84: Flow States: The neuroscience of healing, performance and burnout recovery with Josh Dickson

In this episode of the MindHealth360 Show, trauma and addiction specialist Josh Dickson—founder of Resurface, a pioneering integration of flow science and therapy—explains how harnessing flow states can accelerate healing, boost performance, and counter burnout.

Drawing on years of clinical experience, Josh describes how taking clients surfing led him to observe transformative shifts beyond talk therapy, sparking his exploration into the neuroscience of flow. He defines flow as an optimal state of consciousness where we feel and perform at our best – marked by total absorption, timelessness, and effortless action— and outlines how its neurochemical cycle can be intentionally applied in therapeutic settings.

From the stress-driven struggle phase (cortisol and norepinephrine) through release and deep flow (dopamine, endorphins, anandamide), to the recovery phase (serotonin and oxytocin), Josh reveals how this natural sequence supports creativity, connection, and emotional resilience. He also discusses how flow can help counter burnout, depression, and anxiety by restoring agency, balance, and meaning – both for clients and practitioners alike.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What flow states are and why they enhance both performance and wellbeing.

• The four stages of the flow cycle – struggle, release, flow and recovery – and their brainwave and neurochemical signatures.

• How flow and meditation overlap yet differ in depth and brain activity.

• Why recovery (sleep, rest, nutrition and boundaries) is essential for sustained performance and preventing burnout.

• How brief experiences of flow can help re-establish agency and counter depression and helplessness.

• Why burnout often stems from codependency and compulsive helping, and how flow restores balance and vitality.

• How group-based flow experiences can amplify connection, oxytocin and healing, even for those struggling to access flow individually.