like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms. Dori doesn’t just follow trends—she’s been on the frontlines, participating in research, working underground before legalization, and now helping clients access inner healing intelligence in a grounded, therapeutic way.
If you're curious about how psychedelics actually fit into trauma work, when they're appropriate, and why they’re not a one-size-fits-all miracle, this conversation will challenge your thinking and expand your clinical toolkit. Tune in to discover how seasoned therapists like Dori are bridging science, soul, and therapy to help clients heal in ways traditional methods sometimes can’t reach.
Are you ready to explore the real story behind the hype? Let’s dive in.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
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Meet Dori Lewis
Dori Lewis, MA, MEd, LPC-S, is a co-founder of Elemental Psychedelics and the owner-operator of Reflective Healing in Fort Collins, CO—a psychotherapy group practice that specializes in psychedelic therapy using ketamine, integration therapy, transpersonal psychotherapy, and clinical supervision.
With over a decade of clinical experience, Dori blends transpersonal psychology, depth work, and psychedelic-assisted therapy within a model that centers the therapeutic relationship. To date, she has stewarded nearly 100 ketamine therapy sessions and countless more individual and group ceremonies. She has also been trained and mentored in shamanic ritual, which has helped her bridge traditional counseling practice with transpersonal and existential realms—spaces that can hold incredible meaning and connection for clients.
As an educator and trainer, Dori has delivered numerous talks to the professional psychedelic community through the Nowak Society and other guest lectures. In 2022, she spoke on the importance of psychedelic facilitator ethics through the lens of existential shadow work as a main stage speaker at the Emergence Festival. She co-teaches introductory psychedelic therapy workshops and served as a core lead faculty member with the Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) from 2020 to 2023, where she specialized in training new and experienced clinicians on topics like set and setting, ethical ceremony, cultural appropriation in spiritual practices, and ritual in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
As interest in psychedelic medicine grows, Dori believes it is the responsibility of those with a voice in professional and psychedelic communities to stay informed—and to intercept and challenge disinformation and questionable ethical practices emerging in the public arena.