72: Silvia Covelli - Healing treatment-resistant depression

In this episode, Silvia Covelli, a former social science researcher at Harvard University, successful business woman, single mother, and now founder and CEO of The Healing Depression Project, talks about her recovery from 25 years of treatment resistant depression. During this time, she explored over 60 different treatment modalities which failed to provide lasting relief, until she hit on a formula that worked. Drawing on her vast personal experience of suffering in silence while trying to find solutions, and her eventual recovery, she put together a groundbreaking programme to offer sustainable relief to those suffering from treatment resistant depression called “The Healing Depression Project” with a fantastic team of functional medicine psychiatrists, including Dr. Kat Toups and Dr. Achina Stein. 

Silvia reveals the surprisingly simple yet transformative practices that helped her overcome years of depression. She offers actionable insights into her programme’s treatment plans and emphasises why identifying common biochemical root-causes of depression (such as toxins, poor gut health, hormone imbalance, and nutritional deficiencies) as well as making lifestyle changes (to include better sleep, diet, exercise, and meditation) are key to successful healing.   

Silvia assures us that depression is not a life sentence and explains how those suffering from depression can sustainably heal. Now, her life mission is to share this programme and help others achieve sustainable and lifelong mental wellness.

In this episode learn about: 

• Silvia’s four simple pillars for successful healing; 1) exercise 2) meditation 3) nutrition 4) prioritising sleep.  
• Why conventional treatments, including psychiatry and medications, not only failed to address Silvia’s symptoms (such as fatigue, poor cognition, anxiety, lack of connection, apathy, etc), but worsened them and created new ones.  
• Why you don’t have to accept medication for life – and where to find support as you de-prescribe.  
• How and why depression isn’t “just in your head” but has roots in biochemical imbalances.  
• Why mental trauma should be viewed in the same way as physical trauma.   
• The science of habit and how to embed lifestyle changes into daily life.  
• Why talk therapies, life coaching, somatic work, psychodrama and yoga are integral to finding Peace and Purpose.  
• What The Healing Depression Project is, how it’s underpinned by functional medicine psychiatry and how to apply for it.