Dear friends,
Every week, I meet people who’ve tried everything—therapy, medication, self-help—and still feel stuck.
What they’re really looking for isn’t another pill.
It’s connection, compassion, and a chance to feel whole again.
That’s why this week’s conversation felt so important.
I spoke with Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold, Director of Facilitation for Psychedelic Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco.
Her team is running one of the first psilocybin-assisted therapy studies for young adults with anorexia—and it may reshape how we understand healing itself.
Instead of forcing outcomes or assigning blame, their approach brings the family into the process and gives patients space to rediscover their own motivation to live and grow.
It’s gentle, science-based, and deeply humane.
When I asked Gisele what success looks like, she said something that stayed with me:
“Recovery isn’t just gaining weight. It’s gaining yourself.”
That’s the promise of this work—not magic, not escape, but remembering who you are when fear and shame fall away.
If you or someone you love has struggled with an eating disorder—or with the limits of our current mental-health system—I think you’ll find this episode meaningful.
Golden light,
Dr. Richard L. Miller
Links & Resources:
A Year-End Invitation
As the year comes to a close, I want to make my work a little more accessible for those who may need it most.
For the final months of 2025, I’m opening a limited number of one-on-one sessions at a reduced rate — $250 for 30 minutes (regularly $300).
These are not traditional therapy sessions. They’re practical, compassionate conversations where we explore tools to quiet the mind, ease anxiety, and find calm amidst the noise of daily life.
If you’ve been thinking about reaching out, now is a good time.
Let’s take a quiet moment together to reflect, breathe, and reconnect before the new year begins.
1-minute mind control (my latest book)
Traditional mindfulness and meditation techniques often require a huge investment of your most precious resource (time) without guarantees of results.
My own version of mindfulness—what I sometimes refer to as “mind control”—can be mastered in much less time if you commit to regular 60-90 second practice throughout the day.
Breathing. Witnessing. Changing the channel on negative thoughts.
I’ve honed these techniques over a lifetime of personal and professional practice, and now I’m sharing them with the world.
Get my new book Master Your Mind, and as a thank you for your support, I’ll give you a free 30-day subscription to our premium newsletter and exclusive content. Just reply to this email after you buy it to confirm your purchase.
Work with Me
After six decades as a practicing psychotherapist, I'm offering limited opportunities to work directly with me. I bring extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, and psychedelic integration.
One-to-one sessions - Individual therapy tailored to your specific needs and goals. To request an appointment, book a session here.
Group Therapy (waitlist) - Join a small, curated group dedicated to personal growth. You’ll tap into community support, learn from others’ experiences, and develop practical tools for lasting transformation. Reserve your spot.
Support my work with a founding subscription ($295) and get a complimentary 30-minute consultation, in addition to a hardback copy of Master Your Mind and full access to my premium content. Sign-up here:
My Other Books:
Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear (release date: November 5)
Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out
Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca
Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)
