Healing Treatment-Resistant Depression, with Silvia Covelli
Audio only version
Show Description
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.
About Silvia Covelli
Silvia Covelli holds a degree in Sociology from Boston College. Following her undergraduate studies, she spent four years as a social science researcher at Harvard University. Later, she pursued graduate studies in finance and business law.
Silvia dedicated her career to entrepreneurship, evolving into a skilled business strategist, and bringing ambitious projects to fruition. With a robust track record, she has a wealth of experience in business development and investments spanning both the United States and South America.
On her personal growth path, Silvia undertook direct studies with internationally renowned figures, including Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Tony Robbins, and distinguished yoga and meditation masters. Her dedication led her to become a Board-certified life coach, a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher, and a certified yoga instructor. Her passion for mind-body medicine drove her to complete The Herbert Benson, MD Course in Mind-Body Medicine, a collaboration with the Harvard Medical School. Additionally, she pursued studies in Functional Nutrition and Principles of Functional Medicine at The Institute of Functional Medicine.
In parallel with her thriving business career, Silvia confronted a relentless and chronic depression that posed an enduring challenge in her life. With the same determination she applied to her entrepreneurial ventures, she embarked on a resolute journey to find healing. Over the course of 25 years, she explored more than 60 diverse programs, treatments, and retreats. These ranged from conventional medical approaches and therapies to spiritual and personal growth quests. Unfortunately, none provided the sustained relief she sought, offering only fleeting glimpses of respite. It was an arduous and exhausting journey that while gave her a deep understanding of the condition it ultimately failed to provide lasting wellbeing.
In the midst of her discouragement, after countless failed attempts to find relief, Silvia had a profound realization: the key to successful healing lies in addressing all dimensions of a person simultaneously, rather than focusing solely on the body, mind, or spirit as most treatments do. Additionally, she recognized the vital importance of implementing the teachings in daily life, understanding that without this cohesion, true healing would remain elusive. Driven by this insight, she delved into the science of habit formation and breaking established patterns.
Armed with this knowledge, she embarked on her most ambitious project to date — healing herself. She assessed all 60 plus treatments and programs she had undergone, handpicking those that had yielded partial but promising results. From these selections, she crafted a comprehensive recovery plan that amalgamated the most impactful teachings encompassing physical and emotional health, mental programming, and spiritual enlightenment. In this personalized recovery program, she selected the most effective elements, then tailored them to specifically address depression and finally transformed all that into practical daily practices that she used to build a daily routine.
Through persistence and repetition, these routines evolved into her daily habits, yielding surprising results in her energy levels and emotional well-being. These daily habits not only transformed her biochemistry and improved the functioning of her body and brain but also restored emotional balance and granted her inner peace. Remarkably, her self-designed program eradicated 25 years of depression symptoms, leaving her depression-free ever since.
The program she put together in 2020 forms the core of our 45-Day Depression Recovery Intensive Program. This foundation was later enriched through collaborations with neurologists, psychiatrists, functional medicine doctors, psychotherapists, and experts in yoga and mindfulness.
Following her recovery, Silvia immersed herself in initiatives aimed at fostering both physical and emotional well-being. In 2022, she was inspired to share her program with the world, giving rise to The Healing Depression Project. Helping others break free from depression became her life’s purpose and helping others to heal, imbuing her years of suffering with profound significance.
Show Notes
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